the answer to my most often asked question just in time for christmas By-DJFISHS2XS

I work for the military and most that know me also know Im a fishing junkie, so I get asked "what do I need to purchase to start fishing around whidbey" about twice a week. With the lack of fishing knowledge that about 80 persent of the chain store employee's have and the lets make high dollar sales to compete with the chain stores that the mom and pop local stores have to do (this is not a slam against either) and then yesterday talking to a newcomer about rod/reels it inspired me to make a guide to selecting your new christmas present. this is only a guide from my experence if you disagree please add to the post and I will pass it along to the young men and women that I share my fishing experence with.  Its mostly the reason Im posting it on WFF to get input on anything I have overlooked.  Im also looking for brand preference example I already know that ugly stick rods are tough and durable I dont like there weight but any good deals to pass along are just what the beginners need..DJ

WHAT ARE YOU FISHING FOR
What kind of fish will you be catching? What will be the average size of these fish? What pound-test line will you be using?   angling technique? – will you be casting lures or bait out from the beach or across the river, trolling behind the boat or straight down under the boat bottom fishing? Make sure the size and type of reel you are considering is appropriate for the kind of fishing you will be doing. Also some reels just don’t handle the salt. Deciding what your fishing for most often is a great start for your Obtaining your collection of equipment. I say collection because after a while you have lots of reel and lots of rods. Some rods can be interchangeable with your reels to cover a few different applications, example I have a shimano Scimitar that is rated from 15 to 50 pounds that I use for lingcod and it doubles as a K15 or K16  Kwickfish plugging rod.

After you have desided on what your going to fish for
Decide what type fishing reel will best meet your needs. If you are a beginner, you’ll probably find a spinning reel easier to cast and fish with than a Baitcasting reel Operation is simple and backlash is essentially a non-issue. If you are a more proficient caster, a conventional reel or baitcaster with an adjustable casting control may be better choice. This kind of outfit will allow you to maximize casting distance and better drag performance; your line with out backlash’s will last a lot longer on a bait caster. Selecting a reel is not merely a question of experience, however. You wouldn’t want to use a nice spinning reel to catch massive bottom fish such as lingcod if you want that reel to lator use for silvers in the river, the salt exposure and the pull of the large rock dwellers will strip the drag and gears right out of the reel. Whatever type of reel you decide upon, make sure you are comfortable with the use and operation of that particular type of product. If you’re not, chances are you’ll experience frustration instead of fishing enjoyment.

Drag Systems
The most common drag on a baitcasting reel is the star drag. With a star drag, pressure is increased or decreased by turning the star-shaped "wheel" located just inside of the handle.  You always want to set the drag prior to fishing to just let the line peel out under heavy pull but not break the line.  When done fishing loosen the drag and the synthetic washer will last longer and not remain compressed inside the squeeze of the tension lever. If you prefer spinning reels, you’ll discover that there are two types to choose from – front drag and rear drag models. The difference boils down to where the drag system is located on the reel. While location alone doesn’t necessarily make for a better system, front drag spinning reels generally feature larger, multiple disc drag washers that offer a higher level of performance and durability. Rear drag spinning reels may offer convenience and ease of use, but they normally don’t stand up to big fish and demanding conditions like the front drag reel models.   The most important feature of the drag system is let it do the work for you, I can’t tell you how many first time fishermen I have gotten into a big fish that pull back when the fish starts a run. Let the fish pull keeping your rod up at a forty five degree and only reel when the fish stops, there are times when the fish are heading for obstacles such as logs, buoys, rocks, other boats etc. first try to move the rod to one side or another and turn (steer) the fish away only pull when its apparent the fish is going to make it to the obstacle.

Ball Bearings
Spinning and baitcasting fishing reels all feature either ball bearings within the reel for smoothness and stability. Many spinning reels also feature a roller bearing within the line roller. When it comes to performance and durability, stainless steel ball bearings are the best. The more ball bearings a reel has, the more smoothly it will perform. Reels typically feature at least two stainless steel ball bearings. Top-of-the-line models usually boast about four to six ball bearings. However, some of the newer, deluxe spinning reels on the market feature up to 12.

Gear Ratio
Another consideration when shopping for a reel is gear ratio, or how inches of line are wrapped around the spool to how many turns of the crank. Spinning reels and baitcasters offer differing gear ratios, ranging from slow retrieves (2:1 or 3:1) to high-speed retrieves (4:1 to 6:1). Reels with high-speed gear ratios are better for working lures quickly back to the boat, or gaining line in a hurry when a fish charges toward the boat. Models featuring lower gear ratios don’t offer as fast a retrieve, but provide the greater cranking power ideal for bottom fishing and trolling applications.
 
Frames
Most reel housings are composed of either aluminum (die-cast or forged) or graphite. Each of these materials has its advantages and disadvantages. Fishing reels made of anodized aluminum are generally stronger but heavier. Graphite reels are light and corrosion resistant, yet they normally don’t take the abuse of the aluminum. Due to the nature of a spinning reel's design, their bodies are composed of multiple pieces.
 
Balance 
Whether reel you select make sure the feel of the reel is smooth and solid when you turn the handle. In spinning reels, this has much to do with the quality of the cranking handle. If you notice a wobble, it usually means that the reel has a poorly balanced rotor. Newer spinning reels often have a counterbalanced handle, which contributes to balance and smooth operation. Another important feature for both spinning and conventional reels is infinite anti-reverse. This mechanism helps to eliminate play in the reel handle for more solid, positive hook-sets. Any existing handle "kick-back" can result in lost fish when you try to drive the hook home. The automatic line (quick cast) function is up to the fishermen but has some design flaws that kick-back comes into play.

Casting Controls
Baitcasting fishing reels come with built-in casting control systems that help determine how fast the spool spins when casting. These systems can be centrifugal or magnetic, or both.  You have to know how to set them, they are not a cure-all when it comes to preventing backlash you must learn to apply light thumb pressure to the spool in order to prevent backlash. An "educated thumb," with the correct reel setting is the best prescription for backlash free casts.

Level Wind
Many Baitcasters reels feature level wind mechanisms, which ensure that line is distributed evenly on the spool upon retrieve.  The most preferred inshore reels have level wind systems. You never want to use non-level wind reels while using braid or your fingers will feel the wrath of the abrasive braid slicing thru your skin.

Summary
As you can see, there are many features to look at when looking for a fishing reel to meet your requirements.  Here is a list of general size/action requirements for the fishing opportunities in both salt and river fishing.

Steelhead and Silvers and humpy’s from the shore or boat free drifting or tossing hardware. Medium fast action spinning and baitcasting rods/reels usually in the 8 to 12 pound test.

Kings, chums from the shore or boat free drifting or tossing hard ware, and plug pulling Medium fast action in the 12 to 20 pound rating, for plug pulling baitcasting are the most preferred option and make sure the tip action is light enough for the plug to pulse.

Lings and halibut heavy rods again baitcasting rods are the most preferred due to the amount of line and smooth drag. Stout short rods for the heavy weights used to get it to the bottom,  Longer lighter graphite rods for casting at rock ledges or vertical jigging with darts are also often used they can be either baitcasting or spinning but must hold enough line to tame a deep diving piggy…

These are just general guidelines! for beginners I strongly suggest finding a mentor and then sticking to him/her like glue