Parts of a Spinning Reel – Look for When Buying a Spinning Reel?
After deciding to go fishing, the first thing you need is the fishing reel that you cast the line with. For the type of reel, spinning reels are the most popular option for beginners with an easier mechanism than baitcasters. A spinning reel under 50 bucks can get you much better control and result than a 200-dollar baitcaster.
Choosing your first spinning reel can be a daunting job, especially when you have no idea about the reel’s different parts. If you’re planning not to end up with the wrong reel for your first fishing job, it’ll be a wise option to get to know it first. Stick to the article to understand different parts of a spinning reel as your fist fishing gear to become a successful angler.
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Parts Of A Spinning Reel
Understanding the parts of a spinning reel will help you control it better and get the most out of your fishing rig. Here are the most important parts of a spinning reel that you must know about for a fishing career you love-
Body
The spinning reel body is the reel’s sole structure that holds on to all the mechanisms, drag and gear systems, etc. The body is a single skeleton that holds on to all the little pieces of the reel and makes the whole mechanism work in harmony. It’s mostly made of aluminum; some come with a plastic build, and the ones with composed graphite are the most rigid and strong. Choosing the build material depends on the budget you have because they vary depending on the build material.
Reel foot/seat
The part of the reel you attach the fishing rod to your spinning reel is the foot or seat with a T shape to it. It’s the most rigid part of the body with a unibody shape for a rigid bridge between the rod and the reel. You have to make sure the reel foot is firmly attached to the rod because the fish’s strength will go directly to this part of your rod.
Handle
A handle on a spinning reel is the knob that you can rotate with your left or right hand to pull the line back to the spool. You can adjust the reel’s handle on either side, depending on whether you’re left-handed or right. Unscrew the handle from the opposite side and re-screw it on your dominant side of your hand. You need to complete this process because it’s the part that drags the line, hopefully with the fish on end.
Gear Housing
The gear housing or the gearbox runs the whole process of dragging the line to letting it out. This part sits on the back or the bottom of the spinning reel and comes with different ratios to turn the handle to rotate the spool. The ratio may differ from 1:1 up to 1:6, where the ratio 6 means six rotations on the spool with a rotation of the handle.
Spool
The spool on a spinning reel is the part where the fishing line collapses in when you drag the line. It comes with a design to prevent any tangling or twists on the line and keep it straight. You can avail of different sizes of the spool to accommodate different sizes of the line. The spool size depends on the type of fish you’re after, such as if you’re bass fishing, it should be about 8 to 12 lbs of braided line.
Front drag knob
You’ll use the front drag knob of a spinning reel to adjust the fishing line’s tension. It will help you keep consistency on the speed you’re pulling the line and wrapping it on the spool.
Bail arm
With the bail arm on the top of a spinning reel, you’ll lock or unlock the free release of the line when you cast it. You have to lock the line when you cast the bait on the water and reach the target spot to stop the free release.
Anti-reverse switch
The anti-reverse switch is also a locking mechanism that locks the gear system to keep it from rotating the spool. It allows you to control the gears to rotate them in either direction along with the lock mechanism. It gives you more stability on the lock mechanism.
What To Look For When Buying A Spinning Reel?
Here are the specifications, qualities, and the things you should look for in your first spinning reel:
- Material and weight: Always go for the highest amount you can effort for the investment on the spinning reel. Get a graphite or aluminum composite reel for a strong build and smooth, lightweight construction.
- Gear ratio: As I mentioned earlier, gear ratio makes a big difference; be sure to get a higher gear ratio on the reel. It will give you much better control over the reel.
- Spool material: The spool material differs from the actual reel material. You have to make a wise investment here and go for a lighter yet strong material like graphite or aluminum.
- Handle and drag system: A poor quality drag adjustment knob will be prone to a large fish, and the handle will compromise. Check all the variables like build material, ball bearing, jerk-less drag, strong grip, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most frequently asked questions about different parts of a spinning reel that you also know about:
Is a spinning reel good?
A spinning reel is the best option if you’re a beginner to fishing and have very little or no experience. You can use a spinning reel for saltwater bass fishing with different sizes of the spool.
Can I use a spinning reel on a casting rod?
Technically speaking, yes, you can. However, you shouldn’t use the spinning reel on your casting rod because there is a high chance you’ll compromising the rod and possibly break it.
Do pro bass fishermen use spinning reels?
Yes, most of the pro fishermen put spinning reels on their rig setup for bass fishing. They use a higher size spinning reel, such as 2500 to 3500, which can accommodate a much bigger spool.
Final Thought
Fishing can be an excellent hobby or a great profession if you’re interested in it and have the patience it takes. A simple spinning reel can easily help you with almost any fishing, no matter if you’re doing saltwater fishing or bass fishing.
However, you must choose the right reel to get the right output you want from it. Knowing about the parts of a spinning reel can help you choose the best spinning reel for the money to get the best output from it. Never forget to equip your fishing tackle with the right gear on your backpack.
