If you’re looking to get your first spinning reel, it’s never a bad idea to go for a sweet deal. When looking for a new reel on a budget, there are many options out there. Whether you’re a beginner or adding another reel to your arsenal, there are options for you. We’ll be looking at some great spinning reels under 100.
Here’s a quick list of our top picks for the best spinning reels under $100:
Who Needs To Use A Spinning Reel?
Anyone who wants to catch some fish could use a decent spinning reel. These reels are quite easy to use, making them a popular choice for beginner anglers. Many experienced fishermen also use spinning reels. This is for their versatility and open-faced spool design. Lighter weight baits and flies also work well with these reels due to the lack of line pull from the reel.
Are Spinning Reels Different To Other Reels?
Spinning reels feature a unique design, that works best for certain situations. These reels feature a stationary or fixed-spool. The line glides off with gravity as it leaves the spool. By origin, these reels were for use with artificial flies. These flies were too light to use for their baitcasting reel counterpart. Over time they became the most popular reel choice for most fishermen.
Spinning reels also do not suffer from any forms of backlash due to the lack of a rotating spool. Instead, they don’t need any wrist strength to operate and keep in position. The materials used to make a spinning reel are of graphite, aluminum, or ABS plastics. This keeps them light in weight, yet durable.
How Do I Choose A Spinning Reel?
One of the most important parts of a spinning reel is the gear ratio and the number of bearings. The gear ratio of your reel is what determines how many times the arm spins for each turn of the handle. The higher the ratio, the quicker you can retrieve the line. The lower the ratio, the more torque you get as you crank the handle. These show a ratio of 4:1 or 10:1.
Buy a spinning reel that matches your desired spool capacity. The more line you can hold, the more weight you’ll be carrying. A traditional reel may hold anywhere from 150 to 230 meters. You’ll need to determine the line capacity that works for the target species and location you’re fishing. Generally, lower capacities work for smaller and freshwater fish. While larger spools work for saltwater or deep sea fishing, due to the necessity for a longer line.
Choose a spinning reel that is well made so it lasts. Your reel will endure a lot of wear when using it over time, so it needs to be durable. Moreover, you want to protect your equipment from any impact or water damage.
Below is a checklist of things to look for when choosing a spinning reel:
- Ensure you have the desired gear ratio.
- Buy a reel that has the proper spool capacity.
- Choose a spinning reel that is well made.
What Is The Best Spinning Reel Under $100?
We’ve looked at a range of spinning reels under 100 and have selected five reels. The main things we’ve looked at are quality, price, and the level of spool capacity. We’ve reviewed these five spinning reels under 100 and listed some pros and cons for each reel.
Yumoshi
Aluminum Reel
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Yumoshi metal spinning reel is available with spool capacities from 80 to 215 meters. The reel contains 10 ball bearings with a gear ratio of 5.5:1. The reel also features a wooden handle for operating comfort. Additionally, there is a lightweight aluminum frame.
Customers who purchased this spinning reel like the sturdy feel they got from it. People said that the reel also features a high-quality coil. Customers also said that they found the reel to be very durable under any water condition.
A few customers who used this spinning reel for fishing said there was a minor amount of backlash. Some people also said the reel’s coil was a bit small for regular use. Some customers said there was not a smooth spool stop, and that it caused a gap or long stroke.
PROS
- Sturdy.
- High quality.
- CheckDurable.
CONS
- Minor backlash.
- Times HexagonSmall.
KastKing
Sharky II Reel
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Sharky II spinning reel from KastKing is available in a wide range of spool capacities. These ranges work great for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. The reel also features a carbon fiber drag system that’s powerful, smooth and reliable. The reel contains a sealed one-way clutch, and sealed spool.
Customers who purchased this spinning reel said that it’s quiet and is able to cast “a mile”. Many customers found the quality of the craftsmanship quite impressive. Other customers commented that the reel was durable even when given tough use.
People who purchased this reel said that the clicker inside the drag knob had damaged only after a few uses. Others reported that the anti-reverse function had stopped working during use. A few customers also said that their reels had compromised from water damage.
PROS
- Fresh and saltwater.
- Long cast range.
- CheckDurable.
CONS
- Clicking drag knob.
- Times HexagonAnti-reverse not working.
Yumoshi
Aluminum Reel
Quality
Price
Our rating
This aluminum metal spinning reel made by Yumoshi is available in both black and white. The reels feature a 12+1 ball bearing along with a 5.5:1 gear ratio. The reel provides an anti-reverse function and left and right-handed convertible design.
Customers who purchased this reel said it’s great for fishing in any location. People said that the reel is very smooth and of high-quality materials. Additionally, many customers found there to be no backlash at all when using the reel.
Some customers who purchased this reel said that the coil worked, yet did begin to creak over time. A few customers said that an improvement would be the brake as it is too hard. Some people also said they would’ve liked the reel to have less of a gap in the handle.
PROS
- Anti-reverse function.
- Smooth.
- check backlash.
CONS
- Brakes too hard.
- Times HexagonGap in the handle.
KastKing
Summer Series Reel
Quality
Price
Our rating
The KastKing summer series spinning reel is available with many line capacities. The reel has 9+1 ball bearings and a drag power from 5 to 8 kg. The reel features a lightweight narrow graphite frame and an anodized aluminum spool.
Customers who purchased this reel said that the is excellent. Many people said they were going to grab a second one due to its impressive quality. Customers also commented that the reel was buttery smooth. People also said that the reel never snapped back even on hard casts.
Other people who fished with this reel said that the line never goes in even into the spool. Customers also said that the drug didn’t work after a couple of fishing trips. Some customers reported that the reel didn’t spin free after about 10 times of using it.
PROS
- Graphite frame.
- Aluminum spool.
- CheckGood quality.
CONS
- Uneven spooling.
- Times HexagonIntermittent drag.
SeaKnight
Treant II Reel
Quality
Price
Our rating
The SeaKnight Treant II spinning reel is available in one color with a wide array of line capacities. The reel models contain ball bearings from 6+1BB (on the low end) to 10+1BB (for most). The max drag on the reels also ranges from 5 to 13 kg in strength. Additionally, the material of the reel features aluminum in the spool and handle.
People who purchased this reel said that it’s well made and durable. Customers said that the coil runs smooth and little noise at all when fishing. Customers also said that the reel is a great value for the money, and better than some other reels used.
Some users who fished with this reel said they experienced gear grinding sounds. A few customers said the handle has a hole gauging issue and came off after two turns. Some people also said that the reel wasn’t soft when bringing back in the line.
PROS
- Aluminum spool.
- Durable.
- CheckHigh drag strength.
CONS
- Hole gauge.
- Times HexagonNot soft reeling.
Our Choice
Each reel that we’ve reviewed works for those looking to find a good spinning reel on a budget. All the reels have decent line capacity for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. They each have plenty of strength for heavy usage out on the water.
After comparing all the products the best spinning reel under 100 is the Yumoshi metal reel.
This reel is comfortable to use and easy to cast from far away. The reel can work for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. We also like the fact that the reel supports sturdy usage and an ultra-lightweight for ease of use.