Inshore saltwater anglers almost always ask for our advice about what type of reel they should purchase. The two types of conventional reels, open wind and level wind both have benefits and drawbacks depending on a number of factors. Each of them works completely differently and is each is suited to specific line types.

The best answer to this question is simple – take into consideration how you fish, your personal preferences and finally, what kind of line you intend to use most of the time. These factors will help you make an informed decision about which reel type is best for your needs.

Let’s consider the level wind reel first – simply stated, this features a moving guide that helps your line run smoothly back and forth across the reel and helps ensure your line rewinds as neatly as if it were factory wound. This is accomplished by the use of a pawl that runs back and forth across the front of your reel on a worm shaft. In comparison, an open style conventional reel has no guide line and it’s up to the angler to ensure the line is spooled back correctly.

While the bottom line is that most anglers will decide which reel to use based almost entirely on their personal preference, you’re likely to find that most inshore saltwater anglers prefer the open wind reel. The reasons for this if you talk to an inshore salt water angler are mainly based on the fact that level wind reels have far more likelihood of breakdown and some anglers feel that the level wind reel also interferes with proper casting. Repairs are nearly impossible to rebuke – level wind reels have more moving parts meaning an increase in failure possibilities. Since inshore saltwater anglers will nearly always wander off on foot to their favorite fishing spot, they likely will carry only a single rod and reel meaning that an equipment breakdown is a major inconvenience and will result in a wasted day of angling. Remember, a level wind reel requires impeccable cleaning since a single grain of sand can cause the reel to fail when you are fighting with a fish and could cost you the catch of the day.

Another article will take on the differences in fishing line types, but it is important that you consider this when you’re purchasing a reel. if you are primarily fishing with monofilament line, you’re probably more likely to need the benefits offered by level wind reels and if braided line is your preference then you’ll be better off with an open wind conventional reel. Dacron braided lines and monofilament lines have significant differences in how they reel back in after that big catch.

Monofilament line is the line of choice for many anglers – it offers stretch and it’s cost effective. It does have its downsides however and these downsides make the use of a level wind conventional reel very practical unless you want to spend time learning how to guide your line back onto your reel with your thumb. While this practice is common and not hard to learn, it’s highly unlikely that when you’re reeling in a big fish you are going to be paying all that much attention as to how you’re rewinding your line if you are using an open wind conventional reel.

This common characteristic forces anglers to learn how to guide their line back on the open reel. This is not difficult to do, it merely takes some practice to learn how to rewind your line evenly. Using their thumb, most anglers will quickly find that their line will go back on an open reel easily. One of the downsides however, is that it’s easy to get distracted from the care necessary for even winding when you’re reeling that big fish in.

For anglers who use braided line, this typically is not an issue. Because of the additional weight and its overall construction, braided line doesn’t tend to bunch up on an open wind reel. In fact, braided Dacron line tends to go back on the reel as nearly perfectly as one could expect with very little attention from the angler. For those who prefer braided Dacron lines, an open wind reel is definitely the one to purchase.

If you talk to any repair shop owner (and I can testify to this) the incident of repairs for open wind reels is well below that of level wind reels. There is not a big mystery here – the additional moving parts put pressure on a line, a grain of sand gets caught up in a gear and failing to ensure that the entire reel is thoroughly cleaned and lubricated means that the level wind reel has a higher chance to break down. There is not a single level wind reel manufacturer that is excluded from these breakdowns so just spending more money on a higher end level wind reel won’t result in a lower likelihood of breakdown. Open faced conventional reels with fewer moving parts are the simple answer to reel breakdowns.

While your personal preferences are certainly going to play a significant role in your final decision, also take into consideration your line type and your fishing habits – rigging or casting – and you’ll be able to make a sound decision between the level wind conventional reel and open conventional reel.

With all the different types of reels out there things can get confusing. Doing your research before hand can save yourself a headache. Some of the most popular reels include: Seaborg 300FB, Daiwa Viento, and Shimano Stella FD.