Are you a beginner to baitcaster reels and want to purchase one but skip all the research involved? Then we have you covered, I have taken hundreds of reels and come up with the Best BaitCasting Reel for Beginners.
We have narrowed down many of the options that are available on the market today and come up with our top 9. We have many different options to suit your style and budget that are all beginner-friendly.
OKUMA Coldwater 350 Low Profile Linecounter Reel
The OKUMA Coldwater 350 Low Profile Linecounter Reel is a triumph in ingenuity and design. Taking well trodden tropes and design features from the most popular salmon reels over the years, OKUMA has crafted a brand new reel that puts the rest to shame. Billed as “the salmon reel perfected” this is truly an ingenious reel with some excellent features that any angler will love.
The body is a low-profile baitcasting reel built with the lightness and power required for fishing for salmon and steelhead. The upgraded spool can hold a full 150 yards of 65lb braided line which is perfect for pulling up those big fish you want to tell your friends about. The OKUMA Coldwater 350 Low Profile Linecounter Reel is also upgraded with features you don’t normally see on reels.
It has excellent, comfortable ergonomic grips that keep your fingers happy during all-day fishing sessions. It also has a unique and useful line counter which keeps track of how deep your line is going. This is perfect for both novice anglers and pro anglers alike. The novices will appreciate the information as they learn to perfect their casts and hone in on their desired catch. The pros will be able to use it to tell exactly where their line is so that they can perfect their craft.
- Heavy duty, powerful reel perfect for salmon and steelhead
- Awesome linecounter keeps you informed of where your line is underwater
- Quality design and construction from OKUMA
NOEBY NBRE-GA100 Baitcasting Reel 8.8LB Carbon Fiber Drag
NOEBY NBRE-GA100 Baitcasting Reel is a lightweight, low-profile baitcasting reel that is perfect for beginner and novice bait casters. The NOEBY has crafted a reel that is designed to make casting and maintaining this reel easier than ever before. This appeals to casual anglers and novice fishers alike. The corrosion-resistant body and high-grade components mean you can use this reel all day without worrying about the condition of the reel or the condition of your arm.
This is made possible because of the high degree of engineering that went into this unique baitcasting reel. First, the body is made from ultra-lightweight nylon which leaves this reel at an astonishing 7oz in weight which is unbelievably light. When you pair that with the removable cover plate and you get a highly useful reel that anyone can use. The removable plate allows you for greater control and maintenance of your reel allowing you to adjust it and keep it in good working condition without having advanced knowledge of the reel itself. Simply pop the cover off and you are good to go.
All of that plus 8.8lbs of excellent stopping power, 11 high grade ball bearings, and a smooth braking system ensures that this reel performs its best each and every cast and crank. For quality use all day long get the NOEBY NBRE-GA100 Baitcasting Reel.
- 7oz weight is truly light
- Easy to use and smooth in your hand
- Great power, especially for the weight
- Will fit in great on almost any rod
KastKing Crixus Baitcasting Reels
If you are looking for an all around great baitcasting reel that will fit into any versatile rod setup then you want to look at the KastKing Crixus Baitcasting Reel. KastKing is back with yet another quality addition to their evergrowing arsenal of great, affordable, and versatile reels. The Crixus reel is perfect for anyone who wants to do standard baitcasting with a focus on everyday fishing.
The KastKing Crixus Baitcasting Reel is made from tournament grade components with a focus on performance. This reel is low profile, lightweight, and comes with KastKing’s dedication to excellence built-in. The Crixus reel has a great anti-reversal brake that kicks in instantly preventing annoying backlash which keeps your casts accurate and smooth every time. It also features 7 shielded, stainless-steel high quality ball bearings for fast retrieval and good power. The quad-disk carbon drag system outputs 17lbs of pure stopping power giving you the chops you need to haul in the biggest fish.
- A great baitcasting reel aimed at the average angler with a focus on performance
- Feels great in your hand and offers accurate smooth casting and cranking
- Affordable design excellence from KastKing
KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel
The KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel is a phenomenal baitcasting reel that offers a slew of upgraded features and components for a reasonable price that will fit almost any budget. KastKing, the reliable manufacturer of many excellent fishing goods, is back with another fantastic entry to its growing catalog. The MegaJaws Baitcasting reel is a solid addition to the baitcasting reel lineup that appeals to the casual angler by offering a versatile and durable product for an affordable price.
The MegaJaws reel is designed in the style of the ocean’s most fearsome predator, the shark. With sharp angles, a power that bites and an insatiable appetite for large fish the KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel has what it takes to make you the ocean’s most ferocious predator.
This is done through a combination of quality components and comfortable upgrades. It features a full 12 bearing system for ultimate smoothness and retrieval speed. Each bearing is sealed for durability and longevity keeping one of the most important parts of your reel protected from wear. The handles are a unique rubber cork grip system that will not degrade over time and keeps your fingers and wrists comfortable during extended use. Like the shark itself, this reel uses a time tested design with the intention of holding up to the test of time.
- Color coded gearing system keeps you on top of your game
- 18lbs of stopping power
- Unique and comfortable grip system
13 FISHING Freshwater Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Upgrade your baitcasting reel today with the 13 FISHING Inception Baitcasting Reel. Made with the highest attention to detail and quality, this reel has been designed to be a solid baitcasting reel that will last you years. Japan is a country with a long and storied history and tradition for fishing that is legendary. The makers of the 13 FISHING Inception Baitcasting Reel know this which is why they have dug deep into the annals of Japanese fishing to bring you the highest quality components for their reel.
This low profile baitcasting reel is made from a lightweight combination of aluminum and graphite which keeps the weight down and the corrosion resistance up. It is made with large tournament winning fish in mind. This reel will continue to feel great in your palm no matter if you are relaxing on the bank or trying to haul in a trophy winning fish.
That is why 13 FISHING put in Japanese Hamai Cut Gearing with oversized bearings and precision cut innards. This unique gearing ratio ensures that this reel maintains smoothness and power over continual use. They have paired this with two Japanese elite high spin bearings as well. These bearings increase the effectiveness of the High Spin Spool System which helps to ensure far casts, casting accuracy, and prevent backlash during use. All of these things come together to create an elite reel with a strong background in Japanese fishing prowess.
- Japanese components give this reel a leg up on the competition
- Amazing balance of smoothness, weight, and power
- 18lbs of max drag offer supreme stopping power
KastKing Speed Demon Baitcasting Reel
The KastKing Speed Demon Baitcasting Reel is the world’s fastest baitcasting reel. It is lightning quick, designed to keep you casting and cranking again and again. With 13 shielded ball bearings and matched brass pinions this reel flies! The 9.3:1 gear ratio is the best gearing to give you the ultimate speed you desire.
Once you use the KastKing Speed Demon Baitcasting Reel, all other reels are going to feel sluggish and drab. Worried that speed comes at the expense of power? Don’t. This reel still has 13lbs of drag that gives you the stopping power you crave. This combination of speed and power makes this reel an unbeatable choice when it comes to baitcasting reels on the market today. Best of all, it is available at a price that will shock you. If you’re worried the world’s fastest baitcasting reel is going to cost a fortune, think again. It is priced at a point nearly anyone can afford.
- 12+1 shielded ball bearing system gives this reel its name, Speed Demon
- Trilateral magnetic brake system gives you tournament levels of control over your line
- The world’s fastest baitcasting reel
SOOLF Baitcasting Fishing Reel
The SOOLF Baitcasting Fishing Reel is an all around great baitcasting reel that offers you everything you want out of a modern baitcasting reel. It is comfortable. It is not too complicated. Also, it has accurate casts. It has smooth cranks. It has fast retrieval. All of this comes at an affordable price. That’s right, go ahead and read all of that again. It has everything you could want out of a baitcasting reel and offers this level of efficient performance with a slew of excellent components.
The SOOLF Baitcasting Fishing Reel gives you 17.5lbs of powerful drag which is derived from three tough carbon washers which don’t buckle under pressure. The body is made of light and environmentally resistant materials that keep the reel safe and free from rust and damage over time. A high speed brass gear means retrieval is lightning fast and won’t bunch or spool during a fast take in. This is helped by the versatile 7.0:1 gear ratio which was made to match this design perfectly. Add in a supremely adjustable magnetic braking system with 7 powerful magnets and 25 incremental points and you have a versatile and customizable reel that will fit any angler’s setup.
- A sharp looking reel that offers a lot under the hood
- A well rounded, versatile reel that will fit any anglers style
- Affordable and powerful design is sure to delight
Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reel
The Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reel offers you great value and a great feel for a great price. If you are in the market for a new baitcasting reel that will fit into your fishing closet and into your budget, look no further. The Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reel offers an array of superior components plus an industry leading customer support claim that ensures that any problem you may have with your reel will be resolved quickly.
This reel offers all of the most important features you look for in a modern baitcasting reel. It has ten sealed ball bearings that provide excellent smoothness with each and every crank. It has an instant anti-reversal bearing that kicks in when you need it without having to flip any switches. Also, it has a ten point adjustable magnetic brake system that keeps your casts tight and accurate. It includes high speed gears that offer excellent line retrieval speed at a ratio of 8.0:1 giving you both power and speed from your favorite reel.
On top of all that, and in addition to being offered at a great price, you get a 2-year manufacturer guarantee which means that any issue you have with your product, they will respond and fix. They claim all customer service claims get responded to within 24 hours, for two years. That means if you are on the fence about this reel at all, you have a two year safety net to ensure maximum quality.
- Features an ergonomic swing wing side cover
- A dearth of amazing features available out of the box
- Two year satisfaction guarantee
Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile Baitcasting Fishing Reel
Get yourself a quality low profile baitcasting reel that has a long and excellent pedigree from the makers at Abu Garcia. The Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile Baitcasting Fishing Reel is an excellent and versatile baitcasting reel. This reel is easy to use, looks great and feels great while used out in the field. It will fit great into any angler’s toolkit and is a fantastic baitcasting reel designed for everyday fishing.
The low profile body of the Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile Baitcasting Fishing Reel is made entirely of lightweight and environmentally resistant graphite. This keeps the overall weight of the reel down while ensuring that it can stand up to the salt and surf of the water. It has a 7+1 bearing system that feels buttery smooth during casting and cranking. It also has enough power to handle the biggest fish out there with Abu Garcia’s unique Power Disk drag system. Throw in a powerful braking system, high density EVA grip handles, and a super strong central brass gear and you have yourself a complete reel that checks all the boxes for a great price.
- Strong Duragear central brass gear for superior strength
- MagTrax brake system works to eliminate backlash and overthrows
- Super comfortable low profile body and EVA grips feel great
Best Baitcasting Reel for Beginners
Baitcasting is a rewarding brand of fishing that requires attention to detail, practice, and patience to master. It is hard to pick up right from the getgo but learning the secrets of the perfect baitcasting cast can change your fishing experience forever. Baitcasting is used for catching all of the most popular fish in the world including bass, walleye, snook, and salmon. It is a necessary tool that will elevate your fishing to new heights and open up a whole new angle of the hobby.
Challenge you will face…
The challenge and control required to master baitcasting mean that it can be difficult to pick up right away and novice anglers can easily get frustrated which can be discouraging for people trying to learn this important skill. There are baitcasting reels that are better suited for beginners than others.
The most difficult thing about baitcasting is getting the feel correct. It requires you to hold the reel properly, thumb the spool to control your cast without getting annoying backlash. The most common problem is either inaccurate casts or casts that let out far too much line leading to frustrating tangles that can quickly turn a good fishing day into a nightmare.
That is why a good reel for beginners is well balanced, easy to maintain, offers a lot of control, and has basic quality of life enhancements aimed at reducing frustration and enhancing the joy of fishing. All of these things can be brought together into a baitcasting reel that will appeal to novice and casual users alike.
There are many, many baitcasting reels on the market and the crush of options can be overwhelming for the beginner. Some baitcasting reels are aimed at specific kinds of environments or fish, others require a high level of control finesse to operate properly and still more are cheap junk that won’t work properly.
That is why we’ve sifted through all of the options to find an all around great baitcasting reel that isn’t too complicated, isn’t hard to maintain, and isn’t too expensive.
Our Number One Baitcasting Reel for Beginners
KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel
- Low Profile Baitcasting Fishing Reel– Fish like a gladiator! KastKing Crixus Baitcasting reels are designed for exceptional value and performance. Although only 7.3 ounces, KastKing Crixus is as tough, strong, and durable as its gladiator name.
- Tournament Proven Components – Crixus casting reels feature heavy-duty brass main and pinion gears that deliver long life, higher speeds, and low noise. The Crixus baitcast reel comes in a fast retrieve 6.5:1/7.2:1 gear ratio. It has a CNC machined aluminum U-shaped spool for longer casts and higher fishing line capacity. The lightweight aluminum handle has comfortable, slip-resistant Super Polymer grips, for all-day fishing comfort!
- Smooth and Reliable Carbon Disc Drag – A great fishing reel in any arena! KastKing Crixus baitcasting fishing reels deliver performance and value. Each reel features an exceptionally smooth and powerful (4)-carbon disc drag system that delivers over 17.6 lbs. of fish stopping drag power. The drag is infinitely adjustable, which allows you to use lighter fishing line, with a lightweight aluminum, star-shaped drag knob.
- Ultra-smooth Performance – KastKing Crixus baitcaster reels are equipped with 5 shielded, stainless-steel high-quality ball bearings plus an instant anti-reverse bearing. The Crixus cast reel uses a reliable and proven magnetic braking system that has 8 magnets to give the angler many levels of spool braking to eliminate frustrating overruns, so you spend more time fishing. Long, controlled casts are now yours with baits of all sizes under various conditions.
- Reliability You Can Trust – You can count on the KastKing Crixus baitcasting reel to be ready to go fishing at a moment's notice. KastKing is committed to building trouble-free casting reels that will deliver hassle-free performance year after year.
It is no surprise to see KastKing here, they have a long history of crafting excellent reels that fit a wide array of fishing types. Their stuff is well designed, well received and they create products that appeal to a wide array of anglers around the world.
The KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel offers all of the features we are looking for in an excellent baitcasting reel that is perfect for beginners. It is durable, easy to use, and is made with the highest level of components that will make the transition to baitcasting as smooth as possible.
One of their unique technologies is their Low Friction Tapered Vortex which is a design feature that reduces the friction on your line. That means you get high levels of control and faster release during casting. Basic casts will fly farther and be smoother and more accurate than reels that does not feature this technology. This means you can really hone in and practice your casting without running into high friction hindrance.
They have also included a unique system of color-coded gears which will help new users identify which reel has which gear ratio easily. You won’t waste time fretting over which reel is which ratio and picking a reel will be as easy as glancing at the color the gears. This saves time for novices and pros alike who don’t want to pour over the details of their reel during use.
Even more with this reel…
In addition to all of that, this reel also has standard modern features that everyone should expect out of their baitcasting reel in 2020. Things like a full suite of shielded stainless steel bearings, nickel plated worm gear central drive and 17.6lbs of stopping power all come included. This reel is designed for continual use in either freshwater or saltwater and is built to handle a wide variety of conditions and fish.
That makes it a great choice for beginners because no matter what kind of fishing you want to do, the KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel can handle it. With smooth cranks, fast reduced casts, and power from the gears on up, this is a great reel on which to sink your teeth into as a beginner or casual angler.
Conclusion
Finding the Best BaitCasting Reel for Beginners takes time and a lot of research. I hope that my guide cuts all that time out and helps you find the reel to suit your needs perfectly.
A BaitCasting reel can take a little getting used to but for beginners can make fishing much easier and more enjoyable.
We hope you find your perfect reel and next time you hot the lake with your new reel you have plenty of tight lines.