Buyers Guide to Freshwater Fishing Tackle - "The Spincast Reel"

Buyers Guide to Freshwater Fishing Tackle - "The Spincast Reel"

By Bill H Keller

Buying freshwater fishing tackle can be an intimidating experience for the beginning angler. One can get totally lost when browsing an online web store such as Bass Pro Shops, there are 10's of thousands fishing reels, fishing rods, lures, line types and fishing accessories to choose from.

What is the beginner to do when looking for freshwater fishing tackle? Simple, read this series of articles and by the time you are done you will be armed with what you need to know to make an informed buying decision. We will cover fishing reels, fishing rods, lures and baits, fishing line and other fishing gear such as tackle boxes, fishing knives and much more.

There are four basic reel designs; spincast, spinning, baitcast and fly. This article will cover the spincast reels which are the Chevy's of the fishing world, they are affordable, easy to use and relatively maintenance free.

Spincast reels are best for beginners, children and anglers who just want to get a line in the water and sit back with their favorite beverage of choice. The spincast fishing reel is best used for light-weight "throw it and wait" type of fishing in ponds, creeks and other locations that do not require long or accurate casts.

Due to the light lines used the preferred fish are bluegill, sun fish, catfish and small trout. Anything larger and you run the risk of your line breaking as you try to land the monster.

The Spincast reel is a completely enclosed reel with the line on a spool that wraps perpendicular to the line as it exits the reel and runs up the rod. It is designed to counter the main problems of other reel types which include line twisting, snares and backlash (the loosening of the line around the reel.)

The spincast reel has a button at the back that you press and release as you cast your line, click the button again to set your line in place, then turn the handle on the side to retrieve your line (hopefully with a fish at the end.)

The primary drawback to spincast reel is shorter casting distances caused by the drag on the line as it rubs against the side of the reel as it leaves the opening. Also due to the limited line capacity of the spool you are limited to lighter lines, this limits the size of your hook and bait setup and ultimately the size of fish that can be successfully landed.

A perfect example of this type of reel is the Shakespeare® Synergy® Titanium Ti14 Spincast Reel, it is affordable at under $15, is dependable and a nice feature is the handle that coverts to left or right handed.

The next article in our "Buying Freshwater Fishing Tackle" series will feature the spinner reel, the most commonly used reel in freshwater fishing.

About the author: Bill Keller writes about outdoor activities in North Texas from his blog at TowersOverTexas.com. To purchase Spincast Fishing Reels or to see more articles about Freshwater Fishing Tackle just click on a link.

Freshwater Fishing Gear Buyer's Guide - The Spinner Reel

Welcome back to our ongoing series of articles on Freshwater Fishing Gear. With this series we are hoping to take out the fright of buying fishing tackle from the novice angler.

We will address a wide range of fishing gear from reels, rods, lures, baits, jigs, lines, and hooks. It is hoped by the finish of the series your can go online and purchase the right gear and within budget.

We started our discussion on freshwater fishing reels with the spincast reel, the easiest reel for novices and the casual fisherman. This article will cover the spinner reel, and will continue with the baitcast reel and lastly an article on the fly fishing reel.

Spinning reels come in numerous varieties and are utilized by children, occasional hobbyist and enthusiastic fisherman alike. When it comes to fishing reels, the spinning reel is the most well-known and best-selling. It is principally used for light-line applications and rules in terms of performance and simplicity of use.

The spinner reel is ideal for catching just about any fish out there; whether it is ponds, creeks, lakes, or rivers. You can catch big mouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout or small bluegills or sun fish it doesn't matter, if you have strong enough line your spinning reel will land the fish.

The spinning reel has a very distinctive look with the large wire bale around the open-faced line spool and a line roller to help hold the line as you retrieve it. The reel handle or "crank" can have either one or two knobs, both work equally well at reducing line friction as you retrieve it, with little or no snarling. This type of reel is mounted on the underside of the rod.

There are few drawbacks to the spinning reel. It is only limited by the size of your fishing line, when compared to the baitcast reel it holds less line. This means you will need to use a thinner, lighter line to guarantee you have enough line to get to the position you want. The lighter the line the smaller fish you can catch. The spinning reel is also not as accurate at casting as the baitcast reel

A good example of spinner reel is the "Pflueger Trion GX-7 Spinning Reel," priced at under $40 it is an affordable choice for general-duty fishing, featuring lightweight graphite body and rotor; anodized aluminum spool with titanium spool lip.

The next review in our series will feature the baitcast reel, a serious reel for master anglers.

About the author: Bill Keller writes about outdoor activities in North Texas from his blog at TowersOverTexas.com. To purchase Spinning Fishing Reels or to see more articles about Freshwater Fishing Tackle just click on a link.

Freshwater Fishing Reels - An Important Piece Of Equipment

Freshwater Fishing Reels - An Important Piece Of Equipment

Freshwater fishing reels are an equally important piece of fishing tackle as fishing rods. As there are different types of rods for different sorts of fishing, there are also different sorts of freshwater fishing reels oo. It isn't essential to spend a lot of money on a freshwater fishing reel, although you can do. You will probably find that a basic freshwater fishing reel will be more than suitable for your needs. If you buy the right freshwater fishing reel, toy might not need to replace it or upgrade it for several years.

Most people who fish for trout prefer to strip the fly fishing line manually, rather than by using the handle. This is because it is quicker to strip the line by hand, rather than using the fishing reel handle. In addition, you can also get a better feel by holding the line in your hand.

In some situations when trout fishing, you will want to wind the line in using the handle. This could be when you are following a big fish, and want to be able to control the line better, or when you are fishing in somewhere where there are overhanging branches, or there is a risk of your line snagging on something. If you are moving around in the water a lot, you might also prefer to use the handle.

If you're fishing for salmon, then you are likely to wind your line in. This is because you are much more likely to be in the water. Dedicated salmon fly freshwater fishing are bigger than trout fishing reels, and are more efficient at winding the line back in.

Fishing technology has come on in leaps and bounds, and today, fishing rods and other bits of fishing tackle are getting lighter than ever. Not all anglers prefer a very light reel though, as they feel as the freshwater fishing reel helps to balance the rod, a very lightweight reel upsets the balance.

If you are purchasing a new fly freshwater fishing reel, you might want to purchase additional fishing reels, so that you know they will fit your reel. By marking the line weight on the reel, you will always be able to identify your reels. This can save precious time whilst you are setting up.

To protect your investment, you should consider getting a bag for your freshwater fishing reel. Reels spend a lot of time at the bottom of tackle bags, and so can easily get damaged. You might not discover that your freshwater fishing reel has been damaged until it's too late.

Helpful Tips For Buying a New Freshwater Fishing Reel

Helpful Tips For Buying a New Freshwater Fishing Reel


Tips on buying freshwater fishing reels would consist of quite a few points to consider. The sport of fishing has evolved greatly and finding the most suitable equipment for your venture may be tougher than it was in the past. Are you buying a freshwater fishing reel for an expert fisherman or a novice? What type of fish are you fishing for taking size and weight into consideration? Will your fishing trip take you to a lake or stream? These are some general questions to consider but let's focus on some specific key tips on buying a freshwater fishing reel.

There are different types of freshwater fishing reels on the market today. The spinning freshwater fishing reel is the most common of freshwater fishing reels and is great for general use. The design of the freshwater fishing reel was made for the comfort of the fisherman but it does take some skill to master the use. Fishing line has the tendency to become tangled if you do not have the experience with this type of freshwater fishing reel. This is not a freshwater fishing reel for a beginner.

The spin casting freshwater fishing reel is a good beginner's reel. Reason being is that the design has been improved upon to eliminate most line issues. One major difference between the spinning freshwater fishing reel and the spin casting freshwater fishing reel is the casting distance. A spinning freshwater fishing reel can be cast a longer distance than the spin casting freshwater fishing reel which would be an advantage for most anglers. A beginner would not need the distance as much as they would need the confidence of casting a line successfully.

Other tips for buying a freshwater fishing reel to consider would be the gear ratio and the amount of bearings the freshwater fishing reels are designed with. The amount of bearings will determine the smoothness of the reel. In general the more bearings, the smoother the freshwater fishing reel. The gear ratio is the number of rotations of the freshwater fishing reel after a full crank. If you need to bring your lure back in quickly, a reel with a higher ratio will be necessary. Bottom fishing may not require a higher gear ratio.

The size of the freshwater fishing reel being another important point. Depending on the type of fish you are fishing for should determine the size of test line you will be using. Different size freshwater fishing reels will accommodate different size test line. If you are going to use six to ten pound test line choose a medium size freshwater fishing reel.

Spinning Freshwater Fishing Reel Tips

Spinning Freshwater Fishing Reel Tips


I'm going to discuss three spinning freshwater fishing reel tips that will help the average angler be much more successful.

1. Make Sure Your freshwater fishing reel Matches Your Rod - Whenever a spinning freshwater fishing reel is purchased, on the packaging it says what weight it is: ultra light, light, medium, or heavy. You want the weight of the reel to match the weight of the rod, and you want the weight to match the type and size of fish that your fishing for. For example, if you're fishing for trout in small rivers and streams, you want to use an ultra light spinning freshwater fishing reel and rod. Light action would be the heaviest in trout fishing situations such as these. This is also a great reason to not buy combination sets with the rod and spinning freshwater fishing reel sold together. In most cases these combination sets arte made with very cheap rods and spinning freshwater fishing reels. It's better to purchase the two separately, so that you can get the feel and balance that you desire.
2. Maintain Your Spinning freshwater fishing reel Properly - I personally make it a habit of cleaning my spinning freshwater fishing reels before the start of every fishing season. This is a great idea, especially if your freshwater fishing reels get a lot of wear and tear. Cleaning and greasing your spinning freshwater fishing reels is a lot easier than you might think, and can help them last for years and years. Just do a search on Google for "cleaning your spinning freshwater fishing reel" or something to that effect, and you should be able to find instructions on how to do it.
3. Pay Attention To The Number Of Ball Bearings - The more ball bearings a spinning freshwater fishing reel has, the less play it will have in the crank. This makes a big difference to those of us who like to fish with live bait in the flowing waters of both rivers and streams. I like to have no "play" in my handle. In other words, when I turn the handle, I want the bail to immediately turn. I like to have no "play" at all. This normally means that I want at least 6 ball bearings in my spinning freshwater fishing reels. Pflueger makes some great spinning freshwater fishing reels, for anyone who happens to be in the market?

Interesting Facts About Freshwater Fishing Reels

Interesting Facts About Freshwater Fishing Reels


Beginnings of the freshwater fishing reel

The freshwater fishing reel is estimated to have had its origins in the seventeenth century. However, some historians have recently discovered the fact that the Chinese have been using it ever since the twelfth century. Until the nineteenth century, the freshwater fishing reel was used only for the purpose of storing the excess line. Later, the freshwater fishing reel was improved upon and a large number of models were invented. Now you have a variety of freshwater fishing reels made of a number of material such as nickel or brass.

Two points should be taken into consideration before you purchase the right freshwater fishing reel:

Fishing Spot

Where do you intend to go fishing? The freshwater fishing reel that is used while fishing in the stream or river is different from that used by experiences anglers who try their luck on the open sea.

Your Budget

Hundreds of models are available. If you have selected the most appropriate one for yourself, check if the cost fits into your budget.

The 5 Types of Freshwater Fishing Reels For Beginners

The 5 Types of Freshwater Fishing Reels For Beginners


There are 5 basic types of freshwater fishing reels; spin casting freshwater fishing reels ,spinning freshwater fishing reels, bait casting freshwater fishing reels, freshwater fishing freshwater fishing reels and electric fishing freshwater fishing reels. For beginners, understanding the 5 basic models of freshwater fishing reels is helpful to find the right one.

Fishing can be a wonderful hobby and a highly satisfying hobby. But, if you do not have the basic skills to match your equipment, you will spend more time fixing your equipment than actually fishing.

First, the spin casting freshwater fishing reel. The spin casting fishing reel is the most common type of freshwater fishing reel .This sort of freshwater fishing reel is less prone to tangles and snares and casts with the push of a button. By pressing and holding the thumb button on the back of the spin casting freshwater fishing reel, you essentially push and hold a spindle and peg which locks down the fishing line. By letting go of the button when you cast, the bait or lure lobs out to the water.

Second is the spinning freshwater fishing reel. Spinning freshwater fishing reels have open faces and you can see the string in the reel. Most professional fishers use a spinning freshwater fishing reel to catch their fish on. Because you can control the way the string leaves the reel, you can get very accurate casts when you cast into reeds or other areas fish like to hide.

Third is the bait casting freshwater fishing reel. Bait casting freshwater fishing reels are some of the most difficult types of fishing reels to learn how to use. You are expected to understand how different weights will affect you cast and the operation of the freshwater fishing reel. If you do not have the proper skills necessary to use this type of freshwater fishing reel it will be an exercise in frustration.

Fourth, fly fishing freshwater fishing reels and electric fishing freshwater fishing reels are very advanced and designed for very specific situations. Neither of these freshwater fishing reels are suited to beginner fishermen.

Freshwater Fishing Reel Basics - See What Freshwater Fishing Reel Is Best For You

Freshwater Fishing Reel Basics - See What Freshwater Fishing Reel Is Best For You


The three main types of freshwater fishing reels match the three most popular fishing styles - bait casting, spin casting and fly-casting.

Freshwater fishing reels for Bait Casting

This type of freshwater fishing reel is extremely complicated. The weight of the lures being used pulls the line off the rod. It's then thrust forward as part of the casting motion. Most bait casting freshwater fishing reels include a device to lay the line evenly across the rotating cylinder that forms the reel's core. If you don't cast smoothly, you will most likely have problems when you reel the line back in. It can become tangled, which is very frustrating. After all, who wants to spend ages untangling the line? For this reason, bait-casting freshwater fishing reels are generally not recommended for beginners or children.

Freshwater Fishing Reels for Spin Casting

When it comes to spinning freshwater fishing reels, there are two types to choose from - closed faced and open faced. If you're learning to fish, the closed faced spinning freshwater fishing reel is a great choice. It's mostly trouble free, and is perfectly capable of bringing in your catch. When you're casting there's a push button release, and there's also an opening in the top where the line comes out during casting. You mount this type of freshwater fishing reel on your fishing reed. When you buy a prepackaged rod and freshwater fishing reel, it will almost always have this type of freshwater fishing reel, and spinning freshwater fishing reels are very popular with beginners, children, hobbyists and casual sportsmen.

An open faced spinning freshwater fishing reel can be more difficult to use. They come in a range of sizes, to suit different conditions. An ultra light model can be used for catching pan fish, but if you're going game or ocean fishing, you'll need a larger model. The advantage of an open-faced freshwater fishing reel is that it has a much greater line capacity, and can be used for salmon and trout. The drag is smooth, so they're a great choice for longer run game fish.

It's common for fishing enthusiasts to start out with a close face-spinning freshwater fishing reel, and then graduate to an open-faced freshwater fishing reel as they gain experience. It's always worth spending a little bit extra to get a good quality freshwater fishing reel. Many cheap freshwater fishing reels contain plastic parts, and you run the risk of them failing if you catch a larger fish. A common rule of thumb is that the lighter the line, the smaller the freshwater fishing reel needs to be. So check and make sure your freshwater fishing reel matches the fishing line you're going to use. If you only want to buy one freshwater fishing reel, then go for a medium speed one. If your budget runs to two freshwater fishing reels, choose both a low and high-speed freshwater fishing reel. Also, reels are different for right and left handed people, so make sure you mention this when you're shopping for a freshwater fishing reel. Right-handed fishing reels turn clockwise, whereas left-handed reels turn counter clockwise.

Freshwater Fishing Reels for Fly Fishing

Fly fishing involves another set of skills, and so a different type of freshwater fishing reel. You need to ensure that your fly fishing reel's drag is highly responsive. You also need to buy a freshwater fishing reel that can cope with the tension and strain of a really big catch. These are generally the most expensive type of freshwater fishing reels, so make sure there are no plastic parts that can fail - something which happens far too often with a big fish on the line. Buy an all-metal freshwater fishing reel, and you won't have to tell as many 'the one that got away' stories.

Freshwater Fishing Reel Fundamentals

Freshwater Fishing Reel Fundamentals


Using a freshwater fishing reel for the first time can be tormenting, particularly if the style of freshwater fishing reel is new to you. Novices often start with a closed-face, spin cast freshwater fishing reel which assists keep the line from snarling and is basically push the button and throw the line out. This is the type of freshwater fishing reel I embarked on my son using and once he got the hang of the art of casting, and it is an art, I moved him up to a spinning freshwater fishing reel

The spinning freshwater fishing reel is in all likelihood the most popular style. With these the freshwater fishing reel hangs under the rod and the line is held on an open spool. The line is controlled by a bail for casting and drag gears for controlling the fight. Casting takes a little practice, but keeping your forefinger pressing the line against the handle before casting will prevent the line from coming off the spool. It is a little bit harder to master than the spin cast freshwater fishing reel but once conquered very few go back to the spin cast reel

Then there is the baitcasting freshwater fishing reel that many weekend fishermen stay clear of. The baitcast freshwater fishing reel takes a little more effort to learn to use. Therefore, a bit of practice is in order to become accurate and avoid backlashes in your line. Whatever you do, do not expect to buy a baitcasting freshwater fishing reel and head out fishing without first learning how to handle it. If you do bring a back up rod and freshwater fishing reel. This kind of fishing freshwater fishing reel has become the favorite for most pro-bass fishermen because of both the distance and the accuracy you can achieve from them once you learn how to effectively cast your baitcasting freshwater fishing reel.

Freshwater Fishing reel Varieties

Freshwater Fishing reel Varieties


Freshwater fishing reels have two classifications: the fixed spool reels and the conventional reels. Fixed spool reels are immobile. Conventional reels, on the other hand, feature spools that revolve and are commonly used in saltwater fishing. These are further divided into three varieties: spinning, spincasting and baitcasting.

Baitcasting freshwater fishing reels
This is a small and conventional type. It can easily fit into an angler's while mounted on a fishing rod. This is used mainly for a bigger catch. Baitcasting freshwater fishing reels are excellent because of their sensitivity to movement by the fishing line's end but they are inaccessible to ultralight lines sizes as well as with "backlash" tangles. Learning how to use this method is actually a bit difficult. People who use this are mostly professionals or very skilled already.

Spinning freshwater fishing reels
Spinning freshwater fishing reels are the most commonly used these days. It has a fixed spoon reel that has housing along its stationary spool parallel to the axis of the rod, spinning around it when the handle is turned.
When using a spinning freshwater fishing reel, a casting technique called "spinning" is produced. However, since the spool is set and fixed, having a backlash is one thing you will never encounter. This type is available from ultralight up to medium-heavy sizes. They are also less sensitive as compared to Baitcasting freshwater fishing reels. They are also bulky because of their large size, along with the bait and heavy lure attached to it.

Spincasting freshwater fishing reels
This is featured as a combination of stationary and conventional freshwater fishing reels. Spincasting freshwater fishing reels are angler friendly and are more advisable for beginners. Even children may easily use it because of the simple push-button mechanism. Hence it is also alternatively called pushbutton freshwater fishing reels.

It is the least sensitive among the three types. This is as far as movement along the end of the line is concerned. As a negative feedback, you cannot fully control the fish and the luring of the fish, resulting to poor Spincasting.

Are All Freshwater Fishing Reels The Same?

Are All Freshwater Fishing Reels The Same?


If we listen to the manufacturers, freshwater fishing reels are as different as the shape of the rocks on the bottom of your favorite trout stream, but is this true? Or are all freshwater fishing reels created equally? First of all, of course they aren't all created equally. There are degrees of difference, but the basic functions are all the same, and as long as you stick with a well-known manufacturer, you should be in good shape. What do I mean by a well-known manufacturer? Companies such as Pflueger, Daiwa, Okuma, and Quantum are all quality manufacturers. Basically, companies that you've heard of, and have been around a while.

The bottom line is not to be so concerned about price that you buy a freshwater fishing reel for less than twenty dollars. Freshwater fishing reels that cost less than twenty dollars usually aren't any good, and you end up hating them. How do I know this? Because I've wasted my own time and money on these cheap spinning freshwater fishing reels before, and this is exactly what happened. There is also not much need to spend any more than fifty bucks on a freshwater fishing reel. Especially for normal freshwater fishing situations. If you're in the market for a freshwater fishing reel, look for something between the prices of 25 and 50 dollars, made by a quality manufacturer, and you'll be good to go.

Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to freshwater fishing reels, and especially spinning freshwater fishing reels, is the number of ball bearings that are in the reel itself. The description of the freshwater fishing reel will tell you how many ball bearings it has, and usually the more, the better. The more ball bearing that there are, the less "play" your spinning freshwater fishing reel will have in the handle. Fishing reels with 6 or more ball bearings generally have no "play" at all in the handle, which is a great thing.

Freshwater Fishing Reels

Welcome to our freshwater fishing reels blog.

If your looking for information about freshwater fishing reels then this site is for you.

We will have freshwater fishing reels articles and freshwater fishing reels information posted here.