riverman wrote:

If you manage to stock enough backing so that the effective diameter of the
spool is the same with a LA and a SA reel, then I can see that you will
retrieve the same line with each rotation of the handle. But IME, LA reels
tend to be quite a bit larger than a SA with lots of backing. Also, the
*width* of the arbor shouldn't have a real effect: if anything, it reduces
the increase in the diameter of the takeup reel, and over time will NOT keep
pace with the SA reel as it retrieves line. LA reels with wide spools will
have more constant retrieval rates, but SA reels with narrow spools will
increase their retrieval rate as the spool fills up. But in many cases, the
LA reel will still have a larger diameter, and will retrieve faster.

The most important advantage of large-arbor reels, IMO, is more
consistent drag tension. The second most important (again, IMO) is less
tendency to create tangles because of less line coiling. I'd put
retrieval speed third.

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