The reel should be treated purely as the means with which you regain the line won by the rod. By this method, you will rarely ever have gear failure as the rod is non mechanical. The drag is the main function of the reel in the fight. The drag must be as near to perfect as possible. The mechanics of the reel will depend on your judgement at the place of purchase, as there is plenty of quality tackle available to anglers.
Line is another important link.
Reels must be kept topped up for maximum performance. After any heavy session, strip off the first 5 to 10 metres used and discard it. This section takes most of the wear and tear and reduced the overall strength of the line. Knots are critical. Learn the good knots.