What on earth is the anti reverse switch for?

[4liters]

As a result of a conversation I had today I got to wondering why reels even have the ability to turn the anti reverse on and off. It seems like having it turned off and the reel allowed to turn both ways is just a birdsnest looking for somewhere to happen. Can anyone shed any light on this? I have noticed a lot of higher end reels don't have this feature, so why not just fix the mechanism in place with cheaper reels that are too cheap to have a one way bearing?

[Stumpjumper]

Yeah good question, they seem like an idiotic idea really when in practice most blokes will just pull line against the drag or simply open the bail if required. I picked up a couple of Shimano Sedona 2500's for the nephew the other day and these don't have the anti reverse lever. :thumbsup:

[smile0784]

Good point never reslly thought of it

[KeenAds]

I have been told that they were designed for people who like to fish with locked up drags and back wind when the fish wants to run. Not sure if there is any truth in that but I find it pointless having this switch and to be honest its usually the first thing to break on a reel.

[LINwAd]

Yeah I have wondered that too. Seems a silly thing to have!

[crumpet_avenger]

Always think my reel has packed in when it accidentally clicks over.
I only use cheap 50 buck **** so shouldnt be suprised. But aure enough i click it back over and all is good

[Basti]

carp fishos in the uk and such use it a lot. backwinding is a thing there. i reckon it's a good thing reels are moving away from having these. nothing but trouble

[4liters]

Figures it'd be some fuckery the poms dreamt up

[4liters]

I guess it might have made a bit more sense when drags were pieces of crap you'd only rely on as a last resort (and maybe that's why it's mostly shitty cheap reels that have them these days)

[mazman]

I guess it might have made a bit more sense when drags were pieces of crap you'd only rely on as a last resort (and maybe that's why it's mostly shitty cheap reels that have them these days)

I think it's still in cheaper reels because it hasnt caught on in those brands.
I think you're spot on regarding the shitty drags of the past making back winding a feasible means of a fish taking line. In fly fishing a similar change is taking place, when my dad learnt to fly fish you were taught to strip line in by hand and apply drag with your fingers to fight fish but now getting the fish on the reel is the done thing (winding up slack line to fight the fish by winding and using the drag).