Spinning Reel Question

[warefisher]

Until recently all my spinning reels (US Daiwa and Pflueger) have had a small lever on the bottom or back of the reel that allows me to reverse wind.  I use this to let out some line when setting up to cast or let out some line when I’m on a snag.  I now have two nice JDM Daiwa reels (Certate) that don’t have this feature.  They’re always in anti-reverse.  I have to let out line by opening the bail or pulling line out against the drag.  Am I overlooking a feature or is the reel designed this way?  I’ll have to get used to this operation as they really nice!

[MN Fisher]

More and more reels are coming out without the AR switch. Don't know why, but it's the way they're moving.

 

The new Pfluegers are also missing the AR switch now.

 

No, your not missing something...I just lift loops off the spool without opening the bail if I need to let some line out for casting if it's short lengths, or open the bail...pulling against the drag is going to induce more line twist - something I don't recommend.

[Team9nine]

Designed that way. Several manufacturers seem to be slowly dropping this feature from some of their models, likely because very few people actually “backreel” anymore, preferring instead to just use the better quality drags now on reels…plus it probably saves them a little bit on manufacturing costs - lol

[Phil77]

99% sure I'll never use it but nice to have itAll Lew's spinning reels still have them. This one's my medium Ned setup and is really nice. 

[bulldog1935]

It doesn't take long with a bail-conscious hand to let out a single loop of line when you need to. 

Everything about spinning works better with manual bail technique, and every complaint about spinning tackle is also solved by it. 

Optional anti-reverse and crank-auto-bail close are both going by the wayside. 

[Dogface]

40 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

It doesn't take long with a bail-conscious hand to let out a single loop of line when you need to. 

Everything about spinning works better with manual bail technique, and every complaint about spinning tackle is also solved by it. 

Optional anti-reverse and crank-auto-bail close are both going by the wayside. 

 

I always used the AR on my spinning reels. I just purchased a Stradic and a Vanford that do not have an AR.  I thought it was going to be an inconvenience but in a few minutes, I adapted.

 

You can teach an old dog new tricks!?

[bulldog1935]

nobody misses them on baitcaster. 

 

I remember when A/R dog would go out on my old Lew's BB-1,   it would turn to pandemonium trying to single-hand land a fish. 

 

However, growing up, my older daughter would always go to this 4-1/2' Airex solid glass rod and 1937 Luxor half-bail for creek fishing, even though she had her pick of any tackle. 

No form of A/R on this reel, and she was adept at landing her own fish. 

[PressuredFishing]

Way of the past, it's dead, I've used it, it's okay foe fighting fish but drags have come so far even garbage carbon ones are reasonably smooth for bass fishing with heavier lines over .13mm  leas maintenance, sw exposure, etc. 

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I've gotten myself into more trouble with the reverse lever on spinning reels and can't recall but a few times where I actually used it.   On many of the reels of yesteryear, those levers were in bad spots where you'd accidentally engage them.    They are kind of like the Forward Assist on the AR-15/M-16 design.   A relic of the past, that even in the past was a questionable feature to many consumers like myself.    

 

I too got a JDM Certate 3000CXH a few months back........turned me into a real lover of spinning reels again.    It's magnificent in every aspect.    The drag though is worth every penny they cost...pure silk.    

[MickD]

I won't buy a reel without the switch.  Even if they never build another with it, I'm set until I die with reels with the switch.  But I think it's a big mistake to eliminate it.  I've been warning readers of this forum for quite a while now, so regular readers should not be surprised that some new reels don't have it.   

 

A good drag cannot replace some of the functions of the switch.  the ability to easily and smoothly, with little tension on the line, to let out line cannot be done easily without defeating the AR.  Opening the bail is a sad substitute.  

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

remember when A/R dog would go out on my old Lew's BB-1,

Mine too! Same reel but named ryobi!

[ScottW]

Quote

They are kind of like the Forward Assist on the AR-15/M-16 design.   A relic of the past…

I hated that thing back when I was toting my M16. Could have made it a cigarette lighter for all the use it was

[GetFishorDieTryin]

HIgher end reels now have drags that so smooth it eliminates the need to back reel IMO when using light line.  The drag on lower priced reels have improved significantly as well.  Its also kind of self defeating to pay for magseal or stiffen the retrieve with heavy rubber seals to keep water from under the rotor when there's a gaping hole in the frame for the AR toggle that lets water right in.

[Revival]

Never used the anti reverse switch in my life.  
 

Until this day, I don’t know a single person that ever back reeled.

 

Im sure it would be a disaster if I ever tried.

[MN Fisher]

I used the AR switch on my reels for one thing only - letting out line when I needed more slack. Swore I'd never get a reel without it.

 

Then I got a reel with no AR switch as a gift...and adjusted. Now it doesn't matter to me if it has it or not.

[Dogface]

7 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

However, growing up, my older daughter would always go to this 4-1/2' Airex solid glass rod and 1937 Luxor half-bail for creek fishing, even though she had her pick of any tackle. 

 

 

I had a Luxor like that. I may still have it stashed downstairs. 

 

 

4 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Mine too! Same reel but named ryobi!

 

I also have a Ryobi with half bail.

[Johnbt]

"Way of the past, it's dead," 

 

Nonsense. You probably think full cork grips are dead, too.

[islandbass]

It seems to be the trend and has been for a while and I also don’t like it. 
 

Some of Shimano’s lower end models still have them but from the nasci, the AR is gone. 
 

I like the AR while I might be an old dog, and while I can still learn new tricks, I refuse to with the AR switch. AR switch or bust, lol. 
 

I’m joking. Fortunately, I have no need to get a new spinning reel, but I’m ready to accept that the AR is a thing of the past. 

[bulldog1935]

12 hours ago, Dogface said:

I had a Luxor like that. I may still have it stashed downstairs. 

 

I also have a Ryobi with half bail.

The first Mitchell with (optional) A/R, 4th model CAP, 1949 (no, didn't buy new)

My BIL was fishing half-bail Mitchell 300 inshore when he started dating my sister. 

With wartime patent extension, Hardy's 1932 Altex flip-bail patent right lasted until 1954, though everyone was ignoring it by 1951, when Mitchell introduced their first flip-bail (Shakespeare, too). 

[Dogface]

I had and may still have a Mitchell 302 with a pin for a bail. I used it and the Ryobi for stripers off the beach and the jetties. I'll look in the morning and see what's there. 

[WRB]

Daiwa SS 1300 & 1500 spinning are still made today and have a bullet proof back reel switch and drive train. Excellent reel to this day.

Tom

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, Johnbt said:

Nonsense. You probably think full cork grips are dead, too.

Same with bamboo rods, dacron line, and rear drag spinequiptment, pistol grip rods  they still can be used  almost just as effectively in general, but the markets have dictated otherwise because the consumers quit buying them in place of more versatile, affordable, or just better options.Have plenty of full cork rods rear drag spinning reels, AR sp reels, a bamboo fly rod, and antique dacron line and use then heftily, all of these things I listed above are dead or dying in popularity, it's not an insult it's just a decline in usage over newer equiptment.  AR spinning reels aren't dead yet by a Longshot, but they are undeniably getting phased out my major manufacturers.

[WRB]

Tubular glass rods are popular now ie; glass crank bait rods, 80’s technology.

Tom

[bulldog1935]

@PressuredFishing since I like you, I'll try to be kind about broad generalizations. 

Manufacturing and marketing dictates so many people's desires, perspective, and knowledge base - "educating" us is one way to keep us buying (the actual marketing term for this is The Snow Job).  A lot of people will only buy Daiwa and/or Shimano, and some of that is feeling secure in the hype - disc drag fly reels, this year's fly rod model isn't obsolete, Euronymphing, etc.  (do the math here - fly fishing and high-tech just don't go together). 

If you really want optional A/R, Tica builds a reel that's made to last, great line management, and take abuse - they also build a fair portion of Daiwa's reels. 

Fifty years of fly rods now, only E-glass works good fly rod tapers under 7', S-glass and cane have the same equivalent modulus, and shine out to 8-1/2'.  Beyond that length, graphite fly rod tapers only make sense on weight alone.  Split cane is a labor of love, and the friend making your rod today is working for less than minimum wage, but also doesn't need the work, and has a wait list. 

There will always be people who will only fish braided dacron (check the market, it's still made) and antique knuckle-buster, or mono on egg-beater, both with cane and glass rods, partly from obstinance, partly for personal aesthetics.  Sport fishing will always be a personal and aesthetic activity - the Japanese take that to extremes, some with new pistol-grip cork. 

[Johnbt]

https://daiwa.us/collections/spin-reels

 

Just looking at the single pic of each model shown it's possible to see a bunch of A/R switches.

 

KAGE LT

PROCYON AL

TATULA LT

FUEGO LT

EXCELER LT

LEGALIS LT

QR 750

STRIKEFORCE B

 

I like the Tatula LT for bass fishing and some other things too. I will probably get a few more, although I'd prefer a Shimano Sustain if the current ones had the switch like my older FE models.

 

I noticed years ago that some of the saltwater reels and some of the inshore reels were dropping the switch, supposedly to eliminate one more place that water/sand could inside. I still think they're dropping the feature to save a few pennies and eliminate a little warranty work. I still find it useful when surf fishing - to play out tight line after casting while backing up out of the breakers. Same for keeping a bass worm in place hanging on a branch or a snag while my boat drifts with current or wind.