Parts of a fishing reel

Two reels labelled part by part: a spinning reel and a low-profile baitcaster.

Spinning reels and baitcasters share a foot, body, handle, spool and drag. A spinning reel winds line on with a rotor and bail around a spool that stays still; a baitcaster turns its spool, which is why it adds a thumb bar and brakes.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Labelled diagram of a spinning reel in side elevation, as mounted under the rod: 1 handle, 2 stem, 3 reel foot, 4 line roller, 5 bail, 6 drag knob, 7 spool, 8 rotor, 9 body, 10 anti-reverse switch (if fitted). — Fig. 1 · Sheet 1 of 2
Spinning reel

Parts key · spinning reel
#	Part	What it does
1	Handlealso: crank	The handle is the crank the angler turns; on most spinning reels it can be moved to either side of the body.1 11 12
2	Stemalso: leg	Connects the reel foot to the housing, spacing the reel below the rod.1 11
3	Reel footalso: foot	The reel foot is the flat plate that slides into the rod's reel seat; the stem joins it to the body.1 11
4	Line rolleralso: roller	The line roller is the small wheel on the bail arm that guides line as it is wound onto a spinning reel.3 13
5	Bailalso: bail arm, bail wire	The bail guides line onto the line roller and spool when closed; opening it frees the line to leave the spool during a cast.1 11
6	Drag knobalso: front drag	Sets how hard a pull must be before the spool yields line.2 4 14
7	Spool	The spinning reel's spool holds the line and oscillates in and out so the rotor lays line evenly; it does not turn for the retrieve.1 3
8	Rotor	The rotor is the part that revolves around the spool, carrying the bail and line roller, and it is what the handle turns through the gears.1 4
9	Bodyalso: housing	The body, or housing, holds the gear train that turns handle rotation into rotor or spool rotation.1 2
10	Anti-reverse switch (if fitted)also: back-reel switch	On reels with this switch, it selects whether the handle can turn backwards. Other reels have anti-reverse without an external switch.1 11

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. 2 · Sheet 2 of 2
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.2
2	Side platealso: sideplate	Closes the frame; the handle-side cover encloses the gears in this example.2
3	Spool	The baitcast reel's spool is the revolving drum that stores line and spins during the cast.2
4	Spool tension knobalso: cast control knob	Adjusts resistance at the spool shaft to help control a cast.2 6 8 9 10
5	Level windalso: line guide	A level wind travels across the spool to distribute line during retrieval; not every revolving-spool reel has one.2 3
6	Brake dialalso: brake dial, magnetic brake, centrifugal brake	Adjusts casting-brake strength on this example; some reels also have internal settings.6 8 9 10
7	Reel footalso: foot	The flat fitting that secures the reel to the rod seat.1 11
8	Handlealso: crank, paddles	The crank that drives the spool through the gears.1 11 12
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.2 15
10	Frame	Supports the spool between the sideplates.2

What differs, row by row

Typical, as described by the sources

Parts of a fishing reel: mechanism and typical trade-offs
Aspect	Spinning reel	Baitcast reel
Spool on the cast	Stays still; line coils off the lip	Turns, once the thumb bar frees it2 5 6 7 11 16
Winding line on	The rotor carries the bail and roller around the spool	The handle turns the spool; a level wind spreads the line1 2 3 4
Cast release	Open the bail	Press the thumb bar1 2 11
Overrun control	None needed for the spool; loose coils can still tangle	Spool tension knob and brakes3 4 6 8 9 10
Drag	Knob on the front of the spool; rear drags also exist	Star beside the handle2 4 15

What are the main parts of a fishing reel?

Both reels have a foot that slides into the rod’s reel seat, a body that holds the gears, and a handle that turns them.1 2 11 12 The rest depends on the layout, and the table above compares the parts that differ.

Tell the layout from the spool

A spinning reel has a curved wire, the bail, that opens to let line out and closes to guide line over the roller as you wind.1 11 A baitcaster has no bail: its spool turns between the side plates to let line out and to wind it in.2 5 6 7 Find the spool first, then look for the wire.

Drag and brakes do different jobs

Casting brakes and spool tension slow a baitcaster’s spool during the cast.6 8 9 10 The drag lets line go against resistance when something pulls hard; set too tight, the line can still break.14 A drag knob and a brake dial can look alike, so identify each by what it does.

One layout at a time

The spinning reel guide and the baitcaster guide each take one reel on its own, with questions about that layout.

Questions people ask

What is the bail on a fishing reel?: The wire arm on a spinning reel that guides line onto the line roller and spool when closed, and frees the line when opened for a cast.1 11
What does the drag do on a reel?: Drag allows line to pay out against resistance. With a suitable setting it limits tension; a high setting or damaged line can still result in a break.14
What is the difference between the rotor and the spool?: On a spinning reel the rotor is the part that revolves, carrying the bail and roller; the spool holds the line and does not turn on the retrieve.1 3 4
What is anti-reverse?: The mechanism that stops the handle and rotor turning backwards, so a pull on the line works against the drag.1 11

Print and worksheets

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

Every worksheet

Sources

First cited on this page

All references 16 in total

Show citation numbers in the text

Parts of a fishing reel

Spinning reel

Handle

What is the highlighted part?

Practice complete

Baitcast reel

Thumb bar