We probably run more reels through our offices and on the water than most fishing tackle retailers, so we’ve been hands-on with a lot of reels over the last two decades. In that time, we’ve learned what makes for the best baitcasting reels and how to identify the ones that will be marginal at best. Most good reel manufacturers innovate with ways to better manage line, bearing upgrades for smoother operation, air-lite spool designs, and lighter and more rigid housings to keep the tolerances tight. And once they hit on a significant technical improvement, they will carry it forward into other lines and bring all the reels up in performance.
There were several new releases since last year and we’ve been busy testing a lot of them to update our picks for best baitcasters for fishing this season. I have been hands on with all of the reels we’ve listed or wrote about and all of the new ones we’ve added for 2024. And we put our stamp of approval on these reels as being trustworthy performance for the price.
OUR TOP PICKS FOR 2024
- Shimano Metanium DC A – Buy from Tackle Warehouse
- Abu Garcia Revo Rocket LP – Buy from Bass Pro
- Lew’s HyperMag – Buy from Tackle Warehouse
- Bates Hundo 100 – Buy from Tackle Warehouse
- Ark Gravity BFS – Buy from Tackle Warehouse
- Seviin GF Series – Buy from Bass Pro
- Shimano Curado 200 M – Buy from Bass Pro
Shimano Metanium DC A Casting Reel
The Shimano Metanium DC A casting reel represents the lightest digitally controlled reel built to date. And it’s an equally impressive performing reel on top of being so light. I have run the gamut with this reel, fishing weightless Senkos on light line and casting big 3/4 ounce spinnerbaits. It has guts to handle much larger lures but it’s sweet spot seems to be in the lighter baits I think. It can hold heavy duty line and cast super smooth with it’s fifth generation DC braking system. But the reel’s ability to cast super light weightless baits on light line in windy conditions is where it sets itself apart from most other reels on the market. I’ve used it pitching and skipping weightless worms and soft jerkbaits and swimbaits around cover with incredible ease and precision. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite reels.
The reduced startup inertia of the third generation MGL Spool technology gives you effortless casting with the flick of a wrist and buttery smooth retrieves that help you feel everything the lure is doing with no friction. It’s an impressive feat of reel making in my honest opinion.
It holds 110 yards of 10 pound line, has 10 ball bearings plus roller bearing, and weighs just barely 6 ounces. It comes in both right and left hand models in 7.1 and 8.1:1 gear ratios. It’s on the upper end of most budgets at $499 but it can also be considered the pinnacle of design and performance on the water.
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket LP
With a blazing-fast 10.1:1 gear ratio, you’re going to be blown away by how much line this particular baitcaster can retrieve with just a single crank of the handle. An 11-bearing system partners with this best-in-class speed to offer a smooth and lightning-fast retrieve for a myriad of techniques.
Throughout our testings, we’ve found this high-gear ratio to be especially useful when fishing with bottom-contact techniques such as Texas rigs, Carolina rigs and punching. This crazy speed is a big deal when you’re fishing around heavy cover. When the bass bites, it’s important to eat up all the slack you possibly can in order to move the bass towards you and away from any snag-inducing cover.
This is a big-boy reel meant for close-combat situations, so the 95mm handle and oversized knobs are well suited to help you winch fish away from the thick stuff. I don’t think you’ll want to wind treble-hooked lures with this reel due to its speed but if you like to pitch and flip around the nastiest stuff you can find, you’re in business with this one.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Abu Garcia
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Lew’s HyperMag Casting Reel
The original Lew’s HyperMag Casting Reel still remains one of my favorite Lew’s reels ever designed and the new generation version of the HyperMag does not disappoint. It’s light but strong and the operation is effortless quality. I’ve been fishing it with heavy braid and light line applications to get a feel for it. I’ve really enjoyed skipping frogs and pitching topwaters to shallow fish on this reel. As well as skipping light baits under flooded trees. There are so many fish biting a topwater right now and this reel makes for fun fishing because of its superb performance.
It’s one of the lightest reels we’ve tested at 5.2 ounces. It comes in left and right hand models in 7.5:1 and 8.3:1 ratios. It has 10 ball bearings and a whopping 20 pounds of drag. Which is why I have liked fishing braid on it. It will hold 110 yards of 12-pound monofilament. And about 70 yards of 50-pound braid.
The HyperMag has a 110mm swept handle with tacky small knobs that make it a very good feeling and fishing reel in your hand.
Read our full review on the Lew’s HyperMag Casting Reel here.
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Academy.com
Bates Hundo 100 Casting Reel
A unique newcomer last year, the Bates Hundo turned heads with it’s fully machined cut aluminum frame. Not cast like all other reels, the Hundo features a frame that is cut from aircraft grade aluminum bar stock. I actually got samples last year of the stock and was floored at how much more dense and solid the material felt through various stages of the cutting. The reels are equally impressive in their ability to cast light lures and small baits with precision and distance. It’s a tremendous skipping reel as well as a light lure bomb casting reel.
It holds 100 yards of 14-pound monofilament, has 10+2+1 ball bearings, and has a solid one-piece, lightweight frame. The thumbar can be a bit sensitive when bomb casting baits. I mostly use the reel for roll casting with precise casts shallow or for throwing light baits deep.
It’s one of the best finesse baitcasters you will find on the market and a remarkable bit of new engineering in casting reels.
You can read my full review on the Bates Hundo 100 here.
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Ark Gravity BFS Casting Reel
Ark came onto the casting reel seen in 2023 with their new line of Gravity reels. Late last summer they announced they were releasing a BFS reel in the Gravity line. The Ark Gravity BFS reel features 12 ball bearings, a line capacity of 55 yards of 6-pound mono and floating spool in lightweight reel at just 5.1 ounces. It casts light lures well down to 1/32 ounce. It features a cone-shaped line guide, and a C3 Force Drag. It can handle light lures and decent sized fish as I’ve managed to land an 8-pound channel cat on mine as the largest fish on it. I’ve caught several 1-2 1/2 pound crappie on it as well as several big shellcrackers and decent sized smallmouth on mine.
It’s a super lightweight BFS reel that fishes very well with light lures. I’ve been mostly using it as a BFS panfish reel with a little bass fishing mixed in as well. I do wish it had a clicker drag. But other than that I’ve loved this new BFS reel from Ark.
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Seviin GF Series Casting Reel
Seviin broke into the bass fishing reel market last summer and their first series of casting reels is the GF Series. These reels feature graphite frames with rigid engineering. The GF Series casting reels palm well and feature carbon fiber handles. The 4+1 ball bearings offer smooth performance. They come in 6.6, 7.3 and 8.1:1 ratios and both left and right hand options. They hold 110 yards of 12-pound mono and will give good reel performance and a good price point of $120.
The reels are well built and fish well. I’ve used mine mostly fishing soft plastics on a medium-heavy St. Croix Mojo Bass Trigon rod. The reels cast well and have smooth drag operation for fighting fish around cover. If you’re looking for a new reel brand this year, Seviin might be worth a look.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Shimano Curado 200 M Casting Reel
This new addition to the most popular Shimano Curado line offers anglers a lot more line capacity, strong drag and a durable frame and handle for fighting the biggest bass on the lake. This reel not only holds 110 yards of 14-pound monofilament, but it also has 6 ball bearings and a solid smooth drag system. I’ve been using this as a flipping reel, frogging reel and soft swimbait reel. I love it’s heavy duty feeling in my hand when I know I’m going to set the hook hard on a strong pulling fish with limited room to work.
This is already a very popular reel for tournament anglers who fish big bass lakes. The $199 price point and solid performance makes this a reel guys like to have several of on their deck.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
PREVIOUS YEAR’S BEST REELS
Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B
The Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B is one of the finest fishing reels we have ever fished. From rigid solid performance, to smooth buttery retrieves, effortless long casts and powerful handle and drag makes this the total bass fishing package.
Featuring they newly created Magnesium CoreSolid Body that provides rigidity, durability and sensitivity in a much lighter frame. It’s what gives this reel that rock solid feel in your hands.
The reel has been improved for throwing smaller lures by integrating the MGLIII spool which reduces spool inertia 17% over the previous generation. And, the SVS Infinity Braking on this latest Metanium also provides the ultimate in casting and adjustability to match with any technique and lure you choose.
Shimano upgraded its gearing in the Metanium with a solid brass construction for enhanced durability and smoothness that will last a lifetime as well as incorporating Shimano’s Silent Tune technology to reduce spool bearing vibration which also gives the reel its unique smooth casting feel and performance.
Read our full Shimano Metanium MGL 150 B review
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Amazon
Daiwa Zillion SV TW G
Make no mistake, this particular reel is made for the baitcaster enthusiasts throughout the world and if you find yourself in that particular demographic, you will be thoroughly impressed by this piece of equipment. As earlier mentioned, we have fished with all kinds of reels throughout our careers and this is one of the best we’ve had the good fortune of using. It’s super lightweight at 6.7 ounces but it also has the rare characteristic of having a strong and tough aluminum frame and sideplates. You can put this reel through just about anything and it will come through it unscathed.
This reel features the SV Booster System which is a two-stage electromagnetic induction braking system that allows for two very important things: insane casting distance and precision braking performance. With all of the fancy talk aside, this reel will allow you to cast a lightweight lure and skip a 1/2-ounce jig all the way under a dock with minimal, if any, adjustments.
While fighting fish, I’ve also noticed that you can actually hear the UTD drag clicking throughout the fight. Personally speaking, this audible assistance can help you monitor how much line is being dispensed which will help you stay ahead of the fight.
Let’s also not forget the popular T-Wing System (TWS) that’s featured in this reel. This greatly reduces line resistance which helps for even better casting and line management.
Read our full Daiwa Zillion SV TW G review
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at BassPro.com
Buy at Amazon
Shimano Bantam MGL A XG
The original rework of the Bantam reel quickly became one of my favorite bait casting reels. You can read my previous review of the Bantam MGL. The new reel is the same platform, but with new technological advances also incorporated to make this an even more sturdy, powerful and significant casting reel in a slightly improved form factor. This will make it a lot more attractive to enthusiast anglers.
I love the Bantam line and love how “tankish” these reels feel in the hand. I think a little extra oomph when you set the hook gives you the confirmation of strength and durability. I like knowing my reels are going to last a decade if I take care of them. And a I have a lot of Shimano reels that have
Read our full previous Shimano Bantam MGL review.
Price $349 | 6.2:1 – 8.1:1 | 7.6 ounces | 12 lbs / 110 yards | 9 bearings
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Abu Garcia Revo Max STX
This one truly surprised me throughout our testing. I’m actually really glad I didn’t look at the price tag before I started my testing process because to be honest, this reel feels better than a lot of the $200 reels I’ve tested in my career. Maybe I’m crazy but I highly doubt it; it feels absolutely wonderful in your hands, its retrieve is smooth and quiet and it balances wonderfully with any rod I’ve put it on.
I kind of feel weird liking this reel so much because of the price point; I could have a front deck-full of these reels and feel totally confident to fish in any situation imaginable. Maybe I’m old school but I like to feel like my reels have a little bit of “shoulders” to them, so the 7.4-ounce weight feels very comfortable to me. With large, co-molded soft-touch knobs and a one-piece graphite frame, it’s awfully tough to go wrong with this reel.
Read our full Abu Garcia Max STX Casting Reel Review
If you’re someone who might be getting into tournament fishing and looking to get a few more rod and reel combos under your belt, I’d strongly suggest this reel. Throughout this testing process, this is the reel that surprised me most and I’m willing to stake my reputation on this one. It doesn’t feel like a cheap piece of equipment and it’s super quiet and smooth. If you give it a shot, you’ll agree with us.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Walmart
Buy at Amazon
Shimano Curado MGL 150 HG
The lightest Shimano Curado reel ever made, the Curado MGL features the feather light MagnumLight (MGL) spool in a larger size to increase efficiency and extended casting distance and accuracy. Engineered with a rigid aluminum Hagane body and tough 13 pounds of Cross-Carbon drag, this reel feels light while also feeling very tough.
Featuring their mastered technologies like X-Ship, MicroModule Gearing, Silent Tune, Ci4+, SVS and Super Free Spool.
This is a super palm-able, comfortable baitcaster. An absolute workhorse. I’ve fished everything from jerkbaits to jigs. Spinnerbaits to crankbaits and it delivers on everything you would want in a long lasting reel. Powerful drag, line capacity, smooth performance, rigidity, and a middle price point.
Price $199 | 6.2:1 – 8.1:1 | 6.5 ounces | 12 lbs / 110 yards | 7 bearings
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Walmart
Buy at Amazon
Ark Gravity G7
The Gravity line of bait casters stands as Ark’s first entry into manufacturing baitcasting fishing reels, but this reel has been under development for more than 3 years. And they were able to blaze their own path with a patented internal adjustable magnetic control to create a maximum casting distance flagship reel. Let’s take a look at the finer points of this reel to see how it set itself apart as a new entry into the baitcaster market.
Ark developed a new cast control system called their Gravity Control System. This patented system incorporates an adjustable mechanism on the spool that moves the magnetic surface closer or further to alter the amount of resistance on the spool. Plus you can fine tune even more precisely with external magnetic controls and your tension knob.
Read the full Ark Gravity G7 review
Price: $239 | 5.4:1 – 8.1:1 | 7 ounces | 12 lbs / 100 yards | 11 bearings
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Omnia Fishing
Buy at Ark Rods
Lew’s Pro-Ti SLP
Lew’s updated its Pro-Ti SLP Baitcaster last year and it’s new version is quite a step up. The most notable upgrade to the previous version is the smaller more palmable footprint with their Super Low Profile (SLP) Design and their sculpted Aluminum frame with the Titanium deposit finish. So you get a light reel that looks beautiful and performance with a ton of power and sensitivity in a light package.
This reel casts lures smoothly and effortlessly with its 11 bearing system and ACB quiet cast system. The 95mm swept handles give you a ton of power on the hookset and a very comfortable reel to fish.
It’s price point is on the upper end but anglers going for that top of the line enthusiast look and feel finally have that in the Lew’s platform of dependable baitcaster reels.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Amazon
Buy at FishUSA
Daiwa Tatula SV TWS
You really can’t go wrong with this older but long-running staple baitcaster, and whether you like to fish lighter fluorocarbon or heavy braided fishing line, you’re going to absolutely fall in love with this reel. Featuring a Super Duralumin SV Spool and corrosion-resistant ball bearings, you can yank on any fish in just about any type of situation with the utmost confidence.
Priced at $209.99, I’m actually surprised it’s not a little more expensive. Having tested so many reels over the years, you could have blindfolded me and put this reel into my hands and I would have guessed it to be in the $300 range. Go ahead and get your heavy braid ready, gunk up the reel with a bunch of matted lake scum and get to fishing; you’re going to have a really tough time breaking this bad boy.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Walmart
Buy at Amazon
OTHER BAITCASTERS WE USE
13 Fishing Concept C2
Even though this reel is a couple years old, it’s one of our old reliables that a lot of anglers sleep on. This is a very lightweight reel at just 5.8 ounces, but we’ve found it to be a super-solid option for both light- and heavy-duty applications. A lot of reels in the 5-ounce range tend to be quite flimsy and will flex when under load. Thankfully, that hasn’t been the issue at all while we’ve been testing this reel.
It’s lightweight, but it has some serious shoulders. With a 22-pound drag system, a 6-way braking system and a reinforced clutch cam, this is a reel you can buy and use for just about anything you can think of. We can see it being a solid addition to the collections of both tournament and pond anglers alike.
Read our full 13 Fishing Concept C2 review.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Walmart
Buy at Amazon
ProFishiency KRAZY
This decent starter reel appeals to anglers that like that unique and loud aesethics ni their fishing gear. The guts of this reel make it a nice introductory model for folks who might be just getting into the baitcaster game. I say that because it features a 10-bearing system and externally adjustable magnetic brakes for an easy casting system. It kept backlashes to a minimum.
The reel is light and I would probably recommend it for light duty applications. It did have some flex under load so I wouldn’t recommend it for a flipping and pitching or frogging reel but it would be fine for cast and steady retrieve applications, especially with lighter baits like jerkbaits, shallow crankbaits and small plastics.
Buy at Bass Pro
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Amazon
Favorite Fishing Soleus XCS
I included “out of the box” in this title because I haven’t been able to test it as long as the rest of the reels in this piece, so I just can’t attest to its longevity yet. In my opinion, however, it has passed the preliminary tests and seems like an outstanding reel for the price point. When I took it out of the box and spun the handle, it didn’t seem to want to stop turning which is always a good thing. While fishing, it has been quiet and the casting distance has been totally impressive in every way.
I’m happy to see this because this is my first experience with Favorite Fishing reels and so far, I don’t think I could ask for much more. Weighing in a 6.4 ounces and featuring a 10 ball-bearing system and a lightweight aluminum frame, I think folks will be happy with this particular baitcaster. Although it casts very well, I’ve also noticed it has been very easy to cast in regards to line management. Backlashes are not a worry and if you put a heavier lure on it, such as a walking topwater, don’t be surprised if you cast to your backing each and every time. This is a solid first impression for Favorite Fishing’s reel lineup, for sure.
Buy at Tackle Warehouse
Buy at Amazon
How to Choose the Best Baitcasting Reels
When you’re making a decision before finally buying a baitcaster, we believe it’s especially important to consider the following factors:
Smoothness of retrieve: This is the easiest factor to investigate when you put a baitcaster into your hands at the store. Assuming you’re not buying online, the first thing you’ll do is crank the handle and consider its smoothness and feel. You’ll find some of the lesser reels to feel or sound like a coffee grinder at times and obviously, those are the ones you’ll want to avoid. We look for butter-smooth and silent operation throughout the entire retrieve, even when the reel is under a load and fighting a fish. This represents tight tolerances and high-quality components which, in turn, will result in maximum longevity and a bigger return on your investment.
Castability: Obviously this is nearly impossible to test in a store but don’t worry—that’s why we tested the new baitcasters for you. We look for both distance and accuracy when testing the castability of a new baitcaster. Some may skip a jig really well but not throw a lightweight crankbait well, so again, it’s important to consider your preferred application before making your final purchase. We have considered all of that in this piece for your convenience.
Line management: A baitcaster with poor line management might as well be a paperweight and, if we’re being honest, there are some on the market that have really disappointed us in this regard. It’s imperative that a good, quality baitcaster can handle lines of both small and big diameters and different materials.
Comfort: This is an often-overlooked quality when it comes to baitcasters. Some folks like the ultra low-profile reels as that seems to be the trend these days and others like the beefier, more classic-style frames as it gives them more to grip throughout both the retrieve and fight.
Frame durability: This has become a really big deal in the past five or six years. With such an emphasis on weightlessness among manufacturers, frame durability has largely been ignored. A reel can be as light as a feather but it doesn’t matter if you accidentally step on it in the boat and it cracks. It’s incredibly important to have a frame that can stand up to the rigors of hardcore bass fishing.
Price: This might be the most obvious factor to consider but it’s still worth mentioning. If you’re new to fishing or even baitcasters, there’s no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-end baitcaster. In that situation, you’ll be better off spending $80 to $100 on an introductory-level reel until you get totally comfortable with the concept. If you’re a big-time baitcaster guy, however, you may prefer saving your money for a few extra weeks in order to buy that big-ticket baitcaster.
With the aforementioned considerations in mind, here are the best baitcasters we’ve tested for 2023. Make sure to keep checking back on this article as there are several brands we haven’t had our hands on yet and as a result, didn’t make the list. We make a concerted effort to thoroughly test everything we post in these guides so once we’re able to put ‘em through the wringer and if they pass the test, we’ll immediately add them to this piece. So this might be a really good one to bookmark on your phone or computer.
