Anti-Reverse switch?

[VTFan]

This is probably a stupid question but why do all spinning reels not have an anti-reverse switch or am I missing something? Seems to me it's handy to have in the event you wind the lure up too close to the rod tip. I'm a budget fisherman and most of the spinning reels I can afford...less than $75... don't have them....or at least that I can find.  Thanks.

[bulldog1935]

3 hours ago, VTFan said:

Seems to me it's handy to have in the event you wind the lure up too close to the rod tip. 

so don't do that

Last 3-page thread on the subject was 2 months ago

Especially in Daiwa, you'll find more entry-level reels with optional A/R (the switch) than without.  Full-time A/R crosses at about $200 price point, and no reel above $200 has optional A/R.  Check out Revros, Regal, and Legalis.  

[casts_by_fly]

50 minutes ago, VTFan said:

This is probably a stupid question but why do all spinning reels not have an anti-reverse switch or am I missing something? Seems to me it's handy to have in the event you wind the lure up too close to the rod tip. I'm a budget fisherman and most of the spinning reels I can afford...less than $75... don't have them....or at least that I can find.  Thanks.

 

cost and manufacturing tollerances.  You're removing a couple parts for the assembly, taking out a failure point, and sealing the housing where the switch would be.  All good things to me.  Yeah, I'll have to change the way I do things a little but I'll deal.

[Mobasser]

Many of the companies are doing away with the AR switch. Diawa still has them on many reels. 

[MN Fisher]

If you've got your drag set properly, you just need to pull some line out if you reel the lure up too close to the tip.

 

I've found that missing the A/R switch isn't a big deal.

[Bankc]

Hardly anyone back reels anymore, instead relying on drag.  So hardly anyone actually needs one for its original purpose.  Most people that back reel these days, just do it to do what you're doing, which is giving you some more slack when you accidentally reel too much line in.  And, as noted, you can get around that by pulling on the drag.  So it's one of those cases where most customers would rather have the added reliability and savings over paying more for something they wouldn't ever use.  

 

Of course, they still make reels with an AR switch.  But they're slowly going away.  On the reels that I have that have them, I almost never use them.  Nine times out of ten when I need one, I forget it's even there.  Mostly because I have a spinning reel without one that I use a lot, so I've gotten used to not using that switch.  

[Randy Price]

In all my years of fishing (>50), I've NEVER used the A/R switch.  I actually prefer them to not be there.  Too many times I have accidently turned it on and mess up my line.

[Team9nine]

Proud backreeler here 😎 Not many trips where I don’t use the switch at some point in the day for some reason. I’ll keep buying reels with the switch as long as they keep making them. If your companies reel doesn’t have an A/R switch, I’ll buy someone else's brand who does 

 

 

[Dogface]

11 hours ago, Randy Price said:

In all my years of fishing (>50), I've NEVER used the A/R switch.  I actually prefer them to not be there.  Too many times I have accidently turned it on and mess up my line.

 

In my 70 plus years of fishing, I always use them BUT I bought a Shimano Vanford last year that did not have one. I like the reel and I am adapting. 

[VTFan]

21 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Proud backreeler here 😎 Not many trips where I don’t use the switch at some point in the day for some reason. I’ll keep buying reels with the switch as long as they keep making them. If your companies reel doesn’t have an A/R switch, I’ll buy someone else's brand who does 

 

 

Same here.  At least once a trip I'm gonna use it.  I guess like anything else I'd get used to not having it and adjust but I like them and will buy them if I can.

[MickD]

21 hours ago, Randy Price said:

Too many times I have accidently turned it on and mess up my line.

In my opinion this is ONLY rational argument I have seen for deleting the switch.

[TnRiver46]

22 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Proud backreeler here 😎 Not many trips where I don’t use the switch at some point in the day for some reason. I’ll keep buying reels with the switch as long as they keep making them. If your companies reel doesn’t have an A/R switch, I’ll buy someone else's brand who does 

 

 

What he said! Plenty of spinning reels for sale that still have the switch 

[Reel]

I don't back reel and I don't mind not having it.  It's much faster just pulling line with your hand to lower the lure than using the switch and backreeling.  The anti-reverse port also lets water in when the reel is immersed.  Some seem to think that there is no problem putting a reel in water and you even see that on TV.  Makes for a lighter reel with one less accessorie.  Shimano has some lower priced reels that still have the anti-reverse like the Spirex and Sedona.

[Will Ketchum]

They probably don't make them with an anti-reverse switch to save manufacturing costs and hope you won't notice until after you have lain your money down. I only use mine when I have played the fish up to where it's ready to be taken from the water. I fish with it off because sometimes a monster will grab the lure and run and the drag may not be right, so I'll be forced to back reel or have the line break.

[bulldog1935]

Yet the market bears out the exact opposite is true.  

Compare Daiwa Procyon to Daiwa Tatula.  

 

 

... neither do I, but you can compare them on the internet.  

Whatever you're drinking for breakfast this morning, I want some.  

[TnRiver46]

I don’t have either….

[Bankbeater]

Every spinning reel I have ever owned or used has had an a/r switch.  The only time I have used it was when I accidentally flipped it without knowing it.  I'm actually looking forward to trying a reel without a switch.

[cyclops2]

Put the lever in either position ? 

[TnRiver46]

17 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Every spinning reel I have ever owned or used has had an a/r switch.  The only time I have used it was when I accidentally flipped it without knowing it.  I'm actually looking forward to trying a reel without a switch.

Well by what you just said, it will be just like every spinning reel you’ve ever owned minus one accident if youve never used the switch 

[Motoboss]

The new Diawa I just bought has a a/r lever, which I seldom use but do like to have one. 
 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Daiwa_Procyon_AL_LT_Spinning_Reels/descpage-DPAI.html 

[Functional]

My father is still on spinning reels only but constantly has the anti reverse switch on his older reels off all the time. He sets the drag tighter than most and says if he feels he needs to he can back reel. He loses more fish to what I'd consider and improperly set drag than he will ever admit to but hes set in his ways. 

 

I've messed up his reels enough times when I've borrowed one to never want and AR again.

[WRB]

Reels in general didn’t have instant AR until AR bearings became available in the late 80’s-early 90’s. Spinning reels had a switch to engage a dog that prevented the reel turning backwards. Daiwa introduced their TD SS 1300 & 1600 long cast spinning reels with a “bullet proof” anti reverse switch, this reel is still being sold today for $109.

Never back reeling always set the drag 1/3 rd line or leader strength.

Tom

[Fishing_Rod]

Greetings All,

The anti-reverse switch is not a significant issue for me. I rarely use the feature, when I do if the reel has one I'll use it, otherwise it is easy to simply tug on the line or release the bail to extend line. I have to clarify that I typically use ultra lite gear so no heavy drag settings and a simple line tug accomplishes what I need.

 

I do appreciate the simplicity of reels without the AR switch. As other have mentioned there is one fewer opening for shmutz to intrude.

 

I did learn how to back reel successfully, it was never a preferred method. Generally I did not find it helpful and simply added to the overall fuss factor. Having a reasonable to good quality drag properly adjusted was a better solution for me. This is to include those critical moments prior to landing a fish. Those are the times where both hands are involved in independent activities. One hand managing the line tension the other hand reaching to manage the fish. So no remaining hand for back reeling. Keeping it simple works better for me. Just my $0.02 put in for consideration. Your mileage may vary.

 

Be well, and Cheers!