Spinning Reel reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 534 Reddit reviews across 16 subreddits and 109 posts to rank the best Spinning Reel brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/Fishing_Gear, r/bassfishing, r/FishingForBeginners, r/Fishing, r/FishingAustralia. Top-rated brands include Shimano (4.5/5), Daiwa (4.5/5), Pflueger (4.6/5).
Stats
Reviews534
Subreddits16
Posts109
Brands23
Products91
534 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Shimano
4.5
(188)
"Stella is the best"
"Vanquish is the best there."
"Stella is the best by far"
"Came here to say the Ultegra also....I have a bunch of them. Never once had an issue."
"Ultegra all the way."
"I think I will buy the ultegra"
"Shimano sienna 1000 all day."
"I love the look of both my certates, but that vanquish is cleannnn."
"Shimano ultergra is amazing but doesn't completely break the bank"
"I love my 3000 Nasci."
#2
Daiwa
4.5
(169)
"Everything about it is smooth."
"I have a Fuego 2500 that I use for inshore saltwater. It has no problem with stripers up to 38"."
"I got the Daiwa crossfire LT combo for $50 … talk about a hidden gem."
"Daiwa Caldia"
"If I were you and decided on Daiwa, I would get a reel from the LT series."
"Check the Daiwa legalis sale on Amazon right now listed for just over 3hrs left I think."
"Major craft daiwa revros laguna exceler shimano nasci fx sienna sahara many more"
"Daiwa Regal is the only answer."
"Daiwa regal"
"Diawa Laguna LT."
#3
Pflueger
4.6
(57)
"Pflueger President is hands down the best reel before you move on to the Shimano Vanford."
"The smallest pflueger president has been going strong for me, it’s amazing"
"Pfleuger President. $50 or so, but fishes like a $200+ reel."
"Pfleuger president is great bang for the buck."
"If anyone doesn’t agree they are complete buffoons."
"Is awesome."
"I’ve had no problems with it thus far."
"Pfleuuuuuuuuuuger"
"It's my absolute favorite setup for trout in the stream."
"I love my pfleuger president."
#4
Penn
4.4
(54)
"Anything Penn in the upper budget. They are a fully sealed, very strong, smooth reel."
"Was number 1 selling reel on Amazon for a long time. Still up there pretty high."
"I really like the Penn Battle series. I have 3 of those and still going strong after weekly use and zero maintenance for 4 years."
"Penn/ Spinfisher (VI or VII) are very well known, saltwater durable reels."
"Just bought two Battle 3's 2000 size for trout and they are smooth."
"Spinfisher is a perfect choice."
"Penn slammer all the way."
"I have a Penn spinfisher ssm650 that I have put through the wringer."
"The Spinfisher is the most durable."
"Just bought two Battle 3's 2000 size for trout and there are smooth."
#5
Okuma
4.1
(22)
"Okuma Ceymar"
"Okuma Ceymar."
"Trying decide between Okuma c30 or Daiwa MQ LT 2500."
"Ceymar is one of the most buttery spinning reel i ever used."
"My first setup was the Okuma Celilo 6ft rod paired with a Shimano Sahara 1000 reel."
"Okuma is reasonably priced for their quality."
"I see these more than any other reel as a rental on charter boats."
"Okuma c30 or c40 if you are on a budget or trying to keep the cost down."
"Lots of guides in Washington state use them."
"Okuma celilo ML in 6’ or 6’6”. Okuma ceymar in size 30 or 40. I’ve got the 6ft and 30 that’s been rolling around my car for years, you won’t break the bank <$100, or feel bad if it gets broken."
#6
Spinning Reel
4.3
(12)
"Spinning reel. They are much more versatile and have a much better drag system."
"Spinning, no question. Much more versatile."
"Spinning reel for sure, the drag is just better."
"The spinning real. They are way more versatile."
"Spinning reel. Because every time I cast a bait caster it ends up in a jumbled mess of line 🥲"
"Spinning cause it is more multi purpose and not too many people fish with an ultra lite bait caster."
"Couple years ago I would have said spinning because of the versatility but now with BFS baitcasters I'm going baitcaster all the way."
"Spinning can do everything just not everything well."
"Spinning because I like to ultralight rod and reel."
"Spinning reel is a jack of all trades. Baitcasters only shine in certain conditions."
#7
Spinning
5.0
(8)
"I love the bait caster for bass n deep sea, I use spinning for bait n pan fish."
"Baitcaster no question. Once you master them they’re superior in every aspect."
"Baitcaster 💯, in my opinion way more versatility."
"This turned into a good topic OP. I use baitcasters for moving baits, but MUST use spinning for finesse."
"Baitcaster. I can do literally everything I can do with spinning gear AND more, but also better."
"Interesting question. Spinning all day long for me."
"Spinning. You can cast light you can cast heavy. You can target so many types of fish."
"As much as I like my baitcasters, I find a spinning reel to be more versatile."
#8
Kast King
4.0
(4)
"Kast King sharky 3 in on sale on Amazon right now, $49."
"Kast King sharky 3 in on sale on Amazon right now."
"Has a nice line up of reels..okuma..pflueger"
"I would at least give them a look."
#9
Piscifun
4.7
(3)
"I use a 3000 piscifun Carbon X on it and love it."
"I just took advantage of their black Friday deal and picked up both the 1000 and 2000 size Carbon X."
"Piscifun Carbon X (or X2) are supposedly good budget reels too."
#10
Quantum
4.5
(2)
"My personal favorite is my quantum smoke."
"I recently got the Quantum Smoke, about $170."
#11
KastKing
4.0
(2)
"I just got a KastKing reel (Centron 3000) for a collapsible rod setup and am really surprised how good it feels."
"My favorite Kast King reel is actually their cheapest: the blue Centron reel."
#12
Pflueger President
4.0
(2)
"I ended up getting a Pleuger President spinning combo for $99..."
"Pfleuger president. Will last you until you can afford a vanford."
#13
Googan
5.0
(1)
"Go for a Googan combo, they can take infinite abuse and they are ultra sensitive and capable. Best combos on the market hands down"
#14
Pfleger
5.0
(1)
"My favorite bang for the buck has been the pfleuger president series. I use the 20 series paired with a 5”6’ ultralight."
#15
Lew's
4.0
(1)
"I like the Lew’s Custom Speed Spin, but any Shimano or Diawa 2500 size reel around $75-100 would be fine."
#16
Handing
4.0
(1)
"I just picked up a Handing M1 as a temporary reel on a rod I wasn't planning on buying and actually extremely impressed by the quality"
#17
13 Fishing
4.0
(1)
"Sierra has the 13 Fishing Omen Gold for $50– that’s a step up from the defy silver."
#18
Pfleuger
4.0
(1)
"Some good affordable reels: pflueger presidente, daiwa legalis, shimano nasci"
#19
Bass Pro Shops
4.0
(1)
"I have a 6'6" Berkley ML Lightning Rod paired with a Bass Pro Shops Pro Qualifier Spinning reel. $180 altogether with 300yrds of Berkley Trilene Smooth Cast 6lb mono."
#20
Shakespeare
4.0
(1)
"Cheapest bang for buck imo ...Shakespeare tiger spinng combo, 7ft Med heavy,coms with 16lb liine"
#21
St. Croix
4.0
(1)
"St Croix triumph with a pflueger president"
#22
Billings
3.0
(1)
"I bought a billings DC reel from China. Very cheap but seems reliable so far"
#23
American Hero
3.0
(1)
"The OD green lose American hero at Dick’s is pretty good. It’s under a 100"
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