The reel is less important for fly fishing as opposed to bait (or sea) fishing. The fly reel is not used at all for casting, and is often just used to recover and store fly line and backing not in immediate use. Different fly reels should be used for different types of fly fishing, according to the species and size of fish you are trying to catch. Depending on the type of fly fishing you intend to do, choosing the right fly reel can either be very important or of minimal importance. This fly reel guide will hopefully clear things up a bit.
Some anglers when angling for Trout tend to dispense with using a fly reel altogether, and will instead prefer hand stripping the line. A fly reel in this case is just a convenient place to store the fly line when not in use. Therefore for trout fishing, a simple ratchet fly reel will suffice most of the time.
Note: Hand stripping is a fly fishing technique used to retrieve the fly line by hand, which is much faster than using a fly reel.
Its a different story when fishing for the larger, stronger species of fish, such as Salmon. With these fish species, the fly reel takes on an important role in playing the fish, as these stronger fish species will more than likely take the line and run. You will need more line backing when fishing for these stronger fish species, as these fish will swim further out once they take the fly. You could retrieve the line using hand stripping, but with the additional line there is a greater risk that the line can get entangled or snagged – so it is better to make use of a fly reel. A salmon fly reel is generally of a larger than trout fly reel, and this is to cater for the additional line required, which is also generally thicker.
When you pick a salmon fly reel, make sure that it has a good clutch. A clutch is used to produce drag resistance on the line to prevent a fish from stripping line away too quickly. The screw type clutch is very popular way of providing adjustable drag, but this kind of clutch will not provide long service if subjected to heavy use. Make sure you pick a good quality fly reel when fishing for big fish species, with a smooth one-way drag system. This will allow a running fish to take line against an even resistance, without the line jerking, which could endanger the leader line. Be prepared to pay a lot more for a decent quality Salmon fly reel as opposed to a Trout fly reel.
Also, choose a fly reel that can hold the fly line you are using and enough line backing for the type and size of fish you are trying to catch. The bottom line is that fly reels vary according to their intended use which means that you need to be careful that you select a fly reel that meets your intended fly fishing requirements. Most top fly reel manufacturers will specify what line weights a fly reel is best suited for.
The Sage 1800 Fly Reel
has been completely redesigned for the 2009 season, and offers high performance for all levels of anglers, and at a very reasonable price. These fly reels have a durable all aluminum construction, with a heavy duty titanium non-glare finish.
These Sage 1800 reels have a sealed, durable and low-maintenance tripod graphite drag system, which is exclusive to Sage. The drag system is operated by an ergonomic drag knob. A handy snap-off spool feature makes changing fly spools a breeze.
The large arbor is ported to reduce weight, and these reels are extremely light – the 1830 at 5.5 oz, the 1850 at 6 oz, and the 1880 at 7.25 oz. These reels have a machined ergonomic handle, and a protective neoprene case. With the choice of three models covering any fly fishing requirements, anglers can’t go wrong with these fantastic fly reels. From light trout to heavy redfish, the Sage 1800 Fly Reel Series has got you covered, and these solid fly reels are sure to impress.
Tags: fly fishing reel, fly_reel, sage 1830, sage 1850, sage 1880
