Reels

Matching Reel To Water

Big pits are the choice for distance work, holding plenty of line and giving you a smooth retrieve at range, but they’re heavy and more than you need on a small water. A compact free-spool reel is easier to live with on shorter sessions and suits most day ticket fishing perfectly well. The drag is the bit that matters when it counts, so set it before you cast out and test it now and then. Rinse off any grit, particularly after a windy session on a gravel bank, and get them serviced before they start sounding unhappy.