Fishing Reels Guide
Fishing Reels Buyer's Guide
Spinning, baitcasting, spincast, and fly reels explained in plain language. Covers gear ratios, drag systems, and how to choose the right reel for how you fish.
In This Guide
Reel Types Overview
The reel type you choose is the most fundamental decision in fishing gear selection. It determines your casting style, the lures you can effectively use, the line you will spool, and your learning curve as an angler.
Spinning Reel
Open-face spool hangs below the rod. Easiest to use and best for light lures and line. The beginner-to-expert reel for most freshwater fishing.
Baitcasting Reel
Sits on top of the rod. High accuracy and power, preferred by bass anglers and experienced fishermen. Has a steeper learning curve.
Spincast Reel
Push-button enclosed design. Almost zero learning curve. Lower performance ceiling but excellent for beginners and youth anglers.
Fly Reel
Stores fly line. Casting is done with the rod. An entirely different technique from conventional fishing, used for trout, salmon, and fly fishing specifically.
Spinning Reels
The spinning reel is the workhorse of recreational fishing. The open face spool sits below the rod, and a wire bail flips down to release line on the cast, then engages automatically or manually to stop it.
Best for light to medium lures from 1/16 to 1 oz, finesse techniques, ultralight fishing, panfish, walleye, trout, bass, saltwater inshore, and beginners and experts alike.
Baitcasting Reels
Baitcasting reels sit on top of the rod and use a revolving spool. As line goes out, the spool rotates. This enables much greater casting accuracy and the ability to handle heavier line and lures. The tradeoff is backlash, which occurs when the spool spins faster than the line exits and creates a tangle.
Modern baitcasters include magnetic and centrifugal braking systems that reduce backlash dramatically. Daiwa's Tatula series, stocked by CritPro, is widely regarded as one of the best values in the baitcaster category.
Best for bass fishing, heavy lures from 3/8 to 2 oz, precision pitching and flipping, heavy cover fishing, and tournament anglers.
Gear Ratio Explained
Gear ratio describes how many times the spool rotates per single handle turn. A 6.3:1 ratio means the spool rotates 6.3 times per handle revolution.
| Gear Ratio | Speed | Best Applications |
|---|---|---|
| 5.0:1 to 5.4:1 | Slow | Deep crankbaits, swimbaits, big spinnerbaits where a slow retrieve is needed |
| 6.2:1 to 6.8:1 | Medium | Most versatile ratio. Handles the widest variety of techniques. |
| 7.1:1 to 7.9:1 | Fast | Topwaters, jigs, soft plastics, punching when fast line pickup matters |
| 8.1:1 and up | Extra Fast | Burning baits quickly, speed cranking, tournament applications |
If you are buying your first baitcaster, a 6.3:1 to 7.0:1 ratio handles most techniques well. Experienced anglers often own multiple reels spooled with different lines set to different ratios for specific techniques.
Drag Systems
The drag system controls how much resistance a fish encounters when pulling line from the reel. A properly set drag prevents line breakage by giving slightly when a fish makes a strong run while maintaining enough tension to tire the fish.
Front drag on spinning reels is located at the nose of the spool. Generally smoother and stronger than rear drag systems and used on quality reels. Rear drag is located behind the reel body and is easier to adjust during a fight but typically less powerful. Star drag on baitcasters is a star-shaped wheel on the reel handle side and is standard on baitcasters with intuitive adjustment.
Daiwa at CritPro
CritPro is an authorized Daiwa dealer stocking the Tatula baitcasting lineup and additional Daiwa products. Daiwa is one of the world's leading fishing reel manufacturers, with Japanese engineering expertise going back to 1955. The Tatula 100 is widely regarded as the best baitcasting reel in its price class.
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CritPro stocks Daiwa baitcasting reels and additional fishing gear including knives, tools, and tackle essentials. Ships fast from Jesup, Georgia.
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