| There are four basic types of fishing reels: | | | | the reel is cranked. The wire loop is called the bail |
| Spincast, Spinning, Casting, and Fly. All of them are | | | | and is designed to capture the line and force it |
| used to achieve the same result, which is to hold | | | | into the groove at the base of loop so it can be |
| enough line for casting and playing a fish. Here is a | | | | wound around the spindle when the reel is |
| breakdown of the types: | | | | cranked. At the top of the spool or the base of |
| Spincast | | | | the reel is the drag adjustment, the location |
| The spincast reel is completely enclosed with the | | | | varies by manufacturer and model. There will also |
| exception of a small hole in the top where the line | | | | be some type of switch to enable/disable the |
| comes out. The line wraps around a spindle | | | | anti-reverse feature of the reel. Anti-reverse |
| located inside the upper housing. The spindle sits | | | | prevents the reel from spinning backwards if you |
| parallel to the fishing rod so the line comes off in | | | | remove your hand from the crank. The reel is |
| a coil. The line is wound back around the spindle | | | | designed to be hung below the rod. |
| by a collar that catches the line where it comes | | | | To cast a rod equipped with a spinning reel you |
| off of the spindle and rotates as the crank is | | | | first grasp the rod so that the reel hangs below |
| turned. When the trigger is pushed, the collar | | | | the rod, and the mounting base shaft for the reel |
| moves out of the way and allows line to unspool | | | | is between you middle and ring fingers. Now, using |
| from the spindle. This type of reel also has a drag | | | | the index finger of the hand holding the rod, catch |
| that is either controlled by a wheel located on the | | | | the line where it leaves the reel and hold it to the |
| housing or by a large spoke ring around the base | | | | rod with you finger. Using your other hand flip the |
| of the crank handle. The drag provides tension on | | | | bail up so it points toward the rod tip. This will |
| the line for fighting fish and is adjustable to | | | | allow the line to come off the spool if you release |
| prevent line breakage. | | | | the line held by your index finger. Start the |
| To cast a rod equipped with a spincast reel you | | | | casting motion and on the forward portion of the |
| start the casting motion and press the trigger on | | | | motion release the line held by your finger at the |
| the forward motion of the cast at the point | | | | point where you want the lure to start flying. |
| where you want the lure to start flying. When the | | | | When the lure hits the water turn the crank and |
| lure hits the desired location you turn the crank to | | | | the bail will close. You can now start retrieving the |
| release the trigger and engage the collar with the | | | | lure. |
| line. You can now start retrieving your lure. | | | | Spinning reels cast farther than Spincast reels but |
| Spincast reels usually cast lures less distance than | | | | can sometimes have problems with line loops if |
| other types, but have fewer line loops or | | | | the line develops twists, there is slack in the line |
| backlashes. | | | | when it is reeled, there is a lot of line memory, or |
| Spinning | | | | if there is too much line on the reel. |
| Spinning reels have a visible line spool with a wire | | | | Part 2 will cover Casting reels and Fly Reels. |
| loop at the top that moves around the spool as | | | | |