Rod And Reel reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 145 Reddit reviews across 17 subreddits and 62 posts to rank the best Rod And Reel brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Fishing_Gear, r/Fishing, r/FishingForBeginners, r/saltwaterfishing, r/SurfFishing. Top-rated brands include Shimano (4.2/5), Daiwa (4.4/5), Ugly Stik (4.3/5).
Stats
Reviews145
Subreddits17
Posts62
Brands53
Products77
145 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Shimano
4.2
(17)
"If you want to upgrade from the BG I’d recommend a shimano stradic, penn spinfisher, or if you wanna stick with daiwa they’ve got some good reels around the 200 mark."
"It's the smoothest spin reel ever made in the world."
"I recently tested a Shimano Miravel C2000S with an Atec Crazee Trout Game 5’6” rod and it was a stellar combo."
"Is an amazing panfish reel that can handle bigger fish!!"
"It’s only around 80 bucks but is a STUD."
"Smack a 2500-3000 Shimano Sienna on there and you could likely put together a pretty decent combo for $50-$70"
"Have you considered the Shimano SLX/SLX-A rod to go with your SLX reel?"
"Lots of decent to good reels out there in the $25-$50 range. Shimano, Quantum, Shakespeare etc."
"Shimano Compre rod, Abu Garcia 6500 C3 reel. This is a great starter combo."
"If you can find a shimano or lews combo, those are good too."
#2
Daiwa
4.4
(14)
"It’s a lovely reel, very light and pairs great on his 10ft feeder rod"
"I use the Daiwa Matchman with Diawa N’zon reel for feeding and I absolutely love the reel"
"Fantastic casting. The only reels I have that I like better are the Zillions. The Tatula outshines the (more expensive) Lew's Custom Pro in my opinion."
"2024 Diawa Tatula SV 100 is $229 on Tackle Warehouse right now. Most of the features of the Zillion, but $160 less. I have 2. They're outstanding."
"There’s nothing that beats the Daiwa Saltiga."
"If you want to upgrade from the BG I’d recommend a shimano stradic, penn spinfisher, or if you wanna stick with daiwa they’ve got some good reels around the 200 mark."
"I’ve landed 5-6 foot leapord sharks on my 4500 Diawa BG."
"For reef type fishing a Daiwa BG 5000 series with a silver hook travel rod is not a bad choice."
"Daiwa bg combo usually under 200$"
"The Daiwa Fuego is another one in the $100 range."
#3
Ugly Stik
4.3
(13)
"Get an Ugly Stick combo. I'm still running one of those that's 10 years old."
"Ugly Stiks are amazingly durable rods, probably the best selling brand (for decades) for a reason."
"I’d go with a $50 Ugly Stik 6’6” Medium action spinning rod"
"For a first time rod/reel, you can’t go wrong with an ugly stick and a pfleuger reel."
"Gx2 is a great rod for the price"
"Ugly (70)sticks are fantastic rods for the price"
"I bought my son an ugly stik GX2 which is also a good combo."
"Ugly sticks are good"
"I'd go with an Ugly Stick GX2 combo because the rod is nearly bombproof."
"There is a Ugly Stick GX2 combo for like $45."
#4
Penn
4.6
(9)
"If you want to upgrade from the BG I’d recommend a shimano stradic, penn spinfisher, or if you wanna stick with daiwa they’ve got some good reels around the 200 mark."
"Penn Battle III, 4 if you can spend a few $'s more or find a sale."
"Get a penn pursuit combo medium action."
"A penn battle 3 combo is 110 at bass pro shops."
"Get a Penn spinfisher combo either a 10’ or a 12’."
"Find a used Penn GT320 and an appropriate rod"
"An example would be the PENN Fierce IV (FRCIV4000) which is sealed for saltwater use, but will work just as fine for freshwater."
"Penn spin fisher combo for 209.99 on there website"
"They're good quality rods and reels."
#5
Abu Garcia
4.5
(6)
"The best all time reel is the abugarcia ambassador c3 (150)."
"I used to be a Made in Sweden Abu Garcia Ambassador 6500 guy, mine are all worn out."
"I'd much, much rather use a 100% carbon rod instead of the Ugly Stick blank."
"Abu Garcia makes good entry level combos for either in that range."
"I think I’d prefer the Abu Garcia over the Ugly Stik."
"One of the best bang for your buck rods there is."
#6
Okuma
3.8
(5)
"Okuma seems to have them on their website for $140."
"I still love my okuma evx telescopic 9 foot rod."
"I have a 5 piece Okuma spinning combo that came in its own soft case."
"Okuma is an undervalued brand."
"I’d go for some variant of an Okuma Celilo."
#7
Lews
4.3
(4)
"I really love the $50 Lews speed stick spinning combos at Walmart."
"Lews laser, any Berkeley or an Abu Garcia for cheap"
"If you’re into ultra lite spinning stuff lews makes a good one. Just bought a second for the gf since she liked it so much."
"I have the lews xfinity speed stick. I use it for squarebills and jerkbaits."
#8
Daiwa BG
5.0
(3)
"I only use BG reels for my salt set ups."
"Daiwa reels are great. BG is a great reel."
"The handing is a shockingly good rod for $40."
#9
Penn Battle III
5.0
(3)
"Penn Battle 3 and a nine foot rod."
"Not sure what size striper that your going for, but the Penn Battle III combos are good value for the money."
"I’ve got a couple of Penn Battle III spinning combos that I like a lot."
#10
Shimano Sienna
4.3
(3)
"Sienna reels are a great choice."
"You’ll still have money left over for braid, leader and lures."
"Shimano Sienna 1000 ($30) and either a Shakespeare Micro Series ($20) or Okuma Celilo ($35) rod."
#11
Fenwick
4.3
(3)
"My trout/panfish setup is a Fenwick HMG + Abu Garcia Revo X."
"If you’re looking for something more sensitive than the Shimano SLX, have a look at Fenwick HMG"
"Would work out great for your needs."
#12
Redington
4.3
(3)
"Great gear on a budget, and I still have my Redington path to this day even after slamming it tip first into many trees lol. It’s indestructible!"
"Redington, TFO, and Echo make great budget and beginner friendly rods."
"I fished an echo base for years with a Redington ID reel."
#13
Penn Pursuit IV 4000
4.0
(3)
"It's a great beginner reel that is durable and quality enough to last you years."
"It's a great beginner reel that is durable and quality enough to last you years."
"It's a great beginner reel that is durable and quality enough to last you years."
#14
Penn Battle
4.0
(3)
"Penn Battles are good rods though."
"Penn battles aren't bad for that work."
"I would recommend a Penn Battle combo - 7’ Medium Heavy."
#15
St. Croix
4.0
(3)
"Could also get a st croix triumph rod for 110$"
"St Croix triumph with a pflueger president"
"St Croix Triumph rod comes in a 2pc. Put a shimano Nasci or a Daiwa Fuego on it."
#16
Pflueger President
5.0
(2)
"An absolutely amazing reel in the 60 dollar range."
"Pflueger President combo for $69.99."
#17
Ugly Stik GX2
5.0
(2)
"I’d go for a spinning setup."
"Can’t go wrong with a 7ft medium power ugly stick gx2 combo."
#18
ODM
5.0
(2)
"It’s stated to cast lures between 0.5-3.5oz and it does it really well."
"I can’t recommend it enough."
#19
Daiwa TD Hyper 702LFS
5.0
(2)
"Some of the biggest fish I’ve gotten in the estuary have been on 6lb."
"The best value combo that you can get for that price."
#20
Ugly Stik Combo
5.0
(2)
"Their combo reels have come up in quality a bit too."
"Still works just as well as my $200+ setup."
#21
Orvis
5.0
(2)
"I got the Orvis Clearwater 4wt. and the Battenkill reel and I still love them both."
"My first setup was a Redington Path for the rod, and an Orvis Clearwater for the reel."
#22
Okuma SST
4.5
(2)
"I had a 9ft one. Landed 15lb salmon before."
"SST okuma with Okuma c20 or c30 reel."
#23
Lamson
4.5
(2)
"Lamson Liquids are hard to beat."
"I myself have Lamson waterworks. Great reels for an ok prize."
#24
Berkley
4.5
(2)
"It's an amazing budget setup."
"I am a fan of the berkely Amp? Rods. Like $30 at Walmart and sportsman's."
#25
Shimano Baitrunner Reel
4.0
(2)
"If you can save up, get a Shimano baitrunner reel."
"Depending on your fishing Shimano baitrunner real 50 to 70 on amazon."
#26
Okuma Ceymar
4.0
(2)
"Okuma celilo, okuma ceymar 2000 seemed pretty versatile for me."
"I would personally get an Okuma Ceymar reel on an Ugly Stick Elite rod."
#27
Shimano SLX
4.0
(2)
"Shimano SLX or Daiwa Tatula XT."
"With a Shimano or Daiwa reel in your budget."
#28
Okuma Celilo
4.0
(2)
"Okuma Celilo UL and a Daiwa Regal 1500 or 2000."
"Okuma Celilo with a Diawa Laguna Lt 2500."
#29
Bass X
4.0
(2)
"Bass X rods are around $125."
"6'8" medium extra fast bass x rod with a shimano slx 70 would be a great place to start."
#30
Bass Pro
3.5
(2)
"I got the bass pro formula baitcaster and bass pro xtreme spinning combo. Depending on type of reel you like I think they are both great combos."
"Bass pro “pro qaulifier” I think it was, in 7’11, 1-4oz"
#31
Scott
5.0
(1)
"Now I fish a Scott Centric with a battenkill click reel."
#32
Phenix
5.0
(1)
"Rod - 7'1" Phenix Feather FTX-C 71ML 6-12 lb 1/4-5/8 oz"
#33
Tsunami
5.0
(1)
"Look at the Tsunami travel rods. I have 3 that I bring to Costa Rica. Cheap and impressive performance."
#34
Cadence
5.0
(1)
"I have been loving my Cadence combo. Great quality, very tough, lightweight."
#35
TFO
5.0
(1)
"TFO Trout and Panfish II is a great rod at only $120 USD."
#36
Piscifun
4.0
(1)
"For reels piscifun chaos($50) is a good budget option"
#37
Guru
4.0
(1)
"Guru have just launched a nice looking feeder reel"
#38
Speedmaster
4.0
(1)
"If you are planning to troll or fish for palegics you might look at a speedmaster reel with a Saltiga travel boat rod."
#39
Shakespeare
4.0
(1)
"Shakespeare also has good medium duty Combes that are affordable."
#40
Lew’s
4.0
(1)
"Lew’s has some nice combos out right now."
#41
B'n'M
4.0
(1)
"Bnm silver cat (80) and for really big fish 30 plus pounds hellcats (130) cant believe beat."
#42
Lp
4.0
(1)
"Lp sv1200 with a matching rod."
#43
Bates
4.0
(1)
"Reel - Bates Hundo"
#44
Echo
4.0
(1)
"I fished an echo base for years with a Redington ID reel."
#45
Cashion
4.0
(1)
"Cashion rods, Dobyns rods, St. Croix rods. Best rods for the money"
#46
Regalis
4.0
(1)
"Regalis paired with an aird rod would probably be the best under 100$ bang for the buck imo."
#47
Bull Bay
4.0
(1)
"Rod for 200$ - bull bay"
#48
Dobyns
4.0
(1)
"I vote for a dobyns rod and shimano/daiwa casting reel."
#49
Cobalt
4.0
(1)
"I absolutely love it."
#50
Lew's
4.0
(1)
"Feels good so far, I like it."
#51
St Croix
4.0
(1)
"St Croix Avid Surf 9’ or 9’6’, with a Penn spinfisher vi 4500."
#52
Bass Pro Shop
3.0
(1)
"Might go to bass pro shop, get one of their combos and a good rod for the GT320"
#53
Maver
3.0
(1)
"I have a maver reality and a daiwa crossfire and theyre decent cheap options i use on my 10ft/2oz tip"
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