Best Fishing Reels in 2023 (Spinning/Fly/Casting/Spincast)

An old saying goes, “A fishing rod is a hook at one end and a fool at the other.” As this quote points out, it’s no secret that the rod is the backbone of fishing. It’s what you hold, feel and mostly think about when it comes to catching fish.

Now, I’m not one to agree that we’re all fools at the other end of the rod, though standing by apparently empty water often makes me feel like one. I am, however, here to tell you that if you, like that quote, miss out on one of the more critical aspects of your setup, you’re getting close.

See, the simple quote has the rod accounted for and the hook, but there are a couple of things between those two not covered. Of course, if you’re reading this, you probably already know that’s the line and one of the most important fishing tools you have, the reel.

I can’t say ALL, but I can say without a doubt that MOST big fish landed, have been landed with the aid of a reel, and a quality one at that. See, the reel holds the line and lets you fish farther and deeper than you ever thought possible. And in the event you hook the big one, the reel lets you “put the fish on something,” as any fly angler will tell you.

If the rod is the gun you are peering down, the reel and the line it’s attached to are the magazine and bullet; the tether anchoring you to your target.

Different Types of Reels

There are four basic reel designs in the world of fishing and about a million different variations of these reels from there. You’ll pick a reel in general based on your rod type, where you’re fishing, what you’re fishing for, and ultimately the desired outcome.

Fly Reels

If A River Runs Through It is your favorite movie, you can skip this section and read about the other kinds of reels. However, if you’ve never heard of it, here’s the low down on fly reels.

A fly reel pairs with a specific style of rod, of course, a fly rod. The point of fly fishing is generally to have that reel and rod spool out an unweighted or lightly weighted fly or lure that one casts to an unsuspecting fish.

Because the fly is unweighted or lightly weighted, fly lines are heavy and many times weight forward to get those flies out there. This means the fly reel needs to hold more line “area” for the same application than other reels.

Most anglers fishing for smaller fish will hand spool out the fly line from the rod. They will often cast with this line, and if the fish is small enough, hand pull the fish in on the same line.

Fly fisherman hooking into larger fish will throw the fish on the reel, engaging its drag. For this reason, fly reels need to be versatile, as they serve the multiple purposes of holding extra line and backing and reeling in large fish.

Spinning Reels

Today, most anglers are familiar with spinning reels. Most of em started their fishing journey with either them or their little brother, the spincaster. Look into any fisherman’s garage, and you’re sure to find at least one. That is because spinning reels are as common as carp, versatile, and easy to use.

For nearly any fishing location on the map, an average angler can find a way to catch a fish with a spinning reel. All you do is set the drag, flip the bail, cast the lure, close the bail, and you’re fishing.

That versatility and ease of use mean these reels are by far the most popular on the market today. They range in price from a few bucks to thousands and can be fished as complicated or straightforward as you want to fish them.

Add in the fact that most of them can be used right or left-handed, and you have a reel that can just as easily be an extra in the boat or reel for a new angler as it can be a refined tool in the master anglers hand.

Casting Reels

Casting reels, or baitcasters, are reels for the angler looking for control. Ironically these reels are more difficult to control, but if learned to cast correctly, the payoff is a reel and rod combination that will get your lure exactly where you want it, how you want it.

Many anglers use baitcasters for Bass fishing specifically because they are easy to handle, light, cast precisely and give the fisherman unmatched line control. A well-versed baitcasting angler can sink a lure in front of a fish without a splash.

An added benefit of a baitcaster is versatility. They aren’t your do anything reels like spinners, but many are made sturdy enough to move from the lake to the offshore deep salt without blinking an eye.

Spincasting Reels

Little enclosed spincasters are a lot of guys’ first reels. That’s because they are simple. Spincasters were designed back in the ’40s precisely to make fishing simple, and that simple design has stood the test of time. It’s no coincidence that one of the most popular spincasters on the market today is the Zebco Bullet, as many of these reels are bulletproof.

Now, when fishing a baitcaster or spinning reel, there are often multiple things happening to get the lure to the fish. These more complicated reels and tactics can often leave an angler scratching their head or pulling out their fishing knife to cut through backlash or a birdsnest.

When fishing a spincaster, the only thing pulling the line is the lure. That has the obvious advantage of simplicity and the obvious disadvantage of casting power and distance.

The spincaster won’t win any long-distance casting records. The enclosed design, though, and simple casting make it the perfect reel for beginning anglers or anyone looking to keep things simple. I often think of a spincaster as the perfect after-work dock rod.

How to choose the best fishing reel

When looking at fishing reels across the board, from fly reels to spincasters, you’ll want to consider a few things.

Basic Application

The first and probably most important thing to consider when picking a reel is its primary application. Bringing a fly rod to a busy dock looking for Crappie isn’t gonna be the best option. Looking for a bit of peace and quiet on a river and as concerned with the process as the catch… Maybe you don’t want to bring a saltwater spinning reel and heavy rod… You get the point.

There is a right rod and reel setup for every application, and a lot of that depends on the angler. So there is nothing set in stone here. To keep it simple, though, I like to think of my fly reel and rod as my small to medium river setup. I think of my baitcaster as my lake reel and rod setup. My spincaster I think of as my dock and panfish reel and rod combo, and my spinning reel and rod as my do literally everything setup.

Now, of course, most of these reels and rods can do it all. A lot of that depends on the size of the setup and how you change it, and the angler’s desired outcome and abilities.

Remember, the only thing constant, even in fishing, is change. Being adaptable and willing to try anything and everything can be the difference between catching fish or not and having a good time or not.

Line Capacity

Line capacity for all reel types is going to depend on species and location. All reel types and multiple designs within that type will have different line capacities, however.

Fishing a shallow dock for panfish? A spincaster usually has less line capacity but is excellent at presenting light lures.

Fishing salt? Spinning reels, baitcasting reels, and fly reels all have a very wide range of line capacity.

Remember, though, when looking at line capacity, that more isn’t always better. A new trend in reel designs, especially in fly reels designs, is large arbor reels. These reels are designed to hold more line than ever and keep the line memory down. Don’t forget, though; more line means more weight. A balanced rod and reel is one you’ll feel comfortable using all day.

Weight/Size

As mentioned above, it’s common for anglers to think that bigger is always better when looking at reel weight and size. Although some more expensive large arbor reels for fly fishing can be lighter and offer less line memory, I’m here to tell you in other applications to reconsider.

Now, if you’re deep dropping for swordfish and need to get down 1200 ft, it’s important to make sure you have a reel that can handle that much line (and one that’s probably electric), but if you’re fishing for bass in your local lake consider this. Would a lighter, smaller reel with braided line do just as well as a bigger reel? You want to fish all day and, in a lot of cases, have a nimble, easy-to-use setup.

Remember, most manufacturers offer the same reel models in various sizes. When picking a size, I like to think of the type of species I’ll be targeting with a reel and rod and try to get away with the smallest reel possible. I do like to keep in mind accidental hookups, though.

Drag System

One of the most important aspects of any reel type is its drag system. Even if you’re hand landing fish with a small fly rod, you’ll want a drag system that can handle the occasional big fish. so consider the size of fish you’ll generally be targeting with your reel and rod setup, as well as the size fish you might luckily hook into.

A good rule of thumb when actually fishing and setting your drag is to keep it at about one-third of the breaking strength of your line. For example, if you’re running 15 pound braided on a baitcasting reel, that means your drag should be set at about five pounds. Running three-pound mono? You got it. Your drag should be set at 1 pound.

Even most small or inexpensive reels of all types will have a drag rating of about 10 pounds. So if you’re doing the math here, even if you’re catching lunkers, finding a good drag-rated reel for fishing shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Looking for a hot tip? Consider sound when purchasing your drag as well. Some guys love the clicking sound of their reel working; others will prefer a smooth, silent application.

Material

Fishing reel bodies are generally made of aluminum or another metal, graphite, plastic, or a combination of two of these or all three. This is why you need to lubricate your fishing reel using gun oil or other lubricants.

As one would expect, aluminum or metal wins in the strength department and is generally more rigid. Because of this, most high-end reels come housed in aluminum or a combination of aluminum and other material. The best of these reels are machined, and the less expensive are cast or made from metal molds.

When considering a reel, remember that although more durable, aluminum or other metal is generally also heavier than its graphite or plastic counterpart. If weight is a significant consideration, you may opt for a less expensive lighter material or a more expensive light metal.

In addition to being generally lighter, graphite and plastic are also naturally corrosion resistant. So, if you are looking for the best bass fishing reel which you’ll occasionally take to the salt, graphite is your best bet.

Bearings

Generally speaking, I like to think the more bearings in a reel, the better. Most spinning reels will come with between 2 to 10 bearings. More bearings generally mean a smoother, more predictable reel.

However, keep in mind that more bearings of lower quality or in a reel of lower quality material may not mean a smoother setup. So, if you’re looking for a smooth reel day in and day out, look for a reel with good construction and a high number of high-quality bearings.

Price

Of course, when considering any type of reel purchase, you’ll want to take into account the price. Price ultimately comes down to the quality of the reel, type of reel, and application.

Make sure to consider the quality if you’re looking for a reel to use day in and out year after year. A high-quality machined metal reel with shielded bearings may run you more, but you’ll get a predictable reel you can count on.

Price will also come into account when looking at various types of reels and their applications.

If you’re dock fishing for panfish, you may be able to get away with a less expensive spincaster. If you’re swinging wet flys for steelhead, you’ll, of course need a bigger, more well-designed fly reel. It’ll cost you more, but when you land a wild summer run that had your line screaming, I can guarantee the price of the reel will be the last thing on your mind.

Conclusion

There is no doubt a correct reel for every fishing job. As a recently married generalist fisherman, I do my best with what I have and am lucky enough to have acquired a variety of reels and rods and combinations of both over the years.

Even so, often enough on a river or lake, I’ll see a guy with a reel I don’t have catching monster fish I am not and think, man, maybe it’s the reel.

Maybe I’m a fool staring at apparently empty water in front of me and thinking about reels… but I do know enough to know that when you do get a fish on, the right reel helps.