If you want to get the most out of your tackle box you need to buy a high quality baitcast reel. Baitcasters are made for more experienced anglers who want better control and accuracy. After hours of practice with a baitcaster you’ll be able to put the lure exactly where you want it. When you’re lures heading for a snag you’ll be able to stop it on a dime. Anybody who’s tried a cheap baitcast lure knows how easy it is to get a rats nest. Why suffer through learning on a cheap reel when you can find a great one.
What’s The Best Baitcasting Reel?
1. Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast Baitcast Fishing Reel
The Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast is easily one of the nicest reels on the market. Abu Garcia is a trusted name in the fishing industry and is always a safe bet. Like the name implies the Toro Beast fishing reel is a powerful reel designed to take down the strongest fish. Engineered for brute strength and exceptional performance the Revo Toro delivers a unique platform for hard pulling species. The 7 stainless steel HPCR bearings and 1 roller bearing help give this reel long lasting durability and a lifetime of smooth operation. They provide extreme corrosion protection to keep your reel running smoothly.
Abu Garcia designed the revo toro to be used in both salt and fresh water lakes. Everything about this reel was designed to reduce corrosion while fishing in salt water. When you combine the anticorrosion system with the adjustability the reel offers you have one heck of a saltwater fishing reel. Superior cranking power and high line capacities mean you can catch a wide variety of fresh and saltwater fish. Abu Garcia’s patented infinimax braking system allows almost limitless adjustability to handle even the largest baits. The aggressive body design gives anglers a more ergonomic feel thus increasing their power for greater efficiency. Three power handles are included with Revo Toro beast giving you a wide variety of options.
2. Daiwa Tatula SV TW 103H 6.3:1 Baitcast Reel
The Daiwa Tatula Baitcast fishing reel is a much more affordable option for serious fisherman. The Daiwa Tatula reel is a compact solid baitcasting reel that just simply works. The small body size means this reel offers a great fit even in the smallest palms. Looking at this reel it’s hard to distinguish it from Daiwas higher end models. The compact body and bright glitter coating looks very sleek.
The Daiwa Tatula is one of the more innovative casting reels on this list. Thanks to Daiwa’s T-Wing System you won’t have to worry about uneven spool distribution. The system works surprisingly well and seems to solve the age old problem with baitcasting reels levelwind systems. The T aperture will allow the line to flow freely while reducing the sharp angles that slows the line exiting the reel. My favorite part of the Daiwa Tatula Reel is the Handle. Daiwas exclusive swept handle design makes the reel feel extremely smooth. As a general rule of thumb you probably aren’t going to go wrong buying a Daiwa reel so buy the Daiwa Tatula Reel today.
3. Shimano Curado 200 IHG Baitcast Fishing Reel
The Shimano Curado baitcasting reel is another great option. Change up your fishing game with the Shimano Curado baitcast reel. Built with a rigid metal frame the Curado will handle supreme impact resistance. Using a low profile compact design the Curado reel will feel right in anyones hands. Shimano is really doing something right when it comes to spool control. With their patented X-Ship and Super Free spool technologies you won’t notice any unnecessary friction on this reel.
Built out of a metal hagane body this rigid impact resistant reel will handle the stress of even the largest fish. It will reduce flexing and allow more cranking power. The SVS Infinity technology provides steady spool control by using brake weights that cause internal friction while casting. You’ll especially notice the difference while casting lighter lures. With multiple brake adjustments you’ll be able to dial in any lure for the perfect cast. The corrosion resistant bearings mean this reel can be used in both fresh and saltwater. The Bearings have shields on each side to hep prevent salt and sand from interfering with rotation.
4. Abu Garcia Revo SX Low-Profile Baitcast Reel
The Abu Garcia Revo SX Baitcast fishing reel is another moderately priced option on this list. The Revo SX reel uses an ultra lightweight design. With their X2-Craftic alloy frame and C6 carbon side plate the reel is 25% lighter than Abu Garcia’s previous generation of reels. This really is one hell of a reel for the price.
Pairing Abu Garcia’s MagTrax Brake system and Wide spool design allows for extremely accurate casting. It doesn’t matter if the load is light or heavy you can expect an accurate cast every time. This casting reel provides impressive castability and smooth drag in an extremely compact frame. The Carbon Matrix drag system provides a smooth and consistent drag. Abu Garcia chose to combine their D2 Gear Design and Duragear system to provide increased efficiency with a titanium coated line guide.
5. Abu Garcia RVO3 STX-HS-L Revo STX Baitcast Fishing Reel
The Abu Garcia RVO3 is another great baitcast reel from Abu Garcia. You’ll be able to enjoy premium performance from this lightweight and durable baitcast fishing reel. With its corrosion resistant x2-Craftic alloy frame and c6 carbon side plate you won’t have to worry about corrosion gumming up your reel. The sturdy build on this powerful casting reel delivers extreme durability without weighing down your rod. You’ll be able to detect even the lightest bites on the line.
What really sets this reel apart from the competition is Abu Garcias Infini Brake design. They chose to combine a magnetic brake with a sealed centrifugal brake to give fisherman ultimate control over their cast. With near limitless control you’ll be able to excel in nearly any fishing situation. The Infini II spool design allows you to dial in your load weight for extremely precise casts. Available in a wide number of gear ratios this fresh or saltwater reel has an extremely efficient design. Buy the Abu Garcia RVO3 baitcasting reel today.
6. Shimano Citica 200I HG Baitcast Fishing Reel
The Shimano Citica 200I HG baitcast reel is an affordable option on this list. Shimano has proven time and time again that they can make a high quality fishing reel. The proven shimano technology comes their new citica lineup of baitcast reels. With the Shimano X-Ship technology you’ll have a smooth retrieval of your favorite bait. With a 30 inch retrieval per crank you’ll be able to control the speed you bring in your line. Dial down your speed or crank the lure back in. With the Shimano reel you’ll be able to achieve long and accurate casts all day long. Combining their patented S3D spool technology and SVS infinity braking system was a recipe for an extremely easy to manage reel. Save a little money and buy the Shimano Citica 200I HG Baitcast Fishing Reel.
Why Choose A Baitcast Reel?
Anybody who’s ever used a baitcast reel knows they can be a pain in the butt. I’d recommend practicing your cast in the driveway before you ruin your next fishing trip. If you’re buying your first baitcast reel I guarantee you spend half the day detangling a rats nest of line. So why do fisherman put up with the the hassles of a baitcast reel?
The main reason you’ll eventually want to switch to a baitcast reel is control over your cast. To become an experienced angler you need to master your cast. Put your lure in places you know there are fish. Whether it’s under the dock or between two downed trees a baitcast reel can get you there.
Benefits of a baitcaster:
As I said above the main benefit of a baitcast reel is that you can put your lure exactly where you want it. It takes the guesswork out of your casts. After hours of practice you’ll be able to make perfect casts every time. If you see that you’re headed for a snag you can stop it on a dime. You’ll be able to quickly recover from bad casts without wasting your time.
Drawbacks of a Baitcaster
It really does take a lot of practice to learn how to use a baitcasting reel. It’s going to seem impossible to cast correctly. You’ll have a reel full of twisted up line that seems impossible to detangle. You just need to learn to stop the line before the lure lands so that the line doesn’t keep feeding out. Since you can only use lures baitcast reels have a little less versatility than other reels.