It depends on your own preference but I would say it would depend on the method used for fishing. Let me explain.
There are three types of reels: bait casting, spinning reel and spin cast reels. I will discuss each reel from my own experiences.
Baitcasting Reel: I first learned how to cast using this style of reel at an early age I discovered that these types of reels are famous for backlashes. A backlash is when the reel spool continues to play out line even after the lure has hit the water creating a bird nest of tangled line. There are a few ways to overcome this drawback.
1.Develop a style when casting using your thumb as a drag. When your lure hits the water press down on the spool with your thumb to stop any excess line from spooling out from the reel.
2.Correctly adjust the reel for each lure. These adjustments must be done whenever lures are changed with a significant difference of weight. This adjustment is very simple and can be done in a few seconds. Hold your rod in a horizontal position, set the spool tension by loosening the tension until the weight of lure begins to un-spool the line from the reel due to the weight of the lure. When this happens, simply tighten the spool tension just enough to where the lure stops.
The baitcasting reel is one my favourites for trolling.
Spinning Reel: The spinning reel also known as the “Open Face” spinning reel is probably the most widely used reel out on the market today. Anglers from the professional level to the novelist or the weekend anglers often use these reels. The spinning reel is one of my favourites to use for fishing.
These reels have a stationary spool that moves in an up-and-down motion when cranking the handle while the bail rotates around the spool spinning the line back onto the spool.
Spinning reels take some skills but can be easily accomplished with a little practice when it comes to casting. To cast a spinning reel hold the fishing pole where the reel is positioned beneath the rod. Use your middle finger and place it in front of the “foot” of the reel. Take your index finger and hook the line with your first knuckle just behind the fingernail. Now take your other hand and release the bail by pulling it up and across the top of the spool. Now you are ready to cast. When you want to release the fishing line simply straighten out your index finger and the line will start to un-spool. When your lure hits the water, crank the handle and it will set the bail to the closed position to where no more line will be un-spool.
What are the drawbacks from using an open face-spinning reel? There is one that I can think of right off the bat and that is after a while your fishing line will become twisted. When your line becomes twisted, simply replace your fishing line.
Spincast reels: The spincast real is also known as the “close face” reel or the “pushbutton” reel. This type of real is ideal for the beginning anglers or young children as they are quite simple to use.
The spool portion of these reels are encased which helps prevent tangling of the fishing line and it also keeps little fingers away from moving parts. These reels are very simple to cast by depressing the button with your thumb and holding it down to prevent the line from un-spooling. When you are ready to cast hold the button until you are ready to release your lure and then simply release the button. These types of reels are ideal for the beginners.
Gosh, I wish I would have had that inorfmtaion earlier!