Best Spinning Reels For Bass Fishing

Buyer's Guide Overview

Many anglers have decided that spinning reels are the best choice for bass fishing, mainly because they are easier to use and don’t have the dreaded backlash linked to them. These reels make casting comfortable and easy and give anyone the chance to learn how to fish. For this piece, we’ll provide the complete spinning reel buyer's guide, helping you decide on the reel that fits your fishing ability.

Spinning reels are very different to baitcasting reels, as they are mounted to the bottom side of the rod rather than the top. The spool is stationary and the line guide within the reel revolves around the spool. Spinning reels are ideal for light line as well as light lure presentations - such as a weightless senko.

Casting weightless lures can be tough on a baitcaster, so most high level anglers turn to spinning setups when they're fishing finesse (weightless)

Spinning reels also require spinning rods to function. As mentioned, these reels are much easier to use compared to baitcasters solely because of casting and no backlash.

Here is a list of the key components and features to consider before buying a spinning reel, for each we will provide an in depth summary of how each component will impact the performance of the reel, and how they play a role in improving the experience for the angler:

• Body and Weight
• Reel Size
• Gear Ratio
• Ball Bearings
• Spool
• Handle

Body and Weight

Spinning reel bodies, also known as the ‘housing’ can be made of either aluminum or graphite.

• Aluminum is the stronger housing material between the two, and it also exhibits less flex
  

• Graphite is a lighter material, and also provides great durability. Having a lighter housing material may be more comfortable for anglers
• Carbon is another material becoming reasonably popular within the housing. Carbon is incredibly lighter and has impressive durability
  

Choosing the housing for your spinning reel comes down to personal preference - if you’re looking for a stronger, more durable body, aluminum will be your best bet. If you’re looking for a lighter more comfortable reel for longer casting sessions, you may want a graphite body.

In terms of the most expensive bass spinning reels, most of them will be made with aluminum, as this material provides superior strength. If you’re looking to saltwater fishing, a graphite body may be a better option due to its corrosion-resistant qualities.

Reel weight is definitely something to consider when looking at your next spinning reel. Chances are, you’ll be spending plenty of hours on the water with it, so you should definitely consider looking at a reasonably weighted reel in order to have comfortable long sessions. Most reels will show the weight in ounces.

Spinning Reel Size

There are a few questions to consider before choosing the size for your spinning reel. These can include:

• What size fish are you planning to catch?
• What line strength are you planning to use?
  

We’re focusing on bass fishing, so there are numerous sizes you could consider. Spinning reel sizes for bass specifically come in 1000 (or 10), 2000 (or 20), 2500 (or 25), 3000 (or 30) and 3500 (or 35). These sizes will be discussed further.

1000 (or 10)

• Great for lighter line applications such as 6-8lb fluorocarbon
• Recommended applications: Finesse applications, such as shaky heads, wacky rigs, or light dropshot rigs
• Recommended rod pairing: 6-7’
• Lighter weight is more comfortable and provides greater control
• Retrieval speed is limited
• Less line capacity
• Offers enough strength for all size bass
• Great for fishing weightless small worms
  

2000 (or 20)

• Perfect for lighter, and slightly heavier line applications. 6-12lb fluorocarbon is a prime region
• Recommended applications: Finesse applications of all kinds
• Greater line capacity for further casting
• Ideal balance and comfortable for the wrist
• Feels similar to a 2500, has the versatility but is slightly lighter
• Still slower compared to larger spinning reels
  

2500 (or 25)

• Can handle all types of line easily, no matter the diameter
• Greater line capacity for further casting capability
• Provides the most versatility in terms of weight, speed, control, and capacity.
• May be the best option if looking to cover all techniques
  

3000 (or 30)

• Better for heavier line applications. 10lb and greater
• Wider spool provides an overall smoother feel
• Wider spools are less likely to tangle, and are comfortable for throwing all kinds of lines.
• Provides greater strength and line capacity
• Immense casting capability
• Can be unnecessarily large - and may be more suited for saltwater fishing rather than bass fishing
  

In terms of what the best size is for bass, it all depends what kind of environment you’re planning to work and what size fish you’re going for. The most common size you'll see on the water is probably a 2500, as the provides the necessary line capacity while not being too heavy.

Light fishing

If you’re working a smaller dam and focusing on shorter, more accurate casts, you’re better off with a smaller reel, as this provides superior control and comfortability. A 1000 or 2000 would be fine for this environment, especially if you’re going for bass. A smaller reel is also more compatible with a light rod, which makes fishing finesse applications (weightless presentations) more comfortable.

Most versatile

In terms of the best overall reel size option when it comes to versatility, a 2500 reel would be a great option. This size offers great control and a good line capacity for better casting capabilities. A lightweight feel can also extend your sessions on the water. This size reel will be comfortable on most rods and you'll be able to fish every technique well.

Larger areas to cover?

If you’re working in larger lakes and deep waters, you may want to look at a 3000+ size reel, where you’ll be able to cast further and cover more water. This size isn't ideal for lighter presentations.

Gear Ratio

When it comes to spinning reels, most of them have gear ratios of between 5.2:1 and 6.2:1. Essentially, for a reel that has a gear ratio of 5.2:1, the spool will rotate 5.2 times for every 360 degree turn of the reel handle.

Brands have started manufacturing spinning reels with gear ratios of up to 7.0:1, which are better for bass anglers who are looking to fish areas of hazardous cover.

Spinning reels like slightly less variety of gear ratios compared to baitcasting reels, a reason why more advanced bass anglers will often prefer baitcasting reels - as they prefer a variety of gear ratios to work different lure presentations.

Slower gear ratios (5.1-5.4:1)

Reels with a slower gear ratio have a greater amount of torque, which essentially means less effort in retrieving your bait. This reels are suited for lures that pull a lot, such us:

• Deep crankbaits
• Deep diving spinnerbaits
• Bigger, slower lures
  

A slower gear ratio is also better for winter bass fishing as slower presentations are more attractive to bass in these conditions. A slower gear ratio will also keep the lure in the strike zone for longer.

Moderate gear ratios (5.4-6.1:1)

These reels are more versatile when it comes to lure presentations, meaning you can use a variety of different lures and presentations comfortably. This essentially means you can either use this reel for deep water lures, or even topwater lures in the shallows. Here are some ideal lure types for this gear ratio:

• Finesse applications of all kinds
• Jigs
• Spinnerbaits
  

Reels with a moderate gear ratio are better than slower gear ratios when it comes to fishing in heavily covered areas and you need to retrieve your lure a bit faster. Faster lures will also work better in the summer months.

Fast gear ratios (6.1-7.0:1)

A 7.0:1 gear ratio is likely the fastest you’ll find for a spinning reel, and these will often be preferred by more advanced bass anglers. Ideal for fishing high structure areas and pulling in bass from hazardous cover threats. Faster gear ratios are great for many lures:

• Topwaters
• Texas rigs
• Carolina rigs
• All finesse applications
  

These lures have a great potential to create slack in your line (especially finesse), so a faster gear ratio is ideal for winding up line quickly and getting a crisp hookset.

Once again, choosing a gear ratio will depend a lot on what kind of waters you’re looking to fish, and what seasons you’re looking to fish. Slower gear ratios will be better for deeper waters and winter, while faster gear ratios will be better for shallower water and summer months.

Ball Bearings

Ball bearings are stainless steel, cylinder shaped rings which are responsible for creating an ease of motion inside a reel, while reducing friction and increasing speed while angling. Bearings are vital for the smooth running of your real and they also play a massive role in the results of your casting. Having more friction will lead to a less smooth cast, meaning a loss in distance. This is where the bearings play a helpful role in reducing friction.

Many people believe that more bearings automatically means better quality in smoothness and better motion, however, this is certainly not always the case. You can find up to 14 bearings in a reel but if these are low quality bearings, you may not get the desired results in the running of your reel.

The kind of bearings you’re looking for are “shielded”, “double-shielded”, and “sealed” bearings. These kinds of bearings are highly durable and will lead to consistent performance in your reel. So, rather than looking for the number of bearings, rather focus on the quality of the bearings the reel is providing.

Ideally, you should have at least 4 ball bearings on a spinning reel, but they should be quality bearings rather than standard bearings. Look for the above traits.

Other bearings which should be regarded are ARB (anti-rust bearings), or CRBB (corrosion-resistant bearings).

Spools

Spools play a huge role in many departments in a spinning reel, not only for holding line but also for casting and reel smoothness. Most spinning reels on today’s market are either anodized aluminum or graphite.

• Aluminum offer greater strength and rigidity under pressure
• Graphite offers a lighter material and might be better for saltwater fishing
  

Handles

This is another feature which comes down to personal preference and comfort, however, one prerequisite of searching for the ideal spinning reel is finding a reel that has an anti-reverse handle.

An anti-reverse handle prevents the handle from spinning backwards, which lowers your chance of getting a strong hook set during a take.

One should also look for a handle that has a strong and large arm and knob. This helps with attaining a firmer grip with less chance of slipping.

The 10 Best Spinning Reels For Bass Fishing:

Based on feedback collected from reviews and top retailers, and reviews left by our users, these are the top spinning reels for bass fishing with their associated ratings.