The Best Baitcasting Reels for Beginners of 2023

Today’s baitcasting reels bear a passing resemblance to the first one I bought in 1983 as a tween, but in terms of performance there’s little comparison. Today’s reels are lighter, are more durable, have better drag systems, and come in a greater variety of sizes and speeds. Most importantly, perhaps, they’re much more backlash-resistant. That’s great news if you’re looking for the best baitcasting reel for beginners. 

When I got that first baitcaster, “graduating” from spinning tackle, I took on the challenge with trepidation. The rumor from my more advanced peers, as described in just about every fishing magazine, was that if you didn’t have an “educated thumb,” one errant cast or mistimed application of pressure would ruin your day. The spool would explode in what was alternately called a backlash, a bird’s nest, or, most generously, a professional overrun. Overeager beginners spent more time picking out monofilament tangles than they did with a lure in the water. Of course, it wasn’t that bad. After a half hour of practice I was reasonably competent. Still, I lived in fear that a cast with a light lure into the wind would result in disaster.

Today there’s been a light line resurgence, with all serious bass anglers incorporating spinning tackle into their game, but baitcasting remains the heart of the sport in most places. There are so many good choices that it can be hard for a beginner to know what to buy. Here are some favorites, some with bargain price tags, and others that might push a beginner’s budget, but are worth the little bit extra. 

Best Budget: H20X Premier

Best High-Speed: Lew’s HyperSpeed LFS Casting Reel

Best Computer-Controlled: Shimano SLX 150 DC

Best Workhorse: Abu Garcia Revo X LP Casting Reels

Best for Big Baits: Daiwa Tatula 300 Casting Reel

Best Bait Finesse Reel: KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reels

Best Baitcasting Reels for Beginners: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Budget: H20X Premier

Key Features

Right-hand retrieve

6.6:1 and 7.3:1 gear ratios

7.4 ounces

Six bearings

Price: $50

Pros

Ultra-long casting performance

Tight tolerances and rigid fame

Comfortable EVA paddles on handle

Cons

No left-hand version

After fishing this graphite-frame reel, I had to go back and make sure that the price tag hadn’t been a misprint. I consistently grabbed it instead of reels that cost three, four, or five times as much. 

Out of the box, it was a jackrabbit, able to cast midrange lures longer distances than anything else I owned without backlashing. In fact I had to tune it down to prevent lofting some of my prized topwaters into the woods. It’s comfortable and feels solid, even after several months of hard use. I used it for bass, catfish, and stripers. The drag never balked or seized, even after fights with those non-green fish. If you’re just investing in baitcasting reels for the first time, it definitely won’t break the bank, and if you want to build a tournament arsenal on a budget, you can get four or five of these for the price of the competition’s mid- to upper-range reels.

Best High-Speed: Lew’s HyperSpeed LFS Casting Reel

Key Features

Left- and right-hand retrieves

6.9 ounces

9.5:1 gear ratio

Nine ball bearings, one roller bearing

Price: $200

Pros

Hefty drag system which clicks

10 bearing system withstands lightning-fast presentations

Comfortable thumb bar

Cons

High speed reels aren’t ideal for all techniques

This red sports car of a reel even looks fast, but it’s built to take a beating in addition to its 9.5:1 gear ratio. It has 20 pounds of drag and is overbuilt with tight tolerances and a one-piece aluminum frame so that whether you’re pitching and flipping or speed reeling your topwater in to cast at a breaking fish, it stays in one piece. For beginners, it has a six-pin, 27-position centrifugal braking system. So, when you get into a hurry and misapply pressure, it won’t result in a backlash catastrophe. It’s also ergonomically comfortable for various hand sizes, preventing cramps after a 300-cast day.

Best Computer-Controlled: Shimano SLX 150 DC

Key Features

Left- or right-hand retrieves

7.6 ounces

6.3:1, 7.2:1, or 8.2:1 gear ratios

Four ball bearings, one roller bearing

Digitally-controlled braking system

Price: $200

Pros

Minimizes backlashes

External braking options for maximum range of conditions

Capacity of a 150-sized reel, but still comfortable for all hand sizes

Cons

Might benefit in some instances from a larger spool size

Shimano’s Curado DC was the first long-term reliable computer-controlled reel at a lower price point than past models. This reel offers many of the Curado’s benefits, at an even lower price point. It has a rigid body, brass gearing, and a handle size that fits hands from extra-small to extra-large. The real selling point is the Digital Control (DC) braking system which produces an audible whir on the cast to let you know that it’s working, and can be adjusted for a range of lure weights, allowing you to cast them into the wind with minimal fear. Yes, some bait finesse reels are made for light lures, but this one has the muscle for heavier lures, and still handles wind with aplomb.

Best Workhorse: Abu Garcia Revo X LP Casting Reels

Key Features

Left- and right-hand retrieve

5.4:1, 6.7:1, and 7.3:1 gear ratios

Seven ball bearings, one roller bearing

7.3 ounces

Price: $120

Pros

Modernized line guide reduces line-harming angles

Comfortable oversized PVC handle knobs

Easy to palm

Cons

No super high-speed option

Abu Garcia keeps on iterating their proven Revo lineup, each time upgrading the features and technology available. While the highest-price models may have a few more features or styling flourishes, the Revo X LP offers a ton of value in a package with most of the same benefits. Those include an asymmetric design that makes it easy to hold, a pushed-forward line guide to protect your line from sharp edges, and a Mag Trax brake system to minimize backlashes. Any beginner can buy this reel—or several of them—and be confident that it has the same technology found on many pros’ decks.

Best for Big Baits: Daiwa Tatula 300 Casting Reel

Key Features

Left- and right-hand retrieves

5.3:1 (right), 6.3:1, 7.1:1, and 8.1:1 gear ratios

11.5 ounces

Seven ball bearings, one roller bearing

Price: $234

Pros

Generous line capacity

Bigger gears for bigger fish and lures

Daiwa’s T-Wing system for long casts

Cons

Not suited for small to mid-sized lures

As the fish you’re chasing and the lures needed to tempt them grow in size, it’s critical to beef up every component of a reel. That usually comes at a cost, and while this reel is not inexpensive, it still costs less than replacing one year after year when the fish of a lifetime strips gears or the frame falls apart from too many rough boat rides. It lives at the intersection of Daiwa’s best bass tournament tools—with features like the T-Wing system for long casts—and their saltwater tools, made to handle rampaging tuna and inshore species. It’s heavier than most standard baitcasters by several ounces, but on the properly balanced rod it’s not cumbersome, and because it’s offered in multiple gear ratios from “slow” to “fast,” anglers can find the one that balances their needs, too.

Best Bait Finesse Reel: KastKing Kestrel Elite Bait Finesse Casting Reels

Key Features

Left- and right-hand retrieves

8.4:1 gear ratio

4.4 ounces

11 ball bearings, one roller bearing

Price: $75

Pros

Ridiculously lightweight

Handles light line well, with no gaps for it to slip behind

Precision magnetic braking system

Cons

Only one gear ratio option

Bait finesse is a relatively new phenomenon that originated in Japan and involves throwing lighter-than-usual lures on baitcasting gear. It can be particularly daunting for beginners who’ve bought into the ideology that such lures can and should be fished only on spinning tackle. This reel should minimize your fear of backlashes and maximize your willingness to try the technique. It’s not clear how they stuffed so much technology, including 12 bearings, into this diminutive package, but KastKing has built a toy-sized product that behaves like anything but child’s play. Whether you’re dropshotting, throwing a micro-jig, or flinging a tiny crankbait, this reel is a super-smooth joy to fish and feels rock solid. It has a carbon disc drag system to handle the big fish that will inevitably ensue.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Beginner Baitcasting Reel

Baitcasters offer control and accuracy. Scott Einsmann

Price 

There are quality baitcasting reels available at price points from less than 50 bucks to nearly a thousand, and while you generally get what you pay for, that’s not always the case. An expensive niche reel may not perform as well as a lesser-priced and lesser-outfitted reel when used for the wrong technique. Furthermore, eventually most anglers want more than one, so if you’re building a team of baitcasters don’t shoot the entire budget on one reel, leaving crumbs for the others.

Line Capacity 

While big baits might require 20- or 25-pound mono or fluoro, or 80-pound braid, a reel made for bait finesse might only hold a few yards of that strength. On the flip side, a reel made for big baits and heavy line won’t be able to handle 8- or even 10-pound line. Figure out the range of diameters you’ll be using and then find the reel that will not only cast them well, but will hold enough for long casts and line-burning runs.

Lure Size 

Yes, small reels can handle heavy lures in a pinch, and vice versa, but by adhering closely to the recommended ranges, not only will you minimize backlashes, but you’ll limit strain on the reel’s components. 

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Final Thoughts on the Best Baitcasting Reels for Beginners

Baitcasting beginners no longer need to fear entering the genre, or losing whole spools of expensive line (braid and fluorocarbon weren’t generally available when I bought my first baitcaster) to unruly tangles. Indeed, the biggest question now is which of the many models at a huge array of price points to buy. If you’re beginning with baitcasters altogether, get a standard-sized reel at a midpoint (6:1 or 7:1 gear ratio) but if you’re trying out a new technique with specific needs, opt for a specialized reel.

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