Centrepin Reel: The design of this reel was patented by Charles F. Orvis in 1874 and this reel is mainly used for fly fishing. This reel has simple mechanical construction but in recent years improvements have been made with the development of better reels and drags for fighting larger fish.

Bait Casting Reel: Bait casting reel or overhead reel is mounted above the rod and in this reel a line is stored on a bearing supported revolving spool. Tough this reel dates from the mid-1600s, but has been used by amateur anglers during the 1870s.

Spinning Reel: Spinning reel dates back to early 1870s and were extensively used by North Americans. These reels are normally mounted below the rod and were originally developed to allow the use of artificial flies, or other lures for trout or salmon, that were too light in weight.

Spin Cast Reel: In 1949 Denison-Johnson Reel Company and the Zero Hour Bomb Company (ZEBCO) introduced the first commercial spin cast reel. Traditionally mounted above the rod, the spin cast reel is also fitted with an external nose cone that encloses and protects the fixed spool.