Fishing For Fun Spinning Reel

This CATFISHPRO-FFFSPINREEL model is built very well and functions smoothly with an excellent clicker setting and strong bail lock and release. This is definitely now my go to spinning reel for freshwater fishing and I put the strong handle and big- easy to grip knob- handle- on the right side and mounted it on my best rod. I have at least 15 different reels- spinning and bait casters but after finding this new reel, I will use all others as backups and guest loaners! The drag knob is right on the back of the pre- spooled reel and easy to get to when a fish is on- to set it quickly before reeling it in. I really like this design, the 20 lb. line and the reel is beefy and easy to operate while catching fish- big or small. Excellent Cadillac of a reel! Great find!

First impression out of the box is this is a very heavy reel for its size. It's solid, well made and has a good feel to it. I paired it with a 9' pole but it could easily fit a 7' to 10' medium to heavy rod. Since its a closed reel I'm using it as a salt water set up and so far its performing well. It has a little more resistance when reeling in than my Penn Spinfishers, but that's probably because its a heavier reel with heavier line on it. The 20 lb monofilament it comes pre-spooled with is OK to start with, but when I re-spool it I'll use 14 or 15 lb monofilament so I can get more line and more distance. The live liner can be adjusted in the back when a fish is running with the bait and the clicking sound is nice and loud. The drag adjustment is on the front of the spool so you can adjust if needed when reeling in. Overall, its a nice set up at a decent price and I'm enjoying using it. The true test will be how well it holds up over time when exposed to salt water conditions.

About a decade ago I was a member of a catfish league. I was a complete novice to catfishing, and the more experienced members recommended using a spinning reel with a clicker if you were not going to use a bait casting reel (which also should have a clicker). I always used a bait casting reel, so I never purchased a spinning reel with a clicker.Now I have two grandsons who love to fish, but have not used bait casting reels. When they go catfishing with me, I'm sure one of them will be using this reel, and it will also be handy when I have other guests fishing with me. The clicker alerts you to the bite when a fish has taken the bait and begins to move.Since I have never had a bait clicker spinning reel, I am not sure exactly how they work. On this reel, the drag controls the line tension for both the bait clicker and also for fighting the fish. This means you set the drag lightly while waiting for a fish to bite, and then you tighten the drag when you begin to fight the fish. The drag setting is a round knob you turn at the back of the reel instead of the disk on top of the spool.The reel retrieves smoothly and also has an anti-reverse lever. I like that came equipped with line, but I'll change it pretty quickly to a heavier pound test braided line. The experienced members of the catfish league recommended at least 80 pound test braided line. Our river has many snags, and 50 pound flathead catfish are fairly common.

I am just learning how to fish. I found this reel on amazon, brought it to a friend that is a master fisherman and he said it is great. I live near the beach in a prime fishing area of Florida and plan on giving this a workout. My expert friend says it is designed for larger fish and will work well for fishing from the pier or the beach. I heard that there was a difference between salt water and fresh water reels. Most sources say that if you rinse off your equipment with fresh water after use it; a freshwater reel can be used in salt water. Fortunately the description says that this reel can be used in salt water and fresh water. You must size a pole to go with this reel and that is a science in itself. Some people actually use a drone to fly out over the water and drop the line a lot further than you could by casting. So my friend says this is a great start.

This stainless-steel and aluminum spinning reel feels durable. It can be both right-handed and left-handed. It comes pre-wound with 200-yards of 20-lb monofilament line, which can catch and hold some pretty big fish, even through cover, but it might be visible to smaller fish.