In order to buy a fishing reel for walleye fishing you have to decide on your technique. Those anglers that use several different fishing techniques during the day need three of four combo rods and reels with each set up differently with lures and live baits. For sensitivity and casting performance you will want to get a reel that will balance with your rod. You have to match your walleye lure with the jig and the live baits weights with the right line for the reel. The rod combination is important when you’re setting up your fishing rigs for walleye. Too much weight on the butt end will make casting hard and the wrist snap difficult. The weight also dampens the feel of a subtle bite. Matching the rod and the reel are very important and the most important feature in your walleye tackle. When you are looking for a walleye fishing reel look for:
-a rear mounted drag
-a skirted spool of good size to hold at least 100 yards of line
-the bail mechanism has to have strong string tension. If the bail doesn’t close the whole way the line rides on the bail and not the roller. When you go to set the hook the bail will open and the line will come off of the spool. The best spinning rods have a spring on each side of the bail.
-look for a free turning bail roller. The roller has to turn when the line passes over it and if not the heat and abrasion will damage the line and wear a groove in the roller.
-look for interchangeable spools that snap into the reel and let you quickly change to a different weight of line or type of line or replace the half empty spool.
You also want to look for a reel that has a backlash resistance feature. The backlash mechanism should be made of magnetic or a centrifugal brake system to make sure you have a good backlash resistance. You will want a gear ratio of around 4:1 and find a good casting reel that has multiple spools and a quick change of line. Most experienced fishermen will pick a spin casting reel for walleyes. These have a poor drag features but some walleye fishermen still use them. If you do get a spin casing reel then make sure it has a smooth drag and a good line pickup mechanism. If the line is not taut on a cheaper spin cast reel it will fail to pick up the line when you crank the handle. You want to look for reels that have numbers like 200 or 2,000 or larger. These reels are prime sizes and the used for river and lake fishing. The larger reels like the 4,000 or 5,000 are usually the saltwater reels and made for 8-9 foot rods for surf and pier fishing.
Reels today can cost anywhere from $10 up to $600. As far as the length that depends on the fisherman. Some anglers like shorter rods while others want more tip to fight the fish. If you can afford it you should buy both and then you can find out which one works best for you. Unless, you really like the custom built rods then you can get one from companies like Berkley, Fenwick, Zebco and Shakespeare. Most bass pro shops and Cabelas offer some good items. The more expensive the better the rod. A good rod should have a gentle curve from the handle to the tip. This means the weight is distributed equally up and down the rods shaft. If you go looking to buy a rod you can find the strength marked just above the handle where you will find the writing. The letter “M” means a medium rod, MH is medium heavy, and L is light. It can be hard to choose and buy the right type of walleye fishing reel that will suit your needs. However, there are some tips that you can use to help you make your decision:
-always make sure that the reel fits in your hand comfortably. Your thumb should be able to reach and work the casting mechanism.
-make sure the reel is rated for the pound test line that you will be using
-find out if the reel handle is non-slip when you are fishing especially if it is rainy day.
-make sure the reel is easy to lubricate
-look at different reviews from users before you make your final purchase
If you choose a bait casting reel they can open up a new world for you when it comes to fishing. You have to practise to get it down and this is a good reel especially if you decide to go out on a boat to fish.