Definition of mooching reel
A direct-drive large-arbor reel with a strong drag designed specifically for salmon fishing the big rivers of the Pacific Northwest United States. They look similar to large fly reels or centerpin reels but have a large-capacity spool which can hold monofilament, braid, or lead core lines for this specialized technique.
Variations of the term mooching reel
• moocher
• knuckle-buster
How to use mooching reel in a sentence
Many people out West use mooching reels with downriggers to target salmon.