The Housing
The housing is a single metal piece that mounts to the rod and acts as a support strut for the rest of the reel assembly.
The Spool
Unlike all other fishing rods, which feature a side-mounted spool, spinning fishing reels have a reel that mounts from back to front, requiring a different mechanism than most reels.
The Handle
The handle is a single steel arm that mounts on the side of the housing. It is tipped with a plastic or rubber grip that spins freely, allowing easy movement.
Crosswind Mechanism
This mechanism is a small shaft and a series of gears that converts the rotation of the handle 90 degrees to match the movement of the spool.
Central Shaft and Accessories
The spool is mounted on the central shaft and has a series of washers, gears, bearings and a clutch. The gear and clutch keep the reel from unspooling too quickly when a fish is landed and to easily switch from unspooling to reeling in.
Ball Arm
The ball arm is an accessory unique to the spinning reel. It flips back and forth over the exposed end of the spool, forcing the line to move only in one direction or another. The ball arm automatically flips over when the angler starts to reel in, preventing the line from being pulled out. The arm can also manually be moved over to allow line to spool out when playing the fish.
Article Written By Beau Prichard
Beau Prichard has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. He specializes in fiction, travel and writing coaching. He has traveled in the United Kingdom, Europe, Mexico and Australia. Prichard grew up in New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Arts in writing from George Fox University.
