How to choose a spinning reel - expert advice

Like almost any other way of fishing, modern spinning is unthinkable without the use of a suitable fishing reel. For a long time, classical inertial models, as well as their multiplicative counterparts, were popular, but all of them gave up the superiority of the inertial coils, mainly due to excellent functional features, excellent functionality and extremely high ease of mastering the latter.

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1. The main elements of the coil
   
2. The mechanism of laying the fishing line - which one to choose
3. What to look for when buying?
4. Who will we catch, what and where?
5. Let's talk about brands
6. Spinning reel selection video

The main elements of the coil

Currently, the release of inertialess spinning reels engaged in a great many companies. Despite the fact that each of them sees the design of the mechanism differently and introduces its own proprietary engineering solutions and technological developments, the general structure of inertialess coils certainly includes the following elements:

1. The coil body is made of durable and at the same time lightweight material. Graphite, aluminum, magnesium alloys, carbon - these are the main materials that are widely distributed;

2. The rotor of the coil is a rotating element on which the forest laying machine is fixed. The rotor should be perfectly balanced, not bother parasitic vibrations and all sorts of backlash;

3. The main pair of gears and other related components are used to transfer the force of rotation of the handle to the rotor. Depending on the number of teeth on the driving and driven gears, the winding speed and traction characteristics change;

4. Ball and roller bearings are the logical solution for leveling mechanical loads and reducing overall wear of coil assemblies.

5. The spool is a special reel intended for storing the fishing line. It is made of various materials - both polymeric, and from various metal alloys and can have various depth;

6. The friction brake system is a separate mechanism designed to set off the fishing line following a pecked fish. It has a wide range of adjustments and can be configured for a very different response force;

The above-described components and assemblies are characteristic for all, without exception, inertialess coils and represent a kind of base from which developers repel each other, bringing in their own developments and trying to improve the design in one way or another.

The mechanism of laying the fishing line - which one to choose

At present, this issue has lost its relevance, but 20 years ago it was quite possible to hear it. The thing is that the then inertialess coils were divided into two conditional types - open spinless coils and their closed analogs well known to all of us, whose spool was dressed in a special metal or plastic casing.In fact, all mechanical and rotating elements of the latter are hidden under the casing and supposedly designed to protect the mechanism from adverse external influences, but in fact they are unable to bring anything except the deterioration of performance characteristics. It is for this reason that the closed inertia reels ordered to live a long time, and now it’s almost impossible to find such models in the manufacturer’s catalogs.

What to look for when buying?

Choosing inertia-free coil, do not be too lazy to study the feedback from anglers who use those or other models on specific gears and who managed to identify specific pros and cons that impede exploitation. In addition, you should not blindly believe the words of the seller and try to find a universal model for all fishing conditions - such coils do not exist. Considering the purchase of several different options, pay attention to the following characteristics:

1. Coil size The balance of gear is primary in any way of fishing - mounted gear must be balanced around the handle and not outweigh the vershinka or the butt. It can be achieved only with the right choice of coil size. So, models of size 500-1500 are good for ultra light and light class gear, 2000-3000 size is universal and great for wide use in spinning fishing, while 4000 size coils are very specific models designed for powerful and long-range gear;

2. The gear ratio of the main pair of gears. The pattern here is the following - the greater the gear ratio - the more speedy and the less cohesive one or the other coil. In order to ensure a decent exhausting speed, while not losing the load, for spinning fishing, you should select coils, whose gear ratio does not exceed 5.2-5.4: 1;

3. Number of bearings. In theory, it is believed that the more “balls” - the smoother and easier the coil stroke. In practice, an excessive amount not only helps, but even hinders - without improving the course at all, they add extra grams of weight to the coil. 6-8 high-quality sealed bearings are more than enough for both the ultralight class model and the powerful jig coil;

4. Type of friction brake. High-quality multi-disc clutch is important in any case, regardless of what size fish you are going to catch. Pay attention only to the location of the adjusting screw - some anglers prefer front brake adjustment, others - back. Both options are good and provide decent functionality, and which one to choose is entirely dependent on the preferences of a particular angler;

5. Forest roller and its design. At first glance, this small detail can cause the angler a lot of trouble with the wrong choice. Its ability to work with braided cords, as well as its resistance to mechanical damage, depends on the design and material of the roller. A poor-quality roller will be sawn through a braided line after 2-3 active fishing trips;

Attention should be paid to the winding of the fishing line, first of all, thin cords. Smooth, high-quality styling without failures and hillocks, not having a pronounced direct or reverse cone and distortion — a properly selected spinning reel should have such a winding.

Who will we catch, what and where?

There is no doubt that the inertia-free coil should be selected on the basis of the specifics of the specific gear, its technical characteristics and purpose. And it, in turn, is selected for work in certain conditions and for catching specific species of fish. Dependence in this situation is the following:

1. Catching a small-sized predator with the help of compact spinners and micro-timbers - perch, trout, chub - requires the use of delicate spin-free reels sized 1000-1500 equipped with a front friction brake with a ratio of 5.0: 1 and 6-8 ball bearings;

2. Hunting for medium-sized fish using both spinners and silicone baits - pikeperch, pike, asp - makes it necessary to use a more powerful reel. Model 2000-3000 size, 6-8 ball bearings, the main pair of gears made of cold-wrought aluminum, the presence of an "infinite" and sensitive friction brake - these are the main characteristics that one or another model should possess;

3. Fishing for big pike, catfish, trophy pikeperch and other strong rivals for wobblers, poppers, jerkbaits and other large lures is possible only when using a sufficiently powerful reel. The power main pair of gears and the gear ratio 4.5-4.8: 1, 8-10 ball bearings, a powerful friction brake with front adjustment, the presence of various mechanisms that ensure high-quality laying of the fishing line and many other characteristics must be present here to the fullest extent.

Let's talk about brands

To date, the sale can be found inertialess coils of various manufacturers, ranging from "nameless" Chinese models and ending with top-end mechanisms from generally accepted market leaders who are trendsetters. One should not think that all coils are the same and differ only in what is written on the case - in view of a rigorous approach to production and total quality control, even low-end models from well-known European and Japanese manufacturers will last much longer than unnamed Chinese coils positioned for several grades above. If we talk about specific firms that have won not only an excellent reputation, but also national love among anglers, the following names should be noted:

1. Daiwa;

2. Shimano;

3. Abu Garcia;

4. Mitchell;

5. Spro;

6. Drennan;

7. Preston;

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Spinning reel selection video

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a guide to purchase.