Retrieval Systems
The retrieve system of a fly reel is not of vital importance. What is meant by the retrieve system is how the fly reel retrieves line and how fast it does it.
The first type and by far the most popular is the single action. This means that when you turn the reel handle one complete revolution, you will have also completed one turn of the spool as well. They are by far the most durable.
The second type of retrieve system is the multiplying reel. This system incorporates a series of gears whereby one turn of the fly reel produces more than one turn of the spool itself. This allows the line to be reeled in much quicker. The drawback with these types of reels is that the potential exists for these reels to break more often than a single action fly reel because there are more moving parts involved.
The third type of retrieve system is the automatic fly reel. Fly fishing purists have much disdain for the automatic as they view it as taking away the challenge, but it does help in line control. This reel automatically retrieves all fly line at the press of a trigger. One problem with this type of reel is that they are heavy and not very durable because of the motorized system within. They typically do not allow you to set varying degrees of drag and do not hold as much backing as other reels.
The Drag System
Drag is the term used to describe the resistance applied to the reel spool to prevent the fish from stripping line away too quickly. For example, if you hook a 7 lb Steelhead and you have your drag set too light, the fish is going to run and strip line off your reel like it was nothing. In this case, you’d need to tighten the drag so that you still allow the fish to run but you control the run. If you tighten down the drag too much and don’t allow it to run at all, then you run the risk of your leader or tippet snapping from the tension.
There are two different types of drag systems on a fly reel that trout fishermen need to concern themselves with.
Spring and Pawl Drag
This drag system functions by increasing or decreasing tension against a spring applying pressure through a triangular shaped pawl against the reel’s spool. If adjustments to the tension are possible, they can be either internal or external using a knob or lever. Single spring-and-pawl drags are usually the least expensive reels. With the spring and pawl drag, the line is pulled out very smoothly without any variations in the amount of tension. By eliminating the unevenness in tension, the fly reel goes a long way towards protecting the tippet. The drawback of a spring-and-pawl reel is that it is not designed for very large fish. While they work, they don't work as well as the newer disc-drag models which we’ll discuss next.
Disc Drag
The disc drag reel allows you to apply more or less tension to the fly line simply by turning the drag control knob on the reel. Two types of disc drag systems exist: the caliper disc-drag and the "true" disc-drag. While the caliper disc-drag is usually considered inferior, I would argue that both work well. Disc drag reels excel in large fish situations such as large trout, steelhead and salmon. The disc drag reel is designed to exert a smooth but hard pressure on the fly line without seizing up and is ideal when large fish strip out hundreds of feet of line.
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