Reels

Saltwater reels are reels designed for saltwater fishing. They are made to be saltwater-safe. At sea, they are used for both spinning reels and very powerful multiplier reels for vertical downrigger fishing.

Inertia reels

Inertia reels are identified by the letters SW (salt water). They do not have rusted metal parts as standard. Although there is not much risk of rusting when fishing with a quality plain reel, say a Shimano, also in saltwater, even though the reel is not designed for saltwater. Shimano has been making better (i.e. from 100eur) spinning reels for a long time, with very strong protection against water getting inside, and the only risk is if you dip the reel in water or if it gets swamped by waves.

The spinless reels are made with more powerful teeth, a longer handle elbow and much more powerful brakes. Brake discs are also available in the standard location at the top of the drum, with a few extra at the bottom. Marine reels are also produced, usually with a higher ratio. Why is this? Is higher gearing considered weaker? The answer is very simple: when fishing for large catches at sea, the fish is not pulled by the reel, but "pumped" by the rod. So you need the reel to pick up the line as quickly as possible when you are "pumping" the rod. Reels for sea fishing range in size from 5000 to 14000. The smaller ones are for saltwater fishing from the shore, while the larger ones are used in the South Seas and oceans for our exotic fish.

The most popular saltwater reels in the world are Shimano, Penn and Okuma. Shimano reels are considered to be the best, but their price is also high. Shimano simply does not produce economy grade SW reels. The most popular reels are the Stella SW, the Twin Power SW, and now the Stradic SW. Penn, once very popular, is slowly reducing the rpm, and the Taiwanese manufacturers Okuma are giving a lot of attention to the marine reels without inertia. Those looking for a more economical class of robust marine reels should choose Okuma reels. They have been going strong in this field for many years and are a serious enough competitor to even Shimano itself. Meanwhile, the other Japanese giant, Daiwa, has never been known for powerful and durable reels in any category, so naturally they are not doing so well with marine reels, and the offer is minimal.

Multiplier reels

Marine fishing is most associated with multiplier reels among Lithuanian fishermen, because of the great depths in the sea and the fact that fishing is mostly vertical downwards. And there is nothing more robust and comfortable than a multiplier reel when fishing vertically.

Multiplier reels fall into several categories. First of all, they are either with or without a line guide. The more powerful reels are without a leader, as it is very difficult to make a leader strong enough to support the huge loads. So the line just rests on the reel in a little cone and slowly falls sideways. In such reels, the reels are made deep, but narrow enough to ensure that the reel is as evenly spaced as possible.

Multiplier reels with guide for towing at sea. When trolling, the reel guide and the reel itself suffer much less stress, and these reels are usually equipped with a line counter, which is not possible without a guide.

Another classification of multiplier reels is based on the number of speeds the reel is available in. Coils come in one speed and two speeds. The latter have a switch which changes the gear from faster to slower. Two-speed reels are more convenient because they use a higher speed when working with the lure. When you hook and fight the catch, the slower speed is switched off and you get much less wear on your hand and the reel itself.

The third aspect is the adjustment mechanism of the fish holding brake. This is standard - star type - on cheaper reels, and what is called lever drag, where the drag is adjusted by a lever, on more expensive reels. The same lever can be used to loosen the drum completely or to tighten it very tightly with a flick of the finger.

Another category of multiplier reels are electric reels. These are mainly used for fishing in very deep places, where depths of 200 metres or more are required. They are particularly popular for catching smaller fish from very great depths. For example, sea bass, which can be caught at depths of up to 400 metres. With a simple reel you are unlikely to catch many bass. Electric reels are also useful for catching big fish. They can work independently, or they can simply be an assistant when pulling fish or bait. An electric reel doesn't have the power to fight a 50kg halibut, but it does make it easier for you to do the job by hand.

The most popular multiplier reels are Okuma and Shimano. They have little competition on the global market and in Lithuania.

Here you can order a wide range of multiplier and spoolless reels online at the best prices.