7 Best Budget Spinning Reels That Will Blow Your Mind

Many of us that grew up fishing spinning reels to learn how to fish. Back when I grew up fishing in the 1980s and 1990s there weren’t many spinning reels to choose from. Now there are dozens of manufacturers making hundreds of different models of spinning reels for the angling community. But that also made choosing the right spinning reel for your specific fishing a little more difficult.

At the end of the day I feel like there are three different types of anglers when it comes to buying spinning reels. There’s the super avid enthusiast angler who wants the absolute best there is if they can afford it. Then, there is the angler that wants the most bang for their buck. And finally there is the angler who just wants a reel that works for the least amount possible.

Best

So while price is a factor, I think the majority of us anglers fall in that middle category where we want the absolute best reel we can get in our budget. So how do you determine that?

Best Ultralight Spinning Reels

Well you factor in all the things that makes a spinning reel good. While price matters in any purchasing decision, if you’re looking for a good spinning reel for fishing, it really comes down to these factors:

I will explain each of these factors at the end of this guide so you can make your own determinations on best reels for you.

So based on these factors, we have collected a large sample of the top spinning reels available for this season and upcoming season and put each spinning reel through our tests and fishing to get on the water application experience with every reel we could get our hands on.

Shimano Baitrunner D Spinning Reels

We have tested a barrel full of spinning reels over the years, and we use that large breadth of knowledge and experience to quickly assess quality equipment. A lot of these brands and even models we are familiar with because the are the latest offerings of that model we already know from brands we know and trust.

The Daiwa Exist is the new flagship for Daiwa’s freshwater reel line-up and it’s an incredible enthusiast spinning reel that incorporates the top materials and technologies available to build the most impressive spinning reel we’ve seen in a long time.

The Exist’s Magnesium Monocoque Frame stands out as the feature that makes this reel uniquely exquisite. The frame creates a thinner rigid body that makes reel torque seem to disappear while simultaneously eliminating the need for added component weight. This thinner and more rigid body provides more internal area to house larger DigiGears for a longer lasting reel that will remain smoothly operating over its entire lifespan.

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The screwless Zaion Air Drive Rotor has super low startup inertia and make this reel feel light and airy on the retrieve. Like the spool is floating.

It’s such an incredibly fun reel and one of the top two if not the best spinning reel in the whole world available to anglers in our opinion. I have personally fished it on light gear for panfish. I have fished it on heavier gear for bass and stripers. It’s an incredible reel that is an absolute joy to fish with. The drag is buttery smooth. The bail, the handle, the rotor are all so solid but smooth in their operations that you feel weird going back to any other reel. Like it’s that noticeable.

But it also comes at the absolute highest price point in the market. So you have to be a finesse fishing enthusiast to warrant this top of the line purchase.

Best Spinning Reels Under $100 Of 2023

I’ve tested tens of thousands of products over the last two-plus decades in fishing, and the Shimano Stella FK is the finest piece of fishing equipment I have fished with. At this level it’s nearly luxury engineering at its finest. The Stella FK uses the finest materials and Shimano’s decades of engineering and technology advancements to pack as many features as I’ve seen in a single piece of equipment.

The reel is so smooth you can’t feel the handle turning in the hand gripping the stem. There is no pressure whatsoever on the handle when you retrieve your lure thanks to their Infinity Drive system that is a step up from their advanced X Ship technology. On the Infinity Drive, the main shaft, which had previously been supported by the pinion gear, is now supported by a new and unique low-friction bushing that significantly decreases frictional resistance which results in the lightest winding reel in the industry.

The Infinity Loop and Anti Twist Fin make for the most precise level winding and no sagging tension you will find on a spinning reel so your line lays uniformly and evenly on your spool to give you the best line management possible.

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And finally, the Duracross drag washers offer 10X the durability without any reduction in smoothness resulting in a longer lasting, tougher drag system.

I was literally blown away by how well this reel casts light lures and how exceptionally smooth it is in every way possible on a spinning reel. The bail is top notch. The handle, spool, and system oscillation all move so fluidly. It is an absolute dream to fish with. It is, however, one of the most expensive pieces of fishing equipment I’ve ever used at $749.

That being said, I’m planning to purchase two of them now, as I was that impressed with them and think they are worth the lavish investment for 10 years of top-end, luxury performance and enjoyment in my fishing. I’m at that age where I don’t spend money on a lot of things, but I will spend more on the things I enjoy the most.

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The Daiwa Ballistic MQ LT made quite the impression on me. It’s light, but feels heavy duty, looks great and performances exceptionally well at price point close to $200. For a really solid top-of-the-line spinning reel, you’re generally looking at $165-$225. Those tend to be your best made workhorse reels, and that perfectly describes the Ballistic MQ LT.

The one-piece Monocoque Zaion V-Body gives the reel rigidity and strength which for an angler parlays into smooth operation while handling a tough fight. The oversized Digigear gives you a higher gear ratio with more cranking power. That added speed and power makes using a spinning reel a lot more enjoyable for bass fishing or larger prey. These reels are Magsealed for longevity and their Zaion V Air Rotor and Air Bail give you perfect performance with the lightest amount of pressure.

This reel feels heavy duty without feeling heavy. It feels like it will last a long time and its casting and retrieving is buttery smooth with a seamless drag system. It’s a total package at $229.

Shimano Sedona Fi Spinning Reels

The Vanford came out last year but availability just got where you can get these reels. At $239 this reel offers a lot of technology in a very strong frame. Built to last a long time, these reels feature the HAGANE cold-forged gearing that is much stronger than the Stradic. And the X-Protect coating helps prevent corrosion and wear. The Long Stroke Spool gives you increased casting distance and smoother line management.

This reel felt strong and durable. It was pretty smooth with its 7+1 bearings and it held a good amount of line. I could cast pretty far with a 3/8-ounce lure and did not have any issues with loops or line management. It’s a very strong reel. It can take a lot of force which I liked. It comes in 6 sizes from 1000 to 6000 so it can work well for inshore and freshwater although it’s not sealed so it needs to be thoroughly washed for salt use.

The Revo SX also performs very well in this best bang for your buck price range. At the lower end at $165, the Revo SX features a more compact X-Craftic aluminum body frame for comfort and durability. The oversized AMG Gearing and Friction Free Main Shaft gives you a lot durable, strong guts in this reel with smooth performance. This is a 9-bearing system gives you optimal smoothness and performance.

Bass Pro Shops Extreme Spinning Combo

It casts really well. Fishes well. I used it with some crappie gear and was able to make some long casts with very light lures and retrieve them easily without a loss of sensitivity. The drag system was okay but I think the Daiwa and Shimano drag systems were slightly better. But you’re paying $60 less for this reel so there are tradeoffs here.

Built on an ultralight magnesium body with carbon rotors and titanium main shaft, the Patriarch is updated and renovated for improved weight, durability and performance. It’s a great feeling reel in the hand, and it fished exceptionally well. A solid performer that could easily be lumped in with the absolute best reels out there, the Patriarch is a great buy at $219.

Shimano makes some great spinning reels and thankfully they do it at a lot of price points. There are a few companies that try to push down as much technology into lower price points as

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