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Country Life In The UK
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The
Fixed Spool fishing reel has come on a bundle over the past 10
years without increasing in price! As a coarse angler in my youth I used the
Mitchell Match reel which was the Rolls Royce of reels with single hand casting,
3 ball bearings and sensitive drag settings. Now even the cheapest coarse fixed
spool reel is smooth with reasonable drag settings and functions admirably.
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The
term fixed spool means that on these reels the spool is stationary (fixed) and
the line is wound around the spool via a bail arm. Simple. There are a number of
sizes of fixed spool reel with the smaller numbers 20, 30 and 40 being used for
float / match fishing going up to size 60 being used for specialist anglers. In order to
cast and allow line to run free the bail arm is cocked, the rod is flicked and
the rig cast out then the bail arm is reset either manually or by winding the
handle. These reel are easy to master and provide easy maintenance and
servicing. The only down side is if the line is allowed to become loose on the
spool it can sometimes be wound under the fixed spool. This is easily remedied
by taking the spool off, unwinding the line and placing the spool on again -
easy!
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There are a number of
factors to look for in a fixed spool reel such as:
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The number of
ball bearings
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The
construction of the case and spools
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The rewind
ratio
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The line
capacity
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Drag system -
spool controlled drag or rear controlled
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Ball Bearings |
Reels
run on ball bearings to provide smooth operation and longevity of life. The higher
the number of ball bearings the smoother and longer your reel should
operate. As with all advice offered on Fishing Buddy™ there is sensibility
about the amount of money spent. There is no point buying a high-end reel if
it will be used once a month for a couple of hours but the more money that
you can afford to spend within reason you will get a better quality reel
that as long as it is maintained will last for many years to come. |
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Construction |
This can be important if you are
looking for a low maintenance reel as you will be subjecting the reel to water, sand
and dirt, fish slime and the general abuse that reels get during to
coarse of fishing. Carbon bodies offer light weight and anti-corrosion
properties but these come at a price. Stainless steel also has
anti-corrosion properties but at the expense of weight. Most reels will
provide years of good use if looked after and once again the budget will
dictate. Remember that the products that Fishing Buddy™ has selected offer
value for money and even our entry level reels will provide good service to
the weekend angler. |
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Rewind Ratio |
This is the speed at which the bail
arm rotates around the spool and therefore how much line is retrieved for
every turn of the handle. If a fast retrieve rate is required such as long
distance casting then a retrieve rate of 4.5:1 or higher is recommended. If
however you are ledgering with big baits then a fast retrieve rate may not
be an advantage. Faster is not always better but for the weekend angler we
recommend a ratio of 4:1 or higher. |
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Line Capacity |
Different reels are designed for
different tasks. If you choose a fixed spool for light float fishing then a
small reel with a small spool to handle up to 200 yards of 4lb
line is required but if species hunting with heavier line then a larger reel
with higher capacity spool of 200 yards of 10lb line is better. For general use I recommend that you purchase a reel capable of
holding up to 200 yards of 4lb line. |
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Drag System |
This is a very important tool on any
fishing reel as when set properly it allows the fish to take line at around
75% of the breaking strain from the reel without the angler needing to let
line out. This is most important for hard fighting species such as Carp as they will allow you to bring them in but when they see you or your
net they usually make a dash for it and your reel will allow them to do so
whilst maintaining pressure on the fish and tiring them out in the process.
The choice of drag setting on the spool or at the rear of the reel is
personal, I use a spool drag and my sons prefer the drag system operating
from the rear. |
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