This switch is a waste - see if you agree.
The modern reel has come a long way from back in the day when I first learned how to throw a baitcaster. A look at some of the materials being used include things like magnesium and zaion for side plate material, hyper speed and sealed/ceramic ball bearings, titanium coatings on things lie line rollers and guides. On the other hand, many of the actual features haven’t changed too much. That said, there are a few things I think have really made a major contribution to the advancement of baitcasters, as well as 1 feature that might be the least useful thing ever added.
What are they? See if you agree or not.
1. Low profile design: This one is more an ergonomic thing, but it’s been a big deal in my opinion. I might be wrong, but the first such designed reel I remember was the Team Daiwa model back in the very early 80’s. Previous to that, everything was some form of a round reel. Not easy to palm, not fancy looking. Maybe it was inevitable, but that original low profile reel was the beginning of most all reel designs we see now days on baitcasters.
2. One-way roller bearing: One of the two biggest technological advancements in my mind. Once we had these reels that used those little metal claws to drop onto a toothed pall. Chances are you broke one or two on a heavy hookset when you slammed the hook hard on a jig or worm bite. Every once in a while they’d slip, and you’d loose or miss the fish. With the development of “infinite anti-reverse”, the game changed.
3. The thumb bar: Hard to believe we never had thumb bars at one point. Instead, you had a small metal button propped up on one side of the reel that you’d depress with one hand while holding the spool with another. Thumb bars changed all that – one handed operation became a reality. You might even argue that thumb bars made flipping and especially pitching possible. Would we have figured those techniques out if we never invented the bar?
And the biggest design waste:
4. The flipping switch: Does anybody even use that thing? It seemed like a great thing at the time, and they still put it on several reel models. At one time flipping was very popular, but it wasn’t long before pitching became the dominant form of that fishing technique. About the only time I can ever remember using this feature is when vertically jigging spoons, when you want to drop a spoon and engage quickly. Maybe I’m overlooking something here, but for a feature that seemed pretty cool when it first came out, it sure seems like a useless one now days.
10 Comments
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Jody White
December 12, 2011 at 7:24 am
Flipping switches are dumb. And they are actually getting hard to find.
admin (mostly Jay)
December 13, 2011 at 12:58 pm
hard to find — good because when you accidentally engage those suckers it sucks!
J.D.
December 12, 2011 at 9:55 am
Another waste in my opinion are the electronic cast control features on these super expensive reels. Now I’ve never used one, first because I think spending over $200 on a reel is crazy and second because I can put a bait anywhere I want with the reels I use.
mark menendez
December 12, 2011 at 12:26 pm
The first “ergonomic” designed casting reel was the Lew’s Speed Spool. It came to market in the 70’s. The teardrop shape was easier for anglers to hold. The second design improvement on the Lew’s Reel was the wider handle with flat paddles as the reel handle. These two design factors are still very visable on many different brands.
Boar Hog
December 12, 2011 at 2:25 pm
I wish I could find a reel now-a-days that had a flipping switch! I’m left-handed, but I fish with right-handed equipment, and the only reel (that I know of) that has anything close to a flipping switch is the Shimano Castaic. When flipping I hold the rod with my left hand and the line in my right hand, and, unfortunately, I don’t have a 3rd hand to engage the reel once I get all the line off the spool that I need – hence the need to be able to engage/disengage the reel with my left hand (preferably via the thumb bar).
admin (mostly Jay)
December 13, 2011 at 12:58 pm
I think old Quantums have that switch. Try evil-Bay maybe?
Ryan
December 12, 2011 at 10:48 pm
The Daiwa reels with the top switch give you the best of both worlds. You can find them on the JDM reels still. None of the new US reels have them. You can do it all with your thumb. Push down to cast or flip. Flip up with thumb or use other hand to engage the spool with the handle. Works great! I have 5 of them! I am right handed and use all lefty reels. I never switch hands. Throw with right and reel with left. The new Daiwa T Wing system is incredible as well! You can’t beat the Ballistics for the money. A lot of bang for your buck. Super long casts with highly adjustable cast control. Check them out!
admin (mostly Jay)
December 13, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I’d add super lightweight as being a great thing. Also a fan of reel brakes….
Dave
December 13, 2011 at 1:24 pm
The flipping switch is INVALUABLE when trolling. Very easy to let out additional line when you troll deeper. Walleye, salmon, steelhead, trout guys won’t buy one without it.
Alex Voog
December 14, 2011 at 11:58 am
There is a reason I have a dozen of the original Castaics, and I hate the “newer” (stupid split bar, idiotic whiffle spool) version. I use them for saltwater as well, they are almost bullet proof. – and yes with the original spools you can put a lot of line on them to troll a bit with, although there are lots better reels in my collection for that, but in a pinch, absolutely dependable. Electronic gadgetry in reels, please, gimme a ——- break.