Parts of a baitcaster

Ten parts on a low-profile baitcaster, from the thumb bar to the star drag.

A baitcaster's main parts are the thumb bar, spool, level wind, spool tension knob, brake adjustment, star drag, handle, frame, side plates and reel foot. Tension and brakes control the spool during a cast; the star drag sets the resistance when line is pulled out.1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Labelled diagram of a baitcast reel in side elevation from the handle side, as mounted on top of the rod; far-side brake dial shown dashed: 1 thumb bar, 2 side plate, 3 spool, 4 spool tension knob, 5 level wind, 6 brake dial, 7 reel foot, 8 handle, 9 star drag, 10 frame. — Fig. 1
Baitcast reel

Parts key · baitcast reel
#	Part	What it does
1	Thumb baralso: clutch bar, clutch	The thumb bar, or clutch bar, is pressed to free the spool for the cast.1
2	Side platealso: sideplate	Closes the frame; the handle-side cover encloses the gears in this example.1
3	Spool	The baitcast reel's spool is the revolving drum that stores line and spins during the cast.1
4	Spool tension knobalso: cast control knob	Adjusts resistance at the spool shaft to help control a cast.1 3 4 5 6
5	Level windalso: line guide	A level wind travels across the spool to distribute line during retrieval; not every revolving-spool reel has one.1 2
6	Brake dialalso: brake dial, magnetic brake, centrifugal brake	Adjusts casting-brake strength on this example; some reels also have internal settings.3 4 5 6
7	Reel footalso: foot	The flat fitting that secures the reel to the rod seat.8 9
8	Handlealso: crank, paddles	The crank that drives the spool through the gears.8 9 10
9	Star dragalso: drag star	The star drag is the star-shaped wheel behind the handle that sets how much resistance the spool gives before yielding line.1 7
10	Frame	Supports the spool between the sideplates.1

How the spinning reel differs

A spinning reel revolves a rotor around a fixed spool and has no level wind, thumb bar or brake system; the baitcaster shown spins the spool itself and has all three.1 2 3 4 5 6 11 12 13

What are the knobs on a baitcaster?

A baitcaster has three controls that look alike and do different jobs. The small knob on the handle side sets spool tension.1 The casting brake can use an external dial, internal settings or both.3 The star behind the handle sets the drag.1 7 Tension and brakes act on the spool during the cast; the star drag acts later, when something pulls line off the reel.3 4 5 6

What the level wind does

The level wind walks line back and forth across the spool as you wind, so it lies evenly.1 2 Whether it also moves during the cast depends on the reel.

Round baitcasters and handle side

The drawing is a low-profile reel with a thumb-bar release. Baitcasters also come in round designs7 14, which turn their spools the same way but can place the controls differently; see what is a baitcaster. Baitcast reels are made in right-hand and left-hand retrieve versions, with the handle traditionally on the right.2 5 10 15

Questions people ask

What is the knob on the side of a baitcaster?: On this example, the small knob beside the handle adjusts spool tension. The opposite side houses the brake adjustment. Some brake systems also have internal settings, so identify the control in your reel’s manual.1 3
What does the level wind do?: It walks the line back and forth across the spool as the handle turns, so it lays evenly.1 2
Can you switch the handle on a baitcaster?: Baitcast reels are made in right-hand and left-hand retrieve versions, with the handle traditionally on the right, so the handle side comes with the reel. Most spinning reels let you move the handle.2 5 10 15

Print and worksheets

Baitcast reel
- Labelled sheet, baitcast reel
- Blank sheet, baitcast reel

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Parts of a baitcaster

Baitcast reel

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