Your Guide to Overhead Reels for Fishing in Australia

Overhead Reels Buyers Guide

What is an Overhead Fishing Reel?

Overhead reels are made to fit a variety of different fishing applications. The overhead fishing reel, in contrast to other types, is used for trolling behind the boat while using your preferred bait or lure, or to feed the fishing line to the bottom in a controlled manner. The overhead reel has been made to fit atop a matched overhead fishing rod, just like baitcasters, giving you greater control and contact with both the spool and the line.

When should I use an Overhead Reel?

Deep-sea fishing is made practical by the power and contact that an overhead reel can provide. This allows you to control the descent of your lure or bait and to instantly know when it has reached the bottom. When fishing the bottom in deeper areas of water, line capacity really proves its value by supplying enough extra line to withstand furious runs from bigger Australian fish. Simple drag mechanisms found on overhead reels also play a part, with modest modifications to the star or lever drag effectively stopping the majority of fish. Although there are very precise ways to fish with an overhead, there are a wide variety of species you can target. 

What Size Overhead Reel do I need?

To fulfil the demands of every fisherman in Australia, overhead reels are available in a wide range of sizes. The three main determining variables, in addition to reel body size, are line capacity, drag pressure, and total reel weight. Starting in the 8 - 18 size range, these are suitable for micro jigging and lightweight bait presentations. The 20 to 50 overheads, which are the next size up, are a superb all-around workhorse and are frequently employed by both novice and experienced anglers. When you reach your 600 and 700s, things really start to pick up. With a maximum drag rating between 10 and 20 kg and a line capacity greater than 700 metres, these rods are fish-catching machines.