Spool Width and Casting Performance

[latenight58]

If ALL OTHER FACTORS STAY THE SAME (casting power, rod, line, sinker weight, etc.), does a larger width spool on a spinner produce longer casts?  It would seem to me that there would be more line friction during casting with a smaller width spool, but I could be wrong.  Also, if spool width is a factor in casting performance, why don't the casting performance spinners (Akios Scora 80, Daiwa Emblem Pro, Penn Spinfisher V SSV7500LC, etc.) have exceptionally larger (or smaller) width spools than normal?

[glos]

on one hand you get less coils to peel of from spool, but on the other you get wider coils to go thru first guide

 

one thing tho, it goes with longer spool so the main advantage of that is the shalower line stack, which matter the most

 

so, the width is just a consequence of long spool which is the first cause of long-er casts

[redfin]

From the standpoint of general surf fishing the wider diameter spool on a standard spinning reel (like the penn battle 2) should prevail with all else being equal. There may come a point  on certain rods that you can't go as large a spool diameter as you might on another rod due to guide size and layout. I think the same will hold true for longcast reels as long as you are comparing the same reel in different sizes. Longcasts shoot line at tremendous speed so guides are going to be a bigger factor here.

 

If you start comparing reels across a range of manufactures (longcast or standard) with varying spool diameters, all bets are off. The reels oscillation systems, line lay and spool lips are going to make the whole spool diameter advantage thing fuzzy.

 

I always felt the best casting performance will be from a slightly oversized reel with the lightest line possible for the conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

[FishermanTim]

Reel size does matter, but that first guide matters just as much.

If the spool width is too large in comparison to that first guide, then casts will be restricted by friction of line loops constantly hitting the guide and causing drag.

If the spool is equal to, or slightly larger that the guide the drag effect is drastically decreased.

 

Line selection can have an impact as well, as mono vs. braid.

Braid will loop less and not cause as much drag as mono, but cost more, and can be a PIA when knotted/tangled.

 

Do some comparisons when looking at a new rod and reel to optimize your overall results.

[Captain Planet]

There is a point at which you hit the point of diminished returns on both spool width and height. 

The reason the long cast type reels have long shallow spools is because that's about ideal for most rod setups.  

Van Staal type deep spools are essentially the worst for distance due to friction experienced by the line on it's way out increases exponentially as the spool empties.  This is the reason for the angled Shimano spool lip.  Its angle reduced experienced friction.


 

Edited May 16, 2018 by Captain Planet