When you are shopping for that perfect reel, make sure you get a chance to test drive your top choices. You will want to know how the reel feels and performs in your hands before you decide whether or not it really is a perfect fit. The design of a fly fishing reel is deceptively simple after all. It’s a wheel with holes that holds your fishing line, but it is also a crucial piece of your fly fishing gear, one with more engineering than you might imagine.

You want your choice to be one that takes advantage of those engineering options, rather than ignoring them. The wheel holds your line. The holes are there to decrease the weight of your rig, and to keep your line from molding when it inevitably gets wet. The engineering becomes important in relation to the reel’s drag system. The classic option is the click and pawl system, which is simple and effective. At the other end of the scale are the minutely adjustable drag systems. These are particularly useful when fighting a large fish. You will also want to consider the reel’s coating. You’ll need it to be protected from corrosion as, again, it will inevitably get wet.

Finally, make sure you look for the highest quality reel you can afford. It is worth the investment as a great reel can last your whole career and help you bring in many fish.