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Fly fishing reels

Fly fishing is filled with nonessential gear, but you cannot fish without purchasing one of the many great fly fishing reels. Reels store the line that is not cast on the water. In a small river, a fly fisherman will often cast only 10 to 20 feet of line, and the rest will be stored on the reel.

Because of this, some fly fishermen say that fly fishing reels over $50 are overpriced. However, you can pay hundreds of dollars for a high-end reel. Purists argue that a lightweight reel is essential for accurate casting and more importantly for fighting the fish efficiently.

Fly fishing reels are used when pulling in a fish. As the fish gets nearer to the fly fisherman, the reel is used to bring in the slack line. On a narrow river this might only be 10 feet of line easily be stored in a hand. However, on a wide river, a lake, or in the ocean you might have 30 feet of line extended and you might have to fight the fish using the resistance of the reel rather than the resistance of the line held in your hand.

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