Fly Fishing Reels - Know Your Facts
Most fly fishermen will tell you that their reels are the most important piece of equipment in their arsenal. As there are different rods for certain situations so is the same for fly fishing reels. It is not required for you to drop a bunch of money on a new fly fishing reel, although you could if you want. Generally a basic fly reel is all that you will need, and work for most situations. If you make the correct choice you might not have to replace it for years to come.
Trout fishermen are known for preferring to strip their line by hand instead of using the handle. The reason for stripping by hand is that it is much quicker and gives the fishermen a better touch by holding the line in their hands.
Depending on the situation that you are in, sometimes it is better to reel the line in manually and sometimes it is preferable to use the handle. When following a large fish most people prefer to use the handle for better control. Another situation to use the handle is when you have thick foliage and there is a chance of getting your line caught. If you are moving around in the water a lot, using the handle is a good idea.
It seems that salmon fishermen reel their line in the most frequently. Salmon fishermen are more likely to be in the water fishing and this is the reason they reel their line in. The larger salmon reels are more efficient in reeling line in, than there sister trout reels.
Technology is improving by leaps and bounds due to research companies like Sage in the fly fishing industry. Also fly fishing equipment is getting lighter with the use of graphite. A lot of your veteran fly fishermen prefer the older reels with a bit of weight in them to maintain the balance that they are familiar with.
If you are thinking of purchasing a new fly fishing reel, you might consider getting two, one for your main and one for a backup in case of malfunction. To help in the selection process mark your line weight on your reel, and you will not have to guess in the correct reel that you need. This will save loads of time when getting ready for your fishing trip.
keeping your extra reels in a special storage bag is a good protection for your investment. It seems that backup reels often end up in the bottom of your tackle box for long periods of time. Keeping it loose in your box can cause it to get damaged without your knowledge until it is too late and you need it.
It is good to have different rods as a salmon fisherman, this will save you time in having to change out reels and line. Many salmon fishermen will have two complete set ups, one for floating rods, and the other for sunk lines.
Doing your research of what you will be fishing for and in what situations will move you one step closer in choosing the right Reel for your situation. There are numerous places on the web such as Ebay for choices on used fly fishing equipment.