The Top 10 Best Rated Spinning Reels For Serious Anglers – Buyer Guide’s (2018)

Material

The reel body is made up of two materials, aluminum or graphite and at times they can be used together. You have the freedom to select the one you would opt to have as the reel housing. Aluminum is heavier, while the graphite housing is lighter.

Sougayilang Left/right Interchangeable Collapsible Handle Spinning Fishing Reel with 5.2:1 Gear Ratio 12+1 Ball Bearings for Freshwater Saltwater Fishing. Via: Amazon.com

When fishing in freshwater, the best reel body is the aluminum. Fishing in salty water requires the reel body to be made of graphite. The graphite body is suitable since it is resistant to corrosion.

Strongly Fixed Parts

All the parts of the spinning reel should be fixed correctly and strongly. This assists in reducing any probability of making your fishing to get messy.

Weight

Having a spinning reel that is light in weight is an added advantage especially when you will be fishing for a longer time.

KastKing Summer Spinning Reel Light Weight Ultra Smooth Powerful Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB. Via: Amazon.com

Reel Size

The size of the reel that you will choose will depend on the style you will use to catch fish and also the place where you intend to go fishing. In smaller water bodies such as lakes and rivers, you need a small spinning reel. A bigger spinning reel is ideal to be used in large water bodies such as the oceans.

The size of the fishing line you intend to use also matters. For instance, if the fishing line is lighter, a smaller reel will be ideal. When you intend to fish in salty water, you will need a bigger reel.

KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Perfect Baitcasting Reel – 11 + 1 Shielded Bearings – 17.5 Lb Carbon Fiber Drag - 7.0:1 Gear Ratio. Via: Amazon.com

Reel Gear Ratio

The gear ratio determines the speed of the spinning reel. It is the number of times the bail rotates around the spool. For instance, for a 4.1 ratio, for each turn of the handle, the bail rotates for four times around the spool. Slow speed reels provide more torque which helps to catch large fish.

Drag System

The drag system lets out the line as the fish struggles to free itself and also helps to insert pressure to the hooked fish. An appropriate drag system assists in avoiding having a broken line at whatever tension you set the drag.

Okuma Ceymar Lightweight Spinning Reel. Via: Amazon.com

For someone who catches big fish, you will need a front drag. Always ensure that you have a drag that is smooth and can be easily adjusted. A rear adjustable drag has an advantage in that you can easily tweak while you tussle with a big fish. The adjustment knob should be easily grasped to make it easy for you to adjust the line even when you are in gloves during the cold weather.

Matching Rods

Finding a rod that matches with your spinning reel is an added advantage for you. The reel sits on a spinning rod, and that is why they are designed to work together within a particular range of light weight.

1. Sougayilang Left/right Interchangeable Collapsible Handle Spinning Fishing Reel with 5.2:1 Gear Ratio 12+1 Ball Bearings for Freshwater Saltwater Fishing - BEST FOR FLY FISHING

Sougayilang Left/right Interchangeable Collapsible Handle Spinning Fishing Reel with 5.2:1 Gear Ratio 12+1 Ball Bearings for Freshwater Saltwater Fishing. Via: Amazon.com

Sougayilang Left/right Interchangeable Collapsible Handle Spinning Fishing Reel with 5.2:1 Gear Ratio 12+1 Ball Bearings for Freshwater Saltwater Fishing

The Sougayilang is a fishing reel that was developed so as to make the life of many anglers stress-free. The development team that came up with the Sougayilang got ideas and inspiration from real life and came up with a product that is easier and smarter to use.

Sougayilang Left/right Interchangeable Collapsible Handle Spinning Fishing Reel with 5.2:1 Gear Ratio 12+1 Ball Bearings for Freshwater Saltwater Fishing. Via: Amazon.com

With this fishing reel, you will be able to enjoy the best fishing experience. A lot of invention and creativity has been employed in making the Sougayilang to be one of its kind fishing reels. For those anticipating to catch small and medium sized fish like perch, crappies, trout, bluegills, walleye and salmon, this is the ideal reel for you.

2. Piscifun Destroyer Sealed Spinning Reel 2000 3000 4000 Series Ultra Smooth 7+1BB Carbon Fiber Drag 16.8LB Max Drag Fishing Reels Spin Reels

Piscifun Destroyer Sealed Spinning Reel 2000 3000 4000 Series Ultra Smooth 7+1BB Carbon Fiber Drag 16.8LB Max Drag Fishing Reels Spin Reels. Via: Amazon.com

Piscifun Destroyer Sealed Spinning Reel 2000 3000 4000 Series Ultra Smooth 7+1BB Carbon Fiber Drag 16.8LB Max Drag Fishing Reels Spin Reels

This is an excellent performance fishing reel; this is a must have for serious anglers. Piscifun is a name to reckon with in the fishing industry, and this is why this Destroyer Sealed Spinning real is bound to be loved by most anglers.

Piscifun Destroyer Sealed Spinning Reel 2000 3000 4000 Series Ultra Smooth 7+1BB Carbon Fiber Drag 16.8LB Max Drag Fishing Reels Spin Reels. Via: Amazon.com

This fishing reel has very many features like high durability, anti-corrosion resistance and has a very smooth feeling on the hands. At an affordable price of approximately less than $50, this fishing reel is perfect to be used for fly fishing.

3. KastKing Summer Spinning Reel Light Weight Ultra Smooth Powerful Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB - BEST FOR ICE FISHING

KastKing Summer Spinning Reel Light Weight Ultra Smooth Powerful Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB. Via: Amazon.com

KastKing Summer Spinning Reel Light Weight Ultra Smooth Powerful Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB

The KastKing Spinning Reel comes loaded with so many great features that any angler will find it hard to resist loving. This fishing reel is the perfect combination of your regular fishing tackle collection. Some of the best features that anglers love about this fishing reel include the powerful drag, 9+1 quality ball bearings, and the special components that allow this real to be used for hard duties. To enjoy an even better performance from this fishing reel, spool up this KastKing with KastKing braided line and the results will amaze you.

KastKing Summer Spinning Reel Light Weight Ultra Smooth Powerful Spinning Fishing Reel 9 +1 BB. Via: Amazon.com

This Spinning Reel Offers You The Ultimate And Affordable Experience. Some Of Its Features Are:

4. Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel

Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel

One of the biggest names in the design and manufacturing of fishing reels is the Penn Fishing Tackle Company. This company has been in existence from the year 1932 and has enough experience in the design and production of modern day reels.

They have manufactured the Penn Pursuit which boasts of a durable construction as well as a smooth gear system among other great features. This fishing reel has a corrosion resistant graphite body, ultra-lightweight as well as oiled felt front drag system making this reel to give you the value for your money. With the instant anti-reverse system, even the slightest rotor back play is eliminated for instant hookups every time.

Great Features​ :

5. Pflueger President Spinning Reel

Pflueger President Spinning Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Pflueger President Spinning Reel

The Pflueger President as the name suggests leads in the fishing industry. Most anglers prefer this fishing reel to other fishing reels because of its very many positive and attractive features. I particularly liked it because it has 9 stainless steel bearings which make it very efficient to use.

It also has the instant anti-reverse one-way clutch bearing which makes sure that it never reels in the other direction. It is also very light in weight because it is made using a machined, ported and double anodized aluminum spool which has a distinctive pattern. It is also coated using titanium making it to a very strong fishing reel.

6. Penn Battle II Spinning Reel - BEST FOR SURF FISHING

Penn Battle II Spinning Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Penn Battle II Spinning Reel

The Penn fishing Tackle company that was founded in the year 1932 has been dominating in the field of manufacturing modern reels. There are millions of experienced anglers around the globe who rely on Penn and use Penn products daily. The Penn Battle (II) is liked by many anglers because it offers a durable design, silky smooth HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers and attractive cosmetics among other features.

When being used to the maximum, it is capable of maintaining its precision gear alignment due to the full body side-plate together with the rotor construction. This fishing reel has 5 sealed stainless steel bearings, aluminum heavy duty bail wire, instant anti-reverse bearing and line capacity rings. What is even good about it is that it comes in four models.

7. Quantum CSP40PTSE Cabo Spin Reel

Quantum CSP40PTSE Cabo Spin Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Quantum CSP40PTSE Cabo Spin Reel

The Quantum Cabo is one of the new models designed mainly for saltwater anglers. This fishing reel has been constructed using aluminum and has a maximum drag of 30lbs. Most anglers will prefer such a drag because that will be very helpful while trying to drag some strong struggling fish from the water.

With a line capacity of 230/40(yds/lb), you will have all that you need to succeed in catching fish at your disposal. It is also worth noting that this fishing reel is fitted with a new side plate and rotor. What’s more, it also has a strong PT gear made of stainless steel.

8. Okuma Ceymar Lightweight Spinning Reel - BEST FOR SPINNING CASTING

Okuma Ceymar Lightweight Spinning Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Okuma Ceymar Lightweight Spinning Reel

The Okuma lightweight has a very sleek design and a very smooth performance that creates a very enjoyable fishing experience that every angler will always wish for. This fishing reel offers a full line-up of advanced performance features due to the fact that it features the okuma precision elliptical gearing system.

You’ll never fail to notice the blade body design as an angler. The blade body design of this fishing reel is refined and compact and this helps in reducing the bulk while minimizing the general size of the Okuma spinning reel.

9. KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Perfect Baitcasting Reel – 11 + 1 Shielded Bearings – 17.5 Lb Carbon Fiber Drag - 7.0:1 Gear Ratio - BEST FOR BAITCASTING

KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Perfect Baitcasting Reel – 11 + 1 Shielded Bearings – 17.5 Lb Carbon Fiber Drag - 7.0:1 Gear Ratio. Via: Amazon.com

KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Perfect Baitcasting Reel – 11 + 1 Shielded Bearings – 17.5 Lb Carbon Fiber Drag - 7.0:1 Gear Ratio

The KasKing Company has manufactured yet another masterpiece in the fishing industry. The KastKing Royale fishing reel is a very dynamic fishing reel which has an anodized aluminum style spool which comes in two colors. It is also very lightweight but still very strong enough and can withstand the weight a huge struggling fish.

KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel – Perfect Baitcasting Reel – 11 + 1 Shielded Bearings – 17.5 Lb Carbon Fiber Drag - 7.0:1 Gear Ratio. Via: Amazon.com

It is also performs highly due to its fast and silent speed of 7.0:1 line retrieve. The ball bearings of this fishing reel are corrosion resistant which makes casting very smooth and allows this reel to have a very long life. What’s more, with the state of the art dual brakes having reliable centrifugal and magnetic braking systems, it offers a top notch casting control.

10. Abu Garcia Black Max Low Profile Reel

Abu Garcia Black Max Low Profile Reel. Via: Amazon.com

Abu Garcia Black Max Low Profile Reel

The Abu Garcia is a top performing fishing reel that comes packed with so many amazing features. With 4 stainless steel ball bearings plus another roller that is dedicated for providing smooth operation, this fishing reel is very easy and fun to use. It features a machined aluminum spool that is tasked with providing more strength while minimizing the addition of excess weight. What’s more, the power drag system avails a smooth drag performance and also has a dura brass that avails a longer gear life.