The Pflueger President Spinning Reel is among the top-selling products on the market for good reason – it is the complete package. The President is a well-engineered product that has been built to give anglers an ideal fishing experience.
The President is built to last with a metal body, high-quality handle and metal-cased rotor although this does make it somewhat heavier than similar reels on the market. That said, the President is well balanced and feels great when casting or dragging.
In this review I have based all of the conclusions on my own experiences with the reel.
- 9+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
- Oil Coated Drag Washers
- Lightweight Graphite Body
- Comfortable Rubber Handle Knob
Read more about how our scoring system works.
Table of Contents
Pflueger President Reel Overview
- 10 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
- On/Off instant anti-reverse bearing
- Lightweight graphite body and rotor
- Sealed drag system
- Braid ready spool
Specialized Body Adds Balance
A fishing reel’s balance determines how it can be used in varying weather conditions or in on windy days and balance is the Pflueger President’s strength. The President’s metal body, with carbon enamel washers not only give the reel its distinctive appearance, but also make it one of the best balanced and performing reel on the market.
The Pflueger President’s bent handle is a lightweight aluminum centre coated with a soft rubber-like fiber for comfortable use. I found it to be comfortable, even when used for extended periods of time.
Excellent Anti-Reversing Effect
I also noted that the President features an extremely smooth gear function. The spool and the lay-lines have a stainless steel body part that protects the device from damage. The reel also has excellent reversing functionality and features a roller bearing to help with anti-reversing.
These are features that are present in most reels that professionals prefer, and the President builds on that with its instant stopping effect.
Weight and Bearing Support
The Pflueger President is among the lightest reels available on the market, weighing in at just over eight ounces. You can feel the difference immediately. The reel features 10 bearing functions, all perfectly aligned to provide smooth operation.
The high-quality machined bearing system is cased in steel to better protect the reel in the saltwater.
Pros
- An extremely lightweight device with a rugged casing and an excellent rotor and gearbox. The aluminum cover with fiber enamel put the reel among the most finely tuned on the market
- The Pflueger President Smooth-Spinning Reel features 10 bearings with smooth-running effect and outstanding reversing effect. The device also features roller bearings that allow for instant-stop auto-reversing.
- The reel has a line capacity of 185 yards.
- The President is among the preferred reels for professional freshwater anglers.
Cons
- The Pflueger President is not suitable for saltwater fishing. If you are looking for one reel that will work in fresh or saltwater this isn’t it.
- The reel has a lower dragging support compared to other available alternatives. Although well-balanced the low dragging capacity can turn people away from this reel.
- Casting distance is less than similar fishing reels, but the President can be highly accurate.
- 9+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings
- Oil Coated Drag Washers
- Lightweight Graphite Body
- Comfortable Rubber Handle Knob
Video Review
Specifications
| MODEL NUMBER | PRESSP20X | PRESSP25X | PRESSP30X | PRESSP35X | PRESSP40X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEARING COUNT | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| BRAID CAPACITY YD/LB | 180/4 125/6 100/8 | 200/4 140/6 110/8 | 275/6 190/8 160/10 | 250/8 220/10 160/14 | 320/10 280/14 200/20 |
| GEAR RATIO | 5.2:1 | 5.2:1 | 5.2:1 | 5.2:1 | 5.2:1 |
| MAX DRAG LB | 6lb | 8lb | 10lb | 12lb | 14lb |
| MONO CAPACITY YD/LB | 200/2 100/4 80/6 | 220/2 110/4 90/6 | 255/4 145/6 130/8 | 230/6 185/8 155/10 | 285/8 230/10 195/12 |
| RECOVERY RATE | 20.2″ | 22.4″ | 25.3″ | 28.1″ | 31.6″ |
| WEIGHT | 6.2 oz | 7.5 oz | 8.8 oz | 10.7 oz | 11.5 oz |
Alternative Specification Comparison
Let’s have a look at the specifications to compare the data between similarly ranked spinning reels. This data is based on a 3000 sized reel model.
| Spinning Reel | Score | Ball Bearings | Suitable for Saltwater | Retrieve Rate | Gear Ratio | Max Drag | Weight | Mono Capacity (6lb) |
| Pflueger President | 5/5 | 9+1 | No | 31 inches | 6.2:1 | 10 lb | 7.6 oz | 145 yards |
| Penn Battle II | 5/5 | 5+1 | Yes | 35 inches | 6.2:1 | 15 lb | 12.3 oz | 210 yards |
| Pflueger Supreme XT | 5/5 | 10 | No | 33 inches | 6.2:1 | 12 lb | 8.0 oz | 230 yards |
Conclusion
The Pflueger President Crafted Spinning Reel is a well-built reel and among the lightest on the market. If you are looking for a freshwater specific reel with a shorter casting range and less than 8lbs dragging capacity you could do much worse than the Pflueger President.
There are very few reels that I have awarded a 5 out of 5 score, but the President is one. For a freshwater reel it really comes with all the features you want, is durable, and comes at a low price. As long as you understand that this is a freshwater reel then you will be happy with it – as it doesn’t need to have all the expensive corrosion resistant features of the alternatives.