| If you are getting into fly fishing, it is easy to lose | | | | serious damage to your hands if you snagged a |
| yourself in the great debate on rods and flies. Not so | | | | larger fish. A drag mechanism is used to slow or stop |
| fast. The reel is just as important, so here is a primer. | | | | the line from feeding out when a fish takes the bait |
| The fly fishing reel is a work of art. In fact, the first | | | | or, in this case, the fly. |
| one was patented in 1874 by the epic master of fly | | | | As fly fishing has become more popular, people have |
| fishing - Charles Orvis. His family has been making fly | | | | started looking for bigger game. This created a |
| fishing equipment in one form or another since them. | | | | problem since most fly reels were not really tailored |
| As technology has improved dramatically, reels have | | | | to taking in a beast. If a large fish struck the fly, the |
| also become more sophisticated. That being said, | | | | line would real out without any way to stop it other |
| they still are comprised of some fairly basic | | | | than to hold the line or wear gloves. The new reels |
| components. | | | | now incorporate breaking mechanisms that solve this |
| There is a major difference between fly reels and | | | | problem. The mechanism create friction on the line to |
| bait reels. Fly reels require more of a touch on your | | | | either slow down the line feed or stop it completely. |
| part. Casting is undertaken by laying the line out while | | | | These reels have to be used with specified rods. If |
| controlling the line with your non-casting hand. It can | | | | you try to bolt one onto a traditional rod, they tend |
| take a while to get the hang of it, but the important | | | | to snap since they are not really designed to carry |
| thing to understand is the reel is not really a device | | | | such loads. At least mine have! |
| that just lets you swing away like you would with a | | | | So, what type of reel should you use. It depends. |
| non-fly rod. | | | | Many feel the new reels with breaking mechanisms |
| The original fly reels were really simple. They served | | | | are a break from tradition. The answer really lies with |
| only one real purpose - to bring the line in. They | | | | you. Give both a try and make your own choice. |
| offered no drag, which meant you could do some | | | | |