How to choose a reel for spinning

Where does spinning begin?

And it begins with determining the main place of fishing, the conditions existing on the reservoir, and the objects of fishing. It also starts with choosing a reel and a spinning rod. First, it is worth deciding on the type of reel, and then, choose a spinning rod with the appropriate reel seat for it. What kind of reel should a beginner spinning player choose so as not to turn fishing from pleasure into torment of martyrdom?

Spinning reels are of the following types: inertial (wiring), multiplier and non-inertia.

Let’s consider these types in turn.

Small size inertia reels have been used by winter fishing enthusiasts. And medium and large ones are still common among fans of fishing “in the wiring” (the so-called center pin or “Nottingham” method of fishing, when the lure is floated downstream, unwinding the line). 

However, even the use of modern materials in the design to cut weight, bearings to make sure smooth running and reduce backlash, did not save these coils from the main drawback – inertia. The spool of such reels spins under the action of a flying bait, which unwinds the fishing line. 

At the moment of splashdown and braking of the load, the reel continues to unwind by inertia, “handing over” the line. And if the spool is not slowed down in time by hand, a gorgeous “beard” will form, which is not always possible to untangle. Therefore, it is better for beginner anglers to pay attention to other types of reels.

The next type of reels is multipliers. He appeared later than the others. However, in essence, the “cartoon” is the already familiar “inertia” supplemented by a gearbox, one or more braking systems and a line laying mechanism.

The use  gearboxes allowed the spool to make several turns in one turn of the handle. The gear ratio of modern coils can be from 4.1: 1 to 6.3: 1. The lower the gear ratio, the slower the line reels. Reels with lower gear ratios have more pulling force, allowing for better handling of trophy fish.

The presence of a centrifugal or magnetic brake makes it possible to avoid the formation of “beards” during casts with fine tuning.

And the friction brake allows you to compensate for jerks, reducing the chances of fish getting off. Multiplier coils can be roughly divided into two types. 

The first is the low profile multiplier reels (called “soap dishes”). The second one is classic. It is believed that classic-shaped multipliers are more suitable for catching trophy fish and jerking, which withstand heavy loads better than low-profile reels.

Conventionally, multiplier reels can be divided into groups: light, for casting lures weighing from 4 to 30 grams, medium, for casting lures weighing from 6 to 60 grams, and heavy – for lures weighing from 40 to 200 grams.

 A separate super-heavy group can be considered multipliers for catching tuna, marlin, sharks and other giant fish.

With all the advantages, bait casting reels have a number of disadvantages that reduce the attractiveness of their use.

Firstly, despite the existing opinion about greater durability, the price for multipliers is higher than for other types of reels. Secondly, casting lures with reels of this type requires that there is an open space in the casting zone, since a strong swing is required to disperse the bait. 

To work with a bait casting reel, you must have certain skills. Thirdly, every time after changing the bait, it is necessary to adjust the braking system. 

Fourth, if the magnetic or centrifugal brakes are incorrectly set, the probability of “beard” formation is very high. Fifth, the reel handle cannot be rearranged and does not allow changing the rotation arm. Sixth, the use of bait casting reels

requires specialized rods, the reel seat of which is equipped with a trigger to keep the spinning rod from turning in the hands. Reels are the first choice for the novice angler. They are easier to learn than push and bait reels. The likelihood of line tangling during casting is minimized.

Inertia-free spools can be with a closed or open spool. Closed spool reels were popular in the 1970s. Despite the relatively low cost and ease of handling, they were not widely used due to their shortcomings. 

They had low power, low winding speed and short casting distance due to the abundance of parts rubbing against the line. 

Reels of this type are still produced by such well-known companies as Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Zebco and are recommended for children and novice anglers. Nevertheless, it is better to start your acquaintance with spinning with open-spool reels.

The main factor affecting the choice of a coil is its cost. The range of prices can confuse even the most experienced angler. However, you should not save on the coil. 

As a rule, cheap coils fail within one or two full seasons. Buying expensive coils is only worth it if the costs do not hit your budget. It is most advisable to take a closer look at coils from the middle price range.

Like multipliers, spinning reels are equipped with a gearbox. And they can also be classified according to the gear ratio, i.e. by the number of turns of the line for one turn of the handle. Coils with a gear ratio of 4: 1 to 4.7: 1 are power (or traction) coils. They can cope with playing trophy fish in difficult conditions.

 Visually, such reels are distinguished by a reinforced handle on an enlarged leg that can withstand significant loads. Inertialess Reel  with a gear ratio of 5: 1 to 5.6: 1 are universal. 

They differ from power reels in a smoother and easier spool run. Coils with a gear ratio from 6: 1 to 8: 1 are considered high-speed coils. Most often they are used for fishing medium-sized fish.

In addition, there is a reel size classification developed by Daiwa and Shimano. Most often in stores you can find spools with markings on the spool from 1000 to 6000. These “thousands” indicate such parameters as spool size and line capacity, which ultimately determine the ultimate load and weight of the reel. 

The line capacity of the reel, as a rule, is marked on the spool, and informs about how much line of a certain diameter fits on it. 

For spinning fishing, reels with a spool dimension up to 4000 are most often used. Reels of a larger dimension (5000-6000) are used for carp and sea fishing. 

When choosing a reel, you should pay attention to the presence of a spare spool in the kit. It can be identical to the main one, or it can be made of graphite. The presence of two spools will allow you to wind lines of different diameters, for example, for light lures and for heavy ones, or have different types of lines, for example, a line and a monofilament.

There are tables for the selection of reels for spinning, which are advisory in nature.It is best to choose a reel and a spinning rod at the same time to get a balanced set.

All modern reels are equipped with a friction brake designed to damp the jerks of the caught fish. When set correctly, it will help remove fish that may weigh more than the breaking load of the line.

There are reels with both front and rear clutch. The front brake is located inside the spool. It is more compact and sensitive compared to the rear. 

But this is less convenient for tuning during the game. There is still no unequivocal answer to the question of which grip is better. So every angler makes a choice according to personal preference. 

The next important part of the reel is the line lay mechanism. There are two types of mechanisms. The first is with a worm gear. The second – with a crank or rocker arm. 

The debate about which mechanism is better continues to this day. In fact, on high-quality reels, both mechanisms allow you to get high-quality winding of the line without irregularities and dips.

It is much more important when buying to pay attention to whether the reel is designed to work with tape. If the reel collar and reel roller are coated with a special hard coating, such as titanium nitride, then such a reel will work equally well with all types of fishing line. 

Otherwise, the cord can damage the surface of the roller and create abrasions on the edge of the reel collar, which will inevitably lead to “shooting” of lures and breakages during the game.

When choosing a reel, a beginner is bound to come across the myth of the number of bearings that reduce backlash and are designed to provide smooth, easy running and long reel life. 

As practice shows, a large number of low-quality bearings installed in all conceivable places does not guarantee reliable and durable operation of the coil. Specialists of the coil manufacturing companies have long proved that 4-6 high-quality bearings, one of which is in the roller of the line laying mechanism, is quite enough to ensure the declared operating time.

When buying a spinning reel, first of all, you should pay attention to the products of such well-known brands as Daiwa, Shimano, Penn, Abu Garcia, Mitchel … This will allow you to be confident in the quality of your purchase and enjoy it. fishing to the fullest, not tackle repair. Ultimately, this will save your budget and hassle.

Where and how to catch a novice spinner? A beginner spinner should focus on small pike up to 2kg, and perch up to 500 gr. These catches will be easiest to catch, and they will not require experience and extensive spinning science and skills to catch.

It would be worthwhile to start spinning, in a lake, pond or some kind of dam. The reasons are very simple – in standing water it is easier to notice the work of the bait, it is easier to find a predator. River spinning is a much more complicated method of fishing.

mepps twists . A spinning rod is needed first. There is definitely no spinning shaft for all occasions, over time, a novice spinner will understand and feel it for himself. 

For starters, it is advisable to choose a spinning machine 2.40 – 2.80 meters long. In the long run, it would be difficult to learn to throw correctly, and a longer one may only be needed in large rivers. Since it is advisable for beginners to catch pike and perch, it will be necessary to choose baits suitable for catching these fish. 

The spinning rod also depends on the baits to be used. A novice spinner should choose fishing rods with a casting weight of 7 to 25 grams (approximately, the recommended casting weight can be seen on each fishing rod or its label). The range of this weight includes rubbers, twists, wobblers and gates. 

Also, a good spinning rod is definitely not very cheap. It is not advisable to buy a telescopic spinning, although more difficult to transport, but choose a fishing rod from several parts. The telescopic rod weakens the senses when catching fish, so it is often prevented too early or late, and every puncture of the fishing rod is the weakest point of the spinning. 

The cheapest fishing rods made of fiberglass are heavier and less flexible, which has a significant impact on fishing comfort and results.

Rapala wobbler The reel for spinning should be chosen only non-inert, especially for a beginner.

It would be good for the coil to have at least 2-3 bearings. When choosing a coil it is very important that it is really reliable, has a brake, cleans the drum wider. 

It is not advisable to choose cheap, well-advertised with power bearings, and coils from an unknown manufacturer. Better to believe in a simpler but heard manufacturer’s reel. The set usually includes a pair of drums on which you can wrap a different line (say one braided line 0.1mm in another simple 0.2 – 0.25mm).

big hammer twister – beginners Every novice spinner must have a few twists of different sizes and colors. The most famous manufacturers are Mepps and Balzer, whose products are really high quality. You need to have shiny for overcast weather and less shiny for sunny. 

It is advisable to have several wobblers (eg Rapala), smaller and rounder for perch and larger and longer ones for pike. Also have a few wobblers that don’t hang on to the grass (the hook is protected by a wire to not catch on grass or lichens), you can try to catch predatory fish in the grass. It is also recommended to have several different guards.

rubber head hook. The spinning bait box should also contain rubbers of different colors, sizes and shapes, which would require different weight of head hooks (5 – 12 grams). 

Sponge heads are often varnished with silver or brown nail polish with sequins, as there is a noticeable increase in predator interest in the bait.

Where to fish? Herbaceous pike are always found on the shores of the lake. And it really won’t be hard to catch them. The shores of lakes are usually surrounded by shallow bogs, which are overgrown with grass, which are the most reliable places for pike. 

If the tusk enters the abyss with a sharper jump, such a slope is often the real habitat of the pike. And don’t start catching in the deep right away, leave it to the future.

How To Put Line On A Spinning Reel.