| As with every other sport, fishing has | | | | These reels are the most capable in the art |
| developed a huge set of associated equipment | | | | of casting, and are available in models |
| from numerous manufacturers, covering every | | | | strong enough to take on a real granddaddy |
| conceivable niche in the sport. Within that | | | | catfish, though the issue of strength is the |
| gargantuan array of gear, there is further | | | | one which will let you down with a spinning |
| variety among the various general components, | | | | reel, if anything does. Look at Quantum, |
| and fishing reels are certainly no exception. | | | | Mitchell and Daiwa reels, here. If you go |
| For something that is basically a spool to | | | | this route, make sure that the spinning reel |
| wind your line on, fishing reels have | | | | you choose has a strong foot, a solid casing, |
| developed into an amazingly complex and | | | | and a bail made of serious metal - no cheapo |
| scientific breed of equipment, each model | | | | parts - along with a strong hand-crank and a |
| specialized to a particular application, | | | | smooth, powerful drag control. |
| quarry, preference or technical point of | | | | |
| prowess. For the specialized pursuit of | | | | The spincasting reel is similar to a spinning |
| catfish, the main points of prowess in a reel | | | | reel, but has an enclosed spool, and an |
| need to be durability, reliability and | | | | "automatic" casting system which allows it to |
| outright strength. Within that realm, one can | | | | be easily handled by novice anglers. Casting |
| then take into account the particular style | | | | is done by depressing and holding a thumb |
| of reel one prefers to use, and the features | | | | button on the back of the reel, and releasing |
| and appearance of the reel, to narrow down | | | | it, just as the cast moves to the appropriate |
| the options. | | | | release point overhead, which sets the line |
| | | | free to be pulled off the reel. Experienced |
| As far as the basic design of the reel goes, | | | | fishermen also use spincasters, but the issue |
| regardless of the fish sought, there are | | | | of strength leaves this design in a |
| essentially four designs, or types of reel to | | | | questionable light, where really big cats are |
| choose from. These are the fly reel, the | | | | concerned. Fishermen who are after only small |
| spinning reel, the spincasting reel and the | | | | or medium-sized fish, though, will appreciate |
| baitcasting reel. Each design has its | | | | the simplicity and compact design of |
| strengths and weaknesses, depending on the | | | | spincasters, as will those with children or |
| fishing technique you intend to employ. | | | | other novices whom they are teaching to fish. |
| Different manufacturers make various models | | | | The predominant manufacturer in this design |
| of each of these four reel types, in varying | | | | is Daiwa, with Mitchell offering a series of |
| price ranges, so your choice of reel will | | | | respectable models also. Once again, for |
| come down to its basic capacity to handle the | | | | heavy fish, this is not the preferred choice |
| fish you expect to hook, the design you | | | | in a reel design, so for any catfish pursuit, |
| prefer to use, and the price you are willing | | | | make sure that the model you are looking at |
| to pay to get the features you want. | | | | is rated for a pretty decent sized fish, |
| | | | because cats will put even the sturdiest gear |
| To begin, let's look at each of the reel | | | | to the test. |
| types, as they apply to catfishing. The first | | | | |
| reel type, the fly reel, is only rarely used | | | | The final category, baitcasters, are the |
| in catfish fishing, and only by folks with | | | | catfisherman's best choice, in most arenas, |
| strong hands and a penchant for torture, | | | | primarily due to their exceptional strength. |
| fishing in small-cat waters. This is because | | | | Baitcasters are the "original" mechanical |
| a fly reel is, simply, a manual reel, period. | | | | reel, with a strong, horizontal transverse |
| A heavy catfish can be easily over forty | | | | spool, driven by a high-reduction drive from |
| pounds, and the fly reel's direct, simple and | | | | a large, sturdy hand-crank, and generally |
| unbridled operation make for a chancy option | | | | equipped with a drag control and a level |
| at best, for landing one. If you really, | | | | winding device. The biggest shortfall of |
| really want to use a fly reel, use a mighty | | | | baitcasters, is the technique required to |
| strong fly rod to go with it, and get a reel | | | | cast with a conventional reel, although |
| by one of the better manufacturers - you're | | | | modern reels have a number of advancements |
| going to need it. | | | | onboard which have made that task somewhat |
| | | | easier. However, as far as a reel which can |
| Moving on, the spinning reel is probably the | | | | handle even the biggest bait, when casting, |
| most common reel in use today, if not the | | | | and which will withstand all that the |
| ultimate preference for the pursuit of | | | | heaviest catfish can dish out, baitcasters |
| catfish. Spinning reels use a central, | | | | take it, walking away. Their low profile, |
| horizontal inline spool of line, with a | | | | close connection to the rod and strong, |
| rotating carriage, called a bail, which wraps | | | | transverse spool design make them pretty |
| the line around the spool, or, alternately, | | | | tough to knock off their game. |
| can be pulled open to cast the line out. | | | | |