Best Spinning Fishing Reels
To save you the shopping hassle, we have compiled a list of our top five spinning fishing reels that all boast of impressive functionality and don’t cost a fortune.
1. KastKing Sharky III
The KastKing Sharky III is a state-of-the-art spinning reel that combines the best materials for impressive durability and is ideal for trophy fishing. It packs a heavy punch with up to 39.5 lb. of drag, high gear ratio for easy and quick reeling, and boasts of KastKing’s patented K.I.S.S system for superior waterproof performance. It comes with 11 durable steel ball bearings for smooth, quiet operation, an impressive line capacity, and an anti-reverse switch for great line control.
- Superior drag and waterproof performance.
- Highly durable, with impressive line capacity.
- Smooth, quiet operation, with anti-reverse control.
2. Daiwa Bg Spinning Reel
The Daiwa BG spinning reel sports a sleek design and comes in a lightweight anodized aluminum housing that is highly durable. It boasts of up to 15.4 lbs. of drag, a 5.6:1 gear ratio for high-torque reeling, and an aluminum ABS spool that can accommodate up to 190 yards of 30 lb. line. It also comes with an anti-reverse system, a low-friction air rotor, and a screwable ergonomic for the most comfort and easy replacement.
- Sleek design, highly durable.
- Impressive drag, line capacity, and high-torque reeling.
- Easy operation and tangle-free performance.
3. Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel
The Okuma Ceymar spinning reel sports a sleek Blade Body design for compactness and comes with a line capacity of 110 yards of 4 lb. line ideal for small fish. It features a quick-action anti-reverse control, high-ratio brass gears, and is built from lightweight, high-grade aluminum making it very lightweight. It is the smallest in the Okuma C-10 series, features a two-toned anodized spool, 8 bearings for smooth performance, and sports a highly ergonomic EVA handle for comfort.
- Excellent controls with impressive line capacity.
- Lightweight with a high gear ratio.
- Low-profile, Blade Body design, highly durable.
4. PENN Spinfisher VI
The PENNS Spinfisher VI series boast of impressive reeling power and handleability, and are great for trophy fishing. They come in a host of sizes providing between 20 to 40 lbs. of drag, up to 390 yards of 4 lb. line, and come with 5 + 1 stainless steel bearings for smooth, quiet operation all housed in an IPX5 waterproof rated housing. They are highly durable, sport a sleek design, and come with an anti-reverse system for great tension control.
- Impressive reeling power and tension control.
- High drag and impressive line capacity.
- Highly durable, sleek design.
5. Pflueger Supreme XT
The Pflueger Supreme XT comes with a 10-bearing system for ultra-smooth performance and a magnesium housing and rotor that is a fraction of the weight of other reels without sacrificing strength. It boasts of impressive drag with self-lubricating carbon discs, the patented SMARTretrieve feature for excellent casting accuracy, and a very comfortable EVA handle grip. Its carbon fiber handle is very lightweight while its braid-ready spool design offers excellent fishing versatility.
- Ultra-smooth reeling performance and very lightweight.
- Impressive drag, self-lubricating action.
- Highly ergonomic and braid-ready spool design.
Spinning Fishing Reels Buying Guide
Spinning fishing reels are the ideal choice for anglers who value versatility and convenience. They are very easy to use making them ideal for even total beginners and work great when targeting small to medium-sized fish.
Our buying guide reviews the best spinning fishing reels on the market based on their specified features and tested performance to give you the best options to choose from. We then take it a step further to outline the particular factors you should consider and qualities you should look out for in a spinning fishing reel before you make a purchase.
Line Capacity
Another important consideration to make when scouting for a spinning fishing reel is its line capacity or the amount of line it can hold. Line capacities are usually specified as a two-figure value representing the length of a particular load-tested line the reel can accommodate.
So a spinning fishing reel with line capacity 12 lb./165 yard can take 165 yards of fishing line with a maximum rated pulling load of 12 lb.
Anti-reverse System
A popular feature on spinning fishing reels is an anti-reverse system. While many experienced anglers see it as unnecessary, others still find it very useful. It gives you control over the reeling direction and allows more profound tension control in the line. When switched off, the reel can unwind in reverse, great for when wrestling large fish.
Material
The material from which your spinning fishing reel is made will determine how easy it will be to handle, where you can fish, how long it will serve. The ideal spinning fishing reel should combine low weight with high strength for the best performance. Spinning fishing reels usually made from materials like graphite, aluminum alloys, plastic, and sometimes carbon fiber.
Plastic fishing reels are the least durable and should only be used for recreational fishing or by newbie anglers. Graphite is a great material to look out for in spinning fishing reels as it is very lightweight and tough. It is also very resistant to corrosion. For the best performance, aircraft-grade alloys and carbon fiber fishing reels are the ideal choice for lightweight, corrosion-resistant performance but are more expensive.
Note, however, that no spinning fishing reel will come with a single material, and so you should always ensure the least durable material will hold up for a good while in your fishing conditions.
Gear Ratio
The gear ratio of your spinning fishing reel is another important factor to consider. It measures how many spins the spool makes for each revolution of the reeling handle and thus places a measure on the retrieval rate. Higher gear ratios allow for quick reeling and are great for smaller fish. Lower gear ratios reel the fish in slower but deliver more torque and power, ideal for larger fish. Spinning fishing reels usually have higher gear than ratios than other reels like baitcasting reels and conventional reels as they are especially suited to small and medium-sized fish.