Baitcasting reels are best known for their precision and accurate results. These abilities are getting finer day by day. This is mainly due to advancement in the technology as we have observed in the previous blog about the fastest baitcasting reel with amazing gear ratio. When it comes the question of affordability and efficiency it is better to observe 10 best baitcasting reels under $100 as well. Before diving deep into the specs of these reels let’s find out the top picks that we recommend on the basis of our exposure to these reels. You can observe the practical demonstrations of these reels in the following section as well so let’s start:
Our top two picks
Remaining 8 best baitcasting reels under $100:
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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Abu Garcia Pro Max | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 7.1:1 Drag capacity: 18LB |
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KastKing Crixus ArmorX | Color: Black Gear Ratio:7.2:1 Drag capacity: 17.6LB |
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KastKing Verus Baitcasting Fishing Reel | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 8.1:1 Drag capacity: 17.6LB |
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SHIMANO SLX Baitcasting Reels | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 7.2:1 Drag capacity: 12LB |
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Piscifun Phantom Baitcasting Fishing Reel | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 7.0:1 Drag capacity: 17LB |
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Lew’s Speed Spool LFS Baitcasting Reel | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 7.5:1 Drag capacity: 15LB |
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Quantum Throttle Baitcast Fishing Reel | Color: Silver/Black Gear Ratio:7.3:1 Drag capacity: 15LB |
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Daiwa CC80 Baitcasting Reels | Color: Black Gear Ratio: 7.5:1 Drag capacity: 15LB |
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10 best baitcasting reels under $100
Abu Garcia Max pro Baitcasting Fishing Reel:
Abu Garcia Max pro is one of the best affordable reels with its eye-catching design that comes with the combination of black and white colors. As you can observe in the image and practical demonstration its spool and thumb release button have black color while side plates or frame has white color alongside its handles. The frame of this reel is usually made up with Graphite and its spool is usually made up of Aluminum. This reel is really light as it has weight of 7.2 ounces so that makes it very beginner friendly as it is very easy to hold. One of the amazing features is its 7+1 stainless steel ball bearing system that makes it smooth and this smoothness makes a fishing journey more comfortable.
If you are beginner or wanna teach a beginner about baitcasters then this reel is best for its features such as retrieving speed. The feature that I have found more interesting about this reel is its affordability and smoothness and that is what you can see in the following video as well. The drag capacity of this reel is usually 15LB that is really amazing especially for new anglers to catch normal size basses. If we summarize the features of this reel then it would be as following:
What I like in this baitcaster?
This baitcaster is designed with the attractive look however there are multiple things that makes this reel an efficient reel. The first thing that I have noticed in this reel is strong drag while the second thing is its greater ability to store line to cast longer distance. Because of this exposure to these specs, I recommend this reel to you as well.
Pros
cons
The real-life experience of this reel
KastKing Crixus ArmorX Baitcasting Reels
When it comes the question of quality reels KastKing is one of the best options and that is based on our personal exposure to these reels. Likewise, to previous blog in which we have discussed fastest reel in the world that is also manufactured by KastKing; this model KastKing Crixus ArmorX has many amazing features. The Crixus ArmorX is comes with the stylish Aluminum frame in a black color that gives it really an amazing look as you can see in the picture. This reel is also very light as it weighs up to 6.8ozs that makes it comfortable and fit to hands. When we observe its star drag system then it has the capacity of 17.6 pounds and the best thing about this drag is that it is louder as well.
This reel is my personal choice as you can see it has smoothness with the help of 9+1 ball bearings that no other can compete with this budget according to my opinion. This reel can cast up to 110 yards and if you wanna quality and affordability at one place this product is designed for you. If we summarize its features then they would be:
pros
cons
Wanna explore super smooth and more budget friendly baitcasting reel under 100$ at the same time? let’s find out another amazing material that will make your fishing journey a memorable trip:
KastKing Verus Baitcasting Fishing Reel (Assassin Version):
This reel is my top choice under $100 as it is super smoothness and lightness that no other reel can make you experience. As per my observations are concerned this bes5 budget friendly reel fits nicely to hands and make the experience fatigue free. This is because of its lightness as it weighs up to 5.4ozs so, you can use this reel for whole day. KastKing Versus have carbon fiber handles with the combination of blue and black color that gives it a stylish look. This design has 11+1 double shielded ball bearings that make this reel a super smooth product. I can not stress enough on the specs of this reel as you can see in the practical demonstration in the video as well that reel is super comfortable for recreational as well as professional fishing.
This reel provides you with the drag capacity of 17.6lbs with the amazing ability to store the fishing line. For example, this can help you to cast braid line up to 270 yards and mono capacity of 140 yards so isn’t it really amazing? If we summarize all of these features then they would be:
What we like about this reel:
The most fascinating thing I liked about this reel is its lightness without compromising the efficiency of it; as you have seen that this reel is super smooth and comfortable. This reel is one of my top choices because of the specs we have seen already in it. The second thing about this reel is line casting capacity of this reel as you can observe that this reel competes with the premium level baitcasting reels.
Pros
cons
Here is the practical demonstration that will help you to find out the real-life experience of this reel:
SHIMANO SLX Baitcasting Reels
The fourth reel under 100$ category is Shimano SLX Baitcasting reel and it comes with the stylish Aluminum frame as you can see in the picture with the combination of black and blue colors. Although this reel looks bit smaller but its compactness really helps a beginner to take control over the angling. It is also very light reel as it weighs up to 6.9ozs. As we have discussed that it has Aluminum frame however the side plates are made up of graphite and this body is officially termed as HAGANE. This body makes the reel a durable product so it can remain your companionship for a long time. Although this reel has some less features as compared to KastKing but this reel is really helpful for beginners because of its smoothness.
The reason why I am focusing too much on this aspect is the comfortable fishing experience provided by this reel and that you can also be seen in the reel life experience in the video section. At the end of the day the thing that matters is your comfortability in catching basses and that is what reels are designed for so, that is what I recommend on the base of my exposure to these reels.
Pros
cons
The real-life experience of Shimano SLX:
Piscifun Phantom Baitcasting Fishing Reel:
Our fifth choice for you is Piscifun Phantom baitcasting reel that is under 100$ and the special thing about this reel is its lightness. It weighs 5.7ozs and this makes it very easy to handle while its frame is made up of ultralight carbon as well. Spool of this reel is also light but this does not mean that reel is less in terms of its features. When you compare it with the above-mentioned reel you will find out that this reel is not only really lighter but it has more gear ratio and drag capacity. There are seven ball bearings that are making it a perfect material in terms of smoothness. One of the unique features of this reel is dual braking system that is also a plus point that is not provided by others as discussed above. If you wanna enjoy fishing for the whole day then this reel is designed for you as its lightness is meant to protect you from fatigue. If we summarize the specs of this reel then they would be:
pros
cons
How this reel look like:
How you can feel the experience of this reel in real life:
Lew’s Speed Spool LFS Baitcast Reel
The fifth choice among best baitcasting reels under $100 for you is Lew’s speed spool and it also comes in black color as you can observe in the picture. This reel weighs up to 10.5 ounces with the gear ratio of 7.5:1 that is quite good for baitcasting. It is bit heavier as compared to those discussed above but its retrieving speed is competing with nearly all of them. It has the drag capacity of 15 pounds while the casting distance of 120 yards can be achieved with it. Despite of it bit heavy size it can easily fit in your hand but the downside that I feel for this reel is about the fatigue that you may bear if you wanna angling for quite some time.
What I like in this reel?
One of features that I wanna recommend on the basis of exposure is about grips as these rubber grips can cause really calm experience for you during fishing. The frame of this reel also made up of Aluminum that increases the durability of it so you can expect it to last it longer with you. 10 ball bearings help you to enjoy smoothness like the premium quality reels and this is the most distinguished feature of this reel. The handle is 95mm and it has rubber grip handles that will make you to control the reel more efficiently so, this design can also make your angling enjoyable.
pros
cons
Quantum Throttle Baitcast Fishing Reel
Our sixth choice among best baitcasting reels under $100 is Quantum Throttle Baitcasting fishing reel and it is very affordable as well. This reel has some amazing specs that I have liked so that is why I wanna recommend to you as well. It comes with the black and silver color with the gear ratio of 7.3:1 that is quite good for affordable baitcasting reel that will cost nearly sixty dollars. If you are looking for the affordable and efficient reel at the same time then this reel is for you. As far as smoothness is concerned you can feel it with the help of 7+1 ball bearings so you will enjoy baitcasting with it. This reel is 7.6ozs that is bit heavier than other reels we have discussed but the affordability is the main plus point of this reel. It has the drag capacity of 15 pounds with the great capacity of holding casting line.
As a matter of fact, it has highest ability to hold the casting line of up to braid capacity of 170 yards while the mono capacity of 230 yards. This is the plus point of this reel that makes it different from others. The summary of its specs would be as following:
pros
cons
KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reels, Upgraded Version Fishing Reel
KastKing as you know is my favorite reel and it’s not just because of their quality but because of their abilities to provide varieties of reel with affordability. This MegaJaws series also among one of the best baitcasting reels under $100 with some amazing specs. According to my exposure to the fishing reel this was the most affordable and stylish reel that’s providing users with the next level comfort. This series has the gear ratio from the range of 5.4:1 to 9.1:1 with the drag capacity up to 17.6LB. This particular reel that you can see in the picture is known as Predator Red as you can observe through the specs this reel is highly efficient reel that is not only super smooth but it is very stylish and affordable as well. In the price range of under $100 this is my top choice for you.
What I like in this reel?
This is super stylish reel that has really fascinated me while there are some other unique specs that are not available in other baitcasters of this range. This reel has amazing gear ratio and highest gear ratio as per my observation is concerned while there 11+1 ball bearings make it a super smooth reel as well.
pros
cons
Piscifun Carbon XCS baitcasting reel:
Piscifun as we have seen is famous for the light weight but very efficient reels so that’s why we have selected this reel for you. This reel comes with the gear ratio of 8.1:1 that’s quite amazing in this price range but the comfort you feel with it can be felt with the real-life experience. This experience is shown in the following practical demonstration as well. This reel weighs 5.5ozs that makes it a very comfortable reel to hold in your palms and it feels like a feather in the hands. This reel has very efficient dual braking system that distinguishes it from reels manufactured by other companies. As gar as smoothness is concerned this reel is exceptional in this budget range of under $100 as it has 7+1 ball bearings. If we summarize all the features that would be like:
What we like about this reel:
The best thing I have observed in this reel is not only its lightness that makes this reel an exceptional material but its other features as well. The amazing thing is the money back guarantee and warranty of this reel so, you can observe the confidence of the company over its product. This reel has money back guarantee of 30 days with 180 days warranty so, I liked that aspect of it hopefully you will enjoy it as well. The second thing that I have enjoyed is its lightness that helps to fish for the whole day without feeling fatigue.
pros
cons
Bit noisy
How will you experience this reel in real life?
Daiwa, CC80 Casting Reel:
Daiwa, CC80 is our last baitcasting reel under $100 and it comes with the combination of silver and black colors as you can see in the picture. Though this reel is bit heavier than another reel we have observed earlier but it is efficient reel as well. This is because of several specs such as gear ratio of 6.8:1 that will help you to control spool of the reel with comfort. Although this reel is bit heavier for me when I compare it with others but this reel has great drag power of 15lbs. You can buy this reel to cast the distance of 115 yards with comfort and smoothness. It has 4+1 ball bearings to maintain smoothness so that is the average baitcasting reel that you can use to catch fishes. There is magnetic casting system in this reel that makes it possible to cast without facing the issue of backlashes.
What we like in this Baitcaster:
This reel has the ability to cast with great proficiency so, its ability to prevent backlashes has attracted me to write about it. Thus, it helps to beginners to practice easily on it without facing the issues of backlashes that most beginners suffer so, if you wanna buy a beginner reel this reel is for you.
Pros
cons
What you should look like to buy a best baitcasting reels under $100:
While buying a baitcasting reel you should consider certain factors such as gear ratio of the reels. Higher the gear ratio higher will be the ability of the reel to cast with proficiency. The second aspect you should keep in mind is the smoothness of reels that can be understood with the help of ball bearings present in the reel. The third thing that should be under consideration is the drag capacity so higher the drag capacity higher will be the chance for you to catch bigger basses. The fifth thing that you should consider while buying any reel is its ability to cast distance so buy the reel according to your requirement. This requirement will definitely be decided on the basis of your purpose for buying the fishing reel. This means whether you wanna fishing for recreational purpose or for professional purpose so decide it according to your purpose. The last but not least thing that should be your priority is weight of the reel that means if you wanna fish for the quite long time then fishing reel with less weight will help you to enjoy fishing without being fatigued.
Why do pros use baitcasters?
Baitcasters are famous for their ability to cast with great precision and accuracy that is the factor that makes them different from other types of reels. We have analyzed all types of reels in detail as well, if you wanna learn all the pros and cons of the reels then you can explore it as well. In a nut shell baitcaster have the ability to cast longer with great proficiency so that is why pro anglers use baitcasters.
How much should I spend on a baitcasting reel?
The answer is simple it depends on your requirements but as we have analyzed earlier that these baitcasting reels under $100 are best for you as a beginner. Some of the reels are even good for professional baitcasters in addition to their recreational purpose. So, you can enjoy fishing with these aforementioned discussed reels with great accuracy.
Are there any baitcasters that don’t backlash?
There are many baitcasters that can help you to avoid backlashes for example, KastKing is famous for this purpose. The question of backlashes can only be understood when you get expertise with the time being so, higher the proficiency less will be chance of backlash.
Conclusion:
In this blog we have discussed some of the best baitcasting reels under $100 according to our exposure. Hopefully you will enjoy these reels as well. We have made different sections to make baitcasting easy for beginners so, you can explore different sections of our blog to learn angling as a beginner. Happy Fishing!