The Basics

• A fly reel is mounted to the end of a fly rod by locking rings which either slide or twist to tighten into place. The reel design features a spool that fits into a reel housing. Along with the fly line itself, fly line backing is also wound onto the spool. To retrieve the line, the reel handle is turned which causes the spool to rotate and the line to be retrieved.
  
  

Drag

• Most fly reels are single-action reels with basic designs and usually feature a simple drag system. The drag system adjusts the amount of tension on the line, which is especially important when playing a fish. However, there are some larger and more expensive reels which feature advanced mechanical drag systems. These are used primarily by big-game and saltwater fishermen. The more simplistic click-drag systems rely on the technique known as palming to provide the majority of the reel drag.
  
  

Retrieving and Fly Line

• Most fly reels may be mounted so that either hand may be used for reeling. Fly line is retrieved by turning the handle, which causes the reel to rotate and line to be wound. Many times reels are made to specifically be used with particular weight lines. The term for this is matched. A rod, reel and line may be matched together to provide optimum results when casting.