The Microspin Reel

For the kind of fishing Fish This does, there's really only one kind of set-up you can use: a 4.5 foot (4 or 5 eyelit) stick with a microspin reel. Most of your major brands are going to be able to provide you with a set-up like this, so you'll be able to stay with whatever brand you have developed an affinity for. Before we get to the whole set-up and the cast that will change fishing as you know it forever, let's talk about the reel.

Microspin reels, sometimes called Micros or Microlites, come in one size with several ball-bearing options. They're the tiny reels you never thought you'd attach to your stick, or wondered what the heck a reel that small was for. Fish This is here to tell you, that tiny little reel, running you from $19.99 to $39.99 (for our purposes there's no need to spend any more money than that, although I'm sure you could if you so desired), will change the way you look at that small, fast-moving body of water you thought there was no way to fish.

Now, while I prefer the 2 bearing Microspin, you can also get them in 3 and 4 bearings. Again, I've never really noticed a significant difference between the three, my Quantum 2-bearing reel spins just as nice, if not better than, my Flueger 4-bearing reel. Shakespeare and South Bend also make nice reels of the Micro persuasion. I don't know that I'd worry so much about how many bearings the reel has or the gear ratio, as much as how the reel feels in your hand. For those of you use to a big reel and handle to get your fish on, this is gonna be a bit of an adjustment, so find something your hand is comfortable with.

The line you use is probably going to be a change for most of you as well. I know I always thought to catch the big fish, you had to have big line that could take the beating. In some cases I'm sure that's true, but we're not fishing for Marlin here. Let's not fool ourselves. In small rivers and streams, line weight limits not what you can fish for, but how you can fish for it. The ideal set-up uses 4 or 6 pound line, and on a Microspin reel, that gives you from 50 to 120 yards of line to work with. That's not a lot, especially compared to what you're probably accustomed to having on your spool. So, it's time to fish smart. And the color of your line doesn't matter all that much, pick a line you like, a color you like or think is appropriate for the water you're going to fish, and go with it.

So, with the reel and line selected, a couple good choices for lures, it's time to get to the Stick that the fishing world underestimates.

Come back for more Fish This. Until then, keep it reel.