Thread: Spinning Reel, Anti-reverse Lever

Does anyone know why Penn and other reel manufactures removed the anti-reverse lever from their spinning reels? I found them useful when I realized that I had reeled the leader to close to the rod tip to make a cast. Could flip the lever and let out a couple inches of line and cast.

Basically it's a minor cost and weight saving feature left off to give the reel full time anti-reverse.
99.9 % of saltwater anglers NEVER used it anyway, so it was like an appendix.
Plus the anti-reverse was a feature most likely to fail (in older reels) after the bail wire of course.

And a lot of the high end SW spinning reels are doing away with an internal bail trip,you have to flip it by hand.

I'd welcome that, lost count of the times over the years i've gone to sling a bait way out only to have the bail snap shut on me

I can't think of a single time I have turned off the anti reverse while fishing. But I have had more than one them break on reels while fishing rendering them pretty useless.

I've had the anti-reverse lever get flipped off when I DIDN'T want it off, usually after I've put it in the car---massive tangle.

when fishing the clear mtn trout streams and tailwaters with 2-4 lb line, i want to be able to turn the anti reverse off. i will back reel to give line with such light lines. i just don't trust the drag. saltwater or heavier freshwater, i use the drag.

Guess I'm in the .1% and the only person that has accidentally wound the swivel too close to the rod tip to make a cast and had to let line out to cast.

Originally Posted by witler

Guess I'm in the .1% and the only person that has accidentally wound the swivel too close to the rod tip to make a cast and had to let line out to cast.

Pull some line off the reel by hand. If you can't the drag's too tight.

Originally Posted by witler

Guess I'm in the .1% and the only person that has accidentally wound the swivel too close to the rod tip to make a cast and had to let line out to cast.

I believe I have only one reel without (out of 11). Always need to back up to put the roller up top.

And getting the drop right when distance casting.

I don't get why some prefer not to have it. Seems it is usually the young 'uns.

But I'm primarily a conventional/baitcast kinda guy.