No Switchable Anti-Reverse

[MNGeorge]

If this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, please forgive me for bringing it up again. It's been a long time since I've been in the market for a spinning reel and up until today, was unaware many mid to upper range reels no longer offer switchable anti reverse. Am I in the minority here? I have never used the drag on spinning reels opting instead to back reel when fish make a run for it. This is pretty much a deal breaker for me when considering a new reel, at least for now, but if this the way things will be from now on, I guess I'll have to adjust. I'd love to hear from former back reelers on how the adjustment went and any tips on making the adjustment go as smooth as possible. Thanks

[d-camarena]

This is new to me. I have never turned off anti reverse on any reel. I let the drag do its job

[fishnkamp]

This will be much more of a mental thing than a fishing issue. The reels today have vastly improved drag systems, theey are a fraction of the weight they were before and if you stick to some of the big name companies will last you a very long time. My wife and I are  huge fans of Pflueger reels, the Presidents and Supremes, and also some of the Daiwas and Okumas like the RTX30 and Helios.  There are also diehard Shimano fans on here as well. What is your budget?

 

By the way, my wife has landed many 6 pound bass, stripers up to 30 inches and big catfish up to 12 pounds on her President 6935 reels.  That reel only cost $60,  Her Supreme is an amazing reel for $100.  I mention her success because that is all she fishes with, me I fish with three spinning and 12 baitcasting setups so many of my bigger fish happen to have been caught on a baitcaster.  Last spring I did catch several dozen big female smallies on Ned Rigs and they were all caught on my 6 foot spinning rod.  So I say do not underestimate the fish handling capabilities of today's reels. 

[RoLo]

 

Every topic has been aired before, so don't give that a second thought 

 

Back-reeling was very popular in the 60s and 70s, inspired largely by Fishing Facts

& In-Fisherman Magazines. The drags back then often released line in fits-and-starts,

where back-reeling helped cushion the shock of sudden lunges. The drags today however

are velvety smooth, and angler demand for an anti-reverse lever has fallen off the cliff.

Manufacturing decisions are always based on the almighty dollar, so it now appears

that anti-reverse levers will ultimately be phased out of all upper-end reel models.

 

Roger

[Bluebasser86]

I'm with you 100% on this one @MNGeorge. I back reel because I feel like I have better control of the fish. The drag may be great, but I can increase/decrease pressure on a fish as I see fit during a fight so easily when I'm back reeling. I've always done it, will continue to do it, and it's a deal breaker if a reel doesn't have it. I still set my drag as a backup in case a fish takes off before I can back reel, but I'd much rather back reel than count on the drag. 

[dsqui]

Back reeling is kinda like the rapala floating minnow great thing for it's time but there are so many better options out there today I don't know why anyone would buy one or why stores stock so many.  Was at the bait store just the other day and they had a bunch in a bunch of colors all with dusty boxes.  Anyways my point is today's drags and reels are not the reels of the past they have come along way

[PatrickKnight]

I thought this would be an issue for me when I got my Stradic FK but now I am glad its gone. I don't have to worry about water getting in there and the drag on that reel is good enough I have no need to back reel.

[HookRz]

The only people that don't understand the total control over a fish you get by back reeling have never learned to do it right. I appreciate today's drags...and have mine set to "disaster" setting.

Many don't realize the amount of force it takes for a fish to take drag depends on rod angle.  My drag is set very very high and if it begins to slip I lower the rod tip making it easier for fish to take line. That's when I flip the switch, raise the tip, and take complete control over the fish. 

I think reliance on the drag puts the fish in the drivers seat. You can't have have that using light line around cover. 

 

 

[fishwizzard]

I have allways ment to give back reeling a try, but never remembered to in the heat if the moment.  

 

Question, are the drags on casting reels more effective then the ones on spinning reels? I have never read of anyone worrying about loosing control of a fish on a casting reel when it pulls drag.  Or is it a finction of generaly lighter line being used on spinning reels?

[Team9nine]

Don't own a single spinning reel that doesn't allow backreeling, so the adjustment, or lack thereof , is going fine. I'll cross that bridge if I'm ever forced to go that route. Until then, simply don't buy those reels. 

[A-Jay]

I'm currently using a couple each of the Stradic FH and the CI4+ - one with & one without anti-reverse.  

After close to 50 years of reasonable success using reels with it, I never felt the need to back reel.  Admittedly I do fish with a fairly loose drag.    After a few trips with the CI4+ and no reverse gear - I haven't missed it.  Don't expect I will.  

Love the new reel btw.

A-Jay

[Darren.]

Doesn't bother me. I don't backreel, never found

the need as I feel I've got pretty good control over

the fish when I'm fighting with drag setting/line 

choice/rod power, and so forth. I respect those who

do back reel, just don't see need myself.

 

Have both reels (in 1000 size) @A-Jay shows above,

as well as a 1000 FK. The drags on these are nothing

short of outstanding (IMO). The newer CI4+ model is

amazing.

[Fisher-O-men]

1 hour ago, Darren. said:

I respect those who

do back reel, just don't see need myself.

This about describes my thought.  But back-reelers sometimes come across as further evolved than the rest of us. One question I would ask is, how do you back-reel a baitcaster?  And if you don't, why is that not a "deal-breaker"?

[RoLo]

9 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I'm currently using a couple each of the Stradic FH and the CI4+ - one with & one without anti-reverse.  After close to 50 years of reasonable success using reels with it,

I never felt the need to back reel.  Admittedly I do fish with a fairly loose drag.    After a few trips with the CI4+ and no reverse gear - I haven't missed it.  Don't expect I will.  

Love the new reel btw.

A-Jay

 

 

Back-reeling comes pretty naturally, I've never thought of it as a skill. On the other hand,

fine-tuning your drag tension doesn't come naturally, it takes more than a little experience

 

As I've mentioned in the past, when I tie into a true horse, I'll back-off on my drag

just as soon as she's out of heavy cover. With today's drag systems I feel like I'm cheating,

because it's extremely difficult for even for a lightly-hooked fish to tear free.

I may be old school, but I'm not old-fashioned   

 

Roger

[CybrSlydr]

When we first got my brother's Pfleuger President, the anti-reverse was off.  We thought we'd gotten a defective/broken unit until I took a look at the diagram and saw all we had to do was flip the switch on the side.

[Darren.]

28 minutes ago, Fisher-O-men said:

This about describes my thought.  But back-reelers sometimes come across as further evolved than the rest of us. One question I would ask is, how do you back-reel a baitcaster?  And if you don't, why is that not a "deal-breaker"?

 

That's a *great* question! Drag is good on one, not the other?

[Team9nine]

7 hours ago, Fisher-O-men said:

This about describes my thought.  But back-reelers sometimes come across as further evolved than the rest of us. One question I would ask is, how do you back-reel a baitcaster?  And if you don't, why is that not a "deal-breaker"?

 

It's called "thumb-barring." Completely takes the drag out of the equation  That's why God created channel lock pliers. Simply loosen the drag at the end of each season.

 

Check out this video of John Murray on Toledo Bend. Watch and listen to him playing the second big bass. He thumb bars the fish multiple times instead of using the drag, because as he stated, there are times you just can't let them run.

 

https://www.bassmaster.com/video/live-murray-two-toledo-toads

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I run braid on spinning reels so lone breakage is of little or no concern. Even many of the monos break much heavier than their marked # test. The added control of back reeling is non issue to me. Both types are still readily available 

[J Francho]

44 minutes ago, Fisher-O-men said:

One question I would ask is, how do you back-reel a baitcaster?

 

I had a few Daiwa reels from the late 80s that had an anti-reverse on/off switch.  Only really useful for trolling.

[blckshirt98]

I've never seen a reel that didn't have the little switch to allow you to reel backwards.  I never use the backwards reeling when fishing, but there's times when I reel in too much line and a swivel/hook eye/etc is squeezed tightly on the top guide where toggling the switch is the better option that trying to force the bail open.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Maybe its good maybe not i let my rod and my drag do it all backreeling means you have your drag locked down and  if the fish does happen to break bad 2 things will happen your fingers will come off andyour line will twist...

[fishnkamp]

I learned back in the 70 how to back reel. If you ever fished with an Mitchell 300 or 308, as well a many other good reels of the day. you learned how to back reel. With today's reels it is far better to adjust the drag correctly ( a little less than the line would break at) and add a bit of extra drag by addibg some b pressure with your hand as needed.  It is sort of the opposite of back reeling,, with back reeling you were the main line controller, now the reel is and you can add control as needed manually 

[Darren.]

3 hours ago, Team9nine said:

 

It's called "thumb-barring." Completely takes the drag out of the equation  That's why God created channel lock pliers. Simply loosen the drag at the end of each season.

 

Check out this video of John Murray on Toledo Bend. Watch and listen to him playing the second big bass. He thumb bars the fish multiple times instead of using the drag, because as he stated, there are times you just can't let them run.

 

John Murray thumb-barring

 

I know of "thumb-barring"  I do it myself, but not

always.

 

What I consider the equivalent on the spinning reel is

palming the spool....

[HookRz]

4 hours ago, Fisher-O-men said:

This about describes my thought.  But back-reelers sometimes come across as further evolved than the rest of us. One question I would ask is, how do you back-reel a baitcaster?  And if you don't, why is that not a "deal-breaker"?

I'm talking light line or at least light leaders.  I use heavy line on baitcasters. Little chance of a northern bass breaking my 15# plus line. Today's lines are strong.  Battles are toe to toe, or maybe toe to fin is a better phrase. Winch'em and swing'em.

 By the same token I always use the drag on both trolling and spinning reels when fishing for Salmon and Steelhead. You can't back reel fast enough to keep up with a slime rocket. I tried it many years ago. No way. I lost. Every time.

I'll concede today's skirted spools (my old Cardnals didn't have them)  make adding finger pressure to the spool in order to slow a fish down a lot easier. But back reeling allows you to slow-down and then turn the fish. That's a different thing entirely. 

 

[Team9nine]

27 minutes ago, Darren. said:

 

I know of "thumb-barring"  I do it myself, but not

always.

 

What I consider the equivalent on the spinning reel is

palming the spool....

 

Not the same in my eyes. With backreeling on a spinning reel, the drag never comes into play. With thumb-barring on a casting reel, the drag never comes into play. With your palming the spool scenario, the drag is very much a part of the process. For example, you could never palm the spool for added (drag) pressure on a fish AND take in line at the same time.