There are really only two kinds of fishing reels: revolving spool and fixed spool. The former is known as 'conventional,' and the latter, 'spinning.'
A revolving spool reel does what it says: the spool revolves. By a series of gears inside the reel, the spool rotates several times for each crank of the handle. The ratio of spool rotations to handle rotations is called the gear ratio. The higher the gear ratio, the faster you can retrieve the line.
A (Very) Brief History of Conventional Reels
Though various authorities point to historical references dating back to the early part of the first millennium, the modern revolving spool reel dates to around 1810, when a Kentucky watch maker, George Snyder, made a reel with a 4:1 gear ratio, a button to disengage the spool for casting, and a drag system. The basic design hasn't changed to this day.
Some Terminology
The operation of a conventional reel is straightforward, and so is the nomenclature for its parts. The line winds onto a spool via the cranking of a handle. A lever atop the reel throws the reel into free-spool for letting line out. A star-shaped gear under the handle controls the drag tension, which is the amount of pull needed to have the spool turn backwards so line can pay out when a fish fights hard.
Additional features may include a level-wind, which distributes the line evenly as it is retrieved. However, this feature makes it harder to cast. There is also a screw which tightens the tension on the spool to prevent overruns when casting. And there is a clicker, which, when engaged, makes a sound when the spool rotates.
Using Your Reel
For a right-handed person's cast, the rod is held in the right hand with the butt of the rod along the forearm. When letting out line, the thumb has to be on the spool to provide tension and prevent an overrun. The left hand is on the rod butt for a cast. Casting takes practice: the rod is swung in an overhead arc and the pressure on the spool is lessened near the top of the swing so the line can flow freely, but not too freely. The idea is to have the spool revolve just fast enough for the line to go out without restrictions, but no faster.
The result of improper tension on the line is either that the line is too restricted (too much tension) and the cast is short, or a backlash. A backlash is the bane of revolving spool fishermen, and the reason the spinning reel was invented. Every angler will get one and probably many more. When there is too little tension on the spool, the spool spins faster than the line is going out; the loops on the reel get looser and looser until they become tangled in what fishermen call a bird's nest (they usually include an adjective that I cannot repeat here). Some backlashes are easily removed; others result in a lost day of fishing.
Use the Power of Your Reel
The strength of the line is sufficient, combined with proper drag, to subdue most any fish. A change in fishng lines in recent years has necessitated a change in the way the reel is used. Formerly, monofilament, a stretchy kind of extruded plastic, was the best choice available. Now we have braided lines that have no stretch. Braided lines are superior for most uses, but they require the drag to be set looser. The stretch in monofilament takes up some of the shock of a fish pulling. Without that cushion the drag must be set lighter with braid.
Putting Line on the Reel
All reels should be filled to maximum capacity. Though this is more important with a spinning reel, conventional reels will be more effective when the spool is filled.You can easily see that the diameter of a single turn of line on the reel is larger when the spool is fuller. That means for each crank of the handle more line is recovered. You can reel in a fish or an empty hook faster. Conversely, when line is going out, the spool has to move faster for the same abount of line if the reel is not full. This makes control of a cast more difficult.
The reel must not be over-filled. There has to be sufficient clearance between the line on the spool and the crossbar that holds the reel's plates together. Otherwise the line could get jammed.
Reeling in a Fish
When line is retrieved, the left hand moves to the rod ahead of the reel, and the right hand turns the handle. For bigger rods it is handy to use a rod belt into which the butt can be securely placed. If the reel does not have a level wind, the line must be guided back and forth on the reel so it lies evenly. This is a skill that takes a little time to learn, but it is essential. If the line is allowed to pile up in one place, eventually it will hit the bar and jam. Also, the pile can slip down, causing the loops to overlap and tangle.
Balanced Tackle
It is critical that the line, reel, rod, and lure or weight be properly matched in order to cast well. Spinning reels are much more forgiving in this regard. Always stick to the manufacturer's recommendation for line diameter and lure weight unless you have a very – and I mean very – good reason not to. Your rod has a certain amount of flex, and only a weight in the recommended zone will allow good casts.
Use the power of your conventional rod and reel and you'll be bagging trophy fish.
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Jon Plotkin - The author was a math major at Cornell and has a master's degree in meteorology from MIT.
