Fishing reels

Fly

How do fly fishing reels work?

A fly fishing reel is an essential component of a fly fishing setup. Its primary purpose is to hold the fly line, provide drag, and assist in landing fish. The fly fishing reel acts as a storage device for the fly line.
Fly fishing reels are a critical component of fly fishing gear, designed to store and manage the fly line while providing control during casting, playing fish, and retrieving line. Here´s how fly fishing reels generally work:

Line storage: Fly fishing reels store the fly line, backing a thin, strong line underneath the fly line, and sometimes a leader. The reels spool is designed to accommodate these lines and allows for smooth movement during casting and retrieval.
Arbor design: Fly reels often have a large arbor design, featuring a larger diameter spool compared to traditional reels. This design allows for faster line retrieval and reduces line memory, enabling smoother and more efficient casting.
Drag system: A drag system in the fly reel provides resistance when a fish pulls on the line. This resistance can be adjusted to control the amount of pressure applied to the fish. The drag system helps tire out the fish gradually without breaking the line.
Click and pawl or disc drag: There are two primary types of drag systems in fly reels: click and pawl and disc drag. Click and pawl drags use a gear mechanism that produces a clicking sound as the line is pulled off the spool. Disc drag systems utilize friction plates to control the resistance, offering smoother and more adjustable drag settings.
Backing and fly line management: Fly reels often accommodate backing, which is a thin but strong line that provides additional length and strength to the fly line. Properly loaded backing prevents the fly line from reaching the end of the spool during long runs by fish.
Retrieve direction: Fly reels can be designed for either left hand or right hand retrieve. Some models even offer reversible settings to accommodate both preferences.
Casting and line control: During casting, the fly line is pulled off the reel using hand movements, while the reels drag system allows controlled release of the line. To retrieve the line, the angler uses the reel handle to wind in excess line.
Maintenance: Regular maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating the reel, ensures smooth operation and prolongs the reels lifespan.
Fly fishing reels are specialized tools that work in conjunction with fly rods and lines to offer precise control and delicate presentation of flies to fish. Understanding how the reel´s drag system, line management, and casting mechanisms work enables anglers to effectively use these reels in pursuit of various fish species in freshwater and saltwater environments. You can buy fly reels from Mikado, Okuma, Garbolino, Baetis, and Shakespeare.