On or off when working a lure and why? I always have it off in case a monster grabs it and runs and the drag is set too tight. If the drag is set too loose, I might not set the hook well is my thinking with anti-reverse on. It's a rock and a hard spot thing with me.

Mine are always disengaged.  Some of mine don't even have an anti-reverse switch anymore either.  If you set the drag properly, you shouldn't need to worry about using it.

Spinning reel? Some guys like to tighten the drag and backreel to land fish. We've had a lot of threads on this topic. Newer reels have much better drags, so backreeling is not as popular these days.

It's there but I've never used it.

I always have the anti-reverse turned on.  I haven't backreeled a fish in years.

56 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Mine are always disengaged.  Some of mine don't even have an anti-reverse switch anymore either.  If you set the drag properly, you shouldn't need to worry about using it.

I've always got the anti-reverse on and the drag always set properly. Like gimruis, a couple of my reels don't even have the switch.

I always have the switch turned on when fishing, I click it over to backreel when I think I’ve got something big hooked. I’ve caught a lot of 40” gar with 6 lb mono backreeling, they go far and fast 

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

I've always got the anti-reverse on

I had to think twice about how to word that properly.  Anti-reverse on is the correct way to term it.

I only turn it off when I reel the bait back in to @&£€! close to the rod tip! ?

I've never back reeled. 

18 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

I only turn it off when I reel the bait back in to @&£€! close to the rod tip! ?

Same… or when I need to clear some weeds from my bait.

7 minutes ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Same… or when I need to clear some weeds from my bait.

My non-switch reels I just lift loops off the spool...started doing that with the reels that have the switch as well to be consistent.

On

Always on, i will flip the switch at the boat if I feel the fish is still to green to land.  Then I will let some line out and let the fish swim a little more.  Never give a fighting fish total slack or it may end up coming off.  Only do this with bigger fish.

I leave mine on and never use it. Decent reels have good enough drags I don't see a need to back reel. If I need a little extra line I can pull it out and if I need more pressure for whatever reason I can feather the side of the spool. 

New Member. I ran across this forum doing a search for this topic. I went to buy a new spinning reel for a light action rod for a wade fishing trip coming up and was surprised that most do not have an anti-reverse switch. I grew up using my spinning reels with the anti-reverse off until I put the lure on the hook keeper to put the rod away. I can't say that I back reel a ton, but it sure has come in handy over the years. Good news is that Pfluegers still have anti-reverse (what I bought), bad news is that my primary spinning reel arsenal is Shimano. At my age, I could just make do with what I have and not buy any more spinning reels. 

Greetings All,

 

In my youth with more sketchy reel drag quality it was simply necessary to disable anti-reverse to allow back reeling as needed. Since manufacturing improvements have been implemented since the 80s it is simply better to make use of the better quality drag systems. These day anti-reverse is always enabled. Additionally, many of the newer spinning reels no longer have an anti-reverse selector. The result of this change is better overall reel ingress protection from debris.

 

I would like to add some personal experience, in that I've experienced more angling grief from a too tight drag setting than having the drag on the lighter tension setting. Just say'in.. Cheers!

1 hour ago, No.7 Rapala said:

Good news is that Pfluegers still have anti-reverse

Must be a Trion, President or President XT....or a 2019 model.

2023 models of Supreme, Supreme XT, Patriarch and Patriach XT have eliminated the switch.

Trion, Pres and Pres-XT switches are on the chopping block.

On 6/15/2023 at 7:38 PM, MN Fisher said:

Must be a Trion, President or President XT....or a 2019 model.

It's a President. Well then, I guess at some point I'll have to get use to it.

@No.7 Rapala: Welcome. I am glad to tell you that some of Shimano’s lower end spinning reels below the nasci still have the anti reverse switch. 
 

I’m just going to accept that the anti reverse switch is going the way of the ? dinosaurs ?