(although believe you me, they can get in really bad tangles too.)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is An Anti-Backlash Baitcasting Reel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Backlash is a problem that is uniquely common to baitcasting reels. It occurs when the lure slows down after casting, but the spool doesn\u2019t. This leads to a knotted, tangled mess of line that is called a \u201cbird\u2019s nest\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most beginner baitcasters are turned off of baitcasting because they continue to get bird\u2019s nests again and again when casting. With practice, patience, and a whole lot of backlash, most casters that stick with are able to get their form and technique down and avoid it eventually, but a large number of them would rather switch to an easier fishing sport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To keep new baitcasters from quitting, specific anti-backlash reels are designed to remove backlash even in the hands of beginners. Most anti-backlash reels use a magnetic braking system in order to drastically reduce the chances of bird\u2019s nest\u2019s forming by using magnets to restrain the spool and prevent it from overtaking the lure. They rely much less on the caster in order to function properly and require less adjustment than other types of braking systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not unusual for baitcasting reels to come with two types of braking systems, which understandably can be a bit confusing and overwhelming for newer baitcasters. Most of the reels on our list utilize magnetic braking to make it easier for beginners to find their footing when using the reels, but we also have some that include centrifugal or other types to give advanced baitcasters more controllable and adjustable options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Gear Ratio Is Best<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Another important part of deciding on a baitcasting reel is the gear ratio. While it seem complicated with different numbers that can vary all over the place, the main rule with gear ratios is that the higher the numbers, the faster your reel will pull in the line. So a reel that has a ratio of 7.1:1 will be able to pull in the line with fewer turns than one that has a 6.4:1 reel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With that information, it may seem like you always want to spring for the higher ratio reels in order to pull line as quickly as possible after a hook. However, it\u2019s never that simple is it? Lower ratio reels have their own benefits and advantages over higher ratios too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The main difference is the types of baits that each ratio works best with. A higher ratio will work incredibly well with light or plastic baits, such as spinnerbaits and buzz baits. Meanwhile, a lower ratio, while not as fast, will work better with heavier spinnerbaits and crankbaits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ultimately, it\u2019s up to you to decide which ratio works best for your casting needs. Of course, you could always buy both a high and low ratio reel just to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Are More Bearings Better<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You may be thinking that the same rules for gears can apply to bearings too. The number of bearings should determine the quality and smoothness of your reel. Nope!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some reels may advertise themselves as having a large number of bearings, in reality the number of bearings means nothing by itself in terms of quality. Instead, you need to look for the quality of the bearings themselves in order to determine how smooth the reel will be. Most, if not all, reels will be smooth and efficient right out of the box, regardless of the number of bearings, but it\u2019s after a few weeks of use that the difference between high quality bearings and low quality will become clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How can you tell whether a reel has high quality bearings though? There are a few key phrases that you can look for when examining a reel that will give away whether it has them or not. Look for things such as \u201cshielded\u201d, \u201cdouble-shielded\u201d, and \u201csealed bearings\u201d in order to determine a high quality set of bearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can though, probably the best indicator is the term \u201cCRBB\u201d. This stands for corrosion-resistant ball bearings, meaning that they were treated specially to resist moisture or are made of a material designed to resist moisture and corrosion, such as stainless steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rounded Or Low Profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Most of the baitcasters on our list are low profile, but maybe you\u2019re wondering exactly what that means. Overall, baitcasting reels are either rounded or low profile in shape and construction, and each type fills a specific role in terms of what and how you\u2019re fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Low profile is the overwhelming favorite among baitcasters recently and are primarily used to fish for bass and crappie. These types of reels are sleek and easy to palm, allowing for a lot of control and comfort when casting. They also allow easier access to the spool, which can be a lifesaver in terms of untangling a messy bird\u2019s nest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand there are rounded baitcasters which, while not as popular, do have their own advantages over low profile reels. These reels are meant for large fish<\/a> like steelhead, pike, salmon, and catfish, as they have a greater length of line than low profile reels and allow for using heavier line. They don\u2019t sit as comfortably in the hand, but what they lose in grip fit, they make up for with extra strength, durability, and can take the full pressure of a longer hook run.<\/p>\n\n\n\nYou\u2019ll need to decide for yourself which kind of reel you\u2019re looking for in this instance and it\u2019ll likely be determined by exactly what type of fish you\u2019re looking to hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does Frame Material Matter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To make a long answer short, yes. While it isn\u2019t the most important thing to consider, the material of your reel can have an impact on your casting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two main materials that reels are constructed out of are graphite and aluminum. Where graphite is usually found in cheaper models while aluminum is the one that most pricier models use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s unlikely that you\u2019ll find any issues when using a graphite reel, but a good number of casters are not fans of the material. If you don\u2019t mind shelling out a few extra bucks for the aluminum model, then you\u2019ll have a sturdier reel that can take more abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Line Is Best For Baitcasting?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Look for a low-memory line like T-Line from Mason or PLine CX Premium<\/strong>. A low-memory line will tangle less which is very important for baitcasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you don’t have the technique down solid and your gear isn’t right, baitcasters can leave you with a tangled mess due to backlashing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Memory<\/strong> is the phenomenon where the line “remembers” being spooled up and twists when unreeled and easily tangles. Memory isn’t always a problem, but with baitcasters this can be a huge headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere’s multiple schools of thought–if you are just focusing on the technique and want to improve and don’t care about cutting line, then Big Game line is still a favorite for many fishermen using baitcasters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12lb or 15lb filament is a good weight for baitcasters.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully now you\u2019ve got a good idea of what you\u2019ll need from a baitcasting reel! If you weren\u2019t able to find one you liked in our list of best baitcasting reels for beginners (that we spent so much time compiling after researching hundreds of models on the market), then the buyer\u2019s guide ought to have given you a head start on looking for one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best baitcasting reel for the money is, then we recommend the ABU GARCIA Revo SX Low<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3518,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":49,"label":"Fishing"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"Peter","author_link":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/author\/outsidedecider\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":49,"name":"Fishing","slug":"fishing","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":49,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":52,"count":11,"filter":"raw","term_order":"0","cat_ID":49,"category_count":11,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Fishing","category_nicename":"fishing","category_parent":52}],"tag_info":false,"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3516"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3516"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8087,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3516\/revisions\/8087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/decideoutside.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}