Tips in Choosing a Fly Reel
Reels for fly fishing often have very simple designs because it doesn’t have a big role in fly fishing. But even though you can easily work with almost any reel when fly fishing, there are still recommended methods in choosing the right fly reel to increase your performance while on the water. When you set-up your fly fishing equipment, a good fly reel could easily complement your rods and aid your fly lines when pulling.
Budget and Quality
As already indicated; the role of reels in fly fishing is not as important compared to many fishing techniques such as offshore fishing or carp fishing. For this reason, you can purchase a fly reel that will match your budget. You could even specify your budget before you go out and start shopping for a new reel for your fly fishing weekend.
But this doesn’t mean your choices will not matter. A quality reel always works better compared to really inexpensive reels. Look for a fly reel that came from a well known manufacturer so that you can be assured that it’s made to appease fly fishers without putting a hole in their pocket.
Learning More about Specifications
Every reel comes with a small code that tells you of its capability and fly reels are no exception. The reel is rated based on the line it can handle. Here’s a good example: “To WF6 with 100 yds. Backing: this means you have reel that can handle a Weight Forward 6 with the maximum power of up to 100 yards when pulled. Weight Forward or WF is a type of line heavier on the first 20-30 feet. Another version is DT or Double Taped where the first and last 15 feet are taped. Weight Forward types highly recommended for fly fishing and it will work with basic design of fly reels. The number “6” is the weight capacity of the line. The lightest is 00 and the heaviest is 15 so “6” is somewhere in the middle but with more bias on lighter fishing.
Retrieval and Drag System
There are three popular types of retrieval systems: single-arbor, mid or large arbor system and automatic fly reel. Automatic fly reels are very expensive but they are engineered to provide amazing adjustment in every pull. For enter level fly fishers, the single arbor is highly recommended because of its 1:1 ratio which means a single roll will also have the same amount of retrieval. On the other hand, if you are aiming for a bigger catch, mid to large arbor systems are a good option.
A drag system is often overlooked by fly fishers because they automatically come with every reel. But they are very essential and should be double checked before any purchase. If you’re buying from a local shop, look for a reel with modest drag adjustment. If you opt to go online, look for drag systems with more settings to ensure you end up with a setting that you want for your fly reel.
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