Cast Away: Best Fishing Reels of 2021

KastKing’s tagline is ‘affordable innovation’. That pretty much sets the tone for what the company’s all about. We’ve actually included a few of their reels in this list, but our favorite is the KastKing Royale Legend. For a start, the fact that you can get a baitcasting fishing reel at its price point is impressive. Do they make money on these things or…?

We’re confident you’ll notice its quality right out of the box. The super-sleek design makes this reel look like it would cost hundreds of dollars. The body is made out of high-quality materials and it has a stainless-steel handle that’s padded in non-slip foam to make sure you never miss a catch. It can handle 17.5lb of fish and has a quick 7.0:1 brass gear ratio that is virtually silent when you reel it in.

KastKing emerged into the market a few years ago to little fanfare. People didn’t really expect much — most anglers wouldn’t feel comfortable going out and trying to get a big fish with a $20 reel. But then, the brand launched a YouTube video called “What Did You Expect For $20?” The hook makes you think it sucks; but that’s just the bait. The fisherman hauls in a handful of large fish, including a beautiful rainbow trout, over an obnoxious Van Hagar-esque soundtrack.

Clearly, it’s a great advertisement — not only because it really shows that this reel can handle just about anything you can throw at it.

The Centron 3000 has a stopping power of 17.5lbs, the same as the brand’s Royale Legend baitcaster. It’s partnered with a hardened main shaft, a mesh drive gear, and a precision machined pinion gear to deliver fighting power. It’s also pretty lightweight for a spinning reel, at 9.1 ounces. That’s thanks to the narrow, graphite frame design, which also makes it look pretty cool.

Sharky III is the last KastKing to be featured on this list, but it’s by no means the least. In fact, it’s by far the most heavy-duty of the three KastKing reels. It has a whopping capacity of 39.5lbs, perfect for going after those larger game fish. As they say in their product description, it’s a “real versatile warrior that can handle any monster from river to the ocean.” The Sharky 3 could be the perfect reel for you if you’re going after monsters.

With this reel, KastKing has had the luxury of experience. This is the 3rd-generation Sharky reel, which means they’ve had a couple of years to really improve the design. That improvement comes in the shape of a triple disc carbon-fiber drag, an oversized main shaft, and stronger manganese brass pinion gears to give you plenty of power against those monster fish. Plus, everything’s been sealed with K.I.S.S., which is KastKing’s water-resistant design that helps keep water and dirt out. That also means it’s suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. A huge plus if you like to mix it up from time to time.

The Penn Squall Level Wind is the successor to the popular GT series from Penn. The GT reels have been around forever and have always been thought of as one of the best trolling reels around. So, you can expect that this one is even better. Trolling reels are designed to be used whilst on a moving boat and can be used to catch some absolute monster fish. The 30LW, which is the reel we’re looking at, has a weight capacity of 30lbs and a can handle a 370yd line. That gives you plenty of scope to go out searching for huge fish in saltwater conditions.

The frame and side plates are made from graphite to keep it lightweight, whereas the main gear is made from marine-grade bronze alloy. The quality of this reel is one of the first things you’ll notice, it’s in a different class to most of the reels on this list. But then again, you have to pay for that sort of quality. At nearly $130, it’s one of the most expensive fishing reels around and was a strong contender to be our Premium Choice product (narrowly missing out to the Shimano Stradic HG). 

Daiwa isn’t the best-known fishing gear company around, but they’ve been making reels since 1955, so they know what they’re doing. The Daiwa BG is their flagship saltwater spinning reel and it’s one of the best around. There’s a whole range of sizes from 1500 – 8000, so when you’re buying one, you’re really going to have to know what you’re looking for.

All of the BG reels come in a black anodized machined aluminum housing. The coating helps make the reel relatively scratch proof. There’s nothing worse than buying a brand-new reel and scratching it as soon as you get it out of the box, but that’s not going to be a problem here.

The Okuma Ceymar range is one of the most comprehensive groups of spinning reels around. The C-10 is a lightweight reel perfect for fishing trout, sunfish, perch, and plenty of other small fish. It’s got a capacity of 110yd/4lb, which means it needs to be paired with an ultra-lightweight fishing rod for maximum effect. The setup should keep you from overpowering the fish you’re trying to catch.

The corrosion-resistant body design means it’s suitable for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. But due to the size, it’s definitely more geared towards freshwater. Its 8-bearing drive system and elliptical gearing setup help provide a smooth performance.

Shimano is probably best known for making bicycle components, but they also use their in-house technology to make some of the best fishing reels around. The Stradic has been around for a while now and has gained a huge amount of popularity with both amateur and professional fishermen. Spinning reels tend to be cheaper than their baitcasting and trolling counterparts, but this one comes in at well over $100. But for the investment, you do get some serious reel technology.

The range comes in sizes from 1000 to 5000, and price graduates according to size.  A Hagane gear and body makes the reels tough and extremely consistent. The Dyna-balance rotor and Fluidrive II system help facilitate smooth casting and retrieval. This, coupled with Shimano’s stout construction, makes the entry the smoothest, most durable, and most reliable spinning reel on our list. If you are fishing at night, check out our guide to the best underwater fishing lights.

The Zebco 33 Authentic Spincast Reel easily secures our Best Value designation. At less than $20, not even the affordable KastKing reels can beat it on price point. However, it’s worth mentioning that this reel isn’t suitable for monster fish. Instead, it’s designed for small bait, small fish, and even small fishermen. Negative online reviews are sparse, but the ones you find are generally people trying to use it for something it wasn’t designed to do.

A durable all-metal body holds the gearing. With a gear ratio of 4.1:1, it’s going to take a while to pull anything in. But according to a broad pool of testimonials, the action is smooth and it’s relatively easy to use. The line comes pre-spooled and has a capacity of 10lbs.

The Zebco 33 is an excellent spincast reel to get started with. If you’re a serious angler looking to catch some impressive fish, it’s not for you (and, as such, you’re not here). But it is a solid option if you’re just getting into fishing or if you want to try and get your kids out there.

If you’re specifically looking for a spincast reel but want something a little more heavy-duty, then the Pflueger President is an excellent option. Formerly, Spincast reels had a reputation as the equivalent of kids’ toys, but advances in technology mean they’re now a reasonable option for serious fishermen.

According to many satisfied users, they’re so easy to operate that they make fishing an absolute joy. The only problem is that they’re not particularly durable — well, most of them aren’t. The Pflueger President, with its aluminum frame and dual titanium pins, is the exception.

Its 3.8:1 gear ratio makes it a little faster than most smaller options, but it’s still not going to set any speed records. Having said that, it’s not particularly slow either and the retrieval is pretty smooth and quiet. The soft-grip rubber knob helps make the action comfortable, and the aluminum parts keep the weight down to an acceptable 11.2 ounces. It’s definitely more heavy-duty than the Zebco 33, but it’s still no good for fishing big game. We’d highly recommend it for beginners and kids. So put on your fishing shoes and hop in the boat!

The muscly Burning Shark Trolling Reel is designed with ocean fishing in mind. You can be targeting groupers, sea bass, and salmon and have some power to spare. It’s got a line capacity of 430yds/20lbs or 320yds/25lbs, which makes it perfect for deep-sea fishing.

Everything about the construction is high-quality and each part is either aluminum or stainless steel. The CNC aluminum spool facilitates smooth casting and quiet retrieval. Note that there’s no rubber coating on the handle, so it’ll be slippery when wet.