Posted on June 21, 1998 at 15:06:41:
Considerations for Choosing a Fly Reel by Gary D. Scavette
The definition of a fly reel has changed a great deal in the last
couple of decades. Once thought of as simply ” a place to hold
your line” the fly reel has evolved into a highly specialized
piece of gear. With phrases such as “startup inertia”,
“large arbor”, and “heat dissipative disc drag”,
the beginner can often be led to believe that they need to be an
expert in Newtonian physics to make an informed purchase. I’ll
try to simplify things a bit.
Click drag and disc drag reels
The simplest of fly reels are those with a click drag. This is simply
a spring loaded foot that presses against a gear in the reel spool.
This provides resistance as well as that wonderful music we love to
hear as a fish screams off with our feathered offering. The clicker
is not really considered to be a true drag but just a means of
providing resistance, so that the angler does not cause the reel to
over-run when stripping line. One should look for an exposed rim on
this type of reel since it does not have a true drag. The exposed rim
allows the angler to apply pressure with the thumb or palm providing
drag for fighting large fish. This type of reel is by far the most
common for trout fishing.
Disc drag reels are becoming very popular in all sizes today. Larger
reels are used for large long running fish from stripers on up to
billfish. Many of today’s smaller trout sized reels are equipped
with disc drags to allow a smooth, controlled, even resistance to
hard running fish. This can be an advantage in protecting a light
tippet from the uneven resistance so often encountered with palming
the spool. The drag is created from friction between a disc(made of
various materials) and the reel’s metal housing. The larger the
disc’s surface area the greater the heat dissipation and more
consistent the resistive force.
Reel Size
Some of the older fly fishing literature would often suggest matching
the weight of a fly reel to that of the rod so that the balance point
is just forward of the rod grip’s center. Reels were often heavy
to match the heavy rods that they were attached to. In some cases
weight was added to the reel so that this balance point could be
attained. Today’s fly rods are extremely light compared to 20
years ago. Fly reels are also manufactured to be much lighter. If you
purchase a reel today designed for a 5,6, or 7 fly line then it will
usually balance reasonably well on any of these rods.
Once you find the reel that balances appropriately on your rod you
need to consider the size or capacity of the reel. Large
circumference fly reels have distinct advantages over reels of
smaller circumference. I will summarize these for you:
ADVANTAGES OF THE LARGE CIRCUMFERENCE FLY REEL
1) Greater backing capacity
2) Greater retrieve speed: More line is spooled with each revolution
of the reel handle.
3) Less line memory effect: Line coils are not as small and tight as
is common with small circumference reels.
4) Lower startup inertia: It is easier to strip line from a large
circumference than a small one.This can assist in protecting very
light tippets.
5) More consistent drag force: For those of you who have ever
stripped an entire fly line and backing off a small circumference
reel you know that the drag
becomes significantly greater as you get close to the reel’s
rotational axis.
To have the advantages of large reel circumference some manufacturers
are producing “large arbor” fly reels. These reels have an
arbor(the part of the reel where backing is attached) that is larger
than standard. In order for a large arbor reel to be advantageous the
large arbor must be accompanied by a larger overall reel
circumference and / or a wider reel spool. Large arbor fly reels are
popular for those who fish the salt as well as larger freshwater
species. The popularity of large arbor reels is also starting to
spread to the trout angler. I suspect that we will see these reels
continue to grow in popularity throughout the next few years. (Note
the photo: The reel on the left is a true large arbor reel. The reel
on the right is a traditional reel. Both reels will balance equally
on a 9ft.- 5wt. fly rod but the large arbor reel will have all of the
advantages mentioned previously)
In summary, it is a good idea to consider the largest circumference
fly reel that will balance appropriately with your fly rod. The
simple click drag is a reliable and often inexpensive way to go. When
equipped with an exposed rim it can be used under a wide range of
conditions. The disc drag is a luxury on the trout sized reel but a
wise choice if pursuing big game on the fly. When choosing a disc
drag reel look for a large disc surface area. Keep these few things
in mind and don’t let the market confuse you. Take good care of
your reel and it will provide several generations of sweet music.