6 Best Baitcast Reel in 2021

To make your fishing trip more fun, you can go for a selection of the best baitcasting reel. Baitcasting reels will give you optimum control over any big fish such as steelhead, redfish, Northern pike, and many more. Baitcasting reels are the most popular choice for modern-day anglers because they provide them with a firm grip and control over their bait, allowing them to catch their desired target easily.

Baitcasting reels are an essential tool for anglers who would like to catch larger fishes, and the reels also allow them to use techniques that won’t be possible on light line spinning reels. A good quality baitcasting combination provides you with a higher degree of control over your lure; it allows you to pinpoint your lure position and provides you with the power you need to pull your catch out of the deep water.

Baitcasting reels are extremely useful to anglers, but some anglers never settle down to learn the basics of these reels or how to use them. Most times, it is because anglers have the misconception that these reels are harder to use compared to regular fishing reels and that it would be difficult to learn how they work. All these misconceptions are wrong, it doesn’t take a lot to learn how these reels work, and the benefits they provide their user over conventional reels is worth the extra effort.

ADVANTAGES OF USING A BAITCASTING REEL

It is advised that anglers use high-quality spinning reels and baitcasting reels to be the most effiecient and versatile anglers out there. There are multiple techniques and lures that can be used with a baitcasting combination, and they come with their benefits that include.

Heavier Line

The spool’s axis of rotation on a baitcasting reel is perpendicular to the rod guides. This means that the line comes off directly from the line guide and straight through the rod guides. This allows the user to easily use the heavier lures and heavier lines ranging from 10 to 12 lb test on an average. A good quality baitcasting setup can cast lures from ¼ to 1 oz and even more.

Longer Casts

When you pair your baitcasting reel with the right rod, your baitcaster will easily outcast any spinning gear. The line is projected off the spool straight out of the rod guides; this is better compared to the uncoiling of a spinning reel. If you want to bomb hard baits and jigs, a baitcaster is your friend.

Reduced Line Twist

Spinning reels are known for having the most line twist, and that is not good for casting. Baitcasters release the line vertically to the spool axis, which means the only twist you will find on your line will come from your lure, especially when fishing for soft plastics.

More Control

Baitcasting reels offer you a higher degree of casting control compared to other reels, such as spinning reels. This is because it allows you to control the distance and speed of your lure by simply thumbing your spool during the cast. Once you master how to use them, you can achieve location finding accuracy with your casts, thus allowing you to place your lure at the fishes’ exact location. These reels have great control over the lure thanks to their gears and dual braking system that allows the user to slow down the spool.

More Power

Baitcasters have more power than spinning reels because of their spool’s layout and design. The spool is placed in a position where it is in line with the handles and gears; this allows the reel to apply more torque and power. Because the handles are placed directly on the reel’s frame which means there is no lever arm to cause any flex when reeling a fish hard.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER BEFORE CHOOSING A BAITCASTING REEL

There are a few factors you have to take into consideration when shopping for a baitcasting reel. Some of the most important factors to consider are choosing if you want a right or left-handed reel, the braking system, the gear ratio, the frame’s material, and the ball bearings configuration and construction. We will be taking a deeper look into all of these considerations below.

Which Should I Choose, Right Or Left Hand Model?

Selecting the correct hand configuration is vital with these types of reels because the handles can be swapped like in spinner reels. If you’re right-handed, you’ll want to go for the right-handed option; choosing the right allows you to cast with your right hand and place it in your left hand so that you can use your right hand to control the handle.

Gear Ratio

Gear ratio is simply the number of times the spool rotates every time the handle makes a full revolution. The higher the gear ratio, the faster the line retrieval will be; the lower the gear ratio, the slower the retrieve. Baitcasting reels have gear ratios ranging from 5:3:1 to 6:4:1 to 7:1:1.

A gear ratio of 6:4:1 is the ideal choice; it allows you to use any type of fishing technique and bait such as worms, topwater, jigs, shallow, cranking, and have a great performance. Other gear ratios are more specialized to specific abilities, so you’ll have to decide if that’s something you want.

Lower gear ratios ranging from 5:2:1 to 5:3:1 are best suited for fishing baits that pull hard, such as deep diving crankbaits, slow-rolling heavy spinnerbaits, and big swimbaits. The low gear ratio allows you to slowly reel the bait, thus keeping it in the strike zone for longer. It affords you a higher torque output which makes them good for moving fish out of the cover and flipping.

High gear ratios ate great for techniques where you need to pick up slack and burn a bait back to your boat. If you prefer fishing topwater frogs or toad, then a 7:1:1 baitcasting reel is your best option. They are also great at pitching plastics and jigs, letting you quickly take up slack and reel back to your boat a good catch. Majority of anglers buy multiple of these reels in varying ratios so that they have a variety of options they can use when fishing.

Braking and Tension System

The braking system of a baitcasting reel often confuses inexperienced anglers. What the braking system does is prevent the line from moving forward after the lure stopped moving. Braking systems come in two different styles, but some reels use a combination of the two styles. The two braking systems are centrifugal brakes and magnetic brakes.

Centrifugal brakes make use of friction to slow down the movement of the line, and they can be adjusted using pins. On the other hand, magnetic brakes use magnets to slow down the speed of the spool, and it can also be adjusted. The difference between them isn’t all that, but the centrifugal braking system is easier to set, and it doesn’t have to be adjusted as much as the magnetic braking system.

Good quality baitcasting reels come with a dual or smart braking system. It is vital to have a good braking system as it helps to slow down the cast to reduce or prevent backlash. Backlash is caused when your spool has a slower retrieve; it then results in an excess pile of unwinding lines that looks like a bird’s nest. A good braking system allows you to control the backlash. The tension knob helps control the line when it’s the first cast, while the braking system controls the end of the cast before the reel in.

Line Capacity

The spool size doesn’t really matter when it comes to deep water or redfish casts. But for saltwater fishing, when you intend on cast big fishes, you’ll need a spool that has a large casting capacity to reach longer distances.

Most anglers use a low profile baitcasting reel because they have a higher line capacity to handle fishes like the Northern pike and bass. You need heavy lines to catch fishes such as salmon, steelhead, and muskies.

Spool Size

A bigger spool is most beneficial if you prefer to fish with heavy lines such as a 20lb fluorocarbon. A large spool creates small coils of line that are easier to handle. For short-line applications such as pitching and flipping, smaller shallow spools are better.

Handle Size

Baitcasting reels come in different handle sizes. Most of the compact reels come with shorter handles. It may be alright for most applications, such as fishing jigs or worms but not for fishing big crankbaits or swimbaits. A longer, larger handle provided you with more torque to winch fish out of the deep cover, and they also help when punching grass mats. Oversized handles allow you to apply the crank force you need to get a smooth cast over a large fish.

Bearings

Ball bearings work to smoothen the reel’s performance. The better the quality of the ball bearings, the better the operation of the reel. Some people believe that the larger the number of ball bearings, the higher the quality of the reel, but this is not necessarily true. It all depends on the quality of the bearings themselves and not their number. When selecting a reel, try to go for one with shielded bearings and anti-corrosive. Choose ball bearings made out of good quality ceramic or stainless steel.

Frame Construction

Some professional anglers may argue that there are a lot of things to consider when it comes to frame construction, but we are going to keep it simple. The two main factors to consider are if it’s round or low profile and the material it is made out of.

Round reels usually hold more lines and have the ability to hold heavier lines. They are mostly used for fights that need long runs and also used for tossing larger baits. They are mostly great for muskies, salmon, and steelheads.

Low profile reels have more ergonomic features, and they allow better wristing of the line. It is also one of the most popular and most used reels today. It is mostly used for bass and crappie.

Frames are usually made from two different materials. They are either made from aluminum or Graphite. Aluminum is stronger than Graphite, and it is usually used in higher-end reels, but it is also heavier and more expensive. On the other hand, Graphite is cheaper and lighter but isn’t usually the best choice if the reel is going to withstand a lot of abuse. You could also go for other reels made out of materials such as magnesium and other carbon composite materials; they tend to be strong and durable and will provide you with the best performance.

Choosing the best baitcasting reel may feel like a challenge to a new angler because of the limitless features that you need to consider before choosing the right baitcasting reel. You do not need to worry as we can help you find the best reel. We have created a list of the best baitcasting reels available on the market; we chose these models because of how easy they are to use and their ability to do the job. With the buying guide above, you’ll know what to look for when selecting a baitcasting reel. Let’s take a look at the list below.

Below we have provided you with a list of the best baitcasting reels, along with their specifications, key features, pros, and cons. Having this information will allow you to make an informed choice when selecting the best baitcasting reel to meet your requirements.