Fly Fishing Reel VS Spinning Fishing Reel

Fly fishing reel and spinning fishing reel are the 2 kinds of main reels for anglers. For Lure Fishing beginners, it is more suitable to use the spinning reel, but if you want to upgrade your technology, you must prepare a fly fishing reel. So here we compiled the differences between fly fishing & spin fishing, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the fly fishing reel and spinning fishing reel for your reference.

Fly Fishing VS Spin Fishing

Fly fishing is an angling method in which an artificial “fly” is used to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. Casting a nearly weightless fly or “lure” requires casting techniques significantly different from other forms of casting. Fly fishermen use hand tied flies that resemble natural invertebrates, baitfish, other food organisms, or “lures” to provoke the fish to strike (bite at the fly).

Spin fishing is an angling technique where a spinning lure is used to entice the fish to bite. Spin fishing is used in both freshwater and marine environments. It is distinguished between fly fishing and bait cast fishing by the type of rod and reel used. There are two types of reels used when spin fishing, the opened faced reel and the closed faced reel. The spin fishing rod has no trigger attached to the base of the fishing rod. This is what differentiates the spin fishing rod from the bait casting fishing rod.

The summary of the differences between fly fishing and spin fishing are showed in the following chart:

Fly Fishing Reel VS Spinning Fishing Reel

• Advantages of Fly Fishing Reel and Spinning Fishing Reel

The reels are a little simpler to understand. A spinning or baitcasting reel has a lot more to do with the cast itself than a fly reel does. A spin or bait-caster actively uses the reel to control distance, it also always uses the reel to fight fish and gain line back on the fish. A fly rodder uses his “line” hand to control distance, having enough fly line already out of the reel. Trout fisherman or anglers who fish for smaller pond or river fish will find that the reel is only used as a line holder to strip fish into the hand, rather than reeling them in.

Fly fishing reel is now widely used in lure fishing, it has a bright appearance, accurate positioning and easy to control, the ultra-light weight and comfortable hand-feeling allow it suitable for fast operation. The slap-up fly fishing reel has absolute predominance in the micro-objects throwing.

The advantages of the spinning fishing reel are that it is easy to operate and start, it is a good helper for fishing beginners to throw well through the simple throwing practice. While the price is relatively cheap, durable, easy to clean and maintain.

• Disadvantages of Fly Fishing Reel and Spinning Fishing Reel

The superior fly fishing reel is generally very expensive, but the cheap ones are not flattering, and the fly fishing reel is extremely easy to backlash, which is difficult to solve after the line backlashing. Another disadvantage is that it is hard to maintain. Therefore, fly reel needs to be cleaned by clean water frequently, and If there are small drosses in the system, it will be difficult to repair them. So please clean and maintain the fly reel carefully after using, rust inhibitors and lubricants are essential!

The disadvantage of the spinning fishing reel is that it looks rather dazed. It is not as cool as a fly fishing reel nor as precise as a fly fishing reel. However, the spinning line is ultra-smooth, nothing is comparable!

• Availability

The intent of fly fishing is to typically to fool a fish on any artificial fly that is made with animal pieces (feathers, hair, etc.), so a fly fishing reel is much suitable for the fisherman who takes fishing as an interest rather than the professional fisherman.

Spin fishing is really meant to catch a lot of fish, so spin fishing reel fits for both fresh water and salt water, it is more practical than other fishing reels and available for most people.

In a word, everything in the world has its two sides, both fly fishing reel and spinning fishing reel have their advantages and disadvantages, you can choose the one that fits your fishing habit most.