Choosing a Fly Fishing Reel for Beginners

If you are new to the sport of fly fishing than you probably don’t have any equipment. If you nothing about fly fishing that you will have to rely on the expertise and honesty of the salespeople at your nearest hobby store or wherever you choose to buy your fly fishing reel.

Having a little basic information on how to choose a fly fishing reel can be very beneficial. It will prevent you from getting caught up in a salesman’s pitch and leaving the store broke. Once you have been fishing for a while then you can start buying what you judge to be necessary to hook yourself the perfect catch.

What is a Reel?

A fly fishing reel is basically a piece of metal or plastic that will keep your fly line and backing in place. Think of it as a big spool for your fly line. When you are just beginning you can make do with a single action fly fishing reel. Most reels these days will come with interchangeable spools unlike an antique fly fishing reel.

Drag Systems

When shopping for a fly fishing reel you need to take into account a drag system. A drag system is basically a device built into the reel that determines how fast a fish can swim away from an angler. A bad drag system will be one that is stiff and might result in a hook snapping while you battle it out with a tough fish.

Keeping this in mind you will probably find that most cheap reels either do not have good drag systems or have bad ones. An expensive fly fishing reel will boast an excellent drag system and claim that you will never have to suffer a fish getting away. It is possible to get a good drag system without paying a fortune so ask for advice at the tackle shop when shopping for affordable fly fishing reel.

The Fish Factor

The fish that you are out to catch also play a role when selecting the perfect fly fishing reel. If you are going to be fishing for trout then you will probably not need a very big reel. You will find that the bigger and stronger the fish you are out to catch the bigger the reels.

If you aim to catch saltwater fish you will definitely need bigger reels with heavier line. You also need to keep in mind the frequency of use. A small cheap reel will not last long if you aim to be out fishing every weekend.