Editing Fishing reel (section)

=== Braking mechanisms ===
When casting, the terminal tackles flying through the air will decelerate due to [[air resistance]], causing the line release out of the reel (which is mainly driven by the forward [[momentum]] of the terminal tackles) to slow down exponentially. This is particularly apparent when casting lightweight and/or poorly aerodynamic baits/lures, or when casting against the wind. If the angler is using a multiplier reel, its rotary spool often still has sufficient [[angular momentum|rotational momentum]] to keep itself spinning with a far more gradual deceleration. This deceleration mismatch between the line release and the spool rotation causes the lagging line to [[inertia]]lly "float" off the spool in loose loops before it can exit the reel. Some of these floating loops eventually get large enough to be pulled into the narrow spaces between the spool and the reel chassis – a phenomenon known as a ''spool overrun'' or a ''backlash'', which often snares the loops into a very messy tangle (colloquially called a "bird's nest" or "birdie") that is notoriously difficult to untangle. Such backlashing is unique to multiplier reels, particularly baitcasters, and is not present with fixed-spool reels such as a spinning reel.

To deal with backlashing, most modern baitcasting reels have a so-called "cast control" that serves to reduce the incidence of spool overrun at the cost of sacrificing casting distances. Each time a different lure weight is attached, the cast control must be adjusted to calibrate for the difference in lure momentum and deceleration. The users are also required to learn the skill of "feathering the spool" with their thumb to apply direct tactile friction on the spool surface to slow down or even stop it from spinning.

==== Spool tension ====
Spool tension is an adjustable screw knob that is coaxial to the reel spool. When tightened, the knob exerts axial pressure on the spool gear and generates a consistent frictional resistance when the spool is free-spinning.

==== Centrifugal braking ====
Centrifugal braking uses a series of spring-loaded "blocks" on the spool, which can move radially outwards under [[centrifugal force]] when the spool is spinning rapidly. These blocks each have a rubber piece that can rub against the reel chassis, creating additional friction that slows down the spool until the blocks retract back under spring tension. Some reels, such as the Shimano SVS Infinity, have designs that allow each centrifugal blocks to be locked and temporarily disabled.

==== Magnetic braking ====
Magnetic braking incorporates the principles of [[Lenz's law]] to create a contactless resistance to the spool spinning. The reel chassis (usually on the side opposite to the crank handle) has a circularly arranged array of [[magnet]]s creating a [[magnetic field]]. When the spool rotates, the metallic frame cuts through the [[field line]]s and experiences an electromagnetic resistance, which changes with the spool speed but persists as long as the spool is still moving.

==== Electronic braking ====
Electronic braking uses an [[electronic circuit]] to monitor the speed of spool rotation and apply pre-calculated resistance via an internal [[actuator]]. The most famous is the [[Shimano]] Curado DC ("Digital Control") series, first introduced in 2003 and having remained the only electronically braked fishing reel in the world for two decades until early 2023, when two similar products, the [[Globeride|Daiwa]] IMZ Limitbreaker and the KastKing iReel IFC ("Intelligent Frequency Control"), were announced respectively.