subject: Essential Fly Fishing Reels For The Sport Fisherman [print this page] Fly fishing is much more than a sport or means to put tasty food on the table - it's a passion that drives the avid fisherman 365 days of the year. If not out actually fishing, the fisherman is dreaming about fishing, planning the next fishing outing, or telling tales of past excursions. The fisherman's equipment is chosen as carefully and loved as dearly as the chef's favorite carving knives or the baseball player's lucky bat. One of the most important pieces of essential gear for the fly fisherman is the reel.
There are a surprising number of available fly fishing reel models on the market as any visit to a sporting goods store will confirm. It can be a daunting task to choose from among them all. There is also a large number of used and antique fly fishing reels from which to choose to add to the list of possibilities. The choice will be largely determined by the type of fish desired and the location. The fisherman's style and individual needs will also play a part as will the budget, with reels ranging in price from very inexpensive to quite costly.
There are three types of fly fishing reel mechanisms with pros and cons for each: single action, multiplying, and automatic. The single action reel is the simplest and the most popular. With this reel, a full turn of the handle will provide a full rotation of the spool. It has the fewest moving parts making it the most reliable and durable. The multiplying reel results in more rotations of the spool with a single full turn of the handle. This makes reeling in the line faster than is possible with the single action reel. With more moving parts, it is considered by some to be less reliable than the single action in spite of its speed efficiency. The automatic reel utilizes a mechanism other than a handle to very quickly reel in the line. It is very speed efficient but some object to the boxy and bulky mechanism.
Once the reel is chosen and found to be the ideal for the task and individual needs of the fisherman, taking care of it with proper maintenance will assure a long life of fishing pleasure. To keep it working at its best to bring those fish in successfully, it's important to keep the reel parts free of sand, dirt, and debris that can build up inside and create problems. Wiping it down thoroughly after every outing will help keep it in good working order. It's also a good idea to take the reel apart for cleaning and greasing periodically.
When reel parts wear out, it's typically a good idea to let a professional handle the fishing reel repair since it's a time-consuming job that requires patience and skill. Parts and schematics for most reels can be found for the fisherman who wants to do the repair job without sending the reel out.
