One of my best memories knocks me when I run after fishing. When I was a kid, I used to go for fishing with my dad. Initially, I started a spin cast reel like other kids. I eventually graduated to a spinning reel.
Today, Catching fish has become my religion (passion). However, are you a crazy angler like me? Are you looking for the best spinning reel for the money?
If so, get ready! Let’s jump over the contents!
Sports fishing have been a source of entertainment around the world. If you go for fishing and find you have a bad spinning reel, all your happiness will go in vain.
So, the importance of the fishing equipment is fundamental to guarantee the success of your activity. It’s somehow difficult for the most experienced angler to know how to choose the correct instruments.
In the following guide, we’ve explained the main aspects that you should consider before looking only at what it costs. This information will serve as a basis to know what to look for according to the type of fishing you do.
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The Smart Man’s Buy: What to Look For
When it comes to choosing a spinning reel at top value, an angler’s first consideration is always which tool is going to do its job the best. What job is that, you ask? Simply plucking more fish out of the water than the other guy!
You can strategize all breakfast long about locating the perfect hole and sliding your boat right in beside it like a ninja, but you’re going to be spending more time fishing than catching if you don’t have a trusty reel. Nothing is worse on the water than a missed strike; and in order to steer clear of such things, you have to know what you’re looking for.
Anti-Reverse Handles
Kickstart your search for a high-quality spinning reel by ensuring that it has no reverse motion whatsoever. Any slight backward motion is a deal breaker that you wouldn’t want to have on your day out fishing. It affects the accuracy of your hooks and may result in losing the fight with the fish. How do you confirm the anti-reverse handles on your spinning reel? It is easy, begin with a forward movement of the handle and try to turn it backward gently; if it reverses, choose another.
Reel size
Another essential consideration an angler should make when buying a spinning reel is its size. What is the size of the fishing line that you intend to use? The answer to this question will tell you the reel size that you need. The heavier the line, the bigger the reel you need to buy and vice versa. Also, remember that the strength of your line will determine the fish that you can catch.
Be sure to check the spool’s capacity information to be confident that you are using the right pound-test line.
Drag system
To set the hook with ease and precision, you’ll need a rear-system drag on your spinning reel. On these rear-system drags, the knob to control your spool will be located at the top of the reel. There, you’re going to want to turn the spool and feel the gears clicking. The finer and closer together the gear segments, the more silky-smooth your drag will be when you pull out the line.
On the other hand, if your gear increments are too far apart, then you will feel the drag jump forward when you pull out the line.
Number of Ball bearings
Lastly, the third most important factor in choosing a top-notch spinning reel is ball bearings. The more, the better, but you want to make sure that your spinning reel has no less than five ball bearings. You will notice that there are usually one to three ball bearings on entry-level spinning reels.
On higher-performing spinning reels, five ball bearings are standard. Do not be fooled into paying more for a spinning reel because it has the highest number of ball bearings, however. It is difficult to tell the difference in efficiency between a reel with five ball bearings and one with 10 or more.
Gear ratio
In simple terms, the gear ration of a spinning reel refers to the number of revolutions the spool makes in relation to a complete turn of the handle. What this affects is the speed of line retrieval when you crank the handle of your spinning reel. To put into context, a 4:1 ratio means that a single crank results in four revolutions of the spool which are four wraps of the line. This retrieval rate is considered slow but ideal for fishing large fish.
The choice of the gear ration majorly depends on the type of fishing that you are involved in, but if you can manage more than one fishing reel, we recommend that you have one of each – a low, medium and high-speed reel in your collection.
Spool
In addition to holding the line, the spool on your spinning reel will affect the smoothness of a cast as well as its distance. The two metals used in the making of spools are granite and aluminum, and if you are after durability and sturdiness to withstand pressure, the latter is the best pick. The other thing about spools is their design – skirted or internal.
While internal spools were mostly used in the past, you can still find a few on the market. They are known for causing line entanglement which can be overly frustrating to an angler who’s all about catching fish but not untangling lines. That was the motivation behind the introduction of the skirted spools which is safe to say have prevailed. Besides, they offer long distance casting thanks to reduced friction, a feature you can make use when fishing in clear water.
Spinning reel construction
How strong would you want the housing of your reel to be? The two main types of construction found on the market are either aluminum or graphite. Aluminum offers strong and more durable reel bodies although they are a little heavier than those made of graphite. Many anglers use aluminum reels for freshwater fishing and when seeking durability. Graphite reels, on the other hand, is lighter and can withstand corrosion better.
There is no standard rule in choosing the best reel construction – it depends on personal preferences and type of fishing.
Advantages of a Spinning Reel
What are the main advantages of using a spinning reel?
Long-Distance Casting
The first thing that gives the spinning casts the edge over other types of reels is the fact that you can cast farther even when using lighter lures. Baitcaster users can brag about better control of their lures, but to throw a bait as light as 1/16 ounces might require them to turn to spinning reels. Seasoned fishers will tell you the importance of having the ability to cast your lures far especially when fishing in saltwater.
Easy to Use
Spinning reels come with unmatched ease of use making them the best pick for beginners. Are you left-handed and are wondering whether you can get a reel that works for you? Well, the spinning tackle comes with reels and handles that can be swapped to be used on the right or left sides accordingly. The other types will require that you buy one that’s dedicated to either the left or the right-handed people.
No Backlashes
Convenience in the use of fishing reels calls for the effectiveness in casting regardless of whether it is windy or not. This is something that spinning reels offer, and advantage it has over baitcaster reels. In essence, you don’t get backlashes when casting into the wind – not even when using light lures, how ideal, right?
Smooth Drag Adjustment
There comes that critical time when you need to adjust your drag least you lose the fight with the fish. Spinning reels allow easy accessibility and graduation of the drag to give you a wide range of adjustments and contribute to winning the battle. Baitcasting reels also allow for adjusting the drag that the ease of doing so with the spinning reels is what sets them apart.
Ability to skip lures
A bonus advantage of using spinning reels is the ease and ability to skip lures under covers to reach the fish collection beneath them. These might be piers, docks or low limbs of bushes and trees. It might take up to several hours of practice using baitcaster reels to perfect on these skips, but if you want to do it sooner, the spinning reel is what you need to buy.
Comparison Table: 1
Spinning Reel
Spinning Reel
Spinning Reel
Fishing Reel
The 10 Best Spinning Reels: Get You Some!
1. Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel
This is a product with extraordinary presentation and design that will leave your impressed. It has a stainless metal body which gives a greater durability. Its system is carbon fiber that allows a drag up to 100 kilos approximately.
It’s one of our top selected lists that offer a high durability, resistance, and quality to go fishing when you want.
This heavy-duty reel is equipped to land some saltwater monsters right into your coolers. Fully metal with an aluminum bail wire, it is a powerful caster with a carbon fiber drag system.
It comes standard with an instant anti-reverse and five ball bearings. We may need to end the article right here because this reel is a beast!
Key Features:
- All metal construction
- HT-100 carbon fiber drag-system
- Superline ready, with capacity marked at 1/3, 2/3, and full
Pros:
- Powerful drag experience.
- Fluid cranking
- Rugged durability
Cons:
- Heavy
- Multi-piece roller bearing assembly
- Very tiny spring operates the anti-reverse switch.
- No second spool.
2. Okuma Avenger ABF Graphite Bait Feeder Reel
This is one of the cheapest products of this comparison. It’s a product with a very good value for the money which will allow you to have pleasant fishing days with great comfort, high efficiency, and productivity.
This bait-feeder reel uses the Okuma live line bait-feeding system that the brand has become so well known for. Just use the on/off auto-trip system to let out the spool so it can run freely, and then kick in the drag when you’re ready to set the hook.
It features six ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse mechanism. With graphite construction and a sealed drag, this spinning reel expertly resists saltwater corruption.
Key Features:
- Sturdy aluminum made the handle
- Okuma’s signature S-Curve Oscillation
- Stainless-steel bail wire
Pros:
- Spare spool included
- One-year warranty
- Smooth casting with 50-pound test
Cons:
- Very heavy at about two pounds
- A spare spool is a plastic
- Awkward grip
3. Penn Spinfisher V Spinning Fishing Reel
This fine fishing reel is ideal if you plan to purchase a good fishing reel. Though it’s a bit pricey in comparison to others product you will pay for the quality.
This fantastic reel is made of high-quality aluminum. It is a bit heavy but very resistant and sturdy.
This reel puts resisting saltwater corrosion as a top priority. It is a long-range caster and watertight, equipped standard with Penn’s patented Slammer drag system.
Fully metal and designed to endure sandy environments, this bad boy is ready for big-game action. It features five ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse system.
Key Features:
- Aluminum-constructed bail wire
- HT-100 Slammer drag, sealed tight
- Line capacity measured at 1/3, 2/3, and full
Pros:
- Very watertight
- Superline ready
- Exceptionally accurate caster
Cons:
- A bail-less reel is certainly not a negative, but if you haven’t used one before, the lack of instruction guide is.
- Heavy
- Bait-feeder system not as smooth and reliable as Okuma’s version
4. Pflueger President Spinning Reel
These stainless ball steel bearings are efficient when fishing; In addition, this material with which they are manufactured guarantees greater durability and resistance to corrosion.
This spinning reel boasts of ten ball bearings and is graphite constructed with an aluminum handle. It is equipped with an instant anti-reverse feature and a multi-disc drag, resulting in a powerful tool that brings in the fighters like a pro.
Key Features:
- Lightweight body and rotor
- Aluminum Spool
- Highly durable
Pros:
- Fluid crank
- Smooth Drag
Cons:
- Reel handle is made of a low-quality material that is given to saltwater corrosion. A splash from the surf is almost guaranteed to cause flaking.
5. KastKing Sharky II Fishing Reel
The accessories of the reel are designed with aluminum finishes that offer a great comfort to users when holding it. It is important to note that stainless steel is combined with carbon fiber and graphite materials, which serve together to resist oxidation and corrosive products to which it can be exposed.
This nicely-balanced spinning reel is both equipped to throw out bait at lengthy distances and fish out those bottom-lurking monsters. It has a three-disc carbon fiber drag and is water resistant. Featuring eleven ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse mechanism, this is one fine reel.
Key Features:
- Aluminum spool with grooves specially designed to retain lube
- Sealed spool
- One-year warranty
Pros:
- Stainless steel shaft
- Lightweight
- Watertight
Cons:
- Can be a hassle to disassemble
- Small and lacks durability
- Best suited for freshwater
Comparison Table: 2
Speed Spinning Reel
Spinning Reel
Saltwater Spinning Reel
Spinning Reel
6. Okuma Trio High Speed Spinning Reel, Black/Orange
What most users look for is a fishing reel that is practical and does not get damaged over time. This model complies with them so that it is one of the most popular in the market and preferred by consumers.
This beautiful hybrid combines an aluminum rotor and stern with graphite sides, providing strength and stability where it counts while maintaining a lightweight design. It features eleven ball bearings and has an instant anti-reverse system. The drag on this beauty is highly efficient in tough battles.
Key Features:
- Hybrid spool made of graphite and aluminum
- Crossover aluminum and graphite body and rotor design
- Uses both spool surfaces resulting in a stronger performing drag
Pros:
- Sealed Drag
- An overall smooth experience
- lightweight
Cons:
- Easily stripped screws on the gear housing
- Downgraded spool inserts from carbon fiber to aluminum. This reduces weight, but ultimately makes the reel less sturdy and more given to corrosion.
7. Penn Fierce II Spinning Reel
This reel is very popular among users for the quality of its manufacture. It is made with the Xt-7 material (a combination of aluminum and graphite) which provides maximum strength while making the reel light and efficient. For its part, the soft launches are determined by the stainless steel bearing.
This is one strong reel that will make fighters surrender with impressive speed. Fully metal with a stainless-steel shaft, this big boy features 5 ball bearings with an instant anti-reverse system. Also worth noting, the line retrieves on this spinning reel is superb.
Key Features:
- Aluminum-made bail wire
- Impressive durability in saltwater
- Fast line retrieve
Pros:
- Drilled out spool makes new models lighter
Higher quality bait-runner than Okuma’s version
Cons:
- Drag not suited for heavier fish
- Small wind on the spool
8. KastKing Kodiak Saltwater Spinning Reel
This equipment is equipped with Instant Drag technology, which allows to quickly adjust the brake to a position of fighting the fish with a maximum power of 39.5 LB Carbon Fiber Drag
The easy maintenance of the reel guarantees greater durability, thanks to the small lubrication port which facilitates access to the internal components of the coil.
The best fishing reel for $74.99 or a little more is the model below that could meet our demands very well if their characteristics are what we are looking for.
This reel is aluminum alloy constructed and big fish ready. It is a lightweight long-caster and is designed to resist the entry of water and sand. Updated with a thicker bail wire, it also has a thicker shaft than previous models that are made of stainless steel. The reel has 11 ball bearings and expertly avoids line breaks.
Key Features:
- Lightweight
- Surprisingly powerful
- Watertight
Pros:
- Fast gear ratio
- Heavy-duty drag for its size
Cons:
- Low line capacity
- Plastic screw on the handle comes out easily
- This reel has a little-man syndrome. It’s very strong but relative to its small size
9. Penn Clash Spinning Fishing Reel
If you want to catch big fish, this model offers you a light and stainless aluminum coil that supports the weight of the animal without much work for you, thanks to its instantaneous anti-reverse system.
Its gear transmission is equipped for high strength work, a quality that will allow you to go fishing in the open sea, in rivers or ocean, with greater power guaranteed in a compact and comfortable size.
This tough cookie is designed for saltwater fights. It has full-metal construction and features eight ball bearings. Equipped with a carbon fiber drag, this spinning reel is corrosion resistant and boasts of being able to withstand years of big-fish battles. We believe it.
Key Features:
- Saltwater durability
- Smooth line retrieve
- Monofilament line and braid functionality
Pros:
- Durability
- Same as Penn Conflict
Cons:
- Same as the Penn Conflict, with a few more bells and whistles
10. Daiwa BG Spinning Reels
These next-gen reels are so duty-specific that we had to list number 10 on our list as a series. They range from the super lightweight fresh-water versions to saltwater hunks that boast of seven ball bearings standard.
They are professionally equipped with Daiwa’s Infinite instant anti-reverse and dual anti-reverse systems, and the quality of these reels is unmatched. No matter your fishing preference, the Daiwa BG line has you covered.
Key Features:
- The black aluminum gear housing and sides
- Fast line retrieve
- One year warranty on every model
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Extremely sturdy internally
Cons:
- No spare spool
- None more than we could find. These reels do not come heavily greased, so you might need to apply some lube before the first usage. In light of the recent trend in reels being packaged overly saturated, however, this could be regarded as a plus depending on your preference.
Best Spinning Reel for the Money: Our Smartest Pick for Your Buck
In comparing and contrasting the features, pros, and cons of each of the above incredibly-versatile spinning reels, we chose our best fish catcher out of the next-gen Daiwa BG line. Which one, you ask? Easy.The 5000. We chose this particular spinning reel out of eight others in the BG series: the 1500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 3500, 4000, 4500, 6500, and 8000 (the sizing in these reels runs large. A Penn 6000 is equivalent to the BG 5000, and a Penn 8000 equals the BG 6500, so check the line capacities). We think the BG 5000 is the most ambidextrous of the bunch. Here is a more in-depth breakdown of the reel’s specs:
Anodized Machined-Aluminum Body and Sides
It’s common knowledge at this point that anodized aluminum is better suited for saltwater than painted aluminum. Daiwa has taken this standard a step further with its thick anodization of this spinning reel that will stand up to wear and tear better than previous modes of anodization. Because of this, your reel will stand the test of time and greatly resist salt corruption.
Over-sized Digigear (Digigear™ System)
These larger than life gears are cut digitally on a CNC machine, allowing for a very efficient line retrieve and the life extension of your spinning reel. The reason for this is that larger gears mean more real estate for a wider range of gear contact, resulting in an unbelievably smooth experience and creating less tension on each gear segment.
As you’ve probably deduced, this means more torque power as well; so get ready to land the bad boys.
Solid Screw-In Handle
Daiwa’s opting for the higher quality screw-in handle design over the through handle option allows for zero play between the arm and handle gear, making for a professionally tweaked crank that you can feel.
Air Rotor
Daiwa’s air rotor construction helps to balance out the reel by equalizing the amount of stress placed on the tool as a whole. And somehow, the spinning reel manages to remain significantly lighter than previous designs. Keep in mind that the term, “air rotor,” describes design, not material.
This rotor is formed of the plastic that comes standard in all models and is usually referred to as graphite in common specifications. This is not a con, but is one area where Daiwa did not match the quality of higher-end models that are made from carbon-enforced plastic. Plastic makes for lightweight equipment, though, and takes pressure off the arm.
Dynamic Cut Aluminum ABS Spool
This is where the 5000 shines as a pro caster. Good casting means even line flow off the spool, and on this model the line is able to be loaded smoothly right up to the lip’s edge. This sort of expert crafting in the spool’s design results in quite a few less knots from line blowing around in the wind, as well as less twisting overall inside the reel.
Braided Line Ready Spool
In the middle of Daiwa’s ABS spool, they placed a rubber ring that allows the braided line access directly to the spool without needing monofilament backing.
Carbon ATD Drag System
This ATD, tournament-ready drag system is fashioned with carbon fiber washers that are cross-cut to provide a buttery-smooth drag from the moment you hook a monster until you land it into the boat. In other reels of this class there is common jerks to be found in using the drag, but not here. Daiwa has truly outdone themselves with the value of this reel.
6BB+1RB
As mentioned, this reel boasts of seven ball bearings that are supremely anti-corrosive. The BG has a creative design in which the right bearing is free-floating as opposed to containing a stop in the reel’s frame. This allows for extremely close gear functionality from the opposite side that results in the greatest contact, and thus the spinning reel has no play in the handle.
This does make the reel tough to disassemble, but not unbearably so. The bearing is attached to the drive with a spring clip, which must be taken off with small tools before the pieces of the gear house can be removed by at the same time slipping them out at various angles. This requires four arms to take apart, and six to put back together.
On top of this, you will be inserting the backup anti-reverse system’s wire spring skillfully into the dog and then putting the ball bearing in on the opposite side, all while holding the spring inside the dog to make sure it doesn’t pop out. Take your time! As for lubing this reel, however, it could not be simpler: just open the side cover and everything stays together.
Infinite Dual Anti-Reverse System
For the 4500 and up versions of this spinning reel, a roller bearing dual anti-reverse system is standard, with a top-notch dog and ratchet for a mechanical, reliable backup. More on this below.
Manual Bail, drag-clicking grooves, tough interior
The 4500 and up in the Daiwa BG series features a manual bail (which we prefer), superior drag-clicking grooves, sturdier springs and interior design, and a full-time dual anti-reverse drag system with a stainless-steel mechanical backup (most reels in this class come with a plastic, ‘pretend’ backup).
Therefore, the 5000 can land the larger fish in fresh water as well as those saltwater fighters, and is even good for jigging.
It’s an excellent caster that outshines in quality the Penn Battle II (our second best spinning reel for the money), and comes equipped standard with a 5.7:1 gear ratio. And man, is it silky-smooth like butter on glass!
The drag on this beast is strong and silent, like a brooding Bruce Wayne: classy and ready for action.
Made with Love
This spinning reel truly goes above and beyond. For example, there is a tiny hole drilled through the spool wall to drain recess water if you decide to store your reel braided (which you should never do). It is small touches like these that let us know Daiwa really cares.
Also, the anti-reverse system is held together with individually-fitted metal springs. If used within the parameters of the reel’s torque power, this added attention to detail will mean a much longer lifespan for your anti-reverse than can be expected from most others in its class.
And the ball bearings? They’re Japanese made and the same sort found in higher-end reels that can cost up to 1,000 dollars! Many reels priced up to 700 dollars do not even come standard with ball bearings of this quality.
We could continue praising this spinning reel, but you have fishing to do. It’s all of these above reasons and more that we recommend the Daiwa BG 5000. It is truly one of the most innovative reels on the market, guaranteed to meet any angler’s need under the sun.
This Fisherman’s Review: the Best Spinning Reel for You
We thank you for your interest in our article and love for the sport of fishing. Each of the above reels were carefully considered and reported on with an attention to what makes each one unique. While all are quality spinning reels, our conclusion is that the Daiwa BG brand is putting pressure on other companies to follow suit in giving fishermen higher-end reels at more affordable prices.
We have no affiliation with Daiwa whatsoever, other than supporting their commitment to putting fish in your boat.
No matter which spinning reel you choose, we hope you’ve enjoyed our analysis of these 2020 brands and are better for it. Now, it’s time to stop reading and start slaying and filleting like it’s going out of style! Happy fishing with your new reel.