Fly Fishing Reel Basics
Fly Fishing Reel Basics
Fly fishing reels are simple devices, much simpler than spinning reels for example, but fly fishing is so shrouded in tradition and mystery that nothing seems simple to the newcomer.
Most fly reels serve only one purpose, to hold the fly line and any extra line called "backing." That's it, just holding the line. You can fly fish for many species without a fly reel at all, although it would be inconvenient and your line would tangle more easily.
Also you do not cast with a fly reel, something which confuses beginners. You pull line off the reel, called "stripping" the line, before you cast. When you retrieve to make the fly seem alive and hopefully get a fish to bite it, you manually pull it in with your hands.
Some fly reels, especially for saltwater use and larger freshwater fish, also have a breaking device called a "drag." If a fish pulls hard, hard enough to maybe break off, it instead swims away pulling out line from the reel under pressure from the drag.
This tires out the fish so you hopefully can eventually land it. Non fly reels also have drags.
Traditional fishing reels have all kinds of gears and complexity. Most fly reels do not. One turn of the handle equals one revolution of the reel. And when line is stripped off the reel or pulled out by a fish, the handle rotates in reverse.
Fly fishing reels are very simple devices, much simpler than other types of fishing reels. Don't let the seeming complexity of fly fishing deter you from trying it, it's actually pretty simple!
And for more information on fly fishing reels and fly fishing, visit Saltwater Fly Fishing Reels and Fly Fishing for Striped Bass
![]() |
![]() BLACK CASTING FLY FLIES FISHING REELS BF800B BF800 REEL ![]() $9.77 Time Remaining: 24d 13h 29m Buy It Now for only: $9.77 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Tibor Light Back Country CL Wide Fly Fishing Reel Includes Tibor Pouch Papers ![]() $250.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 18h 3m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Abel Creek Reel 2 Rainbow Trout Large Arbor With Rio Gold 5wt Fly Fishing Line ![]() $375.00 Time Remaining: 9h 15m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Abel Perfect Tool Fly Fishing Fishing GREAT NEW ![]() $40.00 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 53m Buy It Now for only: $40.00 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Tioga Fly Fishing Reel 6 Made in USA Space Age Aluminum Alloy Reel ![]() $66.05 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 9h 33m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Fly Fishing CNC Anodized Aluminum Fly Reel 9 11 Silver R08 ![]() $23.82 Time Remaining: 21d 18h 55m Buy It Now for only: $23.82 Click To Buy Now |
![]() ABEL SUPER 5 FLY FISHING REEL Standard Arbor FOR 6 10 Weight ULTRA SMOOTH DRAG ![]() $250.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 10h 29m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Tibor Riptide Fly reel by Ted Juracsik ![]() $355.00 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 6h 20m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Fly Fishing CNC Anodized Aluminum Fly Reel 2 3 Silver R06 ![]() $16.48 Time Remaining: 21d 18h 50m Buy It Now for only: $16.48 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Orvis Battenkill Disc 5 6 Fly Fishing Reel w Case ![]() $66.00 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 33m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Fly Fishing CNC Anodized Aluminum Fly Reel 0 1 Silver R07 ![]() $14.92 Time Remaining: 21d 20h 4m Buy It Now for only: $14.92 Click To Buy Now |
![]() ABEL TR3 FLY FISHING REEL 7 8 WEIGHT FRESHWATER REEL CUSTOM RED MATTE FINISH ![]() $210.00 Time Remaining: 1d 13h 14m Buy It Now for only: $275.00 Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Fishwest Upgrade Program Redington Fly Fishing Drift Fly Reel 5 6wt w Spool ![]() $52.00 (11 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 3m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() fly fishing magnetic lanyard gear net release ![]() $9.95 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 32m Buy It Now for only: $9.95 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Abel Super 6 Fly Fishing Reel Excellent Condition and PriceWith Original Pouch ![]() $250.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 18h 3m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() NEW REDINGTON CW 2011 CROSSWATER 7 8 9 FLY FISHING REEL ![]() $39.95 Time Remaining: 29d 19h 13m Buy It Now for only: $39.95 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Hardy Fly Fishing Zane Saltwater Tarpon Big Game Fly Reel Size No 3 WF12 Silver ![]() $113.03 (31 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 15m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Orvis BBS II Fly Reel line and backing Black ![]() $75.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 8h 8m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() NEW REDINGTON CW 2011 CROSSWATER 4 5 6 FLY FISHING REEL ![]() $39.95 Time Remaining: 15d 17h 18m Buy It Now for only: $39.95 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Hardy Cascapedia 8 9 Fly Reel Great Shape USED ![]() $299.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 2m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Orvis Encounter Large Arbor II Fly Reel New ![]() $49.00 Time Remaining: 10d 6h 44m Buy It Now for only: $49.00 Click To Buy Now |
![]() ABEL 45N SUPER 12 FLY FISHING REEL STANDARD ARBOR Custom Finish 12 15 weight ![]() $400.00 (14 Bids) Time Remaining: 12h 40m Buy It Now for only: $550.00 Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() ABEL Super 2 Large Arbor Pt5 Interchangeable FLY FISHING REEL FOR 2 3 4 Weight ![]() $247.50 (6 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 11m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() BANAX CREST LARGE ARBOR FLY REEL 7 8 or 5 6 ![]() $31.61 Time Remaining: 20d 4h 55m Buy It Now for only: $31.61 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Ross Evolution LT 3 Black Fly Reel Excellent Condition ![]() $169.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 13h 38m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Fly Fishing CNC Anodized Aluminum Fly Reel 2 3 Silver R06 ![]() $16.48 Time Remaining: 26d 19h 34m Buy It Now for only: $16.48 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Abel TR 1 3 4 WT Fly Reel Excellent ![]() $137.50 (15 Bids) Time Remaining: 19h 58m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() TFO Hayden Fly Reel N1 ![]() $69.00 (16 Bids) Time Remaining: 13h 8m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
![]() Okuma New 7 8 Super Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel SLV78 ![]() $51.69 Time Remaining: 19d 13h 37m Buy It Now for only: $51.69 Click To Buy Now |
![]() Sage 4250 Fly Reel Color Bronze Excellent Shape USED ![]() $162.50 (3 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 14h 6m Click To Buy Now Bid now |
Question by fencer: what is a good beginner fly fishing reel?
I have a fenwick ff80-3 that my dad gave to me and im looking for a good beginner reel to go with it so i can try fly fishing in about 2 weeks from now, maybe a kit that has some flys with it as well and the string that goes with it. Does anyone know of a good beginner set up i can use.
Thanks alot.
Best answer:
Answer by trunorth
One important thing to remember about most fly reels (the exception is hard core saltwater reels) is that it is simply a place to keep your line.
I would recommend the Pflueger reels, I have two of them and they work well.
http://www.pfluegerfishing.com/products/products.php?p=33
What do you think? Answer below!































