Are you looking for the best spincasting reel?
If so, then look no further than this list of what we consider to be the 10 best spincasting reels on the market today. We’ve done all the research and testing to bring you our top picks. Each one has been carefully selected based on quality, performance, durability, and value for money. And we’ve included some great information below about what makes these reels so special.
You don’t need to spend hours trawling through countless reviews online trying to figure out which spincast reel is worth buying – we’ve already done that work for you! All of our recommendations are tried-and-tested products that have received excellent feedback from customers like yourself.
So if you want to learn more about each product or find out which one is right for your needs, just keep scrolling!
Our Pick For The Best Spincast Reel
This reel includes everything Zebco has learned in its 72 years of producing spincast reels, it even comes pre-spooled with 10-pound test monofilament line.
You’re going to read a lot about Zebco fishing reels in this review. Zebco is the world leader in spincast reels. There are other excellent manufacturers, but Zebco remains the top dog in this angling style.
The top choice is no surprise, a Zebco product. The Zebco Omega Pro Spincast Fishing Reel earns the top position, even though it is one of the higher-priced Zebco reels.
Zebco is renowned for low-priced spincast reels, but they took a little extra care and packed the Zebco Omega Pro Spincast with many quality features.
All metal construction, anti-reverse, adjustable drag, and available in both 20 and 30-size reels, the Zebco Omega Pro Spincast is similar to the traditional Omega but 20% lighter.
For all these reasons, combined with overwhelmingly positive comments from anglers who have used this spincast reel, it takes our top spot.
How Did We Determine the Best Spincasting Reel?
Spincast reels all work on the same basic principle, but the quality, reliability, durability, and overall performance separate a vast array of cheaply constructed fishing reels from the ones you can rely on.
We took the price, construction material, spool capacity, number of ball bearings, the reputation of the manufacturer, and user comments and compared each of the spincast reels reviewed here to those parameters.
The result produced a lot of Zebco products, but a few surprises as well.
As you read these reviews, think of those parameters as they might apply to how you or someone you know would use a spincast reel.
The Best Spincast Reel For You
The best fishing reel is one that fits your specific needs. There are so many options out there, it can be hard to know what you need.
Our goal with this article is to help you find the best spincasting reel for your needs and style of fishing. We have taken 10 spincasting reels from different price ranges and reviewed them for you in our list below.
If you want to read more about each individual product, scroll past the product boxes where we discuss these products in detail.
This reel includes everything Zebco has learned in its 72 years of producing spincast reels, it even comes pre-spooled with 10-pound test monofilament line.
This is the reel to start a youngster or novice on. They’re almost bulletproof, with few tangles, able to make long casts and they’re easy to hold and crank.
This is one of the smoothest bullet-style reels on the market, which means longer casts for you, and smoother, more powerful retrieves.
Built of stainless steel and aluminum, with four of eight bearings made of stainless steel this reel offers top performance.
Made of aluminum, with five ball bearings, and dual titanium pins, this reel is one tough customer. An instant anti-reverse guarantees you’ll set the hook the first time you feel a strike.
Lightweight, powerful, and from the industry leader in delivering the best spincast reels, the Zebco 202 is a popular workhorse in low-cost spincast reels.
The convenient lever allows easy one-handed casting, and some argue, better target accuracy than the button variety of spincast reels.
Designed for only monofilament line, the reel can handle 140-yards of six-pound test line, 110-yards of eight-pound test, and 100-yards of 10-pound test.
This reel has all the features and quality of the standard President spincast but comes with a different release in this lever style.
It has five ball bearings for smooth operation, an anti-reverse bearing and it is easily interchangeable from right to left-hand operation.
Best Spincast Reels Reviewed
Zebco Omega Pro Spincast Reel
This reel includes everything Zebco has learned in its 72 years of producing spincast reels, it even comes pre-spooled with a 10-pound test mono line.
The all-metal construction, in an attractive gloss black finish, catches your eye as quickly as the smooth casting reel will catch fish.
With seven ball bearings and a 19-inch per crank retrieval rate, this reel is a gem.
It is easily interchangeable from right to left-hand operation making it a versatile ambidextrous reel in addition to its other quality features.
The 3.4.1 gear ratio is slower than most spincasting reels, but it is easy to control and power. The complaint about many lightweight spincast reels is that they can’t handle large fish. The lower gear ratio, heavy-duty all-metal design, and 10-pound test line bring the Omega Pro to the level of bait cast and spinning reels in power.
An instant anti-reverse feature keeps the reel throwing out and retrieving line with no annoying inside snarls, something that happens with lesser-quality spincast reels.
It is available in a heavier 16-ounce 20-series or a 30-series that has been reduced to only 10.6 ounces from the original Omega in the size 30 design.
Durability at a slightly higher price is what Zebco designers looked for in the Omega Pro. They even include a spare spool and an extra dual-paddle handle.
There’s no doubt Zebco deserves the top spot for best spincasting reel, as they have been a leader in spincast reel manufacturing for over 5 decades.
Pros
- 3.4:1 Gear Ratio
- Light 10.6-ounce weight
- Ambidextrous
- Extra spool and handle
- Pre-spooled with 10-pound test monofilament
- All-metal design
Cons
- Price
- 19-inch per crank retrieval rate
Zebco 404 Spincast Fishing Reel
If you’ve taken a few trips around the sun, and you’re an outdoorsman, you most likely fell in love with the Zebco 303 a long time ago. The venerable Zebco 303 was “The Reel” for kids for generations.
Inexpensive, almost bulletproof, and easy to use, it was the starting point for many professional anglers before their baby teeth fell out.
Zebco discontinued this gem a while back, but the next generation Zebco 404 carries on the tradition.
You won’t find the Zebco 404 on those themed “Little Mermaid” or “Snoopy” three-foot-long kid’s poles in the big box stores, it’s a much finer reel than those used for that purpose.
The Zebco 404 is a heavy-duty, substantial 40 series spincast reel.
In terms of price for performance, many anglers consider the 404 the best spincasting reel on the market.
A 2.8:1 gear ratio is low, but powerful, bringing your lure, or hopefully fighting game fish back with smooth even cranks.
This reel is only available in right-handed configuration and comes pre-spooled with a 15-pound test line.
The reel is inexpensive but still constructed of corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Weighing just 9.6-ounces, it is a powerhouse for its small size.
The adjustable drag dial is right above the release button, allowing one-handed operation. The anti-reverse feature is handy when setting the hook on a heavy strike, it locks the line in place, not allowing the slippage you sometimes experience with lower-quality spin cast reels.
This is the reel to start a youngster or novice on. They’re almost bulletproof, with few tangles, able to make long casts, and they’re easy to hold and crank.
Pros
- Zebco tradition
- Pre-spooled with 15-pound test monofilament
- 40 series reel for larger fish
- Price
Cons
- Low 2.8:1 gear ratio
- Only right-handed models
KastKing Brutus Spincast Fishing Reel
If anyone can mount a serious challenge to Zebco in finding the best spincasting reel, it’s KastKing. Their Brutus takes our third spot, offering a bevy of quality components in a moderately priced spincast reel.
The Brutus has a high-speed (for a spincast reel) gear ratio of 4.0:1 making it a good choice for bass fishing where faster topwater retrieves can entice those hiding large mouths waiting just below the surface to strike.
The Brutus has five proprietary MaxiDur ball bearings and an all-important ambidextrous handle that allows both right and left-handed configuration.
The reel is made of graphite, with an aluminum handle, and is a 30 series.
With a unique spool design, the Brutus holds more fishing lines than competing models of the same size. It comes pre-spooled with 160-yards of 10-pound test monofilament line.
This is one of the smoothest bullet-style spincasting reels on the market, which means longer casts for you, and smoother, more powerful retrieves.
Unlike many spincast reels that serious trout and bass fishermen don’t appreciate, the higher gear ratio, larger line capacity, and easy-to-adjust drag make the Brutus a good choice for seasoned anglers and novices as well.
An added plus is the eye-catching black and neon-red style of the reel.
Pros
- Pre-spooled with 10-pound test line
- Large 160-yard line capacity
- Fast retrieve
- Casting distance
- Appearance
- Recommended for trout and bass
Cons
- Graphite construction
- Price is on the higher end for spincast reels
RUNCL Spincast Fishing Reel
This might be the best spincasting reel you’ve never heard of. RUNCL is a newcomer, just four years old, after its founders began building fishing reels and fishing supplies in Colorado in 2016.
Frustrated with the poor quality fishing reels they used as kids, the founders set a goal to build a reasonably priced spincast reel that was high in quality and performance. They succeeded in their effort.
This reel has some impressive statistics. It offers a high speed 4.0:1 gear ration, an impressive seven ball bearing design for smooth action, an ambidextrous handle for left or right-hand operation, and an adjustable, easy to access drag that can put up to 17.5 pounds of pressure on a fish running with your fishing line.
Built of stainless steel and aluminum, with four of eight bearings made of stainless steel, this reel offers top performance.
Its quality and line retrieval speed makes it a good choice for professional anglers, or outfitters who have a lot of fishing reels in their inventory for their clients.
Add the pre-spooled 160-yards of 10-pound test monofilament and all you need is a rod and a place to use it.
Pros
- Eight total bearings
- Pre-spooled with 10-pound test
- Large spool capacity
- All metal construction
- Adjustable drag
- 4.0:1 gear ratio
Cons
- New to the market without a long track record
Pflueger President Spincast Reel
When you hear anglers talk, the Pflueger name comes up early in almost every conversation. Pflueger has a long, and storied tradition in the spinning reel world, but they have an equally effective offering in a spincast reel.
The spincast version of their President reel is often confused with their spinning reel, also bearing the President name. The only two things these diverse reels have in common aside from the name is the quality that Pflueger brings in all of its reels.
Made of aluminum, with five stainless steel ball bearings, and dual titanium pins, the Pflueger President Spincast Reel is one tough customer. An instant anti-reverse guarantees you’ll set the hook the first time you feel a strike, and the spool applied drag gives you the resistance to tire out even big, hard-running rainbow trout.
The ambidextrous designs fit either left or right-handed anglers.
The Pflueger President Spincast Reel is available in four varieties, with two different sized spools.
The 6 and 6U models can handle 90-yards of six-pound test monofilament line, have powerful 3.4:1 year ratios, feature slow retrieves of 14.5 inches per crank and nine ounces or less.
The larger 10SCB and 10SCX are recommended for 75-yards of a 10-pound test line, have a maximum drag of 10 pounds (4.54 kg), a gear ratio of 3.8:1, and a line retrieve of 18.5 inches (ca. 47 cm) per crank.
This slightly faster line retrieves on the larger model moves it into the realm of enticing large mouth bass with fast-moving surface plugs through heavy vegetation.
The larger spincasting reels weigh a solid 11.2 ounces.
Pros
- Pflueger design
- Good drag system
- All metal construction
- Left and right-hand interchangeable
Cons
- Only five ball bearings
- Small line capacity
- Slow retrieval rate
Zebco 202 Spincast Fishing Reel
Lightweight, powerful, and from the industry leader in delivering the best spincasting reels, the Zebco 202 is a popular workhorse in low-cost spincast reels.
Available in any color as long as it’s black, the 202 is an all-metal reel made of stainless steel.
It features Zebco’s patented tangle-free design.
One of the strongest gear ratios in any spincast design at 2.8:1 ensures slow, smooth line retrieve with each turn of the stainless steel handle.
A dial-adjustable drag, with an anti-reverse system, provides all the tools you’ll need to land even large fish.
The sleek Zebco design allows the fishing line to flow out quickly, and evenly for long-distance casts.
The Zebco 202 is available in reel sizes from 30 to 80.
The 80JSF is the largest of these spincasting reels, weighing a hefty 19.2 ounces (0.73 kg). It comes pre-spooled with 145-yards of a 20-pound test line.
The 80JSF version is suitable for large bass, rainbow trout and has the strength to bring in hard running salmon in fast water.
Pros
- It’s a Zebco
- Works with the higher 20-pound test line
- Available in three sizes
- Size 80 reel
- All metal construction
Cons
- Low retrieval rate
- Low gear ratio
- Weight
Zebco 33 Gold Spincast Fishing Reel
All the spincasting reels reviewed so far have been the bullet/button style, this one is different. Zebco built the 33 series with a lever instead of a button.
The reel seats on a standard spinning rod fit this reel, rather than a spin cast rod. The orientation of the reel is under the rod.
The convenient lever allows easy one-handed casting, and some argue, better target accuracy than the button variety of spincast reels.
This is a lightweight spin cast reel, designed for light or ultra-light rods.
It has a faster 4.3:1 gear ratio than most competing models and comes pre-spooled with a four-pound test line.
The reel has just two ball bearings and a clutch.
Zebco reels all have the company’s anti-reverse feature, which helps in setting the hook by locking the fishing line in place as you jerk the rod in response to a strike.
It is made in an attractive combination of silver and gold materials and is easily converted from right to left-handed use or back again.
Pros
- Lever action
- Faster gear ratio 4.3:1
- Pre-spooled with four-pound test line
Cons
- Only two ball bearings
- Designed for spinning rods
KastKing Cadet Spincast Fishing Reel
KastKing is back in the top 10 with their size 20 Cadet spincast reel.
This right-hand only reel is made of graphite with a stainless steel handle.
Designed for only monofilament line(it won’t work with braided line), the reel can handle 140-yards of a six-pound test line, 110-yards of an eight-pound test, and 100-yards of a 10-pound test.
It is pre-spooled with a maximum of 100-yards of 10-pound test monofilament line.
It has a 6.6-pound maximum drag, and a gear ratio of 3.1:1, which equates to a very slow retrieval rate of 11.4 inches (0.29 m) per crank.
The reel is light, weighing just 7.4 ounces.
Pros
- Can be used with various sized monofilament line
- Lightweight at 7.4 ounces
- Good spool capacity
Cons
- Slow retrieval rate of 11.4 inches per crank
- Graphite construction
- Only right-handed models
- A low gear ratio of 3.1:1
Pflueger PRES6USCX President
The Pflueger President is back again, but this time instead of a bullet/button release it is in the lever-action variety.
This reel has all the features and quality of the standard President spincast but comes with a different release in this lever style.
An added benefit of a lever-style spincast is that it will work on your spinning rods. If you have a lot of spinning rods, and just one baitcast reel, this one will give you a different action reel, without having to buy a new rod.
The left or right-hand design will fit almost any angler. The all-metal construction ensures durability, and performance in a wide range of temperatures and conditions.
The five stainless steel ball bearings in this reel offer smooth action. The attractive cobalt blue and black color scheme is eye-catching without being gaudy.
It’s priced a little high in the moderate range, but its unique lever-action design is difficult to find.
Pros
- Lever action
- Pflueger quality
- Five stainless steel ball bearings
- All metal construction
- Ambidextrous design
Cons
- Higher price
- Slow line retrieve
Magreel Spincast Fishing Reel
Our final review is from a relatively unknown manufacturer, the Magreel company.
They might not be well known, but the anglers who’ve used this reel are believers.
Constructed of stainless steel in an attractive, eye-catching bright red design, this reel is a showstopper.
It has five ball bearings for smooth operation, an anti-reverse bearing and it is easily interchangeable from right to left-hand operation.
It comes pre-spooled with 109-yards of a six-pound test monofilament line.
The reel has a quick 4.3:1 gear ratio, allowing fast retrieves.
While most spincast reels are used for pan fishing, and sometimes bottom bouncing for walleye or catfish, this reel is quick enough and powerful enough to attract large mouth bass with surface lures, and rainbow trout.
Pros
- Stainless steel construction
- Attractive design
- Fast 4.3:1 gear ratio
- Good line capacity
Cons
- Relatively unknown manufacturer
How to Choose the Right Spincast Reel
You should have an idea of the features you’re looking for in a spincast reel. Price is always a consideration, but so is quality, and quality is often measured in how many ball bearings are included in the reel mechanism.
You have a couple of choices in how the best spincasting reel are oriented. With eight of our reviewed spincasting reels using the standard bullet/button design, you’ll need spincast rods to use these.
The two lever-action spincast reels reviewed, require a spinning rod since they hang down under the rod as a spinning reel does.
The lever action reels are a double-edged sword. If you’re an exclusive spincast angler, they won’t work with your other rods. If you have both, or maybe are usually a spinning reel user, the lever-action reel is another weapon in your fishing arsenal.
The size of the reel, line capacity, and recommended size of the line are all factors in selecting the best spincast reels, but they’re factors that you need to determine for yourself.
A good spincast reel is a lot of fun, at a low price with an almost bulletproof performance rating.
Let’s take a look at more things to consider when shopping for the best spincast reels.
Bearings
Bearings are steel or ceramic balls that run around moving mechanical parts to minimize friction and prevent friction. Ceramic bearings are referred to as one of the best bearings possible because of their smoothness and corrosion resistance.
Stainless steel has the most commonly used option. The ceramic is immune to damage but because the ceramic is extremely hard, it is very effective at reducing friction. Bearings normally on spincast rods vary from 4 to 7.
Anything under 4 feet (1.22 m) with a sharp sensation and there will be a tough retrieval. The bigger the bearing, the smoother the response will be when you spin. Stainless-steel bearings have the best prices currently available. Of course, there are differences between the performances.
Pickup Systems
Pickup systems are smaller internal mechanisms that enable a reel to attach to the fishing line and to begin pulling it back into the housing.
These are important as if they slip or fail to catch the line you will lose the entire line and the bait. Buying reels that are made by a respected and well-known producer should be done in order to prevent problems with equipment. Some manufacturers add cutting-edge technology to pickups to improve the performance of the system.
Read the details and specifications of the reel you choose carefully to learn what the manufacturer is doing to improve the performance of its pickup system.
Ease of Use
Spin casting reels are extremely popular, especially with new anglers and children. A simple setup is a major advantage many consider to be beneficial to their choice for spin casting reels. Spin cast reels avoid backlash problems typical of open-face spinning reels.
Spinning reels eventually will sometimes twist and bind the fishing line and need to be replaced; they also eliminate entirely issues with imperfect casting that anglers face in learning to master the spinning reels. Open face reels can require much more knowledge, as does bait cast reels. They can become the advantage in situations where closed-face fishing can be stalled.
Common Questions Related to Spincast Reels
What is the gear ratio of this reel?
That’s a reel-specific question but a good one. Gear ratio when combined with spool capacity gives you the retrieval rate per crank of a spin cast reel. The higher the numbers, the faster the retrieval. Low gear ratios mean slower, but more powerful retrieves. If you’ve ever heard the term “horsing it” that simply means raw power, almost like a winch when cranking in line.
Is this reel good for saltwater fishing?
The answer is almost always no for spincast reels. Saltwater has many more demands on a reel than freshwater angling. The corrosive effects of sun, sand, and salt can quickly destroy a reel. Spincast reels are enclosed, meaning the corrosive material will find its way inside and slowly destroy the reel. You can clean them after every saltwater adventure, but unlike spinning reels and baitcasting reels which can be cleaned without disassembly, you’ll have to take your spincast reel apart to clean it properly.
What Are The Benefits of a Spincast reel?
The biggest benefit is the ease of use. It is the reel most anglers start on as small children because of its easy, push-button design, and handy crank location. One-handed operation is another big benefit. You can use either your right or left hand to cast, and the reel is easy to set back to retrieve with just a simple click as you crank the handle. There is no bail to worry about coming back over the top of the reel.
Which is Better, the Bullet/Button Style or the Lever-action Style Baitcast Reel?
For beginners, start with the button on top. It is easier to use for small hands and lends itself better to two-handed casts. Once the youngster or novice learns how to use the button model, then you can experiment with the lever-action style.
The lever action is a better reel for advanced anglers. Many competitive largemouth bass anglers have switched from spinning to lever-action spincast reels in recent years.
Do Spincast Reels Tangle Easily?
No, they don’t, they’re the most tangle-free reel among the three major designs. The horizontal spool, with a pair of retrieval pins on the outside of the spool, grabs the line efficiently, wrapping it neatly around the spool to eliminate tangles. When you cast the line out, it flows easily off the spincast spool.
History of the Spincast Reel
There were two reels used from the turn of the 20th century to the post-World War II years, the baitcast and the spinning reel. Both are a great innovation in fishing design, but baitcasting reels are prone to an annoying backlash in the hands of a beginner and can produce that infuriating snarl with professionals at times too. The spinning reel takes a bit of coordination to use effectively, and it takes two hands to cast in most situations.
In 1949, two rival companies attempted to solve the backlash and coordination challenges with an entirely new design, the spincast reel.
A spincast reel has the spool protected inside a cover. The fishing line reels out similar to a spinning reel, but there is no bail to worry about or have the line wrap around the wrong way if it’s caught in the wind or from loss of traction. Two pins extend to catch the line and wrap it around the spool when you crank it.
To cast, it’s an easy one-hand operation. You just push the large button with your thumb as you cast and the fishing line flows out onto the water, or in newer designs, you just pull up a lever with one finger on each cast.
It works well with light lures and baits.
The Denison-Johnson Reel Company and the Zero Hour Bomb Company, more commonly known as Zebco, both came out with spincast designs in 1949.
They were a huge hit, outselling all other designs for the next two decades.
They were an especially popular design with youngsters due to their simple design, and the placement of the reel above the rod, with a pistol grip handle that worked much better with small hands.
Wrapping Up
It’s the reel many anglers used the first time they went to the water. The venerable spincast reel isn’t venerable at all in comparison with its competitors the baitcast and the spinning reel, but it is a favorite among many for ease of use, casting distance, and reliability. Finding the best spincast reels for your style of fishing is a challenge, a challenge we hope that we have helped you with.
For more guidance on choosing your next reel, check these pages below-
- 10 Best Spinning Reels
- 5 Best Ultralight Reels
- 12 Best Baitcasting Reels
- 7 Best Surf Fishing Reels and Why
- Best Spinning Reels for Bass Fishing
- Best Reels for Flipping and Pitching
- Best Rod and Reel Combo for Beginners
- The Best Fishing Reel Brands and Most Popular Models
- Best Spinning Reels Under $50
- 14 Best Rod and Reel Combo’s and Why
