Start with your reel.

A few familiar shapes are all you need to begin. Match a reel, learn three parts, then see what happens when you turn the handle.

Which reel looks like yours?

Compare the visible shapes. Choose the spinning reel for this lesson, or open the guide for your reel.

A spinning reel attached to a vertically positioned rod: its line-filled spool, bail wire and handle are visible beside the cork grip. — An exposed spool, with a curved bail wire beside it.1 2
Photo: Jonathan Ewen & Stephen Ewen CC BY 3.0 Image details

Baitcaster

The spool sits between the sides of the reel. Here it is partly covered by the thumb.3

Low-profile example

Photo: Xxrevsxx CC BY-SA 3.0 Image details

A vintage closed-face spincast reel mounted on a rod, with its enclosed front, rear release lever and handle visible. — A cover encloses the spool. Line leaves through an opening in the front.4
Vintage example; controls vary
Photo: Petey21 CC0 1.0 Image details

I'm not sure

Look for the curved wire beside the exposed spool. If you can see it, compare your reel with the spinning example. A covered spool looks more like the spincast example above.

You can learn with the spinning example even if you do not have a reel with you.

Start with the spinning reel example

Mine looks different

Photo: Petey21 CC0 1.0 Image details

A round baitcaster is still a baitcaster.

This example has a round body instead of the low profile shown above. The spool still turns to let line out and wind it back in.3 5 6 7

Use the visible parts to compare. Body shapes, handle sides and individual controls can vary.

Compare the reel families

Find three useful parts

Choose a part, then switch views to find it on the drawing.

PhotoDiagram

Find a partHandleSpoolBail

Handle

You turn the handle to wind the line back in.1 2 8 9

Follow the metal arm to the grip at the lower left of this photo.

Winding the line back in is called retrieving. The handle drives the reel through its gears.1 2 8 9

Spool

The spool stores your fishing line.2 10

Look for the drum wrapped in bright line at the upper right.

During a normal retrieve it moves in and out as line is laid onto it. It does not spin to wind the line in.2 10

Bail

The bail is the curved wire beside the spool.1 2

Look below the spool for the dark wire curving into a U shape.

When closed, it guides line onto the line roller. Opening it lets line leave the spool for a cast.1 2

Next: see what moves

Photo: George Chernilevsky CC BY 4.0 · Labels addedImage details

What goes around the spool?

Turning the handle winds the line back in.2 9 10 That is a retrieve. See which part does the winding.

Find the spool and rotor below. Predict which one turns, then press Play motion.

Watch the line wind back in

State

Reel stateReadyRetrieve

Trace the line before anything moves.

What turns to wind line back in?

2 of 2

Still frame. Play a short demonstration.

Try a prediction

Fig. 1

Spinning reel

Bail closed: line runs from the spool over the line roller and out through the guides. Nothing turns.1 2

Why it works this way

The closed bail is what keeps line on the roller path; anti-reverse holds the rotor against a pull on the line.1 2

Turning the handle spins the rotor around the fixed spool; the line roller carries line onto the spool while the spool moves in and out.6 9 10

Why it works this way

The gear ratio is how many rotor turns one handle turn makes; the spool's in-and-out travel lays line evenly.2 3 9 10 11 12 13

fishing line active partdashed = far side or inside

Simplified mechanism examples. Arrows show the direction of motion; sizes and timing are illustrative.

Next: try another photograph Watch the retrieve

Try a different reel

Same three parts. A different model and camera angle. Find each one in the photograph.

Find the bail, spool and handle using the three letter markers. Open the answers when you are ready.

Check the photo answers

A — Handle: The handle is the crank you turn. Here its grip is at the left, away from the spool.1 2 8 9
B — Spool: The spool is the drum holding the pale line. The curved wire in front is the bail.2 10
C — Bail: The bail is the thin curved wire in front of the spool. Its shape looks flatter from this angle.1 2

Next: follow the line out

You have found the parts and seen a retrieve. Next, see what changes when the bail opens for a cast.

Sources

First cited on this page

All references 13 in total

Show citation numbers in the text

Start with your reel.

Which reel looks like yours?

Spinning reel

Baitcaster

Spincast reel

A round baitcaster is still a baitcaster.

Find three useful parts

Handle

Spool

Bail

What goes around the spool?

Watch the line wind back in

Spinning reel

Try a different reel

Find the bail.

Round complete

Next: follow the line out

Sources