A fishing reel is a cylindrical device used to store line and let out or retrieve it during fishing. It is attached to a rod, and works by winding the line around a spool using a handle. There are many different types of fishing reels, each designed for a specific type of fish or fishing technique. Before you can select the right reel for your needs, you must first identify the different parts of a reel and understand their functions.
The three main parts of a fishing reel are the spool, frame and handle. The spool is the cylinder that holds the line. It is mounted on the frame, which also houses the gears, bearings and other moving parts. The handle is attached to the frame and is used to wind in or release line from the spool.
There are two types of fishing reels: baitcasting and spinning. Baitcasting reels are mounted above the rod and have handles that rotate with the spool when cranking. Spinning reels are mounted below the rod and have fixed handles; instead, it is the entire spindle that rotates when cranking. Within these two categories there are further sub-types designed for specific applications such as fly-fishing, ice-fishing or trolling.
To select the appropriate reel for your needs, start by considering what type of fish you will be targeting most often as well as what kind of water you will be fishing in (freshwater or saltwater). Other important factors include weight (both of your tackle setup and of individual lures/baits), casting distance requirements and personal preferences in terms of drag smoothness or gear ratio speed (the number of times per turn that gears within the reel rotate). With all these considerations in mind, visit your local tackle shop or do some online research to find THE perfect reel for YOU!