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If you are on a budget, it might seem impossible to get a good quality spinning reel in your price range. However, I think you’ll be surprised at the quality and functionality of the spinning reels that are on the market for under $200. You just need a little knowledge and experience to know what to look for when buying a spinning reel on a budget.
When I was first starting out as an angler, I wanted a decent spinning reel, but I definitely didn’t have the budget to get something top of the line. After doing some research and buying a few reels, I learned that with a little knowledge under your belt, you can find some great spinning reels under the $200 price point. Here are a few tips and good spinning reel reviews to help you find the best spinning reel for your budget.
5 Best Spinning Reels under $200:
1. Pflueger Supreme XT Spinning Fishing Reel
Offering smooth drag and a lightweight design, the Pflueger Supreme XT Spinning Fishing Reel allows an angler to have the best angling performance out on the water. Featuring a lightweight magnesium rotor and body, this lightweight reel gives you incredible rigidity and doesn’t burden the rod with too much weight. Created to offer super smooth drag performance, this reel comes with a sealed carbon drag system that makes it one of those heavy-duty spinning reels that can easily stop a hard-pulling fish as well as stay well-lubricated after a long day of severe use.
An advanced angler will love the SMARTretrieve feature that ensures a highly precise line lay with each cast. The Pflueger Supreme XT Spinning Reel is super comfortable due to a smooth and effortless retrieve, an EVA handle knob, and a carbon handle, which is 21% lighter than an aluminum handle. The spool is braid-ready that can be tied right onto the spool that doesn’t have a monofilament backing.
Perfect for a variety of angling applications and species, the Pflueger Supreme XT Spinning Reel offers reliable and smooth performance using a super-lightweight magnesium frame. Other features include sealed carbon washers that give you a powerful amount of drag allowing it to stay smooth when under pressure, and 10 stainless steel ball-bearing that contribute to the smooth operation of the reel. It also includes comfortable cranking and slow oscillation gearing. that remains smooth under pressure.
Pros
- It has a very smooth and comfortable operation
- This reel is incredibly precise and very lightweight
- It’s very versatile and can be used in a lot of different fishing situations
Cons
- It’s smaller than some users expected
- The finish doesn’t stand up to saltwater well
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2. PENN Pursuit III Spinning Fishing Reel
Even if you are looking at high-end spinning reels, it’s worth taking some time to consider the affordable PENN Pursuit III Spinning Fishing Reel. Featuring the technology and quality that advanced anglers love, the PENN Pursuit III gives you all these features at an entry-level price point. Housed in a corrosion-resistant and lightweight graphite body, this reel includes an HT-100 carbon fiber drag system that is designed to withstand battling a large saltwater fish.
Featuring a sealed drag system, you are ensured that the sealed drag washers will always be lubricated and smooth. The PENN Pursuit III also includes slow oscillation gearing that improves line lay while minimizing line twists. This reel is available in six different sizes between 2500 and 8000 to match your fishing needs.
Equipped with shielded stainless-steel ball bearings, the PENN Pursuit III Spinning Fishing Reel ensures that you get smooth operation while the line capacity rings will indicate how much line has been let out. This lightweight and smooth reel is a reliable reel that is great for beginners.
Pros
- This is a smooth and lightweight reel
- It’s a great choice for beginners
- It’s a great choice for saltwater fishing with its corrosion-resistant design
Cons
- The reel is smaller than some users expected
- You have to turn the drag button a lot more to adjust
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3. SHIMANO Stradic FL Spinning Fishing Reel
Featuring G Free Body technology, the center of gravity on the Shimano Stradic FL Spinning Fishing Reel has been shifted closer to the rod. When you move the center of gravity, it helps reduce your fatigue as you handle it and enhances your comfort as you cast. This reel also has a Hagane body that provides high rigidity and impact resistance that pretty much gets rid of any flexing from the body of the reel, which improves your cranking power.
The included X-Ship feature provides increased gear durability that supports the pinion gear on each end with bearings and allows the pinion gear to maintain correct alignment with the drive gear. This feature also helps the gear to stay in the same position under a heavy load and eliminates the friction between the gear and the spool shaft. Plus, it helps to improve your casting performance when using lighter lures and lets you make longer casts.
The Shimano Stradic also comes with cross carbon drag to give you more of a variety of drag settings as well as a smooth performance. The X-PROTECT feature combines a water repellent coating with a specially created water channeling construction. When considering the best spinning reel for the money, the Shimano Stradic should definitely be a contender.
Pros
- You get great cranking power and reliability
- It’s corrosion and impact-resistant
- It won’t make your arms and hands tired to use it for long periods of time
Cons
- It doesn’t have a reverse reeling direction
- The reel stem could be longer to allow more finger clearance
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4. Abu Garcia Revo S Spinning Reel
If you are looking for incredible value, the Abu Garcia Revo S Spinning Fishing Reel combines the design of its X-Craftic gearbox with a carbon body. With its carbon body, this reel can maintain correct gear alignment, especially when it’s under duress. You get the leverage that you have to handle and overcome a hard-pulling fish.
Created for precision casting, the Abu Garcia Revo S Spinning Reel features slow oscillation that gives you an even line lay. And the lip design allows you to actively control the rate that the line that comes off the reel’s spool to improve your casting accuracy. Plus, the reel’s Rocket Line Management System provides additional control for any type of fishing.
Other features of the Abu Garcia Revo S Spinning Reel include a Carbon matrix Hybrid drag system to give you smooth and reliable drag performance and a lightweight graphite rotor. If you are looking for the best quality spinning reels under 200 dollars, this is definitely a reel you will want to check out.
Pros
- This reel is affordable and a great value
- It is lightweight and reliable
- This is a very accurate reel that also gives you a lot of control
Cons
- It’s pretty noisy
- The bell can get stuck when you open it to cast.
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5. KastKing Brutus Spinning Reel
Featuring a graphite frame and CNC Aluminum Spool, the KastKing Brutus Spinning Reel has a 5.0:1 gear ratio and 4 + 1 ball bearings. This reel has the perfect mix of value and performance by using affordable and innovative features. Durable and lightweight, the graphite rotor and frame help to keep the weight of the reel low while the brass pinion gear and zinc alloy main gear give the reel durability and strength making it one of the best budget freshwater spinning reel choices on the market.
Equipped with an aluminum machined spool and stainless-steel ball bearings, the KastKing Brutus Spinning Reel has increased performance and reduced noise. Offering smooth drag, this reel has a multi-disc drag system that is super smooth and has great stopping power for hard-pulling fish. The retrieved handle is also reversible and comes with a 5.0:1 gear ratio that is ideal for all-around fishing.
Easy to cast, the KastKIng Brutus Spinning Reel comes in four different sizes and is great for catching pike, catfish, walleye, bass, trout, and panfish. The included line keep is a handy way to attach the line after untying the bait and stops unspooling when the reel is stored. The comfortable handle grips allow you to hold the reel all day long without getting tired.
Pros
- This is a very easy reel to cast and comfortable to hold for long periods of time
- It’s a great reel when you need to stop a tough fish
- This reel is of great value and comes with a bunch of features
Cons
- The plastic handle can become loose after some use
- The bail can get stuck when you reel the line in
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Spinning Reel under $200
Types of Fishing Reels
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Advantages of a Spinning Reel
When you fish with a spinning reel, you can use it in many different live bait or finesse presentations. The versatility of this rod makes it a popular choice for anglers that catch walleye, panfish, and bass. You can also use a spinning reel with small crankbaits, jigs, and spinners.
Read related article: Baitcaster Reels for Saltwater
Ideal when teaching someone how to fish and cast, a spinning reel has a simple operation that consists of opening the bail, placing your finger on the line, and then letting the lure sail out. As the angler becomes more experienced, they can upgrade the reel easily.
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Features to Look for When Choosing the Best Spinning Reels under $200
Saltwater can cause rust and corrosion that can easily damage vital internal gears of your spinning rod when they aren’t made from the right type of material. As you choose your spinning reel, make sure you are choosing one that has parts there are corrosion-resistant.
Even if you do find a spinning reel with corrosion-resistant parts, you still want to slush out the parts with clean water after you use it. This removes any remaining salt crystals and keeps your spinning reel clean and ready for your next fishing trip, especially if you don’t know how long it’s going to be until your next fishing trip. It’s always important to keep your gear in good working order.
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As you fish, you will encounter rocks, sand, and seaweed, so it’s important to make sure that your reel is made out of some pretty durable materials. First, make sure that you choose a reel made by a high-quality manufacturer that you know uses good quality materials. That would include manufacturers like Pflueger, Abu Garcia, Shimano, and Daiwa.
There will always be tons of cheaper reels on the market to buy, but they really aren’t a deal if you have to replace them constantly. It’s actually a better value for the money if you can use the same spinning reel over a 20 year period making it worth that initial extra cost.
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Spinning Reel FAQ
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Summary
When shopping for the best spinning reel under 200, you will be pleasantly surprised at the number of high-quality spinning reels that are available at this price point. Make sure to not only look at the price but also the functionality and quality of the reel to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck.
