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Best Baitcasting Reels Review

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There is no doubt that the Spinning reel is the most used fishing reel. But Anglers who purposely want to be able to have extra control Which they cannot get from a spinning reel can get that control from a baitcasting reel. And a baitcasting reel will give you a lot more control over your fishing rod, line & lure. With this extra control, you can throw the lure exactly where you want. It can easily throw far away which gives you many benefits. In professional fishing tournaments, baitcasting reels have been mostly used.

Advantages of the Baitcasting reels

There are two types of advantages you will get from a baitcasting reel. One is better line control than spinning reels and the other is allowing for a more accurate value. The other one is to slow down your lure softly and fall into the water without spooking nearby fish which is important when flipping baits into cover. Baitcasting reels also allow you to maintain contact with lure even when it’s a free spool.

A Baitcasting reel provides you with various types of gear ratios on your demand. So it depends on your requirements. Both regular and Professional anglers can use it. On bass fishing, you can easily cast trophy fish by baitcasting reel. It’s very smooth while fishing because of its ball bearings. And the Baitcasting reel gave you a best performance than other reels.

If you are searching for a reel for bass fishing then a baitcasting reel will be your best choice. So here we are with the top ten best baitcasting reels for our beloved anglers.

How Can You Choose The Best Baitcasting Reels

How Can You Choose The Best Baitcasting Reel

It’s not that difficult to choose the best baitcasting reel, only you have to remember some points about the baitcasting reel and you can easily choose the best baitcasting reel for you. Firstly you have to know why you need the baitcasting reels. And how powerful baitcasting reels need for your use. A baitcasting reel is mostly used for bass fishing. If you want reels for regular fishing, you can buy cheap baitcasting reels, but if you want them for professional fishing or bass fishing, you need a good baitcasting reel. 

And the second one is You need to know whether you are left-handed or right-handed because it’s very important for your bait caster. It is provided separately for right-handed and left-handed people. But here is the advantage you can get both left-handed and right-handed for every baitcasting reel. Here are some points that you have to remember before choosing the best baitcasting reels.

Top 10 Best Baitcasting Reels 

Before jumping into the reviews here is the list of the 10 best baitcasting reels. We choose all these reels based on our own fishing experience and we take some user reviews from multiple online tackle shops. You can get more good baitcasting reels out of here, but here you can get the best baitcasting reels. All of these reels are good for bass fishing or other freshwater fishing and all those reels give you the best value for money.

Shimano Curado DC

Specs:

  • Weight: 7.8-7.9 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 6.2:1, 7.4:1, and 8.5:1

  • Bearings: 6+1 S A-RB® bearings

  • Line Capacity: 10/120 fluorocarbon, 30/135 braid

  • Drag: 11 pounds

  • Technology: I-DC4 Digital Brake, Hagane Body, X-Ship Pinion

Pros

  • Right and left-handed options
  • Smooth cast in the wind
  • Incredibly versatile
  • Long casting baitcasting reels

Cons

  • More expensive than other reels
  • A few ounces heavier than other reels

Shimano Curado has been producing reels since 1992. It started with 100 or 200 reels but now it’s a well-known reels company. Shimano Curado DC is the latest version of Shimano’s reels. And there are many advantages to these reels.

It has a Hagane body and the gears are micro modules it also has X-Ship Pinion support and the drag is cross-carbon. The gear ratio of this reel is 6.2:1, it is also available at 7.4:1 and 8.5:1.

But the best thing about this reel is it has an I-DC4 Digital braking system. I-DC4 works as a monitor of reel spool speed. In every case, it monitors the speed and automatically controls the brake pressure.

The bearing of this reel is corrosive resistant so there is no worry about replacing them. These reels are packed up with all the best baitcasting accessories. The Curado DC is the best baitcasting reel of all time. Once you use Curado DC, You will understand why we put its tops on the list.


Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast Low Profile Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 13.4- 13.8 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 4.9:1 and 6.2:1

  • Bearings: 7+1 Stainless Steel HPCR

  • Line Capacity: 14/210 mono 50/165 braid

  • Drag: 25 pounds

  • Technology: Magnetic/Centrifugal Brake System, Aluminum

Pros

  • Right and left-handed options
  • 8 stainless steel ball bearings
  • titanium-coated line guide
  • Corrosion resistance bearings

Cons

  • Heavier than other reels

You might hear Abu Garcia Revo Toro reels are the best reels for saltwater. And it’s true. It has all the qualities of the best baitcasting reels. Here I tell you why they call it the best baitcasting reel for saltwater.

The design of the Revo Toro Beast low-profile reel is very unique and beautiful. It is available for both left and right-handed. The bearings of Revo Toro are also corrosion-resistant so you don’t have to worry about replacing them.

The biggest advantage of Revo Toro reels is that the ball bearings are stainless steel. And because the bearings are stainless steel they don’t rust in water in the fishing environment. Revo Toro puts 8 stainless steel in ball bearings.

The gear ratio of these reels is 4.9:1 and 6.2:1. The technology of this reel is a Magnetic/Centrifugal Braking System and has an aluminum body. The reels had impressive power and durability. And the gear system of these reels is also impressive; they operate heavy-duty so perfectly.


Piscifun Phantom Baitcasting Reels

Specs:

  • Weight: 5.7 Ounces

  • Gear Ratio:  7.0:1

  • Bearings: 6+1 Stainless Steel

  • Line Capacity: 10/120 mono, 30/120 braid

  • Drag: 17 Pounds

  • Technology: Dual Brake System, Carbon

Pros

  • Right and left-handed options
  • 8 stainless steel ball bearings
  • titanium-coated line guide
  • Corrosion resistance bearings

Cons

  • Noisy compared to other reels

Phantom is meant to be light, smooth, and powerful. What else is needed for the best baitcasting reels? Its design for lightweight. Only 5.7 ounces is the weight of this reel. But this weight is enough to cast the lure up to 240 yards. 

The body of this reel is made of full carbon and the bearings are made of stainless steel. The ball bearings of this reel stand by 7 stainless steel. The benefit of stainless steel is it never rusts on water. And this type of baitcasting reel is best for saltwater.

The gear ratio of these reels is 7.0:1. And the mono capacity of this reel is 10/120 and the brain capacity is 30/120. CNC machines are used as brass gear for this kind of reel. The drag is smooth and reliable and it’s only 17 pounds.

The Technology Piscifun Phantom baitcasting reel use is a dual brake system. It’s a Magnetic/Centrifugal brake system. It’s available for both left and right-handed.  If you are looking for a cheap Baitcaster, then it’s the best baitcasting reel for under 100$.


Pflueger President XT Low Profile Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 6.8 ounces

  • Gear Ratio:  7.3:1

  • Ball Bearings:  9

  • Line Capacity: 12/145 mono 30/140 braid

  • Drag: 12 pounds

  • Technology: Magnetic brake system, graphite body

Pros

  • 9 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
  • Smooth performance
  • Lightweight design

Cons

  • Available only for right-handed

The Pflueger President XT Low Profile Reel is lightweight but gives a smooth performance. And the price is also cheap. So you can say Pflueger President XT’s low-profile reel is the best baitcasting reel for the mid-priced Baitcaster.

The weight of this reel is 6.8 ounces and the gear ratio is 7.3:1. The reels feature a graphite body, C30 side plate, Aluminium Handle, Rubber cork knobs, and soft-touch knob. Mono capacity is 12/145 (lb/yd) and the braid capacity is 30/140(lb/yd).

Ball bearings have 9 stainless steel and it has a maximum drag of 12 pounds. But there is only one problem with this reel. It’s available only for the right-handed. If you are looking for the super light best baitcasting reels, this reel will be your best choice.

The technology these reels are using is the magnetic brake system. It can adjust to your requirements. With the lightweight design, it won’t tire your arm, you can easily use this reel comfortably for fishing for hours to hours.


Lew’s Team Lew’s Hypermag Speed

Specs:

  • Weight: 5.4 Ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 7.5:1 and 8.3:1

  • Ball Bearings: 11 double-shielded stainless 

  • Line Capacity: 12/110 mono 50/110 braid

  • Drag: 20 pounds

  • Technology: Centrifugal Brake System

Pros

  • Left and right-handed options
  • 11 double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings
  • C45 Carbon Sideplate
  • External Lube Port

Cons

  • It expensive than the other reels

Lew’s Team Lew’s Hypermeg Speed reels are expensive but worth it. It Has 11 double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings. Which makes this reel more powerful and smooth. The frame of this reel is made of magnesium which makes it stronger.

Now talk about gear ratio, it has two types of gear ratios one is 7.5:1 and the other is 8.3:1. 8.3:1 is more popular than 7.5:1. And The Reel has both-handed options. If you are Looking for the best baitcasting reels in the 300$ budget we referred you to Lew’s Team Lew’s Hypermeg Speed reel.

The Drag Power of this Reel is 20 pounds. It has an external lube port. And the drag system is made of Carbon fiber. If you Want to buy a baitcasting reel for your bass fishing it will be your best choice.

The Technology these reels use is the centrifugal braking system with C45 carbon side plates. These reels keep smoothness and performance in all weather conditions. And it can handle all types of bass fishing techniques.


Abu Garcia Revo Beast X Baitcast

Specs:

  • Weight: 9.4 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 6.4:1

  • Ball Bearings: 7 stainless steel HPCR bearings + 1 roller bearing

  • Line Capacity:12/240 test/yd

  • Drag: 24 pounds

  • Technology: Magtrax brake system, Aluminium

Pros

  • 7 stainless steel HPCR bearings + 1 roller bearing
  • Power stack carbon matrix drag system
  • Dragger brass gear
  • D2 gear design

Cons

  • Heavy than other reels

Abu Garcia Brand is the most famous company for baitcasting reels. They make many reels and most of the reels are the best baitcasting reels. And Abu Garcia Revo Beast X baitcasting reel is the Beast in water. It can drag more than 24 pounds in one cast. You can undoubtedly select this reel for your bass fishing.

This Beast features 8 bearing systems, 7 are stainless steel ball bearings and 1 is roller bearings. It has a power stack carbon matrix drag system and a Magtrax Braking system. The bearings are corrosion resistance bearings that’s why you don’t have to worry about replacing them. 

It has D2 Gear Design. The Gear ratio of this reel is 6.4:1. And the Line capacity is 12/240 test/yd. The body frame of this reel is made of Aluminium. Which can not rust in water. It has an external bent handle and an external lube port.

If you are looking for a powerful baitcasting reel you should know that Abu Garcia Revo Beast X Baitcast is one of them. It won’t disappoint you. With an 8-bearing system and 24 pounds of drag power, it will transform into a beast on water.


SHIMANO SLX XT Series Casting Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 7.2 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 6.3:1, 7.2:1, and 8.2:1

  • Ball Bearings: 4+1 ball bearings

  • Line Capacity: 10/120 lb/yd

  • Drag: 12 pounds

  • Technology: SVS Infinity Brake System

Pros

  • Smooth casting
  • Super free spool 
  • Affordable Price
  • Advanced Braking System for Precise Casting
  • Strong Hagane Body

Cons

  • The braking system may be challenging for novice anglers

As I said before Shimano makes reels with premium quality. The frame of the Shimano SLX XT Series casting reel is made of premium materials.  At this mid-range price, you can get a premium reel for bass fishing.

S3D spool technology makes the performance of these reels have smooth casting and reduces the vibration. The super-free spool reel is the design for the lightweight version. The weight of this reel is 7.2 ounces.

There are three types of gear ratios for this reel. There are 6.3:1, 7.2:1, and 8.2:1. And the Line capacity of this reel is 10/120 lb/yd. But there is a weak point of this reel. If you want extreme bass fishing then it’s not ideal for you because the drag power of this reel is 12 pounds. It’s enough for regular bass fishing anglers.

Shimano SLX XT Series casting reel made by SVS Infinity braking system technology which provides you with a balanced spool and controls the brake system. The benefit side of this reel is it has smooth casting, a strong Hagane body, and the spool is super free. That is why we put this reel on our Best baitcasting reels list.


Daiwa Coastal TW Casting Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 6.9 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 7.1:1 and 8.1:1

  • Ball Bearings: 8 bearing system 7 CRBB+1 RB

  • Line Capacity:20/150 mono 40/145 braid

  • Drag: 15.4 pounds

Pros

  • Aluminum Body Frame and aluminum side plate
  • High-strength gearing materials
  • Left and right-handed options

Cons

  • Low drag rating
  • Not ideal for offshore fishing

If you are looking for a smaller reel with a larger spool with more comfort and more capacity then the Daiwa Coastal TW casting reel can be your best baitcasting reel. The body frame of this reel is made of aluminum with an aluminum side plate.

The weight of this reel is 6.9 ounces. And the gear ratio is 7.1:1 and 8.1:1. But the best part of this reel is the Bearing System. With 7 CRBB  and 1 RB, it will make your reel more Smooth and give you the best performance. These are the best baitcasting reels for saltwater.

The drag system of this reel is also satisfied. It gives you 15.4 pounds of drag power. Which is enough for your bass fishing. It also has high-strength gearing materials and an A7075 Aircraft Grade Aluminum deep spool. The backlash is prevented by the air brake system of these reels.

The method of using this reel is a bit difficult. And it is not ideal for offshore fishing. The drag system is not much but enough for regular bass fishing. In the end, if you are looking for a smaller reel with powerful features packed then it will be your best baitcasting reel choice.


Piscifun Alijoz Baitcasting Reels

Specs:

  • Weight: 11.3 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 5.9:1 and 8.1:1

  • Ball Bearings: 8+1 double-shielded

  • Line Capacity:15/190 Mono 40/205 Braid

  • Drag: 33 Pounds

  • Technology: Magnetic Brake System

Pros

  • Incredible Durability
  • Powerful and Strong drag system
  • Multiple gear ratio choice
  • Left and Right Handed options.
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • The thumb panel is unsteady

The body frame of the Piscifun Alijuz Baitcasting Reel is made with premium Aluminium. The reel is large and very powerful so that you can easily deal with trophy fish.  Piscifun Alijuz Baitcasting Reel provides you with incredible durability to handle bigger fish. 

The drag power of this reel is 33 pounds. It’s kind of a beast in saltwater. You can easily handle the big fish in the water. There are two types of gear ratios available in this reel. They are 5.9:1 and 8.1:1.

The Piscifun Alijuz Baitcasting reel is packed with high-quality components. It features an 8+1 double shield stainless steel bearing and one anti-reverse pair. It gives you smoothness with low noise.

The gear ratio gave you two types of options, one is for regular fishing and the other one is for professional fishing. You can choose it on your demand. The weight of this reel is a little bit heavier than other reels. But with 11.3 ounces weight, it will give you an extreme drag power system.

The Technology of this reel use is a Magnetic Brake system and it can adjust to your demand. In the end, You can tell that this is the best baitcasting reel for a 100$ budget with incredible power.


Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS Baitcast Reel

Specs:

  • Weight: 6.9 ounces

  • Gear Ratio: 5.6:1, 6.8:1, 7.5:1, and 8.3:1

  • Ball Bearings:9+1 stainless steel double-shielded bearings

  • Line Capacity:12/120 and 50/120

  • Drag: 20 pounds

  • Technology: Dual Brake System

Pros

  • Left and right-handed options
  • Lightweight design
  • Carbon fiber drag system
  • Magnetic and Centrifugal adjustable brake system

Cons

  • Handling for left-handed is not so easy

Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS Baitcast Reel is a lightweight reel with powerful drag power. With 6.9 ounces you can easily drag 20 pounds. You can say this price with multiple brake systems is the baitcasting reel for your bass fishing. 

The body frame of this reel is built with aluminum. It has a 10-bearing system with double-shielded ball bearings which makes your fishing more smooth. As it’s Lew’s product, they always gave the best materials in their reel, which all anglers loved.

But the best part of this reel is it has four types of gear ratios. You can select the gear ratio on your demand. It started with regular anglers to professional anglers. That’s Why Lew’s Tournament MP Speed baitcasting reel is the most popular reel among anglers.

The line Capacity of Lew’s Tournament MP Speed is 12/120 and 50/120 lb/yd. But this reel attracts anglers because of its Brake system. At this price, it gives you both a Magnetic and a Centrifugal Braking system with an aluminum side plate.

With larger, faster, and stronger features you can say that it is the best baitcasting reel at this price.


What You Have to See for Best Baitcasting Reels

Gear Ratio

How many times the spool turns in one revolution of the handle is called the gear ratio. The common gear ratio for best baitcasting reels is 5.3:1, 6.4:1, and 7.1:1.  The 6.4:1 gear ratio is the best choice, it can use any kind of bait and fishing technique for example, on topwater, shallow cranking, and jigs. The other gear ratio is more specialized, you can choose by your need.

Spool Size

A bigger spool can be beneficial. The bigger spool creates smaller coils of lines that are easier to manage. Smaller shallow spooler used for short-line application.

Handle size

A larger handle makes more torque than a shorter handle. Although the most compact reels have shorter handles. Shorter handles may be fine for most applications but if you are handling big crankbaits or swimbaits you need a larger and longer handle.

Materials

The baitcasting reels use strong materials like aluminum, magnesium, or carbon materials. These are strong and durable materials that will give you the best performance.

Bearings

Bearings are one of the most important parts of a baitcasting reel. More bearings make a reel smoother which will cast and retrieve.  

Braking System

A braking system controls the spool rotations of a baitcasting reel. The more you use brakes the more you can control your cast. It can control your spool rotation but it also affects your casting distance. Anglers can use the reels as they want by the braking system. There are various types of baitcasting braking systems like Magnetic, centrifugal, Dual, and SVS Infinity braking systems.

Body Composition of Baitcasting Reel

Body Composition of Baitcasting Reel

Thumb Bar: A thumb bar is a mechanism that uses a Baitcaster to slow down or break a little bit of the line. When you press it slightly it slowly releases. But when you pressed it all the way, the spool and fishing line flowed freely.

Drag: A drag sits next to the handle, so anglers can easily use it to adjust the reel comfortably. Its design is like a star shape. For good performance and smoothness, the drag must be properly set up on the reel.

Handle: A handle is the most important part of a baitcasting reel. A baitcasting reel cannot be completed without a handle. And it is a very important thing you should know which hand you are. Because it depends on it. Make sure which hand gives you comfort while fishing.

Reel Brake: The reel brake is more likely the thumb bar. It controls the speed spool and spool rotation. A reel brake can easily tell when a fish comes by. A reel brake can help stop the device from spinning when the line touches the bottom.

Spool Tensioner: Spool Tensioner works like a spool controller. It’s mainly a mechanical device. It controls the force when the line needs to lead out. It’s a small round knob. For controlling the Spool tensioner, all you have to do is turn it in a forwarding direction or counterclockwise.

Line Alarm: If your baitcasting reel has a left side switch it’s called a bait clicker/line alarm. When the fish snagged the hook it caused a click every time. So basically a line alarm or bait clicker is used as an alarm when the fish is caught up. It has helped a lot of anglers by alarming them.

Baitcasting Tips & Tricks For Beginners

Most beginner anglers give up on baitcasting reels because of their horror story about birds’ nests, tangles, etc. And they lost the most valuable fishing tool. So if you are a beginner angler and want to learn the best tips and tricks then click here for the full review.

If you are a beginner, you should buy a heavy-drag system baitcasting reel. It can easier to test ranger. Around 14-17lb will be enough for your baitcasting reel. Speaking of the braking system, if you are a beginner, the best choice will be the magnetic drag system. It reduces spool tendency and gives you more control and more performance. And for a beginner, you can cast sidearm or overhead, as you are comfortable. But a sidearm may be a better choice for establishing timing. Baitcasting reel using the style is not difficult if you learn just some techniques.

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