Many anglers who fall in love with fishing discover that owning the right type of equipment improves their success, allowing them to enjoy their sport even more. For those anglers who decide they want a reel that provides them with the capability to perform a variety of fishing techniques, increased casting accuracy, and the option to catch large, prize winning fish, a baitcasting reel becomes a necessity purchase.
Baitcasting reels can improve the fishing potential and power of any angler, but there are so many available on the market today, selecting the right one can be difficult. Not all baitcasting reels are as well-suited for the job as others, so to help assist you with the selection process, we’re providing you with a list of what we consider to be the best baitcasting reels.
The KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel brings a silent bait casting system with an accuracy that’s not only precise, it’s also smooth, low maintenance, and long lasting. KastKing’s reel comes with a dual brake system, so the control and drag provided to anglers by this reel is top-notch.
KastKing also built this baitcasting fishing reel with aluminum and the best braided fishing line to provide strength when battling larger fish. Even with the reel’s increased power, it’s still made to be as lightweight as possible.
The Abu Garcia BMAX3 Max Low-Profile Baitcast Fishing Reel’s design is also made to be lightweight, but instead of the aluminum KastKing uses in its Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel, the Abu Garcia is graphite. It also gives anglers a smooth drag system, and a strong brake system that boosts casting precision.
Abu Garcia’s baitcasting reel comes with an innovative, unique handle design and reel foot, that increases an angler’s ability to grip the reel tightly.
The Shimano Curado 200I Baitcasting Reel, like the Abu Garcia BMAX3, also comes with the company’s own handle design to help increase an angler’s grip for greater control. Shimano Curado’s 200I Baitcasting Reel also boasts an SVS Infinity Brake System and a cross carbon drag system for increased control.
Like most Shimano baitcasting reels, the Shimano Curado 200I comes with the Shimano Stable Spool Design system, which controls vibration in the spool, making the Shimano Curado 200I very easy to handle.
KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel
For those of you who are looking to switch from a spincasting reel to a baitcasting reel, you may want a high-quality, easy-to-understand and learn baitcasting reel that’s able to perform well even for experts. If that’s the case, then KastKing’s Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel could be a great option.
The reel is designed to be both low-maintenance and easy-to-use, but it’s also made to be tournament ready. It’s a high-performance baitcasting reel and shouldn’t be ignored by more advanced anglers because of its simplicity of use.
KastKing’s Royale Legend offers a silent, high speed line retrieve, which is a great benefit when fishing because less noise means you have a much lower chance of scaring fish. Also, increased speed lets you adjust your best braid fishing line promptly.
The KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Fishing Reel is made with brass gear and a carbon fiber drag system that’s strong enough to handle 17.5 LBs of drag.
Another benefit of this baitcasting reel is its tournament ready design. The bait casting system brings you dual brakes that are magnetic, which boosts your casting control. Also, the KastKing is made up of anodized aluminum, making it very strong, but also lightweight.
Depending on whether you opt for a left-handed or right-handed reel, the KastKing comes in a variety of sizes and weights, and weighs in anywhere from 5.7 ounces to 9.3 ounces. It’s lightweight for the most part.
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Abu Garcia BMAX3 Max Low-Profile Baitcast Fishing Reel
An affordable baitcasting reel option meant to be versatile enough for both the beginning and the veteran anglers, Abu Garcia’s BMAX3 Baitcasting Reel offers a lightweight, graphite frame design making it strong enough to be reliable but still agile to handle.
Abu Garcia’s BMAX 3 offers an adaptable reel that comes with the MagTrax brake system. The MagTrax brake system can use several different kinds of lures while also providing precise casting performance regardless of what type of casting situation you find yourself in.
The Power Drag system on the Abu Garcia BMAX 3 brings you a dependable, efficient option that is powerful enough to help you fight many hard-pulling types of fish. Combining the Power Drag system with the compact, easy-to-hold handle on this baitcasting reel means you’ve got an edge up on fighting even the strongest fish.
Weighing about 7.3 ounces, the Abu Garcia BMAX 3 Baitcasting Reel is easy-to-ship and comes packaged carefully so that you’ll be ready to fish with it as soon as it arrives at your door.
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Shimano Curado 200I Baitcasting Reel
The Shimano Curado 200I Baitcasting Reel provides anglers with an affordable, comfortable fishing option that’s made to boost your fishing game and help you grab your prized catch. The Shimano Curado 2001 is designed for both strength
and easy handling, bringing less friction and vibration to anglers than most other competitors.
The Shimao Curado 200I’s body is made with metal Hagane, which absorbs shock and provides more power and control to the angler. This baitcasting reel also comes with the company’s innovative Shimano Stable Spool Design and SVS Infinity technology, a combination that decreases spool vibration while increasing your ability to control your pole.
The body technology provided by the Shimao Curado 200I Baitcasting Reel makes it smooth, comfortable, and easy-to-handle while fishing. This baitcasting reel works well for both freshwater and inshore saltwater
fish, but if you want a reel that can handle heavier saltwater fish, you’ll probably need a heavier reel.
Otherwise, the Shimao Curado 200I is a very efficient, easy-to-use baitcasting reel that offers a tournament quality design with the best braid fishing line. As long as you take care for it, it’s built to last for years, and you’ll get many years of great fishing out of this baitcasting reel.
The Shimao Curado 200I weights about 7.6 ounces, making it easy to ship.
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Things To Look Out For When Buying The Best Baitcasting Reels
Quality of Brake System
Brake system quality can’t be overlooked when buying a baitcasting reel because the better the brake system functionality, the easier it is to cast with precision. Most baitcasting reels come with one of two styles of brake systems, either magnetic or centrifugal.
A centrifugal brake system is comparable to a five-speed stick-shift transmission in a car. Centrifugal brake systems allow the angler to have more control over adjusting the reel, and work manually.
A magnetic brake system is like a car with an automatic transmission. It’s both easier to use and easier to learn, but doesn’t allow for many manual adjustments, which might frustrate more experienced anglers.
Effective Gears and Good Speed
With gears on baitcasting reels, you’ll see three different material options: plastic, brass, and metal.
Plastic gears are something to avoid outright, since they don’t last and don’t do much for control.
Brass gears are the most common, and are pretty average in performance.
Metal gears are the best option, last the longest, and work the best, but cost much more.
You want to select a baitcasting reel with good speed and braided fishing line, because speed increases the overall functionality of the reel.
Performance of Bearings
More bearings on a baitcasting reel does not always mean you’re getting more out of your reel.
Usually, the more bearings on a reel, the easier it is to cast, but if your bearings are all low-quality, it really won’t do anything to help you.
So, you want to check the grades on the bearings used by your baitcasting reel. The best bearings are rated at a 9, and the worst at a 1.
Strong bearings are a necessity for any baitcasting reel because better bearings mean less friction, higher performance from your gears, and will also make your baitcasting reel last much longer.
Frame Material
Baitcasting frames will typically offer you two different types of frame material, graphite and aluminum.
Graphite frames are fairly standard, and are lightweight, but do not provide you with as much strength as an aluminum frame.
An aluminum frame will cost you more, but it will also last longer and improve your strength.
Conclusion
Out of this roundup, our top choice for the best baitcasting reels is the Shimano Curado 200I Baitcasting Reel.
With its strong aluminum frame, the Shimano Stable Spool Design and SVS Infinity technology to absorb shock and vibration while increasing control and speed, and high comfortability rating that makes it easy-to-use, it’s a baitcasting reel that’s made for everyone.
It does well for anglers who are either beginners or advanced, and who like saltwater or freshwater fish.
