By far one of the best models on the market, this high-end reel uses its premium materials and includes all kinds of perks, but still comes at a better price than many other highly rated brands. Fishing shouldn’t be an expensive hobby, but more of a sporting, relaxing, or competitive hobby which makes for fun and repeat trips out on the water. This reel is manufactured entirely for those who want a top of the line reel for a great price, and it’s perfect for light tackle fishing.

The best part of this reel is its functionality for both left and right-handed anglers, where the metal reel handle is made ambidextrously, allowing for both left and right-handed attachments.

By far one of the best models and brands during 2017, this reel takes a look at older reels (how they looked, how they functioned, and how they improved) then keeps many of those conventional ideas and materials, but outfits the product with a new high-tech fresh to a salt-water pool. When looking for an excellent product, those which are multi-functional for different environments or unique circumstances often prove the best models to own. Not only is this product adaptable, but it is durable, guaranteed to last well into the future for your use, your friends use, even your kids use.

Its best quality of this reel is the materials its made out of, where the rotating line is made of tungsten carbide, and the very body is rugged metal. This makes the product last longer and keeps from breaking like other cheap plastic models or weak-metal brands.

If you’re looking for the modern advancement of spin-cast reels, this model by Zebco is one of the most high-tech and advanced precision instruments. For this reason, the reel is pricier than others, and this is why it ranks third on the list. Yet for its cost, you’ll get long-lasting high-end material with an ergonomic design and straightforward configuration. Anyone can use this reel and not get confused with how to attach it, string line onto it, and even just generally use it. Long-time fishermen will love this because of the power and skill it offers – this is certainly a professional angling product.

Most notable about this model is its composition of all metal gears, improving durability due to the normally constant wear and tear of the spinning line in and out of the rig. As well, being all metal these gears allow the model to flawlessly cast while still keeping excellent control over the drag of the line. Often anglers will blame line for being ‘so weak that it snaps easily’, while in truth the problem is often due to the fact that their reel has little control over the line when it tightens abruptly. With a great gear system, the line is less likely to snap because it always has a little bit of slack while it is pulled in.

The design of this model originates from Sweden, where the first idea of using a push-button – letting out line or reeling line in – was born and then worked on over and over again until they got it right. Flash forward some hundred or more years, and this light precision mechanism is fantastic for your sport fishing or even if you’re just beginning and want to learn the ropes.

Its finest quality being its drag system (balanced pressure of the line coming in or going out) was created with a smooth carbon matrix in order to ensure the reels flawless operation.

Ranking at number five on this list, this is another product from Zebco, but actually proves not only to be cheaper than the majority of their other products but also the best-priced model from our recommendations. This reel is perfect for beginners or anglers who enjoy sticking with the familiar classics, and you could honestly even afford to buy two or three of these models for the price of just one professional reel.

Greatest function of this model is its 3.4:1 gear ratio, and this is because such a high gear ratio is rarely seen on such an exceptionally priced product. Often for cheaper reels, you’re accepting gear ratios of 2:1 or often even lower. Here the material isn’t as fine quality as sports reels, and yet Zebco has still managed to ensure the speed of casting and retrieval with a superb gear ratio.

Here you certainly have one of the best models for specifically catching bass fish, and this is due to the rigidity and strength of the products aluminum alloy construction. Bass is an active fish and will often fight you with every bit of strength they’ve got – in the case of weak reels, you’re risking your line snapping or even the entire pole getting yanked directly out of your hand. If you’re specifically shopping for a reel to better catch bass, this one is great.

Its main performance perk is its triple metal ball bearing alloys which add to the strength of the model and improve the smooth operation of every action throughout the angling process – from the fantastic arch of your catch to the adrenaline of hooking large bass and fighting to bring it in.

Where the last reel was amazing for bass fishing, this model proves itself in its ability to catch catfish. Catfish are a medium to heavy species of catch, and therefore require a reel which can handle just that, medium to heavy situations. Not only does this mean casting out heavier baits, sinkers, and lures, but it also entitles drawing back in all that weight plus the weight of fresh meat on the other end.

This model is best for its continuous reverse and anti-drug system – not many lures have such an improved retraction. With such a reverse system line rarely if ever snaps, and its highly doubtful your catfish is going to wriggle or break free. This product will help sharpen and improve your actions throughout the series of each catch, and you won’t be disappointed.

Where saltwater is concerned, much thought should be given into what type of fishing you’ll be doing and the environment in which you’ll be doing it. Saltwater has the frustrating tendency to quickly degrade the weaker metals and even plastics of reels which are not specifically made for ocean use. As the line gets pulled through the gears and into the device, all the salty water it deposits into a reel can quickly wear it down. If you’re predominately a saltwater fisherman, this reel is right up your alley – it rebuffs destruction from saltwater and fishes the ocean like a charm.

It’s the best quality, is, of course, the stainless-steel covers, full metal body, metal gears, and ceramic pick up pins. All of these metals are anti-corrosive and long-lasting. In fact, even is saltwater wasn’t a concern, this model is merely excellent for lasting far beyond the price you pay for it; ample time to improve your skill using it, or teach others how to use it as well.

Excess weight can prove a gradual problem, especially on long fishing trips. You pack up your reels, through on your pack, and start out along the river (or really wherever you’re going). Now over time, that backpack is going to weigh you down and make your shoulders ache, and this can either be sooner or later depending on the weight of your gear and especially the weight of your reel(s). With this model, weight was a major concern that the brand designers took into consideration, and that’s why this products’ best feature is lightweight machined aluminum spool.

Not only can the lightweight metal handle line smoothly and efficiently without any breaks or tangles, but it makes for easier and farther-reaching casts.

Even though lightweight reels aren’t the most popular models for anglers, they still belong on the list as cheap alternatives to alter your fishing learning curve when either just starting out or when wanting to learn how to cast, catch, and reel with a lighter device. This is one of the most cost-efficient products for that purpose.

Look forward to full aluminum, titanium, and all-metal (gears as well) parts. Not only do these increase the smooth reaction of your device, but they’ll improve its long lastingness if you take care of it.