Choosing the best spinning reel for your fishing needs

Perhaps fishing hasn’t gotten more difficult over the past decade; however, most anglers would agree that fishing, including everything from bluegills to blue marlin and everything in between, has gotten more complicated. High-tech electronics. Sophisticated rods and reels. Space age line. Computerized lures. It’s all there, and it all contributes to elevating angling from a simple, relaxing recreational pursuit to an endeavor with a WHOLE lot of moving parts.

Or does it? Perhaps the best thing about fishing is it can be as elemental or as intricate as one wishes. Take reels, for instance; specifically, modern spinning reels. Today, it’s possible to spend hundreds of dollars for a work of art reel, per se, made of titanium and graphite and magnesium that more or less catches fish by itself; however, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, there are excellent spinning reels on today’s market that not only will get the job done, and get it done well, but won’t put your wallet in a stranglehold.

So what are the steps in finding this so-called ‘perfect’ spinning reel? To be truthful, matching yourself with the right spinning reel is a matter of looking at three variables and answering a short list of questions regarding your own fishing style.

This one’s easy. You can be presented with the perfect spinning reel for, say, salmon fishing with ½- to one-ounce spinners, BUT if you can’t afford it because it’s way out of your price range, then it’s of no value to you whatsoever. Simple enough.

So to begin, look at your finances. What can you afford to spend on a spinning reel suited for your target species and style of fishing? From Piscifun, for example, anglers can choose from several spinning reels, including the venerable Carbon X, for under $50 and down to as little as $26. Raising the limit to $100, and there are even more choices, e.g. the Carbon X II, a fine little reel that I’ve enjoyed immensely.

So first, look at your wallet, BUT be willing, if possible, to wiggle just a little bit on the high side of your budget, just in case you find something ‘too good to let get away!’

Freshwater? Saltwater? Back and forth between fresh and salt? Personally, I do both and might do both on the same morning, thus I’m looking for a spinning reel that will hold up to the demands of a saltwater environment without being so ‘armor-clad,’ let's say, as to result in a substantial increase in weight, bulk, or overall ergonomics.

The AlumiX spinning reel, with its lightweight all-aluminum body, is a great-looking, well-serving reel; however, an oceanic setting is likely going to play havoc with the materials that comprise the unit, thus, perhaps dramatically, its functionable lifespan. On the other end of the spectrum, the NautiX, although likewise having an aluminum body, includes several features, i.e. stainless steel handle shaft and drive gear, sealed/shielded stainless bearings, and waterproof rubber seal, that make this particular reel quite suitable for saltwater fishing applications.

One for freshwater. One for saltwater. But is there one reel that can pull double duty, regardless of the water? Myself, I fish for silver salmon at the mouth of the Columbia River (salt), and then fish the same silvers some 110 river-miles upstream (fresh), often on the same day. Given that, I’d choose a spinning reel like the NautiX 3000 Series, which with its water- and corrison-resistant features, along with a weight of only 10.8 ounces, seems the perfect Do-All choice, either for casting big spinners or spoons in the salt or drifting eggs under a bobber upriver. And with a price tag of only $64, the NautiX isn’t going to break the bank.

To translate, the last of the ‘Big Three’ spinning reel variables involves your fishing preference, and then more specifically, the type and overall size of the fish (species) you’re looking to catch.

Here, fishing preference means simply this: Are you interested in catching smaller fish, say, one to five pound largemouth bass? Or are you more interested in catching those weighing over 50 pounds, such as a heavyweight flathead catfish? Should it be the former, then a 1000 series reel, e.g. the Carbon X II, weighing less than six ounces but capable of handling 110 yards of #10 braided line and affording just shy of #9 of drag, would definitely fit the bill. The latter – the huge flathead ‘cat – and now you’re looking at a larger, stronger reel, such as a 5000 series NautiX reel, which can hold 230 yards of #50 braid and offers #33 of drag. The equation, then, is relatively self-explanatory. Smaller fish, smaller reel; bigger fish, and a bigger reel.

Your target species, too, will play a role in which spinning reel is best-suited for your particular needs. Pound for pound, a #6 silver salmon with out-fight or prove itself stronger than a #6 walleye, thus necessitating a reel that will hold more line, provide more foot/pounds of drag, and generally be more robust overall. Crappie or cobia? Trout or tarpon? A ‘plus’ from Piscifun, however, is the fact that the NautiX spinning reel, for example, is available in four different sizes, ranging from the 3000 Series to the 6000 Series, meaning an angler can stick to a single favored family of reels, and yet run the gamut from small to large depending upon their target species.

In addition to what I’ll call The Big Four of budget, environment, style, and species, there are a handful of other considerations when choosing a spinning reel, such as –

Match the rod

If you already own a spinning rod, then it’s a simple yet significant matter to properly match the reel to the rod. This is done elementally using the variables of ‘size’ and ‘strength.’ That is, a rod like the Carbon R1 in a 6’10” medium power format would be well-suited to a 1000 Series XII reel. The longer the rod and the higher the power and action rating, the larger the reel. A mismatched rod/reel combination, i.e. an ultralight rod mated to a 4000 Series reel, will be unbalanced and not perform to the best of either components' capability.

Direct drive system

A direct drive spinning reel is one in which the handle connects directly to the drivetrain and gearing system. This makes for the ultimate in both positive and immediate response during the retrieve. Non-direct drive systems, one where the handle passes through the gearing and is secured on the opposite side plate via a finger-tightened nut, aren’t as strong and will often exhibit a bit of slop or play during the retrieve. For my money, I’m partial to a direct drive system.

There’s really no magical method for choosing a spinning reel, once you know what’s available and then compare that to the aforementioned questions of budget and, most significantly, your target species. Small to small, medium to medium, and for big fish, it’s best to balance big to big. And, if you’re anything like me, should you make a mistake, per se, and buy the wrong reel…well, one can never have too many spinning reels.