https://tackleanatomy.com/ https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-studio.0QubIdGT_Z29Aogj.webpSpinning reel photographed off the rod, with its spool, curved bail wire and handle visible against a teal background. https://tackleanatomy.com/baitcaster-backlash/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/baitcast-reel-overrun-risk-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a baitcast reel, overrun risk: The lure has slowed but the spool is still turning: line lifts off in loose loops that pile on the spool. https://tackleanatomy.com/baitcaster-parts/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-baitcast-reel-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled 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. https://tackleanatomy.com/baitcaster-vs-spinning-reel/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/spinning-and-baitcast-reels-cast-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of the spinning reel and baitcast reel side by side at the cast stage, with the fishing line and the parts that move highlighted. https://tackleanatomy.com/fishing-reel-gear-ratio/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/fishing-reel-gear-ratio-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of one handle turn beside a spool wrapped with line. Gear ratio counts rotor or spool turns per handle turn; the line recovered also depends on the diameter of the line on the spool. https://tackleanatomy.com/fishing-reel-sizes/ https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-studio.0QubIdGT_Z2oM1Y3.webpSpinning reel photographed off the rod, with its spool, curved bail wire and handle visible against a teal background. https://tackleanatomy.com/fishing-rod-action/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/fishing-rod-action-bend-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a rod blank held at the butt with a weight hanging from the tip, bending mostly near the tip as a fast action does. A dashed line marks the unloaded position. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/rod-bend-cast.C4M7eDDH_283qMo.webpThe upper half of a long fishing rod against a clear sky, curved into a deep arc during a cast, with the line and rig trailing to the right. https://tackleanatomy.com/fishing-rod-length/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/fishing-rod-length-reach-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a longer and a shorter rod turning through the same 45-degree angle from one pivot: the longer rod’s tip reaches farther and travels a longer arc. https://tackleanatomy.com/fishing-rod-power/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/fishing-rod-power-bend-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a rod blank held at the butt with a weight hanging from the tip, bent against a dashed line that marks its unloaded position. Power is how much load it takes to bend the blank. https://tackleanatomy.com/how-fishing-reels-work/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/five-fishing-reel-types-retrieve-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of the spinning reel, baitcast reel, spincast reel, conventional reel and fly reel side by side at the retrieve stage, with the fishing line and the parts that move highlighted. https://tackleanatomy.com/parts-of-a-fishing-reel/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-spinning-reel-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled 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). https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-baitcast-reel-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled 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. https://tackleanatomy.com/parts-of-a-fishing-rod/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-spinning-rod-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled diagram of a spinning rod in side elevation, reel side down: 1 tip top, 2 running guides, 3 stripper guide, 4 blank, 5 ferrule, 6 guide wraps, 7 hook keeper, 8 winding check, 9 fore grip, 10 reel seat, 11 rear grip, 12 butt cap. https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-casting-rod-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled diagram of a casting rod in side elevation, reel side up: 1 tip top, 2 running guides, 3 first guide, 4 blank, 5 ferrule, 6 guide wraps, 7 hook keeper, 8 winding check, 9 fore grip, 10 reel seat, 11 trigger, 12 rear grip, 13 butt cap. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/rod-guides-line.D6LjXe4g_49NFV.webpThe tip section of a telescopic rod lying on a blue towel, with line threaded through four ring guides that get smaller toward the tip and through the tip top at the end. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/conventional-star-drag.CENw1PFz_ZTOd7k.webpA round revolving-spool reel clamped to a rod, with a T-shaped handle, a star-shaped wheel beside it, a spool of yellow line between two side plates and knurled locking rings on the reel seat. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/casting-handles.2JvvbuTU_2oKuOn.webpTwo casting-rod handles lying on a stone counter, each with a curved finger trigger under the reel seat; the upper one has a threaded barrel and knurled locking nut. https://tackleanatomy.com/spincast-vs-baitcast/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/spincast-spinning-and-baitcast-reels-cast-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of the spincast reel, spinning reel and baitcast reel side by side at the cast stage, with the fishing line and the parts that move highlighted. https://tackleanatomy.com/spinning-reel-parts/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-spinning-reel-labelled-16x9.pngLabelled 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). https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-bail-open.Dv5aMj0j_Z1c0JSp.webpA spinning reel held by its stem with the bail wire flipped open above the spool, a few turns of line on the spool and the line roller on the rotor arm in front. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-mounted.DcyCSJ2D_Zqt3P8.webpA spinning reel attached to a vertically positioned rod: its line-filled spool, bail wire and handle are visible beside the cork grip. https://tackleanatomy.com/spinning-rod-vs-casting-rod/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/spinning-rod-vs-casting-rod-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a spinning rod above a casting rod at the same scale: the spinning rod’s reel and larger guides hang below the blank; the casting rod’s reel and smaller guides sit on top, with a trigger under the seat. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-mounted.DcyCSJ2D_Zqt3P8.webpA spinning reel attached to a vertically positioned rod: its line-filled spool, bail wire and handle are visible beside the cork grip. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/casting-handles.2JvvbuTU_2oKuOn.webpTwo casting-rod handles lying on a stone counter, each with a curved finger trigger under the reel seat; the upper one has a threaded barrel and knurled locking nut. https://tackleanatomy.com/types-of-fishing-reels/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/five-fishing-reel-types-cast-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of the spinning reel, baitcast reel, spincast reel, conventional reel and fly reel side by side at the cast stage, with the fishing line and the parts that move highlighted. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/spinning-mounted.DcyCSJ2D_Zqt3P8.webpA spinning reel attached to a vertically positioned rod: its line-filled spool, bail wire and handle are visible beside the cork grip. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/vintage-spincast.VU836hHg_ZMQWWE.webpA vintage closed-face spincast reel mounted on a rod, with its enclosed front, rear release lever and handle visible. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/baitcaster-hand.CjaRmlD__pClhc.webpA low-profile baitcasting reel held on a rod, with a thumb beside its exposed spool and the handle to the left. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/conventional-star-drag.CENw1PFz_ZTOd7k.webpA round revolving-spool reel clamped to a rod, with a T-shaped handle, a star-shaped wheel beside it, a spool of yellow line between two side plates and knurled locking rings on the reel seat. https://tackleanatomy.com/_astro/fly-reel-face.Dj93VRaL_WSfxl.webpA black fly reel seen face-on, standing on its foot, with coiled fly line showing through holes in the spool face and a small handle knob near the rim. https://tackleanatomy.com/types-of-fishing-rods/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/types-of-fishing-rods-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of seven simplified rods: spinning, casting and fly, named for the reel layout; surf, trolling and ice, named for the use; and telescopic, named for the construction. https://tackleanatomy.com/what-is-a-baitcaster/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/baitcast-reel-cast-diagram-16x9.pngDiagram of a baitcast reel, cast: Thumb bar pressed: the spool is freed from the gears and spins as the lure pulls line off it. https://tackleanatomy.com/worksheets/ https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-baitcast-reel-labelled-4x3.pngLabelled 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. https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-spinning-reel-labelled-4x3.pngLabelled 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). https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-casting-rod-labelled-4x3.pngLabelled diagram of a casting rod in side elevation, reel side up: 1 tip top, 2 running guides, 3 first guide, 4 blank, 5 ferrule, 6 guide wraps, 7 hook keeper, 8 winding check, 9 fore grip, 10 reel seat, 11 trigger, 12 rear grip, 13 butt cap. https://tackleanatomy.com/diagrams/parts-of-a-spinning-rod-labelled-4x3.pngLabelled diagram of a spinning rod in side elevation, reel side down: 1 tip top, 2 running guides, 3 stripper guide, 4 blank, 5 ferrule, 6 guide wraps, 7 hook keeper, 8 winding check, 9 fore grip, 10 reel seat, 11 rear grip, 12 butt cap.