Different Types of Fishing Reels

Outfitting your fishing rod with the right reel is important because each type of fishing reel requires a different skill level and function. Overall, there are 4 types of reels: spincast, baitcasting, spinning and fly reels. To help you choose the right reel, we listed each of the types of fishing reels and their functional benefits for your fishing style and skill level.

Comparing Types of Fishing Reels

Spincast

The spincast reel is recognized as one of the easiest reels to use, making it the perfect real for outfits designed for children. This reel has a cover or closed face keeping all the essential parts of the reel protected. To use the reel, simply press down on the thumb button on the back during your forward cast peeling the line out. Once you let go of the button, the line will stop peeling out, making it easy to control. The only downfall of the reel is that the design costs you distance and accuracy. Thus, if you want to become an extreme angler, this type of reel isn’t for you.

Baitcasting

Let’s start out and just state baitcasters are extremely difficult to control. The design of the reel is made solely for accuracy and not for usability or easy casting. Thus, practice makes perfect when using this reel. When casting, you must keep the spool under control or it will turn into a nest of line. This is done by typically providing a bit of pressure to the spool with your thumb. You should not use this reel with really lightweight line but rather heavier line and lures. Overall, you should be a very experienced angler before using a baitcasting reel.

Spinning

The spinning reel is the most popular reel used by anglers of all levels because of its superior open-faced design. This design adds the versatility you need while providing exceptional usability and accuracy. In fact, the design enables the spool to have excellent line capacity and is easy to exchange line when needed. However, this reel is usually not built for heavier line.

So, go out and shop for the best types of reels for your fishing style and skill level. If you decide to fish off of a boat, we suggest investing in a boat lift or dock to prevent maritime corrosion and fouling. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend more time fishing out in the open water than cleaning the sludge off the bottom of your boat? If you don’t own a boat but live on water, we make custom floating dock systems that are perfect for fishing!