Close-up of a Shimano spinning reel spooled with braid on a fishing rod, with water behind

Understanding the Different Types of Fishing Reels

Choosing a fishing reel can feel complicated. There are spinning reels, baitcasters, overheads, electrics and fly reels, in sizes from 500 to 30000, with a jumble of letters after the model name. But once you understand the main types of fishing reels and what they're for, picking the right one is simple.

This guide explains the different types of fishing reels, what the sizes and letters mean, which type of reel suits which fishing, and the rod and reel combinations we'd put together for each.

Close-up of a Shimano spinning reel spooled with braid on a fishing rod, with water behind

The Main Types of Fishing Reels

There are five main types of fishing reels used in Australia:

  1. Spinning reels: the most popular and versatile type, and the best choice for most anglers.
  2. Baitcasting reels: small, accurate reels that sit on top of the rod, for casting lures at structure.
  3. Overhead reels: heavy-duty reels for jigging, bottom fishing and game fishing.
  4. Electric reels: motor-driven reels for deep drop fishing.
  5. Fly reels: for fly fishing, from trout streams to saltwater flats.

1. Spinning Reels

Spinning reels hang underneath the rod and have a fixed spool. Line comes off the front of the spool when you cast, and a bail arm winds it back on. They're easy to use, rarely tangle, cast light lures and baits well, and cover everything from bream on the Swan to GTs on poppers. If you're only going to own one reel, or you're just starting out, make it a spinning reel.

Saltwater spinning reel spooled with orange braid on a rod in a boat

Spinning reel sizes explained

The number on a spinning reel is its size. Bigger numbers mean more line, a stronger drag and a heavier reel. Sizes vary a little between brands, but as a guide:

  • 1000–2000: bream, whiting, trout and finesse fishing. Light braid (PE0.4–0.8).
  • 2500–C3000: the most versatile small size. Bream, flathead, whiting, squid and jetties.
  • 3000–4000: the Aussie all-rounder. Estuary, jetty, boat, light beach and snapper on plastics.
  • 5000–6000: beach and rock fishing, tailor, salmon, mulloway, snapper and dhufish.
  • 8000–10000: jigging, popping, samsonfish, kingfish, land-based game and heavy reef.
  • 14000–30000: big GTs, tuna and dogtooth on poppers, stickbaits and jigs.

What do the letters mean?

  • PG (power gear): a lower gear ratio. More torque and winding power, and slower. For deep jigging and big fish.
  • HG (high gear) and XG (extra high gear): a faster gear ratio. Picks up line quickly for lures, topwater and speed jigging.
  • C (compact): a bigger spool on a smaller body. A C3000 is a 3000 spool on a 2500 body.
  • S (shallow spool): holds less line, which suits thin braid.
  • SW (saltwater): Shimano's heavy-duty offshore reels, built stronger and better sealed against salt water.

Shimano spinning reels

We carry a massive range of Shimano spinning reels, and they're the reels we use for most of our own fishing. Here's how the range steps up:

Two large saltwater spinning reels on rods sitting in boat rod holders

Saltwater (SW) spinning reels

For offshore fishing, jigging, popping and land-based game, you need a reel with a rigid body, a powerful drag and extra sealing against salt water. These are the heavy-duty reels that stand up to kingfish, samsonfish, tuna and GTs:

We also carry a massive range of Daiwa, including the Daiwa Exist, Certate SW and Saltiga. Browse all spinning reels or our Shimano reels.

Baitrunner reels

A Baitrunner is a spinning reel with a second, light drag that you switch on with a lever. A fish can pick up your bait and swim off with it without feeling resistance, and the main drag engages as soon as you turn the handle. They're great for bait fishing for mulloway, snapper and sharks. Try the Shimano Baitrunner D or the long-casting Baitrunner LC Long Cast XT.

2. Baitcasting Reels

A baitcaster is a small reel that sits on top of the rod. Its spool turns as you cast, controlled with your thumb, which makes it very accurate. Baitcasters are the choice for pitching and skipping lures under jetties, mangroves and snags, casting heavier lures all day, and fishing tight structure for bream, barramundi, mangrove jack and bass.

The catch is the learning curve. If the spool spins faster than the line leaves it, you get a tangle called a backlash (or "bird's nest"). Modern braking systems make them much easier to use:

  • Centrifugal brakes (like Shimano's SVS) brake hardest early in the cast. Good for heavier lures and windy days.
  • Magnetic brakes brake evenly through the cast, and are easy to adjust with a dial on the outside.
  • Digital Control (Shimano DC) uses a microcomputer to monitor the spool 1,000 times a second and brake only as much as needed. It's very forgiving and casts a long way. Try the Shimano Curado DC or SLX DC.
Angler holding a rod fitted with a round baitcasting reel

Low profile vs round baitcasters

BFS (bait finesse) reels

Normal baitcasters struggle with lures under about 7 g. BFS reels have ultra-light spools designed to cast tiny lures, and they've become popular for bream and trout. Try the Shimano SLX BFS, Curado BFS or Calcutta Conquest BFS.

Setting up a baitcaster: tie on your lure, hold the rod at 45 degrees and press the thumb bar. Adjust the spool tension knob until the lure falls slowly and the spool stops when the lure hits the ground. Start with the brakes at about two-thirds, and back them off as your casting improves. We're happy to set it up for you in store.

For a full guide to choosing and using one, see how to choose the right baitcasting setup. Browse all baitcaster reels.

3. Overhead Reels

Overhead reels (called "conventional" reels overseas) also sit on top of the rod, but they're built for heavier work. The line comes straight off the spool in line with the rod, giving direct lifting power, a strong drag and plenty of line capacity with no line twist. They're used for jigging, bottom fishing, trolling and game fishing.

Star drag vs lever drag

  • Star drag reels are adjusted with a star-shaped wheel behind the handle. Simple and good value, for bottom fishing and general boat work. Try the Shimano TLD, Tyrnos or Speedmaster.
  • Lever drag reels use a lever that moves from free spool to "strike" to full drag. You can preset your strike drag and return to exactly the same setting every time, which is why lever drags dominate jigging and game fishing.

Two-speed reels

Two-speed overheads have a high gear for winding fast and a low gear for winching a stubborn fish up from the bottom. On a big fish, it can make a huge difference.

Jigging overhead reels

Narrow, low-profile overheads with a very smooth, powerful drag and a long handle for working jigs. The Shimano Ocea Jigger is a benchmark jigging reel, the Shimano Torium Jigger is great value, and the Oceans Legacy Elementus is a CNC-machined slow pitch reel. The Shimano Talica is a compact, castable two-speed lever drag reel that's popular for everything from jigging to light game.

Overhead lever drag game reel on a rod in a boat's rod holder

Game reels

Big two-speed lever drag reels for trolling for marlin and tuna, rated by line class. The Shimano Tiagra is the Australian standard.

Browse all overhead reels.

4. Electric Reels

Angler on a boat holding a big red emperor caught deep dropping with an electric reel

Electric reels use a motor to wind in line, and are used for deep drop fishing, anywhere from 150 m to over 500 m, for fish like hapuku, bass groper and blue-eye trevalla. Winding a heavy sinker and a couple of fish up from that depth by hand, drop after drop, just isn't practical. Try the Shimano Plays, Forcemaster or Beastmaster, or the Daiwa Seaborg. See our electric reels.

5. Fly Reels

For trout fishing, a fly reel mostly just holds the line. For saltwater fly fishing it's crucial, because a queenfish or trevally can take 100 m of line in seconds. Look for a large arbor (faster retrieve and a more consistent drag) and a sealed carbon disc drag for saltwater. Try the Sage Enforcer, Lamson Liquid Max or Redington Behemoth. See our fly reels.

Spinning Reel vs Baitcaster

  • Ease of use: spinning reels are much easier, especially for beginners. Baitcasters take practice.
  • Light lures: spinning reels cast light lures and baits much better. Baitcasters (other than BFS) need heavier lures.
  • Accuracy: baitcasters are more accurate and let you stop the lure exactly where you want it.
  • Heavy lures and structure: baitcasters are less tiring with heavy lures and give more control around snags.
  • Wind and surf: spinning reels are far better on the beach and in the wind.

In short: start with a spinning reel. Add a baitcaster when you want more accuracy and control for fishing structure with lures.

Spinning Reel vs Overhead

For casting, a spinning reel is easier and more versatile. For jigging deep water, bottom fishing and trolling, an overhead gives more lifting power, a stronger drag, better line capacity and no line twist. Many offshore anglers use both: spinning reels for casting and overheads for jigging and bottom fishing.

What Size Reel Do I Need?

  • Swan River and estuaries (bream, flathead, tailor, mulloway): 1000–4000, depending on the species and technique.
  • Whiting on the flats: 2000–2500.
  • Squid: 2500–3000.
  • Jetties and general fishing: 3000–4000.
  • Snapper on plastics: 4000–5000.
  • Tailor, salmon and mulloway from the beach: 5000–6000.
  • Surf fishing with long rods: 5000–8000, depending on the rod and target. See our beach fishing guide.
  • Kingfish, samsonfish and jigging: 8000–10000.
  • GTs and tuna on poppers: 14000–20000.
  • Kids: 2500. Light and easy to hold, with enough line to be forgiving.

The Best Rod and Reel Combinations for Each Type

A reel only works properly on the right rod. Here are some of the outfits we'd put together, using the rods we use ourselves. For more on rods, see our guide to the different types of fishing rods.

If you'd rather buy a matched outfit, see our rod and reel combos.

Looking After Your Reel

  • Rinse it after every saltwater trip with a gentle spray of fresh water. Never use a high-pressure hose, which forces salt and water past the seals.
  • Back the drag off before you rinse and store it.
  • Let it dry standing up, not lying in a wet rod bag.
  • Add a drop of reel oil to the line roller and handle knobs every few trips.
  • Get it serviced once a year if you fish in salt water a lot.

Fishing Reel FAQ

What are the different types of fishing reels?

The main types are spinning reels, baitcasting reels, overhead reels, electric reels and fly reels. Spinning reels are the most popular and versatile.

What is the best type of fishing reel?

For most anglers, a spinning reel. It's easy to use, casts light lures and baits well, and suits almost every kind of fishing, from bream to GTs.

What type of fishing reel is best for beginners?

A 2500–3000 size spinning reel. It's easy to learn and suits most estuary, jetty and light boat fishing.

What type of reel is best for surf fishing?

A 5000–8000 size spinning reel with good sealing against sand and salt water. The Shimano Saragosa SW and Stradic SW are great choices.

What do the numbers on a fishing reel mean?

The number is the reel's size. Bigger numbers mean more line capacity, a stronger drag and a heavier reel. A 2500 suits the estuary, and a 10000 suits jigging and big fish.

Is a spinning reel or baitcaster better?

A spinning reel is easier to use and better for light lures, the beach and the wind. A baitcaster is more accurate and better for heavier lures and fishing tight structure.

What is an overhead reel used for?

Overhead reels are used for jigging, bottom fishing, trolling and game fishing, where you need lifting power, a strong drag and plenty of line.

Find Your Reel

We carry a massive range of Shimano and Daiwa reels, from first reels to flagships. Browse all our fishing reels, or come and see us at Level 1/154 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, and try them on a rod. Call us on (08) 9389 1337. We fish with these reels ourselves, and we can spool your reel with the right line so you're ready to fish.

Free shipping on orders over $150* (under 3kg, exclusions apply) Australia-wide.

— Compleat Angler Nedlands
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