Freshwater Baitcasting Reels
Picking out a freshwater baitcasting reel for freshwater fishing can be a daunting task if you are a novice and are not familiar with all fishing jargon. It makes you wonder how such a small and seemingly simple mechanism can be so complicated. Here is a simple guide to getting familiar with freshwater baitcast reels.
A freshwater baitcasting reel is used by fishermen who want to catch bigger and heavier species of fish in freshwater environments. Those who fish in saltwater require the same kind of reels but made from different materials that will be resistant to the effects of saltwater on metal.
Generally, your choice of baitcasting reels will revolve around four basic factors: the weight of the lure you’re are going to use, the size of the fishing line, the speed of the line from the spool and the speed of the line during retrieval. The major components of a freshwater baitcast reel are the following: spool, frame and ball bearings.
The spool holds the fishing line and is made from graphite or aluminum material. Higher quality reels are made from aluminum as these are heavier and more durable. However, if lightness is what you prefer, graphite spools are for you. The frame is what holds the reel together, and it comes in either graphite or aluminum as well. The ball bearings of a reel are what make the reel move. The goal is to always have ball bearings that move smoothly.
You also want to consider the line capacity of your reel. You might end up with a line that is too short if you don’t read the package labels of your reel carefully before purchasing it. Determine how much line you need for the particular fish you are planning to catch.
You also have to consider the gear ratio of your baitcasting reel. The gear ratio of a reel is the measure of fast it will retrieve the line per revolution of reel’s crank. If you need heavy duty power to reel in fish from deeper bodies of water, you will need a low ratio reel. Meanwhile, if you are going to reel in fish closer to the surface of the water, you will find high gear ratio reels advantageous. Again, it all depends on the depth of the water you are going to fish in and the type of fish you plan to catch.
Because of all the competition in the fishing equipment market, manufacturers have come up with so many great innovations. An example of this is the centrifugal braking system. This system is a magnetic system that affects the rotation and speed of your spool. If you move the brakes closer to the spool, there is less braking and thus faster speed.
Free spools allow your spool to rotate freely, allowing you to cast baits further into the water with less effort on your part. Most reels today also come with a counter balance, which is a knob that adjusts the rotation of the spool to balance the weight of the lure or bait used. With all these advancements and innovations, there is no excuse to come home at the end of a fishing trip empty handed.
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