The importance of fly fishing reels is entirely dependent on what species you are after and where you fish. If you are a beginner fly angler or just want to learn more about reels this is a great place to start. Here is an overview of fly reels, how they work, and their purpose to an angler.
What is a Fly Fishing Reel?
A fly fishing reel serves the purpose of holding line- just like any other reel- but they lack the sophisticated drag control included in spinning and baitcasting reels. When fishing with a spinning reel the drag can engage when the angler is reeling in the fish. Essentially, this negates the need for an angler to play a fish by letting off the reel when the fish runs or jumps. Not to say there isn’t any skill, but the drag in a spinning reel is much more complicated compared to any drag you will find in a fly reel.
Drag
Fly reels are fairly rudimentary, even the fanciest of reels are mostly jewelry for your fly rod setup and serve no better function than the reels half their price. That being said, there are features that make some fly fishing reels better than others. The drag in a reel factors into the price of the reel. Better drags are more expensive and burlier, but you do not always need the biggest, baddest drag. Here are a few drag options for fly fishing reels that will help inform your purchase.
People often ask if fly reels are ambidextrous or have reversible drags and the answer is absolutely. Almost all modern reels have the ability to flip the drag for the left or right hand reeler. The method of doing so depends on the manufacturer but it usually means flipping a bearing in the drag. Look up your reels manufacturer manual to make this switch.
Click-Pawl Reels
The drag is the most important piece in a fly fishing reel and will be the most important feature when determining the price of the reel. There are drag free reels, called click-pawl, that require the angler to apply pressure with the palm of their hand to add drag. These are an older style of reel usually favored for fishing small creeks or fishing light gear. Some people continue to use these reels even though there are more sophisticated drag systems on the market. The nostalgia of the method and the skill needed to control a fish by palming a reel is still favored by some salmon, steelhead, and trout anglers out there.
Disc Drag Sytstem
Personally, I prefer a disc drag system for all of my fishing, except small creek fishing where I know there won’t be a fish that will stress my gear, because disc drags are much more precise than our hands could ever be. Disc drags have been engineered to add incredibly small degrees of pressure to a reel and are very smooth. A disc drag is pretty much standard in most reels unless you specifically seek out a click-pawl reel.
The disc drag works by compressing discs together to produce friction. The drag knob on the side of the reel allows the angler to adjust the reel on the fly when they hook a fish pulling out drag. These discs can be made of various materials, cork, carbon, or other synthetics. Disc drags are great, but if you are a trout angler do not seek out the biggest and baddest drag system the market has to offer. Trout, compared to other fish, do not pull exceptionally hard and more often than not I find myself stripping line to land fish rather than putting them on the reel. When I trout fish I only put fish on the reel if they are large or I am using a light tippet. The precision of a reel will protect the light tippet better than my hand controlling the line.
Find a fly fishing reel with a disc drag but it does not need to be completely sealed or particularly strong unless you also plan to fish saltwater or maybe you want a reel that can take more abuse from sand and dirt. A sealed drag provides a system that is completely isolated from any outside elements and is ideal for anglers who need superior performance in abrasive environments like the saltwater. So, if you are looking for a reel for redfish, bonefish, tarpon, or snapper then this system is highly recommended. But if trout are your quarry then do not focus too much on a sealed drag. That being said, many mid price to higher end reels have sealed drags and it will never hurt to have one.
But there are also plenty of budget reels that will work the same as their higher end counterparts, minus the flash and slightly lower quality materials, but still suitable for most purposes.
Start Up Inertia
The start up inertia is how much pressure needed to make the reel start to spool. A quality drag system tries to create the least amount of start up inertia possible. This ensures the drag is smooth and does not produce a large spike of pressure that can snap tippet or leaders. If you are fishing for large fish with light tackle then a reel with a smooth drag engagement is integral to keep fish on the hook.
Machined Aluminum v Cast
High grade fly reels incorporate a machined aluminum spool and cage. These reels are durable, abrasion resistant, and scratch resistant which make them a good option for a reel you plan on using for the long run. These reels are made both overseas and in the United States but either way you are getting a very high quality reel which will usually incorporate an elevated drag system depending if you opt for a disc drag.
Machined aluminum reels are not always necessary, especially for the most recreational anglers. Oftentimes, the high prices will steer people away from the sport especially if they feel as if they need this gear to be successful.
Cast reels are also made of aluminum but they are cast in a mold rather than machined out of a solid block of aluminum. This makes them slightly weaker, more prone to breaking, and scratch easier. This means you can’t slam them against rocks with impunity but I have never broken a cast aluminum reel.
Some reels blend the machined and cast elements to create a hybrid reel. Usually they have cast spools and aluminum reel housing. These create durable reel for anglers that will not break the bank.
The truth is the fly reel, when trout fishing, is the least important part of your system because they all provide the same function and buying the nicer reel won’t help you catch more fish. Spend as much as you are able and go fishing.
Arbor Size
The arbor of the reel holds the backing and line on the spool. The arbor size differs depending on what reel you choose. Some reels are marketed as large arbor reels which means each revolution of the reel picks up more line than a reel with a smaller arbor. The large arbor is useful when you need to collect line quickly when hooked up on a fish and it is convenient when reeling in excess line to move spots.
Most reels are moving towards large arbor designs due to their efficiency in picking up line but there are reels still made with small-mid size arbors. These arbors need more backing to properly fill up the spool when your fly line is added. Some big game reels in the 12 wt size purposefully have a smaller spool so they can hold copious amounts of backing for powerful fish that go on long runs. But in most cases I would opt for a large arbor reel in the correct size for your rod and line.
Reel Size
Picking the size of the reel is easy, choose based on the line weight of your rod and the weight of your line. If you have a 5 wt rod get a reel that corresponds to that size. Reels usually fit a range of weights, 1-3, 3-5, 5-7, etc. Sometimes your weight of rod will be in two ranges, such as the 5 wt in the above example. In this case analyze your need with the reel. Do you want a larger arbor and the ability to hold more backing for fighting big fish? If so, sizing up makes sense, but if you are building a dry fly setup and want it to be as light as possible then the smaller sized reel might be a better option.
There is no harm in sizing up a reel but occasionally it can throw off the balance of the rod. Again, do not toil over picking a reel. Most of them will work for your purposes unless you have very specific needs for your setup.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know the difference in the various types of fly reels and how they work in relation to how you fish it is time to go and buy one. Prioritize your budget and functionality of the reel over looks. There are a ton of reputable reel manufacturers so go explore the best options. If you are a beginner angler looking to learn more, checkout my previous blog on beginner fly fishing gear. Tight lines!
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