Spinning reels without reverse

[Mobasser]

I recently looked at a Shimano Nacsi spin reel. I noticed there was no anti reverse switch. I'm wondering what the consensus is on this setup? How many like or don't like it? No ability to backreel. I'm unsure how many other reels are being made this way. I know how to set the drag correctly,  that's not an issue.Ive always had spinning reels with an anti reverse switch. For those of you that fish reels like this, any problems? How is this setup working for you? Reel drags have improved greatly through the years. Maybe this is the future? What are your thoughts on this type of spinning reel?

[Scott F]

All of my spinning reels are and have been the better Quantum’s. A few years ago, they removed the anti reverse switch and I wasn’t pleased.  I never back reel, but I do like to back up the lure to attach it to the lure keeper on the rod, or back it up if I mistakenly reel the lure into the top guide. I’ve been using my newer Smoke reels without the switch and have gotten used to pulling against the drag, or opening the bail. Just like when I adjusted to using reels without a “trigger”, I’ve gotten used to no reverse switch. 

[Log Catcher]

I have spinning reels that have the switch but I leave my anti reverse locked in as I have never done any back reeling. It would not bother me if i didn't have the switch.

[Stephen B]

I think removing it was a good move but that's just my opinion as I don't backreel as I have no need to. I'd guess that only 1 in 25 guys actually backreel. Thus the cost/benefit to have the feature is not worth it for the manufacturers. In addition, the drag systems are very reliable and smooth nowadays. Overall I find the drag system on the reels more effective than back reeling.

[A-Jay]

I do not back reel while fighting / landing fish but instead rather prefer to utilize the drag.

Properly set (and perhaps even adjusting it during) I'm comfortable & effective with it.

I have & use both type spinning reels (with & without an anti-reverse option).

Have not had an issue either way and do not 'miss it' on the reels that do not have it.

YMMV

A-Jay

 

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

All of my spinning reels are and have been the better Quantum’s. A few years ago, they removed the anti reverse switch and I wasn’t pleased.  I never back reel, but I do like to back up the lure to attach it to the lure keeper on the rod, or back it up if I mistakenly reel the lure into the top guide. I’ve been using my newer Smoke reels without the switch and have gotten used to pulling against the drag, or opening the bail. Just like when I adjusted to using reels without a “trigger”, I’ve gotten used to no reverse switch. 

Like you, I never back reel.

 

What I've done to back up the lure is get close, then grab the spool and dial it against the drag until the tension lets the rod tip point straight.  Seems better that pulling against the drag (no opportunity to bury the line into the spool) and it's definitely more precise.

[Darren.]

I understand why some want it/are used to it. They learned it

at some point. I never "got it" and simply have always preferred

to use the drag. And today's reels, at least the ones I've used,

have excellent drags.

[tstraub]

I think somewhere along the years reel manufacturers decided that most people would rather have instant antireverse. When you have a switch the handle moves backwards at least a little before it engages.  A one way roller bearing would be pretty difficult to turn off so you can back crank.

[OkobojiEagle]

I use light line, thin diameter hooks, quality reels with good drags AND I back-reel large fish.  I also have a landing net with me...

 

oe

[Team9nine]

14 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I use light line, thin diameter hooks, quality reels with good drags AND I back-reel large fish.  I also have a landing net with me...

 

oe

^^ THIS ^^

 

I know I wouldn't buy a spinning reel without unless the option by manufacturers simply wasn't there...

[Tywithay]

I've owned reels that have the switch and I'd have been just as pleased with them if they didn't have the switch. I have never once turned the anti-reverse off and I've caught 20lb+ fish on 6lb line just using the drag properly. I have, however, accidentally hit the switch whilst fighting a fish and have ended up with bloody knuckles from a handle coming backwards at warp speed. They're just another mechanical issue to fail and a spot for possible intrusion. I'd just as soon see them disappear.

[Further North]

3 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

I use light line, thin diameter hooks, quality reels with good drags AND I back-reel large fish.  I also have a landing net with me...

 

oe

2 hours ago, Team9nine said:

^^ THIS ^^

 

I know I wouldn't buy a spinning reel without unless the option by manufacturers simply wasn't there...

Help me understand, because I don't get this.  I am absolutely not being critical, I want to learn if I am missing something.

 

I get that you like it and use it...and that's awesome...but what does it add for most fisherman, other than a...let's face it...awkward maneuver and a loose cranking handle smacking into your knuckles that can easily result in lost fish?

 

There isn't a baitcaster on the market that has this feature, and hundreds of thousands of fish, possibly millions of them, are hooked, reeled in, no problem.

 

I fly fish.  A lot.  I get what happens when the reel is going the wrong direction and I have to palm the reel...and I'd rather have the drag do the work for me.  It's consistent, it doesn't make judgement errors, it doesn't accidentally grab too hard and snap the line or too light and create God's own backlash...

 

I catch fish that are four feet long and weigh in excess of 25 pounds on fly rigs, so we're stressing the equipment more than 99.999999999% of any bass ever caught will.

[Russ E]

I would prefer the spinning reels did not have the switch.

Just like on my baitcasters, I rely on the drag.

 

 

[HookRz]

I feel I land bass more quickly by backreeling. Being in control of the fish is a good thing. The fish only goes where you let it. Nobody ever really "got it" in the Southern states where most bassin' was done with baitcasters that left you no choice.

 

Don't try backreeling Salmon or Steelhead though. You just can't keep up with the silver rockets. Learned the hard way....

[NYWayfarer]

I can count on my one hand minus 4 fingers the times I used the reverse switch. I wouldn’t miss it.

[Todd2]

Different strokes....I set the drag around 3lbs and forget it. Never back reel.

[Brad in Texas]

Most won't miss the ability to back reel. What, 1 out of 20, 50, maybe 100 anglers use it these days?

 

And, the Nasci reel is a very good selection in that price range, by the way. I have a few of them, like them. No, I like a Stradic Ci4+ more . . . but they are over 2X more in price.

 

I just wanted to mention that drag is very effective but generally limited to pulls by the fish straight away from the angler. I assume everyone here knows we use spinning gear much differently than casting gear: the rod loads up and pins the fish to the hook, the fish tires, we reel down on the line during that respite like a tactical tug-of-war and we seamlessly reload our rods. Put that bend back in it. We often repeat this several times to land the fish.

 

So, with back reeling, if a fish's "vector" is, say, left-to-right or right-to-left and not running straight away from you or straight down deeper, by back reeling you have more options to move/control its head, give it line or turn the fish.

 

I'm only modestly good at it, would like to perfect back reeling if I had the right conditions to work on it; but, the anglers who've mastered it really impress me. From boxing, they'd be analogous to counter-punchers. 

 

Brad

[Gundog]

Oh I backreel like a crazy man when I have a big one on. Its the best way to guarantee an easy landing. Even the best drag can't compare to backreeling. You can take more of the strain off your line. Practice is the key to using the backreel to its utmost effectiveness. Practice on the little guys you catch and when you get a monster it will be second nature. 

[Team9nine]

1 hour ago, Further North said:

Help me understand, because I don't get this.  I am absolutely not being critical, I want to learn if I am missing something.

 

I get that you like it and use it...and that's awesome...but what does it add for most fisherman, other than a...let's face it...awkward maneuver and a loose cranking handle smacking into your knuckles that can easily result in lost fish?

 

There isn't a baitcaster on the market that has this feature, and hundreds of thousands of fish, possibly millions of them, are hooked, reeled in, no problem.

 

I fly fish.  A lot.  I get what happens when the reel is going the wrong direction and I have to palm the reel...and I'd rather have the drag do the work for me.  It's consistent, it doesn't make judgement errors, it doesn't accidentally grab too hard and snap the line or too light and create God's own backlash...

 

I catch fish that are four feet long and weigh in excess of 25 pounds on fly rigs, so we're stressing the equipment more than 99.999999999% of any bass ever caught will.

 

1 hour ago, HookRz said:

I feel I land bass more quickly by backreeling. Being in control of the fish is a good thing. The fish only goes where you let it. Nobody ever really "got it" in the Southern states where most bassin' was done with baitcasters that left you no choice.

 

40 minutes ago, Brad in Texas said:

I just wanted to mention that drag is very effective but generally limited to pulls by the fish straight away from the angler. I assume everyone here knows we use spinning gear much differently than casting gear: the rod loads up and pins the fish to the hook, the fish tires, we reel down on the line during that respite like a tactical tug-of-war and we seamlessly reload our rods. Put that bend back in it. We often repeat this several times to land the fish.

 

So, with back reeling, if a fish's "vector" is, say, left-to-right or right-to-left and not running straight away from you or straight down deeper, by back reeling you have more options to move/control its head, give it line or turn the fish.

 

I'm only modestly good at it, would like to perfect back reeling if I had the right conditions to work on it; but, the anglers who've mastered it really impress me. From boxing, they'd be analogous to counter-punchers.

 

10 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Oh I backreel like a crazy man when I have a big one on. Its the best way to guarantee an easy landing. Even the best drag can't compare to backreeling. You can take more of the strain off your line. Practice is the key to using the backreel to its utmost effectiveness. Practice on the little guys you catch and when you get a monster it will be second nature. 

 

These guys pretty much summed up the majority of the reasons. A couple things I will add. On baitcasters, I'd actually disagree to a point as baitcasters have thumb bars, and a good "thumbarrer" is the equivalent of back reeling, IMO. I do it rather frequently with fish on baitcasters.

 

The other point is that I don't like leaving line strength on the table. So if I set my spinning reel with 8 or 10 lb. line at 2.5 to 3 lbs of drag, it's a pretty decent amount of pressure (try dead weight lifting, equivalent to the way most guys fight fish), but the line has several more pounds of force it can handle (5-7 lbs or more in this example) before breaking. Problem is, every time you get to 2.5 or 3 lbs., your drag starts slipping or screaming, and the only control you have left is to put your hand on the spool to try and apply more pressure. I'd rather control all that through the reel handle and the position of my rod, and if I need to apply 5-lb. or 7lb. of force to stop or turn a fish, I can.

 

I get that we're in the vast minority these days, and it's not something I'd recommend to everyone, but it's the way I like to play this game, so for me, I'll keep buying reels with the switch until I can't. 

[Further North]

4 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 

 

 

 

These guys pretty much summed up the majority of the reasons. A couple things I will add. On baitcasters, I'd actually disagree to a point as baitcasters have thumb bars, and a good "thumbarrer" is the equivalent of back reeling, IMO. I do it rather frequently with fish on baitcasters.

 

The other point is that I don't like leaving line strength on the table. So if I set my spinning reel with 8 or 10 lb. line at 2.5 to 3 lbs of drag, it's a pretty decent amount of pressure (try dead weight lifting, equivalent to the way most guys fight fish), but the line has several more pounds of force it can handle (5-7 lbs or more in this example) before breaking. Problem is, every time you get to 2.5 or 3 lbs., your drag starts slipping or screaming, and the only control you have left is to put your hand on the spool to try and apply more pressure. I'd rather control all that through the reel handle and the position of my rod, and if I need to apply 5-lb. or 7lb. of force to stop or turn a fish, I can.

 

I get that we're in the vast minority these days, and it's not something I'd recommend to everyone, but it's the way I like to play this game, so for me, I'll keep buying reels with the switch until I can't. 

Thank you, I appreciate that.

 

Question: I use braid on my spinning rigs, at least 20# and usually 30#...does what you said about not leaving line strength on the table still apply?

[Mobasser]

Ill always prefer to backreel. With spin gear and 6 or 8 lbs line, I can set my drag where it gives slightly on the hookset,  and then backreel to play the fish. I started on this 30 yrs ago, after reading about Charlie Brewer,  Billy Westmoreland and other light tackle guys. Drags are very good these days, but it gives me more control. It is "old school" but still works for me. I could probably get used to that nacsi reel - it was nice. But for now , Ill pick one with an anti reverse switch. 

[Team9nine]

15 minutes ago, Further North said:

Thank you, I appreciate that.

 

Question: I use braid on my spinning rigs, at least 20# and usually 30#...does what you said about not leaving line strength on the table still apply?

I rarely use straight braid, almost always with a leader. I also never throw more than 10lb. braid on my spinning outfits. As such, for me, it always applies. Most rods can handle 20 lbs of force before approaching a breaking point, though most people and reels probably couldn't - lol. I would say some practicality comes into play at those line strengths and it doesn't matter much. Backreeling has always seemed to be a domain of light line/finesse anglers, or old-timers who grew up with questionable drag systems.

[Further North]

14 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

I rarely use straight braid, almost always with a leader. I also never throw more than 10lb. braid on my spinning outfits. As such, for me, it always applies. Most rods can handle 20 lbs of force before approaching a breaking point, though most people and reels probably couldn't - lol. I would say some practicality comes into play at those line strengths and it doesn't matter much. Backreeling has always seemed to be a domain of light line/finesse anglers, or old-timers who grew up with questionable drag systems.

Thanks again.  Added to my "database" for consideration and pondering.

[Gundog]

17 minutes ago, Team9nine said:

 or EXPERIENCE AND WISE ANGLERS who grew up with questionable drag systems.

Fixed that for ya ?

[Mobasser]

Well said Gundog and Team9nine.