Fly Fishing Reels
The cost and quality variations of fly fishing reels are determined by the different manufacturing processes. The best reels are made by machining solid aluminum bar stock. Using this method gives a tighter fit between spool and reel and will be maintained even after several years of use. Less expensive reels are mass produced with the components being punched out and therefore don't have the same precision tolerances.
Many flyfishing reels today are now made of a graphite composite material and although being strong, light and of good quality the final choice as to what material a reel is made from is up to you, after all they all do the same job.
The earliest click reel turned out especially for fly fishing for bass was made by J. L. Sage of Frankfort, in 1848. It is still in excellent fishing condition and is of solid brass measuring 23/8 inches in diameter and 11/4 inches between head and tail plates. It has a permanent click which is placed in the head instead of the rear as is usual in click reels. It has an unusually sweet song.
This is your basic single action fly reel, used by virtually all serious anglers. They are reliable, durable and low maintenance. Most have interchangeable reel spools allowing a quick line change from say dry fly fishing to lake fishing with a sinking line.
Ross Evolution Reel
Spring & Pawl Drag Systems
The single action reel is a simple winch without gearing, making one turn of the spool to each revolution of the handle. The click consists of a toothed wheel (ratchet) working against a wedge-shaped piece of metal (pawl) supported by a spring to permit movement in either direction, the idea being to retard the action of the reel enough to prevent over-running. The contact of the pawl against the revolving ratchet produces a rapid clicking sound known as "the song of the reel," very pleasing to the ears of all true anglers and of great inspirational value to the poetically inclined.
Disc Drag System
The second type of fly reel drag is the disc-drag system. This type of fly reel uses various materials that work in a similar way to that of a brake on a car. A pad inside the fly reel can be adjusted up or downward, which in turn applies more or less tension to the fly line. This type of reel also uses a click pawl but this can be turned off so that the reel is silent when line is being pulled out
Disc drag reels excel in large fish situations, like when catching big trout, large bass, steelhead, salmon or large saltwater species. Disc drag fly reels are designed to exert a smooth but hard pressure on the fly line without seizing up and is ideal when large fish that strip out hundreds of feet of line.
For lighter fishing the disc drag is a little uneven and not quite as smooth as a quality spring a pawl drag, this makes the spring pawl system excellent for most trout fishing situations, particularly those where you will be fishing using light tackle and leaders.
Automatic Fly Fishing Reels
Not as popular trout fishing reels as the standard reel simply because they don't work so well. Any serious fisherman would do well to keep away from such reels, one, for the unreliability of the reel and two, for the flack you will get from your fishing mates for having one! Here's what Mr St John had to say about them in 1928;
The automatic reel consists of a spool operated by a spring which is wound up both by a revolving drum or key and by stripping line from the reel. The retrieving of the line is controlled by a lever, which releases the tension of the spring, operated by the little finger of the casting hand.
I once heard an angler, who should have known better, heap abuse on the automatic reel on the ridiculous assumption that the user of a reel of this type hooks his fish, touches the lever and hauls the struggling victim to the net, willy-nilly!
The object of the automatic feature is to take care of slack line expeditiously, which it does. I do not fancy this kind of a reel myself but I know very expert fly fishermen that do. Not the least of its merits is the fact that it is of ample weight; also well-made and not expensive, costing on an average, five dollars.
The size usually made for trout fishing will not hold enough line for all-around use but some makers turn out a special size for bass fishing.
Automatic fishing tackle reels are more mechanical and complicated than click reels, hence more liable to accidents and the user should have a spare reel of some kind to act as a substitute in case of emergency - which, for that matter, is good advice regardless of the kind of reel one uses.
To summarize, The single action fly fishing reels are your best bet, If its your first reel buy quality and one that has interchangeable spools, get a well known brand such as ross, sage, lamson, and tibor as you will be able to get spare parts and extra fly reel spools as needed. Good Fishing.