Skip navigation

FishingMobile

Factors To Consider When Buying A Baitcasting Reel

A baitcasting reel is an important device to any angler. The device provides you with many benefits such as giving you more control of your casts. You also have more control over the motion of your lures. For you to reap these benefits you need to be cautious of the unit that you purchase. To help you out here are the factors that you should consider when buying a baitcasting reel:

The reel frame

Just like in any other unit, the frame is the foundation of the baitcasting reel. A low-quality frame means that the device will break soon and you will be required to replace it after a short while. To be on the safe side you should invest in a high-quality aluminum reel. There are plenty of graphite reels in the market that go at a lower cost but they aren't worth your money.

Whether they are composite reinforced, graphite, reinforced graphite or any other graphite related materials, you should avoid them. Studies show that these units not only break easily, they also have a problem hooking large long running fish.

Gear ratio

The gear ratio is the number of times that the spool turns when you rotate the handle once. It's easy to tell the gear ratio as the ratio is usually written on the reel's body. Most of the reels have one of these gear ratios: 4:1, 5:1, and 6:1. 4:1 is said to be slow, 5:1 is average while 6:1 is fast. Studies show that most beginners don't know how the gear ratios work. If you see a gear ratio of 5:1 it means that the spool turns five times when you rotate the handle once. As you must have guessed, the higher the rotation ratio, the faster the retrieve and the less you get tired.

For you to settle on the right gear ratio you need to consider the type of lures that you will be using. If you will be using diving cranbaits and large spinnerbaits, you should go for a unit with a slow gear ratio. On the other hand, if you will be using jigs, soft plastics, Texas rigs and other units you should go for a reel with a higher gear ratio. In some cases, you may need reels with ultra high gear ratios. This is often when you are using buzz baits, spinnerbaits and other lures that require fast action.

Spool size

The spool size solely depends on the size of fish that you are pursuing. If interested in a large fish it means that you will need a heavier line thus you need more space on the spool. In such a case you should go with a reel with a nice deep spool that has the ability to hold all the line that you need. If pursuing a small fish you need a lighter line thus you need a small spool.

Braking system

To have an easy time casting the reels you need to have a unit with a good braking system. Most of the units in the market have two main types of braking systems: centrifugal and magnetic. There are a few of the modern units that have a dual braking system. The centrifugal braking system is made up of 4-6 brakes that you can turn on and off depending on your needs. The brakes work during the first part of the cast and prevent your spool from over spinning thus reducing the chances of having an over-run.

The magnetic braking system, on the other hand, works at the back end of the cast and slows the spools thus ensuring that the over-runs are at the end of the cast. To buy the right unit you should work with a professional to guide you on buying the right unit with the right braking system.

Conclusion

These are the factors that you should consider when buying a baitcasting reel. Remember that comfort is of great importance for easy casting. As rule of thumb ensure that the device you are buying has rubber handles and other features that make it as comfortable as possible.

Rating

Unrated
Rating: