Russ is a professional fisherman with over 20 years of experience. He has fished all over the world for more than two decades, primarily for saltwater game fish but also for local trophy fish. Russ comprehensively tests and reviews all his fishing gear to help others achieve their own fishing goals. There is nothing he prefers than heading down to his local tackle store, buying the latest fishing reel, and taking it to the water to test.
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The best spinning reels for trout are 2500-size with 15 lb of drag, a gear ratio of 5.5:1, and 200+ yards of 6 lb mono capacity.
The Daiwa BG is my top choice because of its combination of heavy duty construction and affordable price tag. It features a dynamic-cut aluminum spool, and metal body for durability. It is ideal for trout anglers who want high performance in a reel that will last for years to come.
It’s important to use a reel that is accurate as you will often be fishing in specific parts of a lake for Trout, so you don’t want something that can cause lots of water activity as it could lead the Trout to scurry off to quieter parts of the lake that will leave you very unsuccessful in your fishing trip.
The Daiwa BG spinning reel is an excellent choice that is of a very compact design. It is a lightweight reel and can be bought in several different models that you can select when determining what works best for your specific needs.
If you need a heavy reel for saltwater then this is perfect for you but if you need a lighter reel for freshwater then you may find that the Daiqwa series can also be perfect considering it comes in different models.
What I Like About It
The incorporation of innovation and high quality of the spinning reels by Daiwa really is incredible. The spinning wheels possess a HardBodyz body and on the side too, this creates a lightweight air design, the spool is made from a dynamic cut aluminum line that has a waterproof drag incorporated into it.
You shouldn’t need to worry about water seeping through to the reel because it has a carbon ATD machined Aluminum screw in the handle of it. So don’t worry about the size of the trout you’re looking to reel in as the series of reels also has different bearings that are made available for perhaps bigger-sized trout. They all also have an anti-reverse feature.
Pros
Great in both Freshwater and Saltwater.
Lightweight design.
Waterproof spool
Cons
It can make a strange grinding noise when being used.
2. Pflueger President – Best Premium Spinning Reel for Trout
The Pflueger President Spinning Reel is a great reel for catching Trout. This reel features a 10-bearing system that has bearings that are made of anti-corrosive metals making it very unlikely that the reel will rust or corrode when exposed to saltwater. The reel’s body is of a lightweight design made of graphite.
What I Like About It
This reel also features a sealed drag system, which requires very low maintenance and needs to be rinsed off afterwards. This should last for a very long time, it’s rare that it will become damaged presenting a failed drag.
A good drag system is crucial as it will make sure that the reel is smooth and has slow oscillation causing the least amount of disruption to the water.
3. KastKing Sharky III Spinning Reel – Best Value for Money
The KastKing Sharky III spinning reel is of a lightweight design as well as an anti-corrosive drive gear which will stop it from becoming rusty or corroded when exposed to saltwater. The reel has lots of power to it with its 39-pound triple disc and carbon fibre drag that allows it to be incredibly smooth when reeling in a fish.
What I Like About It
It also provides an anti-twist line roller which stops the line from twisting at any process of casting or reeling in. The reel also has an oversized stainless steel main shaft with mesh manganese brass pinion gears. This stops fish from being able to swim away when reeled in.
KastKing has also designed a water-resistant program which is called K.I.S.S, this ensures that dirt and water stay from the reel and will always be protected.
Pros
Stainless steel oversized shaft.
Water-resistant
Great drag
Cons
It is only suited to one side and can’t interchange properly for right-handed or left-handed people.
This is yet another great trout fishing reel. This is a lightweight spinning reel providing you with the most comfort when using it as it won’t way you down making you feel fatigued. It has an 8-bearing drive system which also has elliptical gearing to give its user the most precision.
What I Like About It
The Okuma Ceymar’s spool is made from aluminum which gives it a very strong build whilst also being incredibly lightweight. The ball wire is made from extremely heavy-duty solid aluminum which has a larger line roller.
The reel can spin at high speed as it features the Okuma RESII computer, which is used to balance and rid the reel of any chance of wobble.
Pros
Bearing drive system.
Lightweight
Durable
Cons
While the build quality is good for its price range, it doesn’t compare to some of the higher end alternatives
The Shimano Sedona FI spinning reel is of an incredibly durable design that has been cold forged with HAGANE gear. This will adequately show how durable and how strong the reel is and will last you years before you need to think about replacing it.
What I Like About It
The spool is known as double anodized and cut finely by a machine to improve its line capacity, whilst still making it a compact design. With its line management system, you’ll find that you can cast at a much further rate.
The line management system will also prevent any knots from occurring. Any experienced fishermen will tell you is an incredibly irritating thing to keep happening if the reel isn’t made correctly.
This reel has been specifically designed with experienced fishermen in mind. It consistently provides high-quality performance and is very durable. This reel has an anti-corrosive Zinc drive gear and a 10 + 1 Shielded bearing system.
It has a very good quality carbon drag and is water resistant, which will again show how durable the reel is.
What I Like About It
Its smooth line roller will prevent it from causing any knots or tangles. It also has a EVA knob which will allow you to fish in any weather and not lose your grip on the reel.
Its high-quality design is what makes it so welcomed by experienced fishermen. If you are inexperienced, then this should be something you invest in, as it truly is one of the best on the market.
The Abu Garcia Revo SX spinning reel is a lightweight one at that, so you know if you’re planning a long day of fishing you won’t feel fatigued from using this specific reel. The reel will make sure to remain aligned under serious stress meaning you will have the ability to catch an extremely hard pulling fish.
What I Like About It
It has a C6 Carbon body which ensures its lightweight design and durability. It also features a rocket line management system which gives you the most control when using the reel, it allows the casting to be a much more accurate process.
With this reel you will truly feel how smooth and accurate it really is and like previously mentioned with its carbon body it will show some serious strength and be durable enough to last the user for many many years of fishing.
Pros
Lightweight
Rocket line management system ensuring accuracy
Durable due to its carbon body
Cons
While the Carbon Matrix hybrid drag system is generally smooth and reliable, I did experience some inconsistencies in its performance sticking
The size of the reel is shown in numbers, and the larger the reel size the better it is for catching bigger fish. The most common reel sizes in trout fishing are the 1000 to 2500. These ensure that although you will have to put effort in you won’t be gasping for air after catching a trout.
Reel size is important for when you are considering which is the best particular reel for you, you may already know that the fish you want to be catching aren’t the biggest fish so a much larger reel size might not be the best idea for you but if you think that you are going to be coming up against some very big fish then it is probably best you purchase a bigger reel size.
The heavier the reel is also means it will have much more power in its drag as well as line capacity.
Drag System
A drag system is how the fish stays hooked to the line you have cast. It is what applies the resistance on the reel of the actual spool.
A good drag system is very important when catching trout, any experienced trout fisherman will tell you. The drag system ensures your rod won’t break under the serious stress of a fish pulling away.
A good drag for trout spinning reels is 15 lbs. The heavier the weight, the drag system will have a certain amount of lbs stopping force in the base. This means you can reel in larger fish with much less effort. This is highly important regarding fatigue when you are fishing.
Ball Bearings
Bearings are what ensure the reel is of a smooth feel. The bearings will stop the feeling of grinding you can get when reeling a fish in. It is necessary that a reel can operate at a very smooth level for fishermen to get the maximum level of enjoyment out of their fishing trip.
The above stated are often anti-corrosive or at least resistant to corrosion that you can become exposed to when fishing around saltwater areas. These are specially designed to keep any sort of water out of the reel and are made out of stainless steel which is of course naturally anti-corrosive.
If you find that you can hear or feel a grinding sensation as you reel it may be time for a new reel or at least looking into if the bearings have been damaged over the years of use. This is important to research before making your purchase as you may find that certain bearings work better for certain types of water, such as freshwater.
Reel Weight
Weight is incredibly important in regards to what reel is right for you, just because something isn’t heavy doesn’t mean that it isn’t durable for example. The lighter the reel is often better in the case of fishing as it will stop the user from becoming fatigued when using said reel.
You have to think you are often going to be fishing for a long time and don’t want your arms to ache ruining your experience of fishing. A number of things can impact the weight, one of the main causes for weight is the material that is used to actually make the product.
The above-stated products are all of a lightweight design and often made from some carbon or aluminum. However, it is important that you research what sized fish you are mainly going to be catching, a light rod although easier to hold may not be good at catching the heavier fish’s.
Construction Materials
The materials used are of high importance as a lot rides on it. Are they anti corrosive for example, if they are then being exposed to saltwater won’t be a major problem however if the materials aren’t anti corrosive it is best to avoid saltwater lakes.
You should also factor in what they are made from as this will impact the wait and once again the anti corrosive nature of the reel. The above stated products are either made from, graphite, carbon or aluminum.
These are all great materials as they are often corrosion-resistant and very lightly weighted while not impacting the product’s durability. The durability of a product is once again of high importance to the over quality of the product.
As mentioned these are all very durable which is a direct reaction to what they are made out of. Before making your purchase it is highly recommended that you properly research the materials used to ensure that it is in fact the perfect reel for you and your needs.
The materials used are undoubtedly one of the more important things to research when making your final buying decision.
Anti Reverse System
Simply put, this feature stops the reel from spinning in the direction you wouldn’t want it to. It works in cohesion to the drag system and ensures that the fish in question can be reeled without using the entirety of the line on the spool.
Some designs have a system where you can flip the switch of the anti reverse system off and not use its assistance, this of course is down to your personal preference.
How We Rate Products
Russ Egan and Donny Karr have over 40 years of combined fishing experience. We know the difference between a high-quality reel and a poor alternative.
I thoroughly review all products to measure their performance, durability, and value for money. I conduct bench and field testing to check how the product performs. Each reel is tested for at least 8 hours, with a full test taking 2 weeks. This testing results in an overall score that I give to all products. All metrics are scored out of 5.
Performance
The performance score is how well this product fulfills its primary purpose. Does it have all the features and optional extras you need to catch the target species? I also interview expert anglers on their experience to build a more comprehensive view of the performance under multiple conditions.
I take all reels down to my local freshwater lake for bass, or inshore fishing off the beach for redfish.
Test 1: I confirm that the max drag meets the manufacturer’s specifications using a calibrated scale.
Test 2: I test the maximum casting distance using a 1.0-ounce lure.
Test 3: I test the accuracy by casting 10 times into a 3 ft diameter circle at 30 yards.
Test 4: I check the versatility and the ability to handle multiple uses by field testing with 3 different lures and baits, by actually going fishing.
Durability
Durability refers to how long the product will continue functioning. I twist, bend, and break all the products to check their longevity. This score is for the construction materials, the workmanship quality, and the servicing requirements. There are also bonus points for manufacturers’ warranty.
For products I can’t test for long enough, I also consult experts who have been using them for decades to judge their longevity.
Test 5: I pull it apart to check the grease and oil levels, how difficult it is to maintain, and whether sand or salt has deposited after use in saltwater.
Value for Money
The final aspect of the scoring system is the price or, more specifically, the value for money. Value for money is a comparison against the closest alternative products, both by the same manufacturer and other brands.
Overall Score
Finally, I average the three scores of performance, durability, and value for money to give the overall score of each product reviewed.
