2 spools

[mick]

Stupid question. I just bought a new reel. It came with two spools. One is metal and the other is graphite. What's the difference? Thanks.

[s.f.]

if the fish like one or the other better, let us know...lol
#49

[TBO/MN]

There isn't any difference in the spool other than the material makeup. The reel company gives you an extra so you can spool up with two different size lines. They are completely interchangeable.
What kind of reel is it on??

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[REW]

The theory is that the aluminum spool is a bit better and casts better, if it has a titanium lip - as many of them do.

I will add one note of caution however:

If you have a rod holder in your boat - where the reels can sometimes flop back and forth - or if you lay your rods together in a locker, such that the rods can touch, and or the reels can touch each other - it is fairly common, for one of the reel spools to put a nick in one of the adjacent reel spools.

If this happens, you need to get a file and smooth off the nick, or it will fray your line.

If you use the graphite spool - the different material seems impervious to this nicking.

The other advantage of the aluminum spool is that they are typically machined - as far as being straight - and having parallel faces on both sides of the drag circle. This results - typically - in a smoother drag on the aluminum spools - contrasted to the graphite spools.

The other difference is that the aluminum spools are about 4 times more expensive for the reel manufacturers to construct.

Take care

REW

[Fish Hound]

Just to add my 2cents worth. If you use a braid or super fiber line put it on the aluminum spool. Only use Mono on the graphite. The super lines have been known to crush graphite spools.
The Fish Hound