Choosing the 10 best fishing reels in 2025 isn’t just about specs and features—it’s about real experiences on the water. Every angler knows the frustration of a reel that doesn’t cast smoothly or struggles under pressure. Whether chasing bass at sunrise, battling a saltwater giant, or enjoying a quiet afternoon by the lake, the right reel makes all the difference. This list is built from hands-on experience, ensuring you get a reel that feels right in your hands. Let’s dive into the 10 best fishing reels in 2025 that truly deliver when it matters most.
1. Daiwa BG Spinning Reel
Highlight: Solid Screw-In Handle, Air Rotor, Dynamic Cut Aluminum ABS Spool.
Constructive Review: 80% of my rods and reels are made by Penn. this is only my second reel from daiwa. i bought this cause I had the same reel on a rod and reel surf combo given to me by my friend. I fell in love with it cause it was built solid, the drag was smooth and it’s not expensive. so I decided to get the same reel to pair it with my other Daiwa surf rod. I’ve used it a few times now and it performs just as well as my other reels. I take it with me all the time now and leave my slammers, battles and spinfishers home cause I don’t have to worry about losing a cheaper reel, and I’m not sacrificing reliability cause this reel can handle stripers and blues with no problem. so, compared to the other reels costing a lot more this is a great value without sacrificing quality. This would be like a penn battle 3 but its not better than my spinfishers and slammers. -Denis J
Trending Review: I bought these first two reels to use mostly as pitch rods while offshore fishing in Florida. We will pitch on site to Mahi, Cobia, Triple Tail and Mackerel. Now if the fish are big I have a couple of 8000s on broom sticks if needed. I am however an all around fisherman and have also used these two reels on 10′ surf rods as well as some bridge and bank fishing. These reels run a little big and I would equate these to a 6500 Penn Spinfisher plus or minus a tad (Penn has a stronger drag rating but about the same line capacity).
I use 7′ Ugly Stik Tiger for Bank, Jetty, Bridge and Boat and 10′ Okuma Rockaway for surf. I just purchased two more of the Ugly Stiks for the boat and will have a total of 6 of these 4500 reels, (ordered two today) including two for surf fishing. For light pitch rods on the boat that everyone can handle they are perfect. I have them lined up with 15# mono (for surf as well) and figure there is about 320 yds on there. The new spool design works well and after reading some other reviews I spooled mine up all the way to the edges, give it a try, it seems to work with this spool design. I haven’t gotten my head around why it works yet but it does, I would have never spooled up that full before.
My last Daiwa BGs had wood handles and I have been buying Penn for a while when it comes to spinners of this size and larger and Shimano for smaller reels but these first two worked well and it was time for some refreshed equipment so I went all in after a short trial period. Hope this helps you make a decision. If they continue not to disappoint then I won’t revisit this review, if they bonk however then I will be sure to warn the masses but I don’t expect them to. -Mark G.
Reassuring Review: I have a couple of Penn Squall conventional reels and I wanted to add a spinner to round out my surf rods…
Since I haven’t yet finished building the spinning rod to match with this reel, I can only give my review on the reel without having taken it to the water…
My first impression was what a beast of a reel; and this is just the 5000 model…
It’s probably more than I need, but I think it’s better to go a little bigger, just in case you get Godzilla on your hook instead of a perch…
The reel looks beautiful and feels solid and smooth…
I think this is absolutely the best bang for the buck for a surf capable spinning reel…
I don’t believe anyone would be disappointed in buying one…
Of course, there’s always someone that has something negative to say, but I think most anglers would be hard pressed, not to like this reel…
Buy it, you’ll like it…
I may update this review, once I get the rod finished and throw a few cast with it…
But I expect it to perform well and bag a lot of fishies. -James L Delcourt
2. Okuma Cold Water Linecounter Trolling Reel
Highlight: The Cold Water line counter reels feature a mechanical line counter function that measures in feet. The counter housing itself is designed with Okuma’s anti-fogging CVT – Clear View Technology.
Constructive Review: I was debating between the Convector again or the nicer cold water, I bought 1 coldwater to compare, biggest physical improvement over the convector I noticed was the reliability of the counter, i did everything I could to try to get the counter to mess up or stick like my convectors occasionally do but I couldnt, on top of that the reel feels and looks better in your hand, drag is silky smooth, lightweight, line guide works great, clicker has a little more resistance than the convectors which I like. Hard to believe you can get a reel of this quality for this price. -Thomos
Trending Review: I had two Okuma Magda Pros and purchased two more, I needed six total and wanted to get something better and I looked at the Daiwas, not much better than my Magdas. Next I looked at the Shimano Tekotas but those were $200+ at the store. I decided on these sight unseen because they were just over $100, saved $100 from the Tekotas. they came in and these are really high quality, when you hold them you can feel it, when reeling they stop at lock exactly where the crank is, the Magdas crank roles back to somewhere near 1/8 of a turn. Im sad that I didn’t get four of these instead of the two I got. Yes, they are double the price then the .Aguas but the Magdas just feel toyish/adequate, these feel great and solid, like you actually bought quality. I like the line counter on these better than the Tekotas. So as for price and quality these are a no brainer for me. I’ll fish those Magdas for a season and sell them and get more of these for next season.
Update, you will be happy with these when you get them, they will not last. I have 12 of them on my boat and you better learn how to take them apart and repair the transmission gear for the linecounter and pawl. You will need to find these gears in bulk and keep them on hand. I replace 3 or 4 gears on reels every year. If you are going to troll with any weight such as a dispey diver or other down rigger, they will quickly fail on you. I f you want to use them for stick baits or other tackle that doesnt put much pressure on the reel they will work ok. Me two years later, wonders why I upgraded from Magdas. I wouldnt suggest these to anyone, that how much they will disappoint you! $120 sound like im getting a decent reel, it will be a waste of your money. -Jack
Reassuring Review: Amazing Reel – exceeded my expectations!!! That’s why I’m going to buy a 2nd one!
I have used Abu Garcia Ambassador reels for years to fish the waters of northern Ontario providence in Canada. Although I use depth finder, I had no way to determine if I was trolling (for Walleye) at the right depth, but with the Okuma Cold Water Linecounter Trolling Reel helped me quickly match the ideal amount of line to put out based on the depth of the fish – and once I nailed it, I was hitting 3X the number of fish than others in my group. When everyone started to notice, they all asked me to share the info on this reel. Not only does it look really cool, and is simple to use, the hand grip is far more comfortable than ALL my other reels, and it’s set up so that 1 full rotation equals 1 foot of line, which means it’s easier to reel in the big one! The best part is that most other linecounter reels have two sound settings – loud and louder! The Okuma has loud and silent. For trolling in a Lund, silent is a MUST. This is a GREAT reel, and why I will buy a 2nd Okuma Cold Water Linecounter for deeper water lake trout! -Andrew
3. KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Highlight: MegaJaws baitcaster reels have unique KastKing LFTV (Low Friction Tapered Vortex), funnel shaped ceramic line guides. They greatly reduce fishing line friction through the guide giving you super long casts and also help to reduce backlashes. LFTV makes the difference between a good casting reel and a great bait cast reel.
Constructive Review: The KastKing Megajaws baitcaster fishing reel really impressed me with its performance. One of the standout features for me was the ease of casting. I found it smooth and effortless, making it a joy to use. Another highlight was the ability to make micro adjustments to tighten the rod, allowing for precise control while fishing.
Additionally, the it is incredibly lightweight, which I appreciated during long fishing sessions. However, it is important to note that you need to adjust it to every setup you have; otherwise, you might encounter some tangles or bird nests.
Overall, I highly recommend the fishing reel for its casting ease, micro-adjustment capabilities, and lightweight design. It’s a fantastic reel that can enhance your fishing experience. -Justin V.
Trending Review: Bought myself one on prime day and it has been going strong for 2 years. Smooth casting and reeling, casts rather than many of my much higher cost reels, feels solidly built and has been knocked around a bit over the last couple years. I would suggest this too anyone who would like an extra reel and doesn’t want to break the bank on one and for people new to baitcasters and wants to start out at a reasonable price. -Joey
Reassuring Review: The first time I ordered this I was sent someone else’s returned reel, it was a used 1st gen megajaws. The company made it right, accepted the return and got me the right one 2 days later. This is not a bullet proof 400$ Diawa, but for this cost, good luck finding a better more reliable salt ready reel. The dual brake system in this will give confidence to those guys who have tried a baitcaster before and gave up to go back to a spinner (me) it will still backlash, but only if you whip it as hard as you can and leave the spool free when it hits the water.
And the backlash won’t be more than one to two rotations of the reel. It really is amazing how well the magnetic brake works on this thing. Some of the pieces on it feel like graphite, which isn’t the best material because it can warp in prolonged direct sunlight. But I’ve used this for a couple months in the Florida sun while bass fishing and I’m impressed. It’s my go to rod. I have some high quality Lew’s and a 300$ Abu Garcia combo, and oddly enough you’ll see me holding my kastking combo more often. Very smooth, good strong drag, holds about 120ish yards of Berkeley 20lb florocarbon line. Came pre greesed and oiled. -Carlos
4. Zebco Omega Pro Spincast Fishing Reel
Highlight: This spincast reel features an anodized aluminum front cover, a brass helical-cut worm gear drive, a 3:2.1 gear ratio, and a 17 IPT (inches per turn) for a smooth and consistent retrieve.
Constructive Review: I already had 4 of these reels, two ZO3, and 2 of the ZO2. These reels are the Rolls Royce of spincast reels. The ocillating spool prevents “line digs” on the spool and I’ve never had one hang up from the line being dug in on the spool. 7 bearings makes is smooth as silk and almost silent when retrieveing. The spinner head has 3 pickup pins so it always catches the line. Plus it has two choices of handles, a single knob, which I like, and a double knob. And it comes with an extra “quick change” spool of line. I needed another one of these and found these at a bargain price so I ordered one for me and had another one sent to a friend in another state. If you’re looking for the best spincast reel that money can buy, look no further, this is it. -Jennifer Tuminello
Trending Review: I recently purchased the Zebco Omega Pro Spincast Reel and I am extremely pleased with its performance. The reel is very easy to use and the spincast feature allows for a smooth and accurate casting. The size 30 reel is perfect for my needs and the drag system works very well. The reel is also very durable and well-constructed, which is important when using it out in the elements. I also appreciate the sleek design and the fact that it comes in multiple colors. I highly recommend this reel to any angler looking for a high-quality, easy-to-use spincast reel. -Levi de Morney
Reassuring Review: I fish small streams from the banks. I’m in my 60’s so not a kid either. Loads of trees around me and on the far side of the stream. Also many logs and rocks and potential snags. About half of my casts are underhanded from the raised bank under tree branches meaning the rod tip is at or lower then my belt line during the cast. This reel makes fishing like that trouble free. I can make underhanded flip casts easily and if needed a simple push of the button stops the line from unspooling if my aim was not so great.
When casts are unencumbered by trees this reel really shines. The line unspools very easy and the thumb control shines. This is not a toy reel for kids. It is a serious fishing reel that is meant for adults who have had it with the deficiencies of regular spinning reels for stream bank/lake bank fishing. The best feature is that it only requires one hand to make the cast. No need to get the bail positioned in just the right place and flip it over with my other hand. This is the high water mark for fishing reel design- maybe under spin design is slightly better but they share the same beneficial features. -J. S.
6. KastKing Sharky III Fishing Reel
Highlight: Features a graphite body and rotor, for lightweight, corrosion-resistant fishing reels. The aluminum handle and soft touch rubber knob are suitable for Right/Left handed anglers.
Constructive Review: After reading rave reviews on multiple websites, I finally pulled the trigger on this one. I’ll tell you what… I’m glad I did. I went with the 25 over the 20 for the additional line capacity. I threw it on a 7′ Ultralight TFO Trout Panfish Rod with 10lb braid, and HOLY MOLY is this an awesome reel!! Obviously I’m using it for Trout, and I honestly don’t think you can get a better reel for the money. Dollar for dollar, this is it. This Pflueger President reel is a big money reel at a low end price.
For starters, the thing looks sharp! Looks aren’t really as important to me as functionality, but I had to mention the craftsmanship. It’s gorgeous! It is very light weight as well, and built with quality parts. This thing is durable, quiet, smooth, and handles everything I throw at it. Caught five fish my first day out, and they came in smooth as silk.
I had a feeling I would like it when I ordered it. As I mentioned before, I had read multiple reviews about it. However, it was hard to believe it was actually that good for the price. It just IS, and I did not expect the quality and performance that I’m getting out of this! I have about 15 rod and reel combos, and this is one of the favorites now.
Do yourself a favor and just buy it… It’s kinda feels like finding $100 laying on the ground. It’s that good in my opinion! -tbpate
Trending Review: I am a fairly new fisherman I decided to upgrade my poles and reels. I have always used fairly inexpensive reels. When the President Spinning reel arrived, all was good, except I could not change the handle to the left side. The threads appeared to be stripped. I sent it back and received another reel. I did some research while waiting for the new real, and found out the left side of the reel uses a left hand thread. Believe me I felt like an idiot. So my only negative thing to say is they should mark the reel or somewhere in the box that the left handle is a left hand thread. Other wise the reel is the best reel I have ever had. I love it. -Craig
Reassuring Review: I own several of these incredible reels. Ive been fishing with spinning equipment my whole life and I have never used a better reel. During a recent visit to Bass Pro Shops I discovered that like many of the other reel manufacturers Pflueger is eliminating the anti reverse lever so that you are unable to backreel. They call this “Infinite Anti Reverse” which for me makes using these reels basically impossible. I ordered several of various sizes because it appears the entire industry doesnt want anyone to be able to backreel while fighting a fish which makes you 100% dependent upon your drag. -Philiphs
5. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel
Highlight: You’ll be blown away by the quiet, silky smooth retrieve of the Sharky III. Plus, with the unique Shark Fin Braid Ready aluminum spool, you no longer need to use backing line when spooling on braid fishing line.
Constructive Review: I haven’t used this reel for very long. Mid Atlantic weather has been up and down and conditions have limited use to four outs at this time. Reel arrived with an issue and I contacted customer service via email. The customer service representative, Winnie, was responsive and took care of my issue. Given the vastly different time zones and the inherent lag dealing with email, KastKing customer service came through very well. I think the reels are a little smaller in size than comparable reels. I needed a strong reel in about a 2500 size and the Sharkey 3000 fill that niche very well.
The reel has more weight to it that a lightened carbon or hybrid metal alloy reel but balance out very well on a 7 foot spinning rod. This ten bearing reel is fairly smooth on the retrieve and the braid I spooled up with laid down nicely and casts smoothly. When fighting a nice largemouth bass, there was no flex in the frame and the cranking remained smooth. Line laydown on the spool was still good with no digging. Bail operation was smooth and consistent. The ball bearings are not high quality but at the price point are more than adequate for this reel. Drag is smooth and consistent. Only time and use as well as some rain, dunkings, and some mud will tell but overall the Sharkey reel is a winner. Now, about that name? -Potomac Pirate
Trending Review: I see the last time I purchased one of these was in 2018. They are still go strong.
I use mine different from most people. I have mine (two of them) loaded with 10lb test PE line that is metered with different colors every 10 meters and mounted on a 7 foot medium and a medium light rod. I use these for trolling small crankbaits in water less then < 15 feet of water. With this set up I have taken Northern Pike up to 40″ with no problem at all.
The outstanding feature of this reel in my opinion is the drag. Very smooth and a nice progression from light to heavy.
As far as casting, this is a spinning reel so the main factors here are, the line, rod, and weight of lure used.
I use this reel at least once a week from season opener to ice (I live in Minnesota.)
I cannot believe I have had these reels for 6 years now. -Edward Wick
Reassuring Review: KastKing 2000 model spinning reel. I’ve been somewhat cheap over the years and haven’t bought high end spinning reels for saltwater use. Instead, I bought the best I could afford which has been Penn Fierce models all the way up to 6000 series. The majority of my fishing is casting for saltwater species. The Fierce 2000-4000 series have done the job well with good maintenance but at the cost of $80-$100 each. I’m on several fishing forums where guys are high-end gear or nothing, until someone brought up a thread about cheaper spinning gear and this reel came up.
I looked it over on Amazon and tool the reviews with a grain of salt but kept referencing the opinions of what I consider ‘real’ people on the fishing groups so I ordered the 2000 series at $54 shipped with Prime. It came in a foam lined box that was impressive from the get-go. Spooled it with cheap 6 pound mono for the first few trips till I know it works and will most likely respool with KastKing braid. First trip out was to a local freshwater pond and throwing 1/4oz jig head with a swim body attached. All I can say is if you have doubts, order one. Its smooth… really smooth, and no issues have been annotated. Saltwater use / longevity is yet to be determined but the first trip is coming up soon and it will get a workout. -Petra Riley
7. KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Highlight: KastKing Rover baitcaster reel have premium MaxiDur double shielded stainless steel ball bearings (6 + 1 BBs on Size 40-60, 4 + 1 BBs on 70 – 90) for smooth operation.
Constructive Review: Perfect for lead core line trolling Stripers , salmon etc. The 60 size is 13 ounce light weight for my uncle he preferred a left handle . It can spool up to 5 colors of Suffix 36lb lead core maybe more from 12-27 lb lead core line. I mostly target Stripers in 15-25 feet depth trolling along the banks at inland lakes New Hogan and Fore Bay Oneil reservoir this cast reel is excellent for it , although I haven’t use it just got it on 1/31/25 . I like it a lot getting a right handle 60r myself and highly recommend it 100% !
Update: 1st week of February 2025 . Caught 3 Stripers at Forbay Oneil reservoir. The Kastking Rover 60 size is excellent bait cast reel. It goes very well with 7 feet medium heavy rods it should last a lifetime got both in left and right handle great nice reel for under $60 ! -Zack
Trending Review: This is my first round baitcaster, as well as my first Kastking Rover. Amazing feel and weight on this all aluminum left retrieval reel. The oversized handle makes it much easier to reel and the line guide is all metal fornsmooth reeling. Will be pairing it with a 30lb braided line along with a 7.5 medium power rod, it will go very well with the 30lb drag this reel have, should be more than enough to handle any kind of fish my creek and Lake Michigan has for me.
Overall, it is a very build and feel reel with plenty of features for all sort of fishing that I will be doing.
Will update once I have fish with it, but like I said, it is a very well constructed reel. -Cklau
Reassuring Review: I have been using a spin cast reel, but was looking for a conventional bait caster. Although I am still working on my technique, this real casts great. It has ample drag for whatever fish you’ll be fighting and is great quality at a great price. It comes in plenty of sizes depending what your needs are. This is a beautifully looking well built real. -Christy and Cheyenne Chapman
8. PENN Rival Level Wind Conventional Fishing Reel
Highlight: Built with carbon fiber washers for a max drag of 15lb | 6.8kg, this system will exhaust the fish without wearing you down. Right handle position.
Constructive Review: Just received this reel (15LW) and first opinion was “this could work”. I chose this reel for near shore /off shore fishing in southern California; near shore for bottom fishing and off shore trolling. 40lb. braid should provide adequate capacity and strength for either. I’m getting way ahead of myself in this review. The reel feels sturdy (maybe a little heavy at >1 pound).
A rudimentary function check looks good; drag range, spool (axial) tension, gear lever, level wind, clicker, etc. The main issue I find “out of the box” is the handle/crank size. The crank radius is about 3 inches and the crank handle is huge. It just seems to me to be a little over-kill. With nearly the same gear ratio, the Penn JigMaster has about a 2 in. crank radius (if that means anything).
OK, next day, at the tackle shop to spool’er up. 40# Spectra (braid) with a +/- 12 yard fluorocarbon “top-shot”. It spooled about 250 yds. of braid – (shrug) OK. Then some sticker shock; my $47 new reel is now a $90+ fishing reel. Oh well, it looks and feels good on its 6 and a half foot rod. I’ll surely have more comments when I get this out on the water and “put the spurs to’er”. So far we’re at 5 stars. -Randall
Trending Review: Thank you penn, ADIOS okuma.
2 seasons over with the rival, 2 rivals side by side with 2 warfare’s, none of the 4 had any issues in 2 years, were they sticky after 6 months in the closet, YES and anyone whom pulls a reel out and heads to the lake without checking and doing a bit of TLC is an idiot!!!
the only reel I have actually had issues with in the last 20 years is an okuma 30 class and it simple “ate itself”, have dozes of Penn’s one that is approaching 40 years old (I bought as a teenager) and its sill on the boat on a regular basis, its seen salt, fresh and some water that I cannot describe…. I have rebuilt the clutch twice, replaced the clicker once.. still going…(I wont lie I have not been nice to it).
take care of your reels no matter what you buy, I have seen $700 shimano’s fail at the wrong time and watched a grown man cry when he lost a 200lb yellowfin, we fixed it on the boat a little grease and a few parts and he was back in action the next day. -Don Le Claire
Reassuring Review: This reel is a sibling spinoff from the or the penn warfare of course they both took their design similarities from the original squall series. The main thing I liked about this reel is it similar to a baitcasting reel like the penn international 965 and 975 but in a cheaper body. I like the self engagement feature it provides where you only need to turn the handle to engage the reel like a baitcaster.
First time out of the box it may feel a little tight but omce you place on a rod it feels better. I used it for rockfishing, catfishing, bay fishing and salmon and works well. Do not try to use it on very large game as the drag and plastic pins are not built for things like bliefin tuna. If they make this with all metal gears and pins I would say it is a great catch. -Randall Kurose
9. PENN Pursuit IV Spinning Fishing Reel
Highlight: Built with a lightweight yet tough graphite body and sealed bearings, the PENN Pursuit IV is designed to withstand harsh saltwater conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance for anglers who fish in demanding environments.
Constructive Review: To me the reel looks legit and sturdy, with a high drag setting and well made parts. The two problems I noticed off the bat were that the amount of line that it can fit and what actually goes on is different. It says it will fit 345 yards of 80 lbs braided line, and I got to maybe 275 before I felt like I was pushing my limits. Still more than enough but whatever. The other thing is the handle and the screw across from is are independent of one another, which is strange. Oh well we’ll see how my opinion changes when I hook into a monster with it. -Rylan fleming
Trending Review: I know the die-hard fisherman will tell you this is a junk reel and try and talk you into a $150 reel, but I’ve had my Penn Pursuit II 6000 for about 4 years now and go saltwater fishing once a week out in the Atlantic off of New England.
At times it gets choppy and can take on lots of spray, but after each trip I rinse the rod/reel down with fresh water and that’s it. No issues.
When I needed a smaller reel for my 6’ Tsunami 20# pole, I went with this PP IV 4000. So far, I’m happy. Light weight, reels smooth, and I’ve got a few Tautog, several Stripers, and Sea Bass.
If comparing the Penn Pursuit to some Shimano Sienna’s I have, which I would say is in the same price range, I like the Pen Pursuit much better. -Brian
Reassuring Review: Im sure most experienced fishers know about Penn, but its a great product. You get what you pay for, and Penn isnt exactly cheap, but for what you’re getting, its amazing. I got the 3000 series, which is a little bulkier, but I need it to be. I surf fish so I need it to be able to handle big fish, which is the only reason I didnt give it 5 stars on weight. Its the only 3000 series I own, so I dont know how lightweight it is compared to other brands, but its got some weight to it. Its not a problem at all though, considering the lightest weight I use on the line is 5oz, plus 20lb braided line, and multiple pieces of bait. You cant go wrong with Penn if you want to pay for it.
If you are just getting in to fishing, I STRONGLY reccommend checking out Cadence brand. Theyre newer and far cheaper, and so far in my experience along with a lot of other reviews, you’re getting the same quality as Penn and Shimano but for a fraction of the cost. Worst case scenario you are getting yourself some gear that is very inexpensive and it only lasts you a few months to a year. So far I havent heard anyone say theirs wont hold up, so its sure to last longer. They even have an amazing warranty department if you have issues. -Trevor B
10. KastKing Centron & Centron Lite Spinning Reels
Highlight: The narrow graphite frame design and computer balancing system combined with high performance in the compact Spinning Reel make the KastKing Centron series an excellent gift for anybody who loves fishing.
Constructive Review: I have 5 of these. I recently bought one on a flash sale for under $20 and replaced a 15 yr old reel that was starting to show some age. I was VERY impressed with the quality and smoothness of the reel for the price. I ended up buying 4 more and replacing all my kids and wife’s reels with these.
If there was one drawback it would be that it seems like 2 out of the 5 have major issues with backlash and birds nests. Not sure why. I use the same line on all of them and we all basically use the same lures/bait. Just seems like 2 of them experience more line twist and things than the other two.
And one last thing. Try not to get them wet. I don’t think the inside is greased or sealed as good as others. My daughter dropped hers in the river and 2 days later the bearings show signs of rust and the reel started feeling like there was sand it in when reeling. The good news is I told the company about it and they sent me another one as a courtesy. -Kris
Trending Review: Bought the black one to go on a collapsible rod to store behind my truck seat. All of my other reels are pricey and I did not want to risk damage or theft on it so for the “on sale price” I ordered it. This si not the first Kastking I have had over the years, I have bought baitcasters and a couple other older spinning reels to give to friends, all worked great.
Out of the box, clean, well built, solid lock up on the anti-reverse and instant. It was a little stiff but, cranked it for a few minutes to spread out any lube inside on the gears and it smoothed up. Might not hurt a opening it up and add some reel grease but, we will see. I will put 6lb or 10lb braid on it then mount it on a 4’6″ collapsible rod I have to leave in the truck along with a small box of hooks etc. Should be a perfect reel for trout, bluegils and crappie. -Kenner C.
Trending Review: They’re afraid to show the true specs here but the drag system is felt, which is why it’s AMAZING. I bought this reel literally just to replace the carbon washers in my Kestrel, it’s a night and day difference. Carbon drags are sticky and not suited for ultra light / light fishing, I actually broke an ultralight rod on a 6 oz smallmouth last week because the carbon drag in the kestrel stuck. KastKing, PLEASE stop listening to these industry tools that think fisherman won’t buy felt drag reels, you’re making it hard for the customers who want to take you seriously. I don’t need 30 pounds of stopping power in a 1000 size finesse spinning reel, I’m not targeting 500lb tuna at the local creek. -John
Reassuring Review: I’ve never used or even heard of kastking until I stumbled on it here on Amazon. I’ve always used Quantum, Shimano Diowa and well.. You get the point (big name and big price tags). I was looking for a cheap reel for my son to learn on. I was so impressed with the performance, comfort quality and speed, that I purchased one to keep on my “truck rod”. It’s got a decent sized handle that works well for kids and adults of all ages, it was a little loud at first but a quick lube and grease job with quality reel care products took car of that.
Very easy to use and learn on for younger anglers. -Jason Sterner
Final Words For The 10 Best Fishing Reels In 2025
At the end of the day, the right fishing reel isn’t just about numbers and specs—it’s about how it feels when you’re out on the water. The 10 Best Fishing Reels in 2025 aren’t just top-rated; they’re trusted by real anglers who’ve put them to the test. Whether you’re fighting a monster catch or just soaking in a quiet morning by the lake, a reliable reel can make all the difference. If you’re looking for gear that won’t let you down, any of the 10 Best Fishing Reels in 2025 will have your back for countless fishing adventures ahead.