Fishing with Piotr

There are three basic reel types: spinning, casting (bait-casting), and spin casting. In this article I will mainly cover the two most popular ones and the only two that I use. There are some other types of reels but these are specialized reels for trolling or for fly fishing.

Spinning Reel

A spinning reel is your most basic reel. When people think of a fishing reel 99 times out of a hundred they are thinking of a spinning reel. Here is an image of one.

Spinning Reel

There are many benefits to using this type of reel and many different uses for it. If you are new to fishing this is the reel you want to use. It is plain and simple and very easy to learn how to operate. All that you have to do to use this reel is pull your line up with your finger to your rod, release the bail (just flip the thin metal half ring around the spool of line), and then cast. Once your bait is out there all you have to do is give your reel a turn with the handle and the bail will re-engage and will be ready to pull in your fish. It is a great reel to use when fishing with a bobber or when vertical jigging for fish that are sitting in deep water. In another article I will go into more depth about how to use this reel.

A major benefit of this type of reel is that it can be used whether you are left handed or right handed. The handle on these types of reels can easily be switched by simply unscrewing it and flipping it to the either side. Personally I like to retrieve with my left hand as I find it a more natural way to hold it. Here’s a quick video showing how quick and easy it is to flip the handle.

Casting (bait-basting) Reel

This style of reel is the one I most often use, but be warned if you are new to fishing or don’t fish too often then get yourself a spinning reel. This style of reel is the one most pros use when trying to catch bass as it can be more precise and is used in many different ways. It is completely different than a spinning reel as it does not sit on the bottom of your rod. This reel needs a totally different rod for it to work as it is attached to the top of your rod and the guides (the rings where your line goes through) are also on top of your rod with this style reel. Here’s a picture of one so you can get an idea of what it looks like.

Casting Reel

A casting reel works in a completely different method than the spinning reel. It takes more control and you have to be a little more engaged with it in order to use it properly. It involves calibrating the reel every time you put on a different lure and when you cast it out you actually have to stop the line from spooling out with your thumb. These reels tend to be a little more expensive than a spinning reel as they have more gears and better bearings in them but if you plan on really getting into fishing then this style of reel is where you want to be headed. One drawback from casting reels is that they are not interchangeable like spinning reels are. What I mean by this is that they are either for left hand retrieve or right hand retrieve so you have to make sure what you feel more comfortable with before you buy one. Just like spinning reels I prefer to have a left hand casting reel as well.

Spin Casting Reel

This style of reel is a combination of a spinning reel and a bait casting reel. It sits on top of your rod just like a casting reel but it casts more like a regular spinning reel. The line on these reels is completely enclosed in a cover, but in order to spool your line on the cover comes off for easy access. Personally I have used this style of reel only a few times and was not too happy with it. If you line gets a knot in it or comes off the spool then you have a big mess on your hands. These reels are usually quite cheap and it is reflected in their build quality. Many people get this style of reels especially when they are new to fishing but it quickly becomes more frustrating than it’s worth. My suggestion, simply speaking from personal experience, is to stay away from these reels. Get yourself a good quality spinning reel and you will keep your problems at a minimum. It is very easy to use and will give you years of good service, even if you don’t take super care of it.

If you have never been fishing before and are looking to get into the sport this is usually the first question you ask yourself and you’ve come to the right place for the answer. In this article I’ll guide you step by step to know what to look for if you plan on just being a recreational angler. If you’re a professional angler then you can stop reading here (although if you like what you see on this site tell some sponsors about us, I need some free stuff). Perhaps you’ve seen a fishing show lately or you want that nostalgic feeling because you went fishing back in the day as a child and you want to get back into the sport but you don’t know where to start, well let me help you out.

I’ve seen my fair share of fishing shows, magazines, and books, but for the most part they seem to leave out the basics, the information that is needed by the beginner fisherman, fisherwoman, or fisher-kid. These guys can go on an on about light action spinning rods or heavy action bait-casters, but what the hell are they talking about?

When you walk into a store like a Bass Pro Shop or even your local Canadian Tire or Wal-Mart you can be easily overwhelmed with the selection of rods, reels, lures, and other tackle. Everything is colourful, nicely packaged, and there are usually rows upon rows of fishing gear. If you’re like me you get into this section of the store and you almost don’t know where to look at first. Rule #1, no let’s say Suggestion #1, go past all the pretty baits and go towards the fishing rods.

So now you’re standing in front of all the rods and are still overwhelmed with the selection. I suggest you look into a fishing rod and reel combo. You can usually save a few bucks this way instead of purchasing them separately and this will make your choice a little easier. So you’ve started to narrow your search down already. Look for a spinning rod and reel combo. A spinning reel sits below the rod and is larger than a bait-caster, so this is what you want to be looking for. See the image.

A bait-caster is not an entry level rod and they usually cost a few bucks more than an entry level spinning rod so you’re going to want to stay away from these, that is until you fall in love with fishing and want to start landing more and more fish. My suggestion for a beginner is to get a medium action rod with a length anywhere from 6’ to 6’6”. On every rod you will find the type of “action” that the rod is meant for and its length, you can usually find this on the bottom part of the rod, next to where the reel sits.

The action refers to the type of fishing you’re going to do and the sensitivity of the rod. A light action rod is used for small pan-fish, a heavy action is for large fish and for fishing in spots with heavy cover, and a medium action is somewhere in the middle, but we’ll go over all of that in a different article.

So by now you’re looking at a medium action rod and reel combo that’s anywhere from 6’ to 6’6”, but you can still have 5 rods in your hand, so which one do you want? To tell you the truth fishing equipment has come a long way in the past few years. There is a lot of competition and every company wants to get their product across to you. My suggestion is to play around with the rod and reel. See what feels best for you. Turn the handle on all the reels and see which one is smoothest for you

Each reel is equipped with bearings, these will usually dictate how smooth the reel retrieves. However, more bearings does not necessarily mean that it will be smoother or more durable. The quality of the bearings matters more that the quantity. You may come across a reel that has 8 bearing but costs less than one that had 4 bearings. My suggestion is for you to go with the rod with less bearings. In the long run it will be smother and last longer as the quality of the bearings will be better, but again this is your choice and realistically when you buy a rod today it will last you many years, especially with the materials that they put into today’s rods and reels no matter how many bearings they have. Usually the amount of bearings is listed right on the reel.

The best advice that I can give when buying your first rod/reel combo is don’t get a rod/reel combo that costs $15-25, this will only aggravate you when it tangles and falls apart. Rods and reels may have come a long way but cheap is cheap and you will see it when you start fishing. Do yourself a favour, get a rod and reel combo for $45 and up. This is something that will literally last you for many years and you won’t regret it.

So there you have it this is your first step to start fishing. Remember if in doubt at the store ask someone.

Here’s a little chart to help you:

Shakespeare Catch More Fish Rod and Reel Combo for Bass Ready to fish right out of the box 6’6� medium action tubular glass 2-piece rod 35 size spinning reel with aluminum spool Pre-spooled with premium fishing line Complete fishing kit with Berkley® Powerbait® shaky worms, lizards, and more Includes a rigging guide Shakespeare understands that if kids can catch fish more easily, they’ll be more likely to enjoy themselves. Beginning anglers will catch more fish—and have more fun—with the Catch More Fish Combos. They make getting into fishing easy because they’re ready to fish right out of the box. Each one is pre-rigged with Stren® fishing line and Berkley® PowerBait® lures chosen to catch certain kinds of fish or succeed in specific environments. Plus, each one comes with a rigging guide—a great knot-tying and bait-choosing resource to help kids learn the ropes. Manufacturer model #: CMFBASS. . Shakespeare® Catch More Fish Rod and Reel Combo for Bass