Buyers Guide to a Fly Reel
Purchasing a Fly Reel: What you need to know.
Introduction:
Purchasing a quality fly reel can be a confusing exercise for the beginner and the experienced fly fisher alike. The first thing you will find is the vast number of fly reels available on the market today. The applications seem to cover all possible angling scenarios, from small trout in streams to large offshore gamefish. The fly reel’s primary purpose is to hold fly line (or is it?). Yes and no. The art and science of fly fishing has changed dramatically over the past 25 years and so have the design, construction and purpose of fly reels. A fly reel needs to hold and manage line during casting and retrieval, and it should balance properly with the fly rod, meaning that you don’t want to have a large, heavy saltwater reel attached to your 5 wt fly rod. Today you will find that many fly reel manufacturers will state the reel size in terms of line and backing capacity, and the approximate rod weight the reel was designed for. In salt water the fly reel has become a fish fighting tool. The drag (braking) system must be capable of controlling line tension smoothly when a hard charging game fish is stripping line off the reel. It also is required to function in all types of weather and environments and be able to endure many other fishing conditions.
Applications:
What type of fly fishing are you planning? No one fly reel has the versatility to cover all of the possibilities. The choices are numerous and in most instances require different gear. Fly reels come in all sizes, styles, finishes, materials and price ranges for the angling application. Fly reels are now designed and constructed to match specific fly rod sizes and line weights. Tippets, leaders and type of game fish are also considerations.
Types of Reels
There are basically four fly reel designs available on the market today: Single action, the simplest and most common. Single action means one rotation of the handle equals one rotation of the spool. Single action fly reels are simple, effective and durable. The design can be found in the least expensive models all the way to top end products. The design is used for all species, from trout to tuna. When line is stripped from the spool, as with a hard running fish, the crank handle will spin as well, making it nearly impossible to hold the crank handle. Anti- Reverse reels are an alternative to the direct drive design. They function exactly like spinning or conventional fishing reels; the handle remains stationary as the spool spins releasing line. These reels are especially important while fighting large, hard running salt water species. Multiplier reels are unlike single action reels in that the center pin attaches to a gear system that multiplies line retrieval; generating 2-3 rotations of the spool with each turn of the handle. The advantage is faster line retrieval, especially when fighting large fish where getting line back on the reel quickly is important. One drawback is that the gearing and spring system is complicated and breakdowns do occur. Automatic retrieval reels take up line automatically; the angler need not turn the handle. A simple trigger lever is used to actuate a spring that turns the spool. Disadvantages to this design are weight, durability, spool change, drag systems, line capacity and most importantly, controlled retrieval.
Construction:
The major materials used today are aluminum and graphite. The material choice characteristics are weight, cost and manufacturing. The grade of aluminum is also a consideration. Reels that are intended for saltwater use should be anodized to limit corrosion. The surface can be matte or glossy coated with enamel, special paints or anodized clear metallic. Graphite reels offer light weight and resistance to corrosion. The manufacturing costs are generally low when comparing molded/cast parts vs. machined aluminum. The quality of a fly reel, like everything else, does matter. An inexpensive fly reel will most likely not perform particularly well because the demands exceed the design and are constructed with the least expensive parts and finishes. The internal parts and less expensive materials will wear fast. Rust and corrosion will usually set in very quickly. When you make your decision to purchase, get the most for your money the first time. A good reel will last as long as you perform yearly maintenance. Write to us ascertain a proven and tested maintenance schedule.
Drag Systems:
The drag or “braking system” is an essential feature on a fly reel when angling for fish large enough to take line off the spool. The drag helps a great deal to control line tension and to put pressure on the running fish. There are essentially three types of drag systems: Spring and pawl or click and pawl:It is the simplest and least expensive. Usually found on reels suited to small fish species where line tension and pressure are not necessary to control the fish. This type of drag system will work for large, fast running fish if the reel is designed with a “hand palming” (placing the palm of your hand against the spool rim for added resistance). The angler, however, should be skilled to fight a fish using this technique. Disc drag: The disc “braking system” is generally found on more expensive reels. The system is similar to an automobile braking system in that various materials such as cork, compressed fiberglass, Teflon and graphite are pressured together via an adjustment dial on the spool. The more pressure that’s applied equals a greater amount of force required to take line off the spool. Disc drag systems are unexcelled in large fish situations. The end result, a constant and uniform line tension without binding up. In some disc drag designs, be careful not get the disc system wet as this will cause considerable slippage and loss of line tension. Caliper drag:Similar in function to the spring and pawl but uses an adjustable dial to control spring pressure against a metal surface. It provides more line tension control than the spring and pawl, but is not nearly as smooth and uniform as the disc drag system. This system is not in common use today. Turbine drag system is the latest innovation in fly reels. The Turbine reel eliminates conventional disc drag systems and utilizes a sealed turbine impeller immersed in a multi- viscous liquid. The drag works based on action/ reaction of the force applied to the impeller, as line is removed at a fast rate, as with a large running fish, the multi-viscous fluid increases in viscosity and thereby imparts resistance to the spinning impeller. The opposite occurs when the line leaving the spool slows down. Early indications are that the turbine drag system works extremely well.
Spool Design/ Retrieval:
Line capacity is an essential feature of today’s fly reel and most are of large arbor design. The large arbor design offers many desirable qualities: quick line retrieve, improved line handling and enhanced drag-tension control. The increased spool diameter makes it easier to retrieve line and reduce line coiling. Additional features to look for are quick spool change and left/right hand retrieval changeover, vented spool frame(less weight and water escape) and extra spools for different lines. Large arbors reduce the amount of backing required.
Reel Size:
The fly reel should be line weight and rod matched for optimum performance and application. Good performance means a well “balanced system” of rod size/weight, reel dimensions, line weight and capacity.
Price:
The price range for fly reels is only matched by the enormous amount of fly reels on the market today. You can pay as little as $15.00 to more than $1000.00. You need to choose based on your fishing application and your budget. Consider quality, warranties, features, your skills and of course, price.
Where to Purchase:
As with any important purchasing decision, buy from a reputable retailer. Check and compare prices. Captain Skip Montello