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We tested 13 top fishing reels from brands including Penn, Abu Garcia, Daiwa, Okuma, Pflueger and others to find the best for casting and catching fish
Credit: Chris Maxcer
By Kit Smith ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated October 28, 2025
Fishing blends sweet relaxation with intense excitement like few other outdoor pastimes, but nothing ruins the vibe faster than gear failure. We've been testing these fishing reels out in the wild since 2019 to see how they perform wet and connected to fish, and to find the ones that will keep you casting without tangles.
We've fished everywhere from marshy saltwater bays to the mountainous shores of alpine hikes. Our team of lifelong anglers values everything from reeling in dinner to peaceful catch-and-release days. We even enjoyed the days we've gotten skunked.
After hundreds of casts, the Okuma Ceymar A proved to be the best reel for most people. It blends smooth and reliable performance with a rugged, modern build—all at a competitive price. If you're looking for the best budget reel, the Okuma Aria A offers solid performance at a rock-bottom price. If you need to outfit several rods at the same time for a growing family, this is one of the most affordable options we've tested.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for a premium option that will awe you with its modern style and precision performance, the Abu Garcia Revo SX is a can't-go-wrong reel for experienced anglers.
We've also tested fishing line and rods, both chosen from our head-to-head testing to help you rig up with gear most likely to help you catch more fish.
Editor's Note: We updated our fishing reel review on October 28, 2025, by adding five new reels, removing discontinued options, and adding new, more informative photos and videos.
The Okuma Ceymar A reel is our top all-around spin fishing reel because of its solid, smooth construction and reasonable price. With its 7+1 ball bearing system, it reels smoothly with little felt friction or wobble. Once you have a fish on the line, its multi-disc, oiled felt drag system starts smoothly, letting a fish run without snapping your monofilament or breaking knots. “At first glance, the Ceymar A is far more stylish and modern than many aging designs,” noted tester Chris Maxcer. “Once I started fishing with it, though, its super smooth performance proved it was more than just a fresh splashy look. It feels sturdy yet precise.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight
8.3 oz
Gear Ratio
5.0:1
Best Use
Stream, lake, river, boat
Type
Spinning
The most noticeable update to the new Ceymar A series reels compared to the older generation Ceymar models is the new TPE handle knobs, which replace the foam versions that tended to wear out over time. With the knob improvement, is there anything wrong with this reel? Sort of. It runs a bit small compared to many reels of similar sizes, i.e., smaller than typical 3, 30, or 3000 model reels. However, it's also a bit heavy for its compact build, so its balance with a rod isn't thrown off as much as it seems—but visually it can feel incongruent. Two other awesome reels scored remarkably close, and are slightly larger, aligning them more closely with typical industry sizing: The Penn Pursuit IV scored the same in our tests but costs just a bit more. At the same time, the Pflueger President outperforms with its line management. The Ceymar A wins on price—though only by a little—and any of these three contenders can work well for most people.
Despite its relatively compact but heavy build, the Okuma Ceymar A series reel is surprisingly smooth and precise.
The Okuma Aria A has the smoothest drag of all the budget reels we tested, making it our best buy recommendation for most people. “Its graphite frame is lightweight, and it feels a bit plasticky here and there, but I can't argue with its silky smooth drag,” Chris said. “I was surprised at its low startup inertia and how well it let out line when I had hooked a large trout that suddenly wanted to leave the area.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight
7.7 oz
Gear Ratio
5.0:1
Best Use
Stream, lake, river, boat
Type
Spinning
At this price point, it's unsurprising that the line control isn't as good as reels that cost three times as much. What does this mean in action? Poor line control can make it harder to cast far with cheap monofilament. Because the spool oscillation is very fast, it tends to spread the line loosely up and down as you reel, giving it crannies where it can slide into itself and stick, especially when the line is reeled in at various tensions while fishing. That said, most inexpensive reels have this same problem, and to combat it, we recommend spending just a bit more on a good limp monofilament or braided line. A similarly impressive reel in the same price range, the Daiwa Strikeforce, casts like a boss with braided line, and it even managed to haul in three sea-run Idaho coho during our tests. Its drag isn't as smooth, but it survived, and we landed the salmon, proving that you don't have to have an expensive reel to catch big fish.
For occasional fishing or outfitting multiple rods for friends and family, the Okuma Aria A makes the setup more affordable.
If fishing is less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle, then the Abu Garcia Revo SX is the reel to get. It's hands-down the most well-built reel we tested, and its operation is equally impressive. It casts remarkably well, has exceptional line control, and packs plenty of features. Some of our favorites are the angled lip design on the spool, which helps improve casting distance, along with the slow spool oscillation that gives us near-perfect line lay for fewer tangles. It also provided smooth drag, no matter what level we dialed in. “From the first flip of the crisp bail, I loved this reel. The slow, long-travel spool movement is mesmerizing, and the handle itself feels like it's connected to a precision instrument,” Chris said. “During testing, I had to force myself to stop using this reel and keep fishing with other reels. It's that good.”
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight
7.6 oz
Gear Ratio
6.2:1
Best Use
Stream, lake, river, boat
Type
Spinning
As for downsides, the only drawback to the Revo SX is deciding to pay for it because it's pricier than most. It will most likely last a long time and looks like a modern work of art, but we get it — the upfront cost can be hard to swallow for all but the most dedicated anglers. The next best line management reel we tested is the Pflueger President, which costs much less. It also has a silky smooth drag, but if you happen to hook a fish of a lifetime, it lacks the raw stopping power of the expedition-ready Revo SX.
The Abu Garcia Revo SX is a joy to cast and reel, and when it's time to fight a fish, its drag is strong yet incredibly smooth.
When you're after saltwater fish, it pays to have a reel designed for the job. That's precisely where the Daiwa BG2500 comes in. Its aluminum housing and waterproof drag system performed at the top of its class during weeks of fishing off of piers and jetties into the briny deep by our test team. Speaking of drag, it had plenty of power, which helped when fighting bigger fish. One reviewer notes, “The drag dial was one of my favorites, providing me feedback with well-spaced clicks.” The well-designed handle has a wide handle grip that offers comfort and impressive control. Another great feature was its anti-reverse system. It instantly locks the second you flip the switch. It was also a great casting reel, giving us long and accurate casts, which we especially appreciate when placing a lure into tight spots.
SPECIFICATIONS
Measured Weight
11.7 oz
Gear Ratio
5.6:1
Best Use
Ocean, pier, jetty, boat
Type
Spinning
The only real complaint we have about the Daiwa BG2500 is its bail. While it worked flawlessly during our testing, its thin wire design didn't match the rest of the reel's high quality. While the Diawa is hard to beat, the Penn Pursuit IV costs half as much but includes a corrosion-resistant graphite body with sealed stainless steel bearings, making it an affordable contender for saltwater anglers on a budget.
The Daiwa BG2500 helped us control our line, leading to fewer tangled messes.
Credit: Stephanie Chavez
Compare Product Specifications
Specifications
Abu Garcia Revo SX
Daiwa BG2500
Pflueger President
Okuma Ceymar A
Penn Pursuit IV
Okuma Aria A
Plusinno HA3000
Piscifun Flame 2000 Series
KastKing Centron 2000
Daiwa Strikeforce
KastKing Brutus
Sougayilang DK2000
Awards
Best for Dedicated Anglers
Best for Saltwater
Best Reel for Most People
Best Bang for Your Buck
Measured Weight
7.6 oz
11.7 oz
8.8 oz
8.3 oz
10.2 oz
7.7 oz
9.4 oz
8.5 oz
8.8 oz
10 oz
9.2 oz
9.4 oz
Gear Ratio
6.2:1
5.6:1
5.2:1
5.0:1
6.2:1
5.0:1
5.2:1
5.2:1
5.2:1
5.3:1
5.2:1
5.2:1
Best Use
Stream, lake, river, boat
Ocean, pier, jetty, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat, pier
Stream, lake, river, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat, pier
Stream, lake, river, boat
Stream, river, lake, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat, pier
Stream, river, lake, boat
Stream, lake, river, boat
Type
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
Spinning
How We Tested
Our testers put every reel through its paces in many different waters, from small streams to big lakes to bays. We traveled all across California, spent time in Jackson Hole, WY, and Lake Country, MN, and cast into Idaho lakes and rivers, all to ensure that we tested these reels across varied environments. We spent several months angling to assess these products, and dozens of fish were caught and released during our test period, including tiny panfish and hefty salmon. We took each fishing reel out into the field to get a feel for the operation, the features, and the versatility. We also shared these reels with our fishing partners on multiple fishing trips to get diverse feedback. Our side-by-side comparisons from field tests and in-depth inspections informed our rankings and recommendations found in this article.
Our fishing reel testing is divided into five rating metrics:
Operation (25% of overall score weighting)
Features (25% weighting)
Versatility (20% weighting)
Line Control (15% weighting)
Material Quality (15% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Kit Smith, our lead reviewer, is no stranger to the fishing life. He's been at it for 35 years. It all started around the San Francisco Bay, where he began fishing for salmon and halibut at a young age. Later, he got hooked on fishing local streams and lakes around his family's cabin in the small mountain community of Bear Valley in the Central Sierras. He ended up moving to Colorado to attend college, where his love of angling continued to grow. With decades of salt and freshwater angling experience with dozens of reels, Kit brings the expertise needed to assess these fishing reels accurately.
Chris Maxcer is a lifelong fisherman who's caught many species throughout the West, including Alaskan salmon, Idaho smallmouth bass, Oregon brown trout, and Colorado high-mountain cutthroat trout. He appreciates spinning reels and rods because they're easy to learn and ridiculously effective at putting lures in front of fish in a variety of waters and conditions.
Jon Oleson joined the reel testing team in 2023. Jon grew up fishing the lakes and streams of the Mountain West. Some of his best memories are of drifting the Green and Snake Rivers in Utah and Idaho, fly fishing for trout with his dad. More recently, Jon has been enjoying getting out to fish the lakes and rivers with his two young children, who are already landing decent-sized bass with full-sized rods.
To test reels, we ensure we use them in different waters for multiple fish species and include little anglers along the way.
Analysis and Test Results
Through our extensive field testing, we focused on five performance metrics: Operation, Features, Versatility, Line Control, and Material Quality. We discuss each of these in more depth below.
Worse Value
Better Value
What's the Best Value?
Though we don't score products based on their prices, we always keep a sharp eye out for good deals. If something scores quite well in our testing and has a middling to low price tag, we consider it worth extra mention. The Okuma Aria A series reels deliver solid all-around performance at a price well below the midrange, as does the Daiwa Strikeforce. We don't expect these reels to last a lifetime, but they're very capable of landing large fish with patience and a bit of luck.
When author Chris Maxcer watches a coho salmon blast off on a monster run, he looks at the Diawa Strikeforce in surprise, working like a champ.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Though it costs a bit more, the Plussinno HA3000 outperformed its price point, making it another good option to pair with an affordable rod.
Our local guide, Gavi, catching bass with the Plusinno HA 3000 reel paired with the Plusinno telescoping travel rod. This duo is a great value that's perfect either as an introductory setup or even a budget travel option for more experienced anglers.
Credit: Jon Oleson
How do I choose the right size spinning reel?
Most spin fishing reels come in industry-standard sizes, noted by increasing numbers in the thousands. A 1000 reel is small, while an 8000 is much larger. Each size reel also has a manufacturer's recommended line strength rating. For instance, a 2500-size spinning reel could best be used with 6-10 lb fishing line, making it a great option for trout or bass. Reels in the 2500-3000 class, sometimes indicated with a 25 or 30, are great do-it-all sizes for most freshwater fishing. Go bigger for bigger fish or saltwater fish, and go smaller if you're after smaller fish like bluegill or crappie.
Operation
A reel's operation is one of the most important factors to consider. It includes everything from casting performance to line retrieval to drag control. Casting performance is dictated in part by the spool's design, while line retrieval is determined by internal gearing and the bail roller. The drag system's operation comes down to the range and how easy it is to dial in the desired amount of drag with precision.
When it comes to overall operation, the Abu Garcia Revo SX is the most impressive. The Abu Garcia is hard to beat for its exceptionally smooth oscillation and line control, which ensures that its finely tunable drag never gets hiccupped by poorly wrapped line. It's also one of the most expensive reels we tested. Very close behind, and geared toward saltwater use, is the Daiwa BG2500. This model casts long and accurately while boasting one of our favorite drag dials. On the other hand, the Okuma Ceymar A costs half as much but provides more than half the performance: Its drag is smooth and strong, though its line management isn't as good.
Using a force gauge, we tested the drag on each reel to confirm manufacturer's claims. Most reels from reputable manufacturers pass this test, but truly cheap options (that we ignore because of poor quality) tend to fail.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Features
This might be the most popular metric when considering a reel. Obviously, you can catch fish without all the fancy stuff, but innovative features can give you an even better shot at that lunker. What features are we talking about? Things like instant stop reverse, automatic bail, and ergonomic handle grips. But having all of these doesn't ensure our vote. They have to be useful features that improve the fishing experience.
This category's standout is the Daiwa BG2500. With an abundance of useful features, like a reverse system that stops the spool instantaneously and a wide handle grip that's good for all-day outings, this reel made an indelible impression.
Along with a wide, grippy handle, the Daiwa BG2500 features an instant anti-reverse system that helped to keep our line in check.
Credit: Stephanie Chavez
Most new reels are increasing the size of their handle knobs, making knobs easy to find immediately after the cast and increasing all-day comfort. While some of the reels feature plastic grips, even budget options like the Okuma Aria A have larger knobs. Just beware of cushy foam knobs. They seem like a comfortable feature at first, but they have a tendency to deteriorate over time. The Plusinno HA3000 has a cool travel-ready feature: We especially liked the push-button collapsible handle that made it easy to pack and stow, and the large spool and ball roller that made casting and retrieving trouble-free.
The Pflueger President features rubbery columns on its spool, making it easy to load super-slick braided fishing lines.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Versatility
Having a reel that can be used on the river one day and in the ocean the next is essential for some anglers. Some may want to fish for small brook trout in mountain streams in the morning and take their boat out on the lake for bass in the afternoon. Not all reels are up to this task. The most versatile reels tend to have wide-ranging, finely tunable drag systems that let us lighten the load for small fish while using light leaders, while also allowing us to ratchet up the stopping power for our heavier braided lines. Still, this is a tough category because the size of the reel can affect its capabilities, too.
The Revo SX is a standout here, letting us flick out short casts with ease while also allowing us to fling spinners farther than we can throw rocks. We found we could set the drag once, confident in its predictable response, no matter how light or how hard we set it. The Pflueger President was nearly as predictable, while the Ceymar A was burly enough to drop on the rocks and keep going. The Plussinno HA3000 also scored well here, though we're less certain about its ability to do it over years of hard use.
The Penn Pursuit IV comes in larger sizes, making it a bit big for ultralight work in general, but it scales up to saltwater use at a budget-friendly price point.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
In contrast, while it's an impressive reel, the Daiwa BG2500 is built specifically for saltwater fishing, though you can size down for freshwater. Still, its 2500 option is a heavy beast, weighing in at 11.7 oz, making it more suitably paired with larger, heavier rods. It will catch fish in small lakes and streams, but is less nimble than the sizing suggests.
We took the reels out into different environments and settings with all sorts of different lure set ups to test the versatility of each.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Line Control
If you want to reduce line twisting and tangles, this is a critical metric. Of course, it's hard to eliminate the occasional spirals and knots completely, but a reel with great line control can keep them to a minimum.
The Abu Garcia Revo SX has the best overall line control for two key reasons. First, its long-travel spool oscillation is very slow, which wraps the line up and down the spool in a controlled, predictable fashion. The line then comes off the spool more smoothly, allowing for longer casts, particularly with stiffer lines like fluorocarbon. Second, the V-Rotor spool design has an angled lip that is tuned for efficiency when casting. The result is a reel that feels easy to cast with both soft and hard casts.
The Revo SX spool is shaped for easy casting while the internal gearing moves the spool up and down at a slow, controlled pace for tighter, consistent line wrapping.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
The Pflueger President has a similarly slow oscillation, though it seems slightly faster with slightly less travel. Still, very good. We had zero issues or tangles, and the drag felt predictable while fighting fish. The Daiwa BG2500 also stands out in this category. Its well-designed bail provided smooth retrieval, while the lip on the spool was made for controlled casting.
While we saw a few minor spooling issues with repeated use, the large aluminum spool and line roller makes for easy reeling with the Plusinno HA 3000. We've found that supple braided lines can help with spooling issues, as well as reeling with consistent tension.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Conversely, we discovered which reels tend to have spooling issues. The KastKing Brutus consistently caused us trouble in our tests, whether it was the line wrapping over the top of the spool or knots and loops caused by inadequate spooling. Though we occasionally encountered this issue with the Plusinno HA3000, it wasn't even close to the headache caused by the KastKing.
The KastKing Brutus had issues with wind knots and line wrapping during testing.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Material Quality
A reel's construction and materials play a significant role in its performance. Depending on the material, you can get a lighter, stronger, and higher-performance reel. The construction may be the determining factor in whether the reel lasts ten days or ten years. We saw a lot of differentiation within this metric among the models we tested.
The true king of construction is the Abu Garcia Revo SX. Built with a unique carbon body, this reel provides an incredible feel and fighting power. Of course, one would expect high-quality construction in a model priced this high. Other standouts for durability, quality construction, and corrosion resistance include the Daiwa BG2500, Pflueger President, and Penn Pursuit IV.
The Abu Garcia Revo SX blends corrosion-resistant graphite, aluminum, and stainless steel components to achieve a lightweight but very strong reel.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Coming in at a lower price point, the Okuma Ceymar A feels remarkably solid and built to last. Interestingly, it has one of the thickest bail wires we've seen. While it didn't score so high in other metrics, the KastKing Brutus is a solid reel and built to endure some abuse. This surprised us a bit for the price point, so we took the Brutus apart to confirm the gear ratios and noticed that the internal parts were also solid. Priced similarly, the Plusinno HA3000 felt sturdier out of the box than many inexpensive reels in its price range.
Overall, build quality will take a steep dive once we start reaching the $25 price point and lower. The Diawa Strikeforce and Okuma Aria A have more slop in their construction and use cheaper, plastic-type materials.
No matter where you fish, a spinning reel is one of the most versatile and easy-to-use ways to catch fish and have fun doing it.
Credit: Chris Maxcer
Conclusion
A reel alone can't catch you more fish, but selecting the right one can surely give you the upper hand. One of the most important things to consider when selecting a new reel to purchase is the environment you're planning on fishing in. Are you looking to do a lot of lake fishing, mostly ocean fishing, or a little of both? Whatever it is, there's a reel here designed just for you. We hope this article will help you in your search for the perfect reel. So, plan the next fishing adventure, pack your gear, and make it a trip to remember.
