Spinning reels have long been the number one choice for the beginning angler as well as experienced anglers. They are easy to use, perform well, and if you are fishing light lures and bait, they are essential. A spinning reel will cast light lure as well as heavier lures and baits as well. There is not the fear associated with a spinning reel as with the dreaded birds nest that are so common for the beginning baitcasters. With the improvement to the modern spinning reels and their drag systems, you will find that a spinning reel is capable of handling almost all of your fishing needs.

From casting, a small 1/32 ounce jig for Bluegill to heaving a 1-ounce steelhead or salmon rig the spinning reel will complete the task repeatedly. A spinning reel today with a front spool adjustable drag system is as smooth and reliable as any other type of reel and they are easy to clean and maintain.

You do not need an expensive spinning reel to catch smaller species of fish; however, you should consider the following when making your purchase:

Size.
Your spinning reel should balance well with the rod you are using; other wise, casting will be a lot more work. As a rule, you will need a reel weighing about 7 or 8 ounces to balance with an ultra-light rod. A 10- or 11- ounce reel is a better choice for a medium- power rod.

A well-balanced rod should be balanced when held just in front of the reel seat.

Line capacity
Is not much of an issue while fishing for the smaller species of fish such as Bluegill, Crappy, Perch and such. However, you may need a high-capacity reel on large western streams and rivers where you are making longer casts for larger fish.

Drag.
When you are fishing for small to medium sized fish, the type of drag is not too important. However, when you hook a big steelhead or salmon, the last thing you want is a sticky drag. A good rule to keep in mind is a front drag is much smoother and more reliable than a rear drag. The drag system works much like disk brakes, the washers on a front drag exert pressure on a large, flat spool surface and this causes friction. The more pressure applied the more friction against the spool and the harder a fish has to pull in order for the drag to let out line. It is important to note here that you should never over tighten your drag for the weight of line you fish. One thing to keep in mind with this drag system is that if you are not taking in line when turning the handle stop turning the handle until you are able to take in line. If you keep turning the handle while not taking in line all you are doing is twisting your line. The next time you go to cast your line will jump of the spool like a coiled spring.

Shape of Spool.
For best casting performance, choose a reel with a wide, long spool. If the spool is too short and narrow, the line will come off in tight coils; this creates friction on the line guides and shortens your casting distance. Another drawback to a short, narrow spool is you have to re-spool more often to keep the line level near the spool’s lip. With a narrow spool, casting performance will suffer when you lose even a little line. To get the maximum casting distance with a spinning reel it is imperative that you keep the spool full. The line should be within an eighth of an inch or less of the spool’s lip. Make sure that you do not over fill the spool, as this will cause problems also.

A spinning rod is probably one of the easier types of fishing rods to use. Spinning rods are one of the most commonly used rod types do to the fact they are so versatile. They make a great choice for some one just starting out. Should you be planning on fishing with light gear 1/32 to 1/4 ounce in weight they are what you need in order to cast these light lures.

A spinning outfit makes it possible to cast small spinners, baits, lures and other light “fishing gear” that are very difficult to cast with baitcasting gear if you could cast them at all. You can even use a spinning rod too fish with a fly if you like. All you need to do is attach a clear plastic casting bubble that you use for weight.

When selecting your spinning rod, consider these features:

•Material.
The best spinning rods are made of the same material as the best fly rods high-modulus graphite. There are some nice fiberglass models available if you are on a budget, however they are a little heavier. Not only does a high- modulus rod give you excellent casting performance, its lightweight allows you to cast with less effort. You will enjoy this if you plan to spend all day on the water.

•Length.
The tendency in spinning rod selection, as in fly-casting, is towards the longer rods. These longer rods are necessary if you are going to be making longer casts. On large western streams, anglers use spinning rods up to 9 feet long for casting their lures to the opposite bank. However, in most trout streams, long casts will be unnecessary; the average cast will be less than 25 feet. A long rod is simply not realistic on a narrow, brushy stream. An angler will do better with a 5-foot rod that is easier to maneuver under those conditions.

•Power.
An ultra-light to light spinning rod with 2- to 4-pound mono is ideal for casting lures weighing 1/32 to 1/4 ounce. They are an excellent choice for catching trout weighing up to 2 pounds. You will need a medium- power rod with 6- to 8-pound mono to handle heavier lures (1/4 to 5/8 ounce) and land the larger trout. For steelhead and salmon, you really should use a medium-heavy rod that can handle 10 to 20 pound line. Most all Rods have a recommend line size printed on the rod located just above the reel seat make sure this matches your intend use.

• Action.
For casting very light lures, you need a slow-action spinning rod. They flex over most of their length. A slow-action rod is best for casting tiny spinning lures because it loads well on the back cast. If your rod is too stiff, it will not flex, or load, so you will find yourself throwing the lure rather than letting the rod do most of the work for you. A medium-action rod (one that starts bending in the middle) will make the best all-around choice. They will allow you to cast most small lures and they give you a strong hook set along with added control when fighting heavy fish. The medium action rods also handle a wider variety of line sizes or weights as well.