One of the oldest and most popular kinds of fishing reels on the market today is the spinning reel. First developed in the 1870's, the spinning or "open faced" reel has retained it's popularity through it's simple, sturdy construction and ease of use. Since then manufacturers have designed an incredible amount of different sizes, shapes, and variations on the basic spinning reel design. With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose which spinning reel is right for your fishing situation. But once you learn what they are and how to use them, it's not so hard.

What is a Spinning Reel?

A spinning reel is a fishing reel that utilizes a fixed spool and a mechanical line pick-up to retrieve the cast line. To cast the line, the angler simply opens the bail while trapping the line with the pointer finger of the hand that's holding the rod, then casts the rod forward while releasing the line at the appropriate time. When the line is reeled back in, the bail flips back down and acts as the line pick-up. While operation is slightly more complicated than the simplistic spin-cast or "push button" reel, they are much more dependable and precise.

Choosing a Spinning Reel

Now that we know what a spinning reel is, it's time to choose which one is right for your specific fishing needs. If you are thinking about what spinning reel to buy, it's important to ask yourself a few key questions about how you intend to use it. If you choos the incorrect reel for your fishing situation, you may end up in a situation where your reel just can't handle the fish on the other end of the line! When considering which reel to buy, consider the following:

• What kind of fish are you after? Game fish such as largemouth and smallmouth bass can fight very hard when they reach a certain size. It's important to have a spinning reel with a powerful enough drag to handle these fish in case you happen to come across a trophy fish.
• Do you need to make long casts, or is the fish likely to run with the line? You may want to choose a spinning reel with a longer spool and higher line capacity. Check the side of the reel's spool to see how much of what weight fishing line your reel can hold.
• Are you engaging in a specialized form of fishing such as ultralight or ice fishing? Spinning reels are almost synonymous with these kinds of fishing. Spinning reels can be made very small while still retaining peak functionality.

Spinning Reel Tips And Tricks

Once the correct spinning reel has been selected, learning the ins and outs of it's operation is crucial to fishing success. A properly taken care of spinning reel can last for a decade at peak performance, even in tough fishing conditions. Just by learning a couple basic tricks, you can greatly increase the life and operational quality of your reel.

• Always match your fishing line to your spinning reel. Mismatched line and reel can hinder the performance of both, effecting everything from casting distance to hook-setting power. Don't overlook this vital bit of information.
• Keep your spinning reel clean and well lubricated. This should go without saying, but many anglers neglects to keep their reels clean. By cleaning and re-lubing your spinning reel every once in a while, you can keep it running much smoother longer.
• Loosen the drag after each fishing trip. If the drag is left too tight for too long, it can mash the drag plate, thus greatly decreasing it effectiveness. It would be a shame to lose a trophy fish to a broken line due to your drag ceasing up.
• Check your line for twists and loops periodically while fishing. Unfortunately spinning reels can be prone to line twists, so it's important to keep an eye out for "loops" in the line. If not watched for, these loops can quickly turn into giant tangles, ruining sometimes an entire spool of fishing line!