5. KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel
If you’re just starting out with catching catfish and are looking for the best budget catfish reels, this is a perfect choice.
But don’t let the low price make you think less of this reel. With its reinforced metal body, this reel is supremely durable. Plus, it’s so smooth and versatile, you’ll be shocked to remember how affordable it was.
The great construction owes itself to the thicker hard anodized aluminum side plates. Its drag system is made of carbon fiber and innovatively designed with its “Cymbal Washer” system which gives it a tangibly powerful feel. It allows up to a maximum drag of 30lbs.
The reel is made even better with its MaxiDur double shielded stainless steel ball bearings. So smooth; you won’t even feel it.
The over sized nonslip EVA grips, accessible thumb bar spool release, and line out clicker alarm make this reel great for trolling, bottom fishing and many other saltwater and freshwater fishing techniques.
This is a reliable baitcasting reel that any serious angler will appreciate. After all, KastKing is known for its amazing quality (despite low prices).
Pros
•Highly affordable
•Durable and consistent
•Unexpectedly powerful for the price point
Cons
•Not ideal for larger fish
•Plain looks
6. Zebco BCXT30C, BX3 Big Cat XT Baitcast Reel, 4.2: 1, 2 Bearing, Right Hand
We’re gonna end this review list with another affordable but powerful catfish reel. It’s great for medium to slightly larger fish, which means it’s perfect for catfishing.
There’s a reason why this reel has “Big Cat” as part of its name; it performs just like one. This is the perfect reel for passionate anglers who understand what a powerful reel looks like.
The reel’s powerful magnum drag system makes it very sturdy and easy to use. Its 5 bearings, continuous anti-reverse clutch, and aluminum spool make it feel super smooth and will probably be very popular with avid anglers.
The heavy-duty guides on this thing, together with its indestructible solid stainless steel tip, also basically make it smooth as a bullet. This reel is particularly good for anglers who like spinning.
In addition, it has some convenient features that make it more convenient including the changeable right or left retrieve, extended EVA handle, built-in hook handle, and high visibility glowing tip.
Pros
•Highly affordable
•All-metal gears
•Comparatively high durability
•Baitcast style, making it perfect for catfishing
•Glow tips for increased visibility while fishing
Cons
•Somewhat noisy
•Not very versatile
•Not the best customer service
How to Catch a Catfish?
The equipment you’ll need for catching catfish is;
•A medium to the heavy spinning rod of 6/7 feet,
•14-pound monofilament spooling,
•Boat-style rod holder,
•Terminal tackle,
•Net for landing fish and pliers for hook removal,
•Bait – catfish chunks are best.
You can use a slip-sinker or a float rig for catfishing; today we’re going to talk about the former (it’s the more popular option since catfish tend to be near the bottom).
First, thread a sinker and bead onto the mainline. Then, tie the mainline to one end of a swivel; on the other end, attach a 1 or 2-foot monofilament leader, then the hook. You can leave the rig on the bottom or hover it above the floor.
One can also think about tipping a jig head with bait and using that. Just raise and drop the jig along the bottom. You might get a catfish bite by holding it still.
Catfish will sometimes hit fast and hard, and sometimes before taking the bait, they’ll play with it. In these situations, you can set the hook. Additionally, you can feed some line when the catfish starts nibbling so it won’t suspect resistance.
How to Choose the Best One
It is widely acknowledged that bait-cast reels work best for catfish, but in general, here are the most important factors.
•Line Capacity
This is the most important factor due to the fact that you’ll be using much heavier fishing line than, say, freshwater fishing.
Larger line fills the reel faster and requires more space. Therefore, if you use a reel with a small spool, you’ll need to strip and replace the line again and again as you fish.
So, a catfish reel that can handle larger diameter fishing lines is important.
•Drag System
A big catfish will create significant force once you hook it. The reel’s drag system has an effect on your line when you begin reeling.A good drag system is essential for catfishing. Without it, your reel’s line will snap. The larger the catfish, the higher the chances are of this happening.
•Spool Tension
A spool tensioner allows for counterbalance and enables you to adjust the spool rotation as required by varying fish weights.
The higher the weight on the line, the more quickly the spool will turn which creates higher chances for backlashes. However, with a lower weight, casting will be difficult.
A spool tensioner is important since catfish on average weigh between 5 and 20 pounds.
•Gear Ratio
Gear ratio is what determines the reeling speed and capacity per each turn of the handle on your reel. More line comes with a higher retrieve ratio.
It goes without saying that higher retrieve ratio is essential when pulling in larger catfish. You can not only work with longer line lengths but also adequate power required to “winch” bigger variants of catfish.
You don’t want to go shopping for a new reel when a huge catfish makes your handle turn ineffectual, causing smaller amounts of line pulled.
Final Words
There are many things to consider when looking for the best catfish reel, and hopefully, you have a better idea about them now.
Catfish require an effort but are a lot of fun. With the right catfish reel, you’ll be having the time of your life. So, what are you waiting for?