Buying the best catfish reel comes down to your preferences. Do you want a round baitcast reel or a spinning reel? What amount do you want to spend also? The reels for catfish run from low cost to a moderate price range.
Reading time; 10 minutes 1900 words.
The lower-cost reels are of lower quality. Yet, a catfish reel is cast and then for a while. They do not see a lot of use in casting and reeling compared to other fishing techniques. Besides, the low price makes these reels affordable to replace every 3-4 years.
You can opt for a higher quality if you are a hardcore catfish angler. The reels costing more are affordable. This is in comparison to other reels for bass, walleye, or musky. The higher quality has a longer life also. Then replacement parts are available.
The round reels are the best for catfish. The reels have large line capacities, clickers and free spooling, and low ratios for torque. These are common features of reels people use for catfish.
A big blue or flathead will run hard. As a result, the line will peel off for 10-50 feet. You need extra line capacities. A clicker and free spool option allow the fish to run on the bite. You know the fish has taken your bait.
A big catfish takes power to reel it in. A reel with a higher ratio will be tough to crank. Your arm tires from the effort it takes. Yet, a low ratio is more powerful making cranking easy.
Abu Garcia offers several models of reels for catfishing. These are the best in quality and performance. These reels last for years. Then you buy a few parts and make some repairs. It does save money long-term after the initial cost.
You want the larger sizes in the Abu Garcia reels. The 6500, 6600, or 7000 sizes are better. These models come with clickers and larger line capacities. If the size has 1 at the end it is a left-hand model.
| Model | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery IPR | Drag |
| C3-6500 | 5.3:1 | 310/30 | 320/12 | 4 | 26 | 15 |
| C3-6501 | 5.3:1 | 310/30 | 320/12 | 4 | 26 | 15 |
| C4-6600 | 6.3:1 | 310/30 | 320/12 | 5 | 30 | 15 |
| C4-6601 | 6.3:1 | 310/30 | 320/12 | 5 | 30 | 15 |
| C3-6500CATSPC | 5.3:1 | 310/30 220/50 | 320/12 225/17 | 4 | 26 | 15 |
| C3-7000CATSPC | 4.1:1 | 420/40 360/50 | 250/20 230/25 | 3 | 22 | 20 |
Pros
Cons
Any of these reels will work very well. The C4 has one more bearing. This helps with the heavier weights and fighting bigger fish.
The C3 is a little more affordable. A great choice for an angler who fishes for channel cats or smaller waterways.
The Catfish Special is made for big catfish. The reel is for bigger waters and larger fish. The extra spool capacity is a difference in these aspects.
I use the C3 for catfish, carp, and live bait musky fishing. The reel has maintained its smoothness and performance for years.
C4-6600 to 6601
C3-6500 or 6501
Catfish Special
The KastKing Rover comes in 4 sizes to fit the needs of any catfish angler. A lot of people buy a few Rovers. The reel is affordable, allowing people to buy more than one.
The reel has everything you need in a catfish reel. That said, it is not a perfect choice. Service is done overseas. The warranty is one-year covering shipping costs. Afterward, you pay shipping and a small repair fee (15 US) plus parts cost.
| Size | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 40 | 5.3:1 | 200/50 | 200/12 | 6+1 | 25.9 | 15 |
| 50 | 5.3:1 | 200/70 | 200/16 | 6+1 | 25.9 | 18 |
| 60 | 5.3:1 | 250/70 | 250/16 | 6+1 | 25.9 | 20 |
| 70 | 4.2:1 | 430/70 | 430/16 | 4+1 | 25.9 | 25 |
Pros
Cons
These reels last for years with proper care. If you keep it clean and lube it regularly. The reel will provide good performance.
The Chaos XS is a well-designed reel for catfish. At the price, it is an overperforming reel. You can cast far with little effort or experience. The clicker and tension adjust easily to hold in currents.
While the reel does perform well, it is a little noisy on the cast. Cranking is not as smooth also. I would like to see a little improvement, but it is okay. It is easy to retrieve heavyweights and fish.
| Model | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 4000 | 5.3:1 | 30lb/220 | 14lb/180 | 6+1 | 24.8 | 18 |
| 5000 | 5.3:1 | 40lb/260 | 15lb/250 | 6+1 | 24.8 | 20 |
| 6000 | 5.3:1 | 40lb/330 | 15lb/305 | 6+1 | 24.8 | 22 |
Pros
Cons
If you are on a tight budget it is a great option. Few reels cast as easily and well. The performance is very good. The cons are nothing to discount the reel. It is a more personal view of the reel. I do use the reel every week. The reel does hold up to regular use.
People choose to go with spinning reels, at times. A spinning reel for catfish needs one feature people to overlook. You want a bait feeder or live liner. This allows the fish to run with the bait. As a result, when a catfish runs, you know they have the bait in its mouth.
Using a reel without a bait running feature will miss fish. The fish drops bait at times, feeling the tension. You try to set the hook before the fish is ready. When a fish runs it is ready. Plus, a baitrunner has little to no tension.
These reels come in many sizes also. The following tables contain the reels good for catfish. The 4000 size is good for channel or bullheads. Catching Flatheads or Blues look at a 5000 or 6000 size.
Bait runners or also known as live liners also have two drags and a switch to use the feature. You can adjust the running drag for your conditions. In a swift river, it is likely a high setting. In lakes, the running drag will be set low.
Penn builds excellent reels for big fish. This reel is one of the best bait runners on the market. The reel is durable with sealed bearings and solid construction. It is good for saltwater use also. As a result, this reel will hold up.
| Size | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 4000 | 6.2:1 | 260/20 185/30 | 220/10 165/12 | 5 | 37 | 15 |
| 6000 | 5.6:1 | 390/40 335/50 | 230/20 210/25 | 5 | 41 | 25 |
The live liner drag adjusts easily. It allows fish to run without feeling or very little tension. This helps catch more fish. You know when they take the bait.
Pros
Cons
The reel is metal construction. The body and side plates are metal adding to the sturdiness of the reel. An important feature fighting bigger fish. You will not have flexing with the reel when a fish is on.
The Okuma Avenger is a moderate-price reel. This reel has a very good performance also. The bait runner adjusts to fit all situations. You can have a light setting for chicken liver or crank it up for live baitfish.
| Size | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 4000 | 5.0:1 | 230/30, 190/40 | 230/10 190/12 | 6+1 | 30.9 | 22 |
| 6000 | 4.5:1 | 340/40 290/50 | 220/16 180/20 | 6+1 | 31.4 | 26 |
| 8000 | 4.5:1 | 300/65 245/100 | 300/16 245/20 | 6+1 | 34.1 | 26 |
These reels retrieve the line with ample power. Large weights and fish are easy to crank into shore or the boat. The 6000 and 8000 have large cranking handles for power also.
Pros
Cons
The Avenger is affordable and has the performance of higher costing reels. It is suitable for salt or freshwater also. The reel handles the big ones.
Piscifun makes good reels. People bash the product without ever trying one. I have several that all perform above expectations. Their reels have powerful drags and work well.
| Size | Ratio | Braid Cap | Mono Cap | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 4000 | 5.1:1 | 260/25 | 275/10 | 5+1 | 31.5 | 21 |
| 5000 | 4.3:1 | 400/30 | 320/12 | 6+1 | 32.3 | 26.5 |
| 6000 | 4.3:1 | 380/40 | 390/12 | 6+1 | 32.3 | 26.5 |
These reels have good line capacities to go with the main drag. They will land any fish you hook. The ratios provide smooth and easy retrieving of the heavier weights and big fish. As a bonus, the reel comes with two spools. You can run different lines for situational needs.
Pros
Cons
The con is finding repair or replacement parts. Piscifun is unclear on the parts’ availability. They have parts for some, but not all reels.
KastKing makes reels for budget-minded people. Their reels tend to be among the lowest cost on the market. This helps anglers pursue fishing without paying a lot. You will find these reels do work well.
| Size | Ratio | Braid | Mono | Bearings | Recovery | Drag |
| 4000 | 5.5:1 | 225/50 200/60 | 220/12 200/15 | 10+1 | 33.9 | 12 |
| 5000 | 5.5:1 | 290/50 250/60 | 285/12 245/15 | 10+1 | 35.8 | 12 |
| 6000 | 5.5:1 | 300/60 230/70 | 300/15 230/17 | 10+1 | 37.8 | 12 |
They come with large line capacities. The main drag is adequate but light in comparison to other large reels. A 12-pound drag is good for a 40-50 pound test line. The majority of people will not need more. Plus it comes with a spare spool.
Pros
Cons
Performance is good considering the cost. It is not a high-end reel but good for many anglers. If you are more in the casual angler category it is a good choice. If you are a hardcore catfish angler, I recommend spending more on a better reel.
Manufacturers today have filled the needs of all levels of anglers. One of the reels will do what you need in a reel for catfishing. If you fish a lot, spend on the moderate or higher prices models. Looking to save a few dollars.
There are reels easy on the wallet and perform well. You add a rod of your choice to one of the reels. Catching catfish will be easier.
Suckers are a type of freshwater fish. You will find suckers in many rivers, lakes,…
Fishing for catfish can be an exciting and rewarding experience. But you find choosing the…
Too many anglers do not identify burbot, bowfin, and snakeheads properly. At first glance, they…
Do catfish sting people? It depends on your point of view. The injury does feel…
Catfish have senses to help them survive. It is well known about the sense of…
At times carp are finicky. A few carp fishing tips will help you get better…
This website uses cookies.