Freshwater Fishing Reels

There are four types of freshwater fishing reels: baitcasting, spinning, spincasting and fly reel. Each one serves a particular purpose and is designed for a specific form of freshwater fishing.

1. Baitcasting reels sit above the rod handle and use the weight of the bait or lure to make a cast as it pulls out the line and turns the spool to release more line.  Depending on the action of the rod, the heavier the lure, the longer the cast. Baitcasting reels are used primarily for bass fishing and require some skill to avoid line backlash when casting.
2. Spinning reels are the most popular freshwater fishing reels. They are open-faced, meaning the spool is totally exposed.  They are connected below the rod handle and the line is released from the stationary spool by pulling back a bail wire, a piece of metal wire across the spool called a bail. This stationary spool keeps the line in place and helps prevent snarls and tangled line. The weight of your lure or bait propels the line forward when you make a cast. Spinning reels are used for all types of freshwater fishing.
3. Spincasting reels are connected to the top of the rod handle and are closed-faced, meaning the entire spool is covered by a metal cowl that lets the line out through a hole the size of a pencil. Spincasting reels combine the features of both spinning and baitcasting reels. When casting, the spool remains stationary until you press a button with your thumb.  When you release the button, your bait or lure propels the  line. The ease of spincasting reels make them popular with beginners. 
4. Fly reels are used primarily for trout fishing.  They are attached below the rod handle and are designed to essentially hold the fly line since you are using only the action of the rod to cast the line and not the fly. A fly reel is used by stripping  the fly line from the reel with one hand while casting with the other hand. Pulling line out in small increments will increase rod action as the energy in the line is generated by the backward and forward motion of the fly rod.