| Buying a new fly fishing reel is not as easy as it | | | | are looser. This means that the loops forming in a |
| sounds, you have to consider a few basic but | | | | fly line with time are fewer, eventually even |
| essential issues before parting with your money. | | | | eliminated by the stretching action of the line. The |
| So before taking any action, consider some of | | | | down side is that you cannot get as much backing |
| the following points. | | | | on to a large arbour reel. Some manufacturers |
| 1 - What species of fish are you going after? is it | | | | (such as Cortland) supply both standard and large |
| trout, salmon, pike or even sea fish for instance | | | | arbour spools. |
| bass? | | | | 8 - Reel cases and reel bags. |
| 2 - The reel is primarily a line carrier, its function is | | | | Many manufacturers supply a simple reel case to |
| to smoothly retrieve line, react to striking and | | | | protect the reel when not in use. More recently |
| playing the fish. If fishing for trout then you will | | | | manufacturers (Greys and Cortland to name just |
| use a reel that can take either floating or sinking | | | | two) supply reels with a bag, holding both the reel |
| line with backing. The reels used for salmon are | | | | and spare spools. |
| generally larger, but still must be smooth and | | | | 9 - How much to spend? |
| quick to respond. Sea fishing fly reels need to be | | | | A good reel does not have to cost the earth, |
| more durable, resistant to corrosion and easily | | | | many of the Greys and Cortland reels (from $50 |
| stripped down to clean. | | | | and $100 respectively) represent great value for |
| 3 - Weight is important as it balances with the rod | | | | money. The G-series reel was introduced by |
| to help maneuverability and responsiveness. The | | | | Greys as an introductory level reel but I really like |
| ease of casting and the retrieval of the line will be | | | | it. In today's market it's worth shopping around, |
| enhanced by a well balanced reel to rod. | | | | you can get some really good deals online, and |
| 4 - Reels today are made from polymer | | | | off, if you go for end of line deals. |
| composites or aluminum alloys, the alloys can be | | | | What do I use? |
| die cast or machined giving a greater strength to | | | | I am a bit old fashioned - I still like BFR (British Fly |
| weight ratio. The best fly fishing reels on the | | | | Reels) and the Rimfly at less than $50 is a very |
| market are made by Hardy's, and they pride | | | | good reel. The other reels I use is a hardy |
| themselves on using the best materials available. | | | | viscount and a marquis, I know they are a bit old |
| This comes at a cost, a good Hardy reel costs | | | | and expensive, but their again I'm a great Hardy |
| over a $200 | | | | anything fan, and there is no denying the quality. |
| 5 - What about drag? | | | | Whatever you decide to get, then a bit of advice |
| The drag allows you to control the rate at which | | | | if you are on a tight budget. Go online and |
| the fish strips line from the reel. Turning up the | | | | research what you are looking for, then go to |
| drag slows the fish. The simplest reels don't have | | | | your local store and price up the reel of your |
| a drag system, but rely upon 'thumb drag' in | | | | choice, even ask for a bit of advice. It's a sad |
| which the thumb controls the rate the line is | | | | fact fly fishing reels bought from a retail shop are |
| stripped from the reel. The downside is that it | | | | more expensive than buying online, the shops |
| takes a lot of skill to get this right and initially you | | | | overheads force the retailer to charge more. You |
| will lose fish. Most modern reels have some form | | | | have the choice now, of buying from the shop or |
| of disc-drag system operated by a lever or dial. | | | | going online, usually the store owner is an |
| The most important thing is that it is easy to use. | | | | experienced angle, and you will have benefited |
| In the excitement of playing a fish you can easily | | | | from that knowledge. |
| lose a fish because you tightened the drag when | | | | If you can afford to buy from the store then do |
| you meant to slacken it. In addition the drag | | | | so, they are trying to make a living, but times are |
| system must be easy to use with wet, cold | | | | difficult, so if you have a tight budget then |
| (sometimes blue!) fingers. The drag lever or dial | | | | consider buying from an online source line eBay. |
| should be reasonably large and easily accessible, | | | | But beware buying from eBay, ensure the |
| and made from non-slip material, so it's easy to | | | | feedback is at least 20 + positive, and you are |
| find and operate. | | | | dealing with someone, or a company that is well |
| 6 - What about spare spools? | | | | established, with contact details. |
| Spare spools are handy if you intend to fish with | | | | Finally the type of reel I like is the Hardy's range, |
| a range of lines - floating, intermediate and sinking | | | | I still use some of the older reels like the Marquis, |
| lines are the most popular. For this reason, most | | | | and I even use an old Viscount. Maybe a good |
| manufacturers include at least one spare spool as | | | | modern reel would be the Hardy Demon, made |
| part of the package. If you buy a reel that is | | | | from quality lightweight materials, it's very durable |
| about to be discontinued, play safe and buy a | | | | and has a life time guarantee, tops for trout |
| couple of extra spools, as manufacturers may | | | | fishing. It comes in at a price of about $210 but it |
| only keep spare spools few years after a reel | | | | will last a long time if looked after it will also be a |
| has been discontinued. | | | | great investment. The collectors market for |
| 7 - Large arbour reel or standard? | | | | vintage reels especially Hardy's is very buoyant. |
| The big advantage of large arbor reels is that | | | | Hope you enjoyed this article, happy fishing. |
| there are fewer coils in the fly line, and the coils | | | | |