How to Choose a Quality Baitcast Reel

When searching online or at your favorite sporting goods store it can be a somewhat daunting task to choose the right baitcast reel for your fishing needs.  With so many manufacturers, colors, styles, sizes, gear ratios and a vast array of prices, it can get confusing to most people.  I’m going to guide you through this process to help you choose a quality baitcast reel that fits all your requirements. 

To choose a quality baitcast reel, you don’t always need the most expensive reel out there.  More often than not, the difference between a $100 reel and a $500 is actually very small.  As reel prices increase, the differences between them become less and less apparent.  So what are these differences and what do you need to pay attention to when purchasing a baitcast reel.  The big differences between baitcast reels occur in four main components:

• Manufacturer
• Body Style/Weight
• Bearing system
• Braking system

In this article we’re going to take you through each of these so you’ll have a good idea as to what you’re going to want to look for in a quality baitcast reel.

Manufacturer

Choosing the right manufacturer can quickly turn into a heated debate.  Just like with automobiles, most anglers prefer one particular manufacturer over another.  Most major manufacturers are going to have longevity and good reputations, which means that much of the choice comes down to personal preference.  I suggest a major manufacturer versus a lesser-known manufacturer when selecting your baitcast reel.  Remember that with a major manufacturer you are going to spend a little extra on your reel, but you will have peace of mind knowing they have been standing behind their products for a very long time.

Body Style

There are several different styles of baitcast reels out there to choose from.  For this article, we’re talking about two types of fishing: 

• Inshore saltwater
• Freshwater, small to medium fish species

When it comes to body styles in this group you’ll see either a traditional round body or the low-profile body.  

Round Body

The round body style is going to be the heavier of the two styles and will be made up of aluminum, stainless steel and plastic components.  These reels are great if you’re bait fishing or jigging where extra weight might not be a concern.  They are also some of the most durable reels out there and can easily be taken apart for maintenance and service.  You’ll see a lower bearing count in these reels because they are less complicated.

Low-Profile Body

The low-profile style of reel will be lighter in weight and generally made from composite materials.  Low-profile reels are more difficult to take apart and are more finicky than a round body reel.  However, if you’re on the water all day making hundreds of casts, then you will appreciate the lighter weight reel.  Low-profile reels are also consistently more accurate which is much needed when casting to reefs, around trees and sight fishing. 

Here are some pros and cons for both:

Round-Body

Pros:

• More Durable 
• Less cost 
• Easier to service

Cons:

• Heavier
• Less accurate casting

Low-Profile

Pros:

• Lighter
• More accurate to use in reefs, trees, sight fishing

Cons:

• More expensive
• More difficult to service
• Need more care

The type of fishing you’re going to be doing will help when making a decision about which reel body style you choose.  

Bearing System

The amount of bearings in a particular reel has always been a bragging point for many manufactures.  They feel they can charge more for a baitcast reel if they jam more bearings into it.  It’s a component that plays a big part in the decision most consumers make when purchasing a reel.  Who wouldn’t want to buy the reel with 8 bearings over the one that just has 6.  Unfortunately, bearing count doesn’t always equate to longer casts or a smoother reel.  Bearing count just tells you that there are more bearings in one reel vs the other.  The other side to this is the quality of the bearing used in the reel.  In many cases, a less expensive reel with better bearings can outperform a much more expensive reel with sub-par bearings.  Don’t always get hung up on the bearing count.  You can either upgrade the bearings after purchase or pick a reel with high-quality bearings to start with. 

Braking System

The next item to look at is the type of braking system that the reel has.  The main purpose behind a braking system is to control the backlashes that often occur with baitcast reels.  A backlash happens when the spool is turning faster than the line leaving the reel.  This leaves us with a tangled mess of line around the spool.  The job of the braking system is to slow the spool so that the amount of line leaving is consistent with the rotation of the spool.  

There are 3 standard types of braking systems out there:

• Centrifugal
• Magnetic
• Digital

I’m not going to go into the detail of all these as that would take an entire article.  However, each of these have their unique differences that you’ll want to make sure you research before buying a reel.  I have two braking preferences for all the reels I use and that is the centrifugal and digital variety.  I like the centrifugal brakes because they are very easy to maintain.  I like the digital braking systems because they are phenomenal when casting into the wind.  

Reel Recommendations:

Now that you’re armed with the information needed for choosing a reel the next step is to find the reel for you.  The reels below are all reels I’ve used, tested, and recommend.  I’ve listed them in a couple categories from Beginner to Advanced baitcast experience.  These beginner reels start at a lower cost and gradually increase in price to the more advanced reels.  

High-quality Low-Profile Baitcast Recommendations:

Beginner:

Shimano SLX

The Shimano SLX is a beginner reel that I chose because the price is great and Shimano puts out some nice reels. This one

Abu Garcia MAX Pro Low Profile Reel

Advanced:

Shimano Chronarch MGL

Shimano Curado MGL 70 K

Abu Garcia Revo STX-HS Low Profile Reel

The Abu Garcia Revo line is a little different in how they advertise their gear ratios. There are three choices for this reel in the right-handed model. The STX is a 6.6:1 gear ratio | STX-HS is 7.3:1 | STX-SHS is 8.0:1. As with all these advanced reels you will want to pay attention to the gear ratios which works for the fishing that you’re doing at the time.

High-quality Round Baitcast Reel Recommendations: 

Beginner:

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S

Daiwa Millionaire Classic

Quantum Nova 

Shimano Cardiff 200

Advanced:

Shimano Calcutta Conquest 100

High-quality Digital Reel recommendations:

Shimano Curado DC

Shimano SLX DC

Conclusion

One thing to remember when you choose a quality baitcast reel is that not all reels are perfect. There are specific reels made for specific types of fishing so it’s not easy finding just one reel to fit everyones needs. But I hope that I’ve armed you with some great information to help make your decision easier.

Thanks so much and keep those lines tight!