2 Speed Reels, What, How and Why.

[DaFrogman]

I received a PM asking me about 2 speed reels, what they do and why we might want to use one. Seeing as this is not the first such enquiry, I thought I would post the main body of my reply as a bit of very basic information.

Ok, 2 speed reels are basically things like your Shimano TLD 30II, Shimano Tiagras, basically any multiplier reel with a 2-speed gear mechanism.

2-Speed Mechanisms

On 99% of the 2 speeds you will usually find a button and small lever where the handle meets the main body of the reel. You push the button in to engage low gear and then push the lever to release low gear and re-engage high gear.

Exceptions to the "push button" rule are the Duel 2 speeds where you turn the handle away from you to use high gear and then just turn the handle towards you to engage low gear.

Also the Tiburon 2 speeds are "Auto", where the reel has a simple mechanism that senses how much pull there is against the line and then engages the reel on the appropriate gear. E.g. when the line has less force pulling against it (like when you lower the rod tip to crank after pumping or the fish is swimming towards you) the reel will set itself in high gear, but when the line has a certain amount of force against it (e.g. winching in a fish) the reel sets itself in low gear.

In the classic 2 speed gear mechanism, there are 2 main gears (the gears that mate to the handle shaft). One main gear will be larger in diameter and have more teeth than the other one.

The pinion gear/s (the gear/s that mates to the spool shaft) will generally be a single piece of metal with 2 "steps" in it or 2 gears that fit into one another. One step/gear is generally wider in diameter than the other and has smaller teeth.

The larger main gear will mesh with the smaller pinion gear/step and vice versa, the smaller main gear will mesh with the larger pinion gear/step. The differences in the sizes of these respective gears and steps is what generates the different gear ratios in the 2 speeds. Most 2 speeds have very similar gear change mechanisms, but its a bit too technical into the details of that here.

Now what is the point of having a high and low gear?.

Well a high gear of say 4:1 allows you turn the handle once to have the spool turn 4 times. This allows you to reel in faster. BUT the disadvantage is that when you have a lot of force pulling the line e.g. a big fish, it gets more and more difficult to turn the handle. If you use high gear on a mountain bike, and you try to climb up a steep incline it is very difficult to peddle isn't it?... same principal here.

So with that big fish just sitting there being very heavy and fat, and the handle being hard if not impossible to crank, you push the button and switch to low gear say 2:1 and suddenly, the handle is now a lot easier to crank, but the line comes in more slowly since the spool only revolves 2 times for each crank of the handle. So now you can winch up the fish.

Now the low gear has other uses, but is basically there to allow you to turn the handle easier and gain line against more resistance. For big game fishermen, sometimes its the process of reeling in several hundred metres of line after a long run by a big fish where low gear can come in handy too. It allows the angler to use less energy per crank.

Who needs 2 speeds?.

Well, firstly, 2 speed reels are always heavier than their single speed counterparts. The weight of the 2 speed gear mechanism and the increased dimensions of the sideplate needed to house the mechanism makes this inevitable.

Secondly, 2 speed reels generally are quite a bit more expensive than their single speed counterparts. Just compare the cost between a 2 speed TLD or Tyrnos and the single speed version.

2 speed reels are generally called game reels for good reason. Big game fishermen targetting fish like blue + black marlin need the low ratio to gain line against fish that may weigh over a 1000lbs and Tuna that weigh similar weights. At the same time they may need the high speed to gain line as fast as possible to avoid throwing the hook with slack line if the fish "charges" the boat.

For your average bottom fishing, you generally do not need 2 speed reels. Once again as in all things fishing, there are exceptions to the rule. If you use ultra heavy sinkers in very deep water, a 2 speed mechanism can be handy when you are just plain exhausted hauling up sinkers.

They can also be handy if you run 5 hook Apollo rigs in deep water bottom fishing and get nailed by 3 or more big fish that make it just a deadweight to be hauled up. Also when it comes to targetting species like giant grouper, from wrecks and the like, sometimes, the low speed allows you to gain line against a heavy fat adversary where a high speed reel would be nigh impossible to crank.

So as in all tackle questions, take a realistic look at what your needs and priorities are.

I've posted a set of pics below of a very badly maintained TLD30II that I had to rebuild somewhat and replace a handle on. The pics do however show the gears in a 2 speed reel and also why you should at least rinse your reel properly and grease it. Believe it or not all the gears and the spool shaft in that sea of rust came out unscathed due to the decent coating of grease on them.

I hope the other 2 speed users will chime in with their thoughts. AND I definitely stand to be corrected on how a 2 speed gear mechanism works, 'cos I only know what I have seen in the reels I have worked on...

Saimee

[stickbom!]

Jolly good info Esp for a bloke like me who knows ZEKE about big overheads

[Patudo]

It's kind of a similar principle to a bicycle. When the going gets too hard, put the reel into low gear and you can normally make better progress. When you need more speed, go into high gear.

In gamefishing most of the time you want to be in high gear. It's worth finding the reel a little hard to crank than being caught in low gear and not being able to keep line tight if a fast swimming fish puts slack in the line. But if the fish has gone deep and you're trying to bring him up (this happens all the time with big tuna), and there is a lot of tension on the line, low gear makes a big difference. You notice this when spooling/respooling a game fishing reel when the line must be loaded under tension and you definitely notice it on a fish. With low gear you may be able to reel in line directly against the fish, but it is always better to pump the fish by lifting the fish with the rod and cranking down to recover line.

When using a two speed reel you need to practice changing gears so that you can go into high gear or low gear quickly to respond to a fish. If you are on a marlin that is bull dogging you, swimming deep and slow, forcing you to use high drag and low gear to regain line, and your fish suddenly starts swimming faster, turning towards the boat, coming to the surface and jumping, you need to be able to reduce drag and change gear literally in seconds to keep up with the fish. It's like changing gears in a racing car around a racetrack. So make sure you practice. I personally find Shimano reels the easiest to operate but you should see some of the old timers working the old Fin Nor reels with their awkward gear shifting system so quickly and smoothly it's like a soldier changing a magazine, proving that practice makes perfect.

Regards

P.