As anglers gain experience, they often find themselves carrying several different fly lines for changing conditions. Floating, intermediate and sinking lines all have their place, and changing between them quickly can make a huge difference to a day's fishing.
There are two common ways of carrying multiple fly lines:
* Spare spools.
* Cassette reel systems.
Both achieve the same goal, but the best choice depends on the type of fishing you do.
## Spare Spools
A spare spool allows you to carry another fly line while continuing to use the same reel.
Changing spools is normally quick and straightforward, making them popular with anglers who fish several different line types.
However, one thing that is often overlooked is cost.
On many premium reels, a spare spool typically costs around half the price of the complete reel. If you eventually own four or five fly lines, the cost of additional spools can quickly exceed the price of the original reel.
For anglers using premium tackle, this can become an expensive way of carrying multiple fly lines.
## Cassette Reels
Cassette reels use a single aluminium frame with lightweight interchangeable cassette spools.
Rather than purchasing several expensive metal spools, anglers simply carry multiple inexpensive cassettes, each loaded with a different fly line.
This makes cassette systems one of the most economical ways of carrying multiple fly lines.
They have become extremely popular with UK reservoir anglers who regularly change between:
* Floating lines.
* Intermediate lines.
* Slow sinking lines.
* Fast sinking lines.
Changing from one line to another usually takes less than a minute.
## Reservoir Fishing
Cassette reels are particularly well suited to reservoir fishing.
Conditions can change dramatically throughout the day, with trout moving higher or deeper in the water depending on weather, light levels and food availability.
It is perfectly normal for a reservoir angler to carry several fly lines covering different sink rates.
Using premium spare spools for every line can become very expensive, whereas a cassette system allows a complete selection of lines to be carried at a fraction of the cost.
For many UK reservoir anglers, cassette reels offer the best balance of practicality and value.
## River Fly Fishing
River anglers rarely require such a large selection of fly lines.
For much of the season, a single floating line will comfortably cover the majority of river fishing.
Some anglers may own a second spool carrying a different taper or presentation line, but frequent line changes are generally far less common than on reservoirs.
For this reason, most river anglers have little need for either numerous spare spools or cassette systems.
## Salmon and Spey Fishing
Modern Spey fishing has also reduced the need for multiple spools.
Many contemporary Spey line systems use interchangeable shooting heads or detachable sink tips. Rather than carrying several complete fly lines, anglers simply change the head or tip to suit the conditions.
This means a single reel and spool will often cover an entire day's fishing.
Additional spools may still be useful for carrying completely different line systems, but they are no longer as essential as they once were.
## Are Cassette Reels Less Durable?
Modern cassette reels are considerably stronger than early designs.
While the cassette spools themselves are manufactured from durable composite materials rather than aluminium, they are more than capable of handling everyday trout fishing.
For salmon, pike and saltwater fishing, traditional aluminium spools remain the preferred choice due to the greater demands placed upon them.
## Which Should I Choose?
Choose **spare spools** if you:
* Fish mainly rivers.
* Only carry one or two fly lines.
* Want to retain the same premium reel throughout.
* Occasionally change line tapers.
Choose a **cassette reel** if you:
* Fish reservoirs regularly.
* Carry several fly lines.
* Frequently change sink rates.
* Want the most economical solution.
For Spey fishing, one spool is often all that is required, as modern interchangeable shooting heads and sink tips allow the same reel to cover a wide range of fishing situations.
## Related Articles
* Choosing a Fly Reel.
* Fly Reel Backing Explained.
* Large Arbor vs Standard Arbor Fly Reels.
* Choosing a Fly Line.
* Fly Line Sink Rates Explained.
## Peaks Fly Fishing Tips
* Premium spare spools are often surprisingly expensive, frequently costing around half the price of the reel itself.
* Cassette reels offer exceptional value for reservoir anglers carrying multiple fly lines.
* Most river anglers only need a single floating line, making additional spools far less important.
* Modern Spey line systems often eliminate the need for multiple spools by using interchangeable heads and sink tips.
* Buy the system that matches the way you fish rather than the most expensive option.
