Do you want to spend your leisure time fishing at your nearby lake? Great idea! But we can feel you don’t have a good and worthy spinning reel for it. If yes, this article is made for you because we will be talking about the top 5 best freshwater spinning reels of 2023.
Are you happy with this news?
In this review, we will help you in getting the most suitable spinning reel for you and under your budget.
Moreover, we have also included a small but detailed buying guide for freshwater spinning reels so you never get the wrong reel.
At a Glance:
1. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel– best freshwater spinning reel under $100
- Weighs only 0.46 pounds
- Easily manageable
- Smooth working
- Good line capacity
3. KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel– best cheap freshwater spinning reel
- Excellent drag system
- Strong exterior build
- Low price
- 30 lbs max drag
5. Shimano Spirex FG Spinning Reel- best Shimano freshwater spinning reel
- One-handed bail system
- Casts longer distances
- Perfect for crappie
- Extremely lightweight
- Best Freshwater Spinning Reels Of 2023
- 1. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel– best freshwater spinning reel under $100
- 2. Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Fishing Reel– Best Ultralight freshwater spinning reel
- 3. KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel– best cheap freshwater spinning reel
- 4. SHIMANO Sedona Fi Spinning Reel– best freshwater spinning reel for bass
- 5. Shimano Spirex FG Spinning Reel- best Shimano freshwater spinning reel
- Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Freshwater Spinning Reels
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Best Freshwater Spinning Reels Of 2023
| Design | Reviews | Retailer |
|---|---|---|
Best Pick | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
Staff Pick | Check Price | |
 | Check Price | |
Budget Pick | Check Price |
1. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel– best freshwater spinning reel under $100
Best Pick| Brand | Pflueger |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Color | Blue |
| Handle material | Stainless Steel |
| Product weight (in pounds) | 0.46 Pounds |
| Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- The President has a graphite and aluminum body, that’s why it’s light in weight yet durable.
- Also, you will be provided with a braid-ready spool, so you won’t require any other spool.
- Moreover, the size starts from 2000 and ends on 4000, which is the best choice for bass and trout.
One of the best and first choices of experienced anglers for light and freshwater fishing is the President by Pflueger.
What does construction say?
With its aluminum and graphite build, you can work with it for a long time. Moreover, the 7 stainless steel ball bearings should be appreciated for their smooth performance.
Plus, they are corrosion-resistant so they will stay smooth and decrease friction.
Cheers! The drag force is amazing.
Similarly, the sealed drag washers are well known for their powerful and frictionless drag force, which will be perfect for trout fishing.
Amazingly, it can handle many test lines but do not overload it and avoid taking it to the sea.
It does have a corrosion-resistant coating, yet it cannot handle big fish. However, it’s great for freshwater fishing.
Pros
- Weighs only 0.46 pounds
- Easily manageable
- Smooth working
- Good line capacity
Cons
- Not for big fishes
- Not that strong
Opinion
This best ultralight freshwater spinning reel by Pflueger is perfect if you are searching for a cheap yet versatile spinning reel. It won’t let you don’t in any terms such as its quality and performance.
Unlike other spinning reels, they have provided a stainless steel handle which is hard to break.
Moreover, it’s not expensive, so anyone with a medium budget can easily afford it. Hence, it’s the best freshwater spinning reel for under $100.
2. Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Fishing Reel– Best Ultralight freshwater spinning reel
| Brand | Abu Garcia |
| Material | Synthetic |
| Color | Black |
| Handle material | Stainless Steel |
| Product weight (in Pounds) | 0.57 Pounds |
Why We Love It
- The Revo X comes with an amazing drag force and a max drag of 11 lbs
- Available in two sizes, namely 2000 and 3000, it will be the perfect choice for bass fishing
- Lastly, the C6 carbon body makes sure the reel is comfortable to use and lightweight too
Do you love having crappie? Get this Revo X by Abu Garcia; you will never come home empty-handed.
O great!
Specially made for people who love black, the Revo X was able to show its best performance during its testing. The metal handle and perfectly balanced and lightweight body made it even better.
Remember, the spool is to be appreciated due to its wonderful performance.
We know you want to know the advancement hidden in this unit.
The carbon matrix hybrid drag system makes it perfect for trout fishing, as the drag is much required to handle these species.
What makes it more special is that it has a graphite and metal body that doesn’t corrode in heavy conditions, even if you use it during saltwater fishing. However, it’s not recommended to use.
Why do we recommend it?
Hence, it is a pretty good choice for someone looking for the best freshwater spinning reel for money.
Pros
- Pretty smooth
- Clean finish
- Solid build
- Best for crappie
Cons
- Overpriced
- Reel seat is fragile
Opinion
If you only target small freshwater fishes and do not intend to do heavy freshwater fishing, you can use the Revo X as it is available in only two sizes.
Moreover, the build quality is great and made out of graphite, but it cannot handle huge fish.
We also found that the reel seat is fragile and may break while retrieving.
Therefore, make sure you never overload the reel. Otherwise, it’s a nice small-sized freshwater spinning reel.
3. KastKing Megatron Spinning Reel– best cheap freshwater spinning reel
Staff Pick| Brand | KastKing |
| Material | Metal |
| Color | black |
| Handle material | Aluminium |
| Product weight (in ounces) | 10 oz |
| Hand orientation | ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- Starting from the size 2000, the KastKing Megatron is available up to size 6000
- Moreover, it has provided great durability and strength due to its unique shape and aluminum frame
- Similarly, the 7+1 stainless steel ball bearings provide an amazingly smooth working
Kastking is the brand of millennials because it has been known for making cheap yet strongest spinning reels.
Yes, it’s strong enough to rely on.
Their top-selling and also known as the best cheap freshwater spinning reel, the Megatron is everything you need for your next lakeside fishing trip.
Everything is at its best, from its strong aluminum build-up to its internal quality gears.
Is it long-lasting or not?
The spool is made of aluminum and won’t corrode at all. Also, it is paired with a strong and thin bail wire.
The internal gears work best but would have been better than the material used. Besides that, they work finely and smoothly.
The smoothness is amazing.
Additionally, the double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings are 8 in number, which provides maximum smoothness.
Pros
- Excellent drag system
- Strong exterior build
- Low price
- 30 lbs max drag
Cons
- The handle may get loose
- Internals are cheap
Opinion
We used this KastKing Megatron for heavy freshwater fishing and light saltwater fishing, and to our surprise; it performed well at both times. The durable build quality and powerful drag system do wonders while trout and bass fishing.
Also, it comes with superb quality 7+1 ball bearings known for providing an ultrasmooth reeling experience.
Lastly, it does include an instant anti-reverse feature. Therefore, you can consider this option while getting a freshwater spinning reel.
4. SHIMANO Sedona Fi Spinning Reel– best freshwater spinning reel for bass
| Brand | SHIMANO |
| Material | Graphite |
| Color | Gold |
| Handle material | |
| Product weight (in kilograms) | 0.1 kilograms |
| Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
It’s one of the best ultralight spinning reels weighing only 7.6 ounces
Moreover, you can cast longer distances because of its propulsion line management system
Also, it’s a great option for trout fishing because it has a fast line retrieve because of the gear ratio of 5.0:1
Specially made only for freshwater fishing, this Sedona by Shimano is worth every penny you will pay.
Best of all,
With Sedona you will get features like an extremely lightweight graphite body. A good line management system makes sure the line doesn’t get tangled or break in between.
Plus, it comes with a stainless steel handle so it won’t break during retrieving the line.
What’s about versatility?
The Sedona is available in several sizes ranging from 1000 to 4000. So, you can get it for bass, trout and crappie fishing easily.
However, ensure you only use it during freshwater fishing as it’s not durable to use in saltwater.
Do you understand?
We had this experience as it stopped working. Besides that, it works perfectly in freshwater so no problem with that.
Pros
- Lightweight construction
- Works great for panfish
- Long and accurate casts
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Fragile bail wire
- Drag knob may stop working
5. Shimano Spirex FG Spinning Reel- best Shimano freshwater spinning reel
Budget Pick| Brand | SHIMANO |
| Material | Aluminium |
| Color | Blue Silver |
| Handle material | Stainless Steel, Aluminum |
| Product weight (in Pounds) | 0.65 Pounds |
| Hand orientation | Ambidextrous |
Why We Love It
- The Spirex has a full metal body made of aluminium and stainless steel which provides a durable build
- Furthermore, the gear ratio of 6.2:1 is outstanding and provides a super fast and ultrasmooth retrieve
- Even though it has a small size, it has a powerful drag with a max drag force of 15 lbs
Once again we are back with a Shimano spinning reel named Spirex FG. It’s one of the best Shimano freshwater spinning reels.
It has an amazing set of features and can stay strong during heavy freshwater fishing.
The most special point,
What makes the Spirex special is its one handed cast system. Actually, it lets you cast with a single hand with the same accuracy.
Have you got the point?
Plus, the 6 stainless steel ball bearings make sure you get a super smooth reeling experience.
Although it does not include an anti-reverse ball bearing. So, it’s not a great option for beginners.
Keep in mind,
However, an experienced one who can handle line knots can easily use it. Hence, it’s a nice option to consider, and you can shortlist it if you like it.
Pros
- One-handed bail system
- Casts longer distances
- Perfect for crappie
- Extremely lightweight
Cons
- Does not have anti-reverse
- Bail may snap unexpectedly
Opinion
The last and also one of the best ultralight freshwater spinning reel for 2023 by Shimano. It’s the perfect choice for crappie fishing as it’s only available in 1000 and 2500 sizes.
Moreover, it’s extremely lightweight so you can easily manage it even if you have planned an entire day long fishing trip.
Besides that we would not recommend this spinning reel to new anglers as it does have some flaws like lack of anti-reverse and the bail may snap sometimes. Other than that, it’s nice and works fine.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Freshwater Spinning Reels
Be it a saltwater spinning reel or a freshwater spinning reel, it is important to bag the best deal at a perfect price. Though, there are many new anglers here who are confused about which spinning reel to buy.
Don’t worry!
We have got you covered. Here we have given a small buying guide in which we have covered all the important factors you should consider while getting a freshwater spinning reel.
So without wasting any time, let’s get to the point.
Spinning reel size
There is no point in getting the biggest spinning reel size if you want to target a mere crappie.
Do you understand?
Moreover, it won’t be useful at all. Therefore, it’s good to get a spinning reel of the required size.
There are many sizes available ranging from 500 up to 16,000. Though, for freshwater fishing you should only get a spinning reel of maximum size of 4000. You can check out spinning reel sizes for the exact sizes.
Material quality of the spinning reel
Most freshwater spinning reels do not have a great build because they don’t require it. They are mostly made out of graphite or plastic. The reason is that the fishes are small and don’t require much strength. However, if you get one with a metal build, do not let go of the deal and grab it.
Weight of the spinning reel
While buying a freshwater spinning reel, always look for the best ultralight spinning reel.
Why?
Actually, they will provide you the maximum comfort you can ever get. Moreover, you can handle them all day long.
However, if you can’t find an ultralight one, at least get one with weight less than 1 pound or else be ready to lift some weights.
Budget
Depending on your budget, the features of the spinning reel vary. However, it’s not important to get an expensive spinning reel.
This is because, freshwater spinning reels are not very expensive and can start at a mere $15. Although it’s important to get a good spinning reel of medium budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best freshwater spinning reels?
According to our reports, Shimano has been the best freshwater spinning reels manufacturer for years. We have featured two best Shimano freshwater spinning reels in this article. Do check them.
What is a good spinning reel for trout and bass?
We recommend you get the Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel as it features the best construction and comes under a price range of $100. Moreover, it’s smooth and has also been featured in our list of best trout fishing spinning reels.
What is the best spinning reel size for freshwater fishing?
We can’t tell you the actual size you require, but you can refer to the spinning reel sizes, where you can know your size preference by knowing their capacities and the fishes they target. However, for freshwater fishing, a 4000 size is great.
Conclusion
Now, you know which will be the best choice for your next riverside fishing trip.
Don’t forget to appreciate us by getting one of those spinning reels on our website.
We did a lot of research and tested these spinning reels on your behalf. So, you don’t have to toil hard.
Besides that, we also included a buying guide for freshwater spinning reels. So you can choose one on your own.
What do we expect?
We hope you have loved our article and would like to get more articles like this. Hence, do catch up with us.
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