It’s always advisable to have the right gear when hitting the waters for crankbait fishing. As usual, we have done the legwork for you and rounded up some of the best crankbait reels available on the market. Choosing the best crankbait reel can be an uphill task since there are a lot of brands that specialize in making them.
Whether you are a professional or a novice, it’s always advisable to have the best crankbait reel at your disposal for all your fishing needs. This article gives a detailed overview outlining some of the factors you need to put into consideration when looking for crankbait reels. We also define key terms and hope you have a better fishing experience the next time you hit the waters. Let’s dive right in!
Best Crankbait Reel
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KastKing Royale Reeel is currently the best crankbait reel on the market. Just as the name suggests, it features a low profile design that provides unbeatable high performance and premium quality. The 7:1 silent gear ratio is perfect for crankbait fishing. This crankbait reel offers excellent performance even with its stunning low profile design.
KastKing Royalefeatures a dual brake system with exceptional fine tuning and controlling capabilities. You are bound to enjoy a smooth retrieval and cast with this crankbait reel thanks to the 12 high quality and noise free ball bearings. What’s more, the bearings are equally corrosion resistant which makes this crankbait reel perfect for both salt- and fresh- water fishing.
KastKing Royale Legend Low Profile Crankbait Reel weighs 17.5 pounds but it’s surprisingly lightweight owing to its low profile design. This typically means that you’ll be able to fishing comfortably without worrying about the weight of the crankbait reel. Plus, it comes in left- and right-handed operation to cater to all fishers.
Key Features
- Its operation is noise free unlike some of its counterparts
- It’s lightweight
- It comes with corrosion resistant ball bearings
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Abu Garcia BMAX3 Max Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel is super lightweight. It’s best suited for those who plan on hitting the waters days on end. This crankbait reel is not only comfortable to use for an extended period but also easy to maneuver and hold owing to its low profile design. It features a combination of a recessed reel and bent handle to provide an ultimate ergonomic grip.
The Abu Garcia BMAX3 features a high performing and high-quality reel with five ball bearings. The sturdy stainless steel construction helps ensure the ball bearings offer optimal performance in both fresh and saltwater since they are corrosion resistant. This crankbait reel uses the MagTrax brake system that allows the user to have more control when fishing and cast accurately.
Key Features
- The MagTrax brake system is easy to use
- It has an ergonomically designed handle that’s super comfortable and easy on the hands
- It comes with corrosion resistant ball bearings
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Piscifun is the best crankbait reel available on the market and comes in both left- and right-handed operation. Piscifun Torrent 18LB Carbon Fiber Crankbait Reel is an excellent choice for fishers working on a budget since it’s relatively cheap. It features a rugged washer design that gives it a stunning 18-pound fiber drag. This typically means that this crankbait reel allows you to reel in bigger fish species with ease.
This Piscifun Crankbait Reel additionally features a highly durable, climate resistant Japanese Hami cut brass gears that provide long-lasting durability and endurance. This crankbait reel is best suited for the professionals and novice alike as it guarantees to give you a better fishing experience. The 7.1:1 silent gear ratio tends to combine with the corrosion resistant ball bearings to give you a smooth performance.
Piscifun Torrent 18lb Carbon Fiber Crankbait Reel comes with six stainless steel ball bearings that offer optimal performance regardless of the type of water since they are corrosion resistant. It’s hands down the best crankbait reel as it features the famous backlash eliminating technology.
Key Features
- It’s perfect for all fishing climates
- It features backlash eliminating technology
- It has brass gears
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KastKing Assassin Carbon Crankbait Reel weighs an impressive 5.7 ounces which means its super lightweight. It’s equally comfortable to use for an extended period especially on those long fishing days. It’s easy on the hands but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the rugged design is compromised. It features a sturdy carbon construction on the frame, a 16.5 pound and 4-disc carbon fiber that guarantees optimal performance.
The KastKing Assassin features a corrosion resistant 12 ball bearing design that ensures smooth operation. The corrosion resistant feature is equally important as it ensures the crankbait reel lasts longer. It has a 6.3:1 gear ratio with anti-reverse technology and instant stop features to help the user perfect the art of casting. The dual brake system, on the other hand, offers exceptional fine tuning and controlling capabilities.
Key Features
- It comes with a 1-year warranty
- It uses the dual brake technology
- It features a lightweight design
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Just as in the name, this fishing crankbait reel features a low profile design. Pflueger Supreme Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel is the best in the market since it stands out among its counterparts with the same specifications. This crankbait reel is best suited with a 20-pound drag which is the highest on our list.
The Pflueger Crankbait Reel features 9 corrosion resistant ball bearings that offers optimal performance. The anti-reverse feature, on the other hand, makes your casting better which is why it’s the best crankbait reel. The stainless steel ball bearings are corrosion resistant which typically means that they are ideal for all fishing climates and are equally durable.
Pflueger Supreme Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel has an ergonomically designed handle made from aircraft grade aluminium to provide long-lasting durability and endurance. It additionally features a 5.4:1 gear ratio that delivers 22 inches per turn to give you a better fishing experience.
What’s more, it comes in three different models to allow the user to fine tune the entire setup of the fishing reel. You can control everything with this crankbait reel ranging from the spool rotation to brake controls. They are equally adjustable externally which means that you can do the adjustments even when you’re in the boat.
Key Features
- It has the highest drag rate
- It features aircraft grade aluminium handle
- It features instant anti-reverse technology
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Abu Garcia is a renowned brand that’s known to make high performing and high-quality crankbait reels and this model is no exception. Abu Garcia Revo SX Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel is best suited for catching bigger fish is its drag weight is quite impressive standing at 24 pounds. It also comes with 10 stainless steel ball bearings which are equally corrosion resistant, ideal for all fishing climates and ensures a smooth casting and retrieval rate.
This Abu Garcia Revo Reel features an Infini brake technology that helps ensure the casting performance is exceptional. The brass gear works perfectly well with the D2 design of the gear to give you maximum power with little to no effort. The 6.6:1 gear ratio makes it an excellent choice for all types of fishing as it guarantees better experience.
Key Features
- It features a rugged alloy body
- C6 carbon fiber side plates
- Carbon matrix power stack drag system
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Sougayilang Fishing Crankbait Reel guarantees value for money. It’s the best crankbait reel with a 7.0:1 gear ratio and 12 ball bearing design. You can only find these features on high end reels that fall on the higher side of the pricing spectrum. The best thing about this crankbait reel is that it also features a magnetic brake technology to allow you to customize it when using in real time.
The Sougayilang Crankbait Reel features an ergonomically designed oversized handle. The handle gives you leverage for long fights especially with bigger fish. This crankbait reel comes in right- and left-handed configurations.
Key Features
- A magnetic brake technology
- Graphite frame
- It comes with a 1-year warranty
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This is yet another model from the Abu Garcia family. By now you already know that this brand makes some of the best fishing crankbait reels and Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel is no exception. Just as the name suggests, this crankbait reel is a beast when it comes to performance.
Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast Low Profile Fishing Crankbait Reel is best suited for those fish species that tend to fight hard. The ability to use a high test line and cranking power is a combination that will give you a better fishing experience since your casts and retrievals will be accurate.
Key Features
- Aggressive design
- It’s drag rating is super high
- It strikes a perfect balance between durability and power
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Shimano is also a renown brand that’s known to make quality products. The brand has made their gearing system perfect. This fishing crankbait reel has a 7.2:1 gear ratio which is the most aggressive in the history of crankbait reels. What’s more, the reel is super light weighing about 7.2 ounces for ease of use for an extended period. Plus, you might even forget that the reel is attached to the rod.
Shimano Caenen Crankbait Reel can comfortably handle different types of lines thrown at it. No wonder it’s the best crankbait reel available on the market.
Key Features
- It’s super lightweight
- It features a low profile design
- It has one of the most aggressive gear ratios standing at 7.2:1
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Daiwa Tatula Crankbait Reel is an ultra-lightweight rugged fishing rod specially designed to withstand anything thrown at it. This crankbait reel is made of high-quality aluminium and features a clutch mechanism that’s corrosion resistant. It stands out among its counterparts with the same specifications in terms of quality and performance.
The reel has a 5.4:1 gear ratio and 7+1 corrosion resistant ball bearing setup to make both reeling and casting quite efficient and equally powerful. This crankbait reel additionally features 13.2 lbs drag weight which makes it the best crankbait reel from this particular brand.
Key Features
- It has a large and comfortable handle
- It’s fully adjustable for ease of use
- It has a perfect gear ratio
How to Find the Best Crankbait Reel on the Market
It’s always advisable to examine the specs of the crankbait reel when looking for the best one on the market. Being conversant with the features to look out for and knowing how certain features affect your fishing experience also play a significant role. Plus, it’ll make you more knowledgeable and confident when you hit the waters.
Pay attention to some of these key specs when looking for the best crankbait reel for your next fishing adventure:
Ratio
It’s important to understand the reel speed for fishing crankbaits. This typically means that the gear ratio usually plays a significant role in crankbait reels that’s why you should understand what it means and how it works. In layman terms, the gear ratio refers to the how many times the spool rotates when you fully rotate the handle. For instance, if the crankbait reel has a 5:1 gear ratio, it means that when you fully rotate the handle once, the spool tends to make 5 revolutions.
The type of fishing helps determine the gear ratio you should go for along with your level of experience. You want a high end gear ratio for crankbait fishing. It’s important to get a crankbait reel with a 5:1 gear ratio or even higher. The best crankbait reel should have a gear ratio ranging between 5:1 to 7:1 that’s why it’s always advisable to compare the ratios before settling on one that suits your fishing needs.
Comparing the gear ratios also help you narrow down the options for ease of shopping. This is because you’ll only consider the crankbait reels within a particular range for best results.
Line Recovery
Look at the recovery rates of the line after narrowing down the options according to the gear ratios. Line recovery rates means the amount of line retrieval with a crank. It’s usually abbreviated as IPT meaning Inches Per Turn. It measures the retrieval inches of the line with every turn of the handle. The best recovery rate ranges from 19 to around 23 inches for the novice to offer you optimal control. It also means that the amount of line released when you turn the handle once is between 19 to 23 inches.
The recovery rate is ideal as it allows you to crank the bait to maximum depths a lot faster without compromising on its length when it comes to retrieval. You can slowly ease to high recovery rates with experience since it usually requires more speed control. In this case, you’ll need to slow the handle tours to avoid pulling up the bait.
Bearings
Quality over quantity comes into play when talking of the ball bearings for the fishing crankbait reel. High-quality bearings usually provide better results as compared to their low quality counterparts with similar specifications. The latter tend to lock resulting in lots of mechanical problems. It’s also advisable to ensure the crankbait reel comes with double shielded bearings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s a Fishing Crankbait Reel?
A fishing crankbait reel is a lure with the ability to target fish at specific depths for accurate and efficient casting and retrieval. Crankbait reels usually have sturdy build quality since they are made with premium quality materials for increased durability and endurance. Plus, it helps ensure that they can withstand anything thrown at them when in use.
Are Crankbait Reels and Bait Caster Reels the Same?
There very little to no difference between fishing crankbait reels and bait caster reels. A crankbait reel uses the spinning style spool for ease of use while a bait caster reel utilizes a more complex inline spool type. The only significant difference is that one is easy to use while the other is a little complicated especially for the novice.
Why is a Gear Ratio Important?
As earlier mentioned, one of the most significant factors to consider when looking for the best crankbait reel is the gear ratio. The gear ratio refers to the number of times the spool rotates when you fully turn the handle. However, the gear ratio is dependent on a number of factors including your level of experience, the type of fishing you plan doing and the type of the crankbait reel.
The most common gear ratio is 5.6:1 for crankbait fishing. This typically means that the crankbait reel makes 5 full revolutions when the handle rotates while the spool in the reel makes about 5.6 rotations. This gear ratio is relatively high for regular fishing but is average for most crankbait reels. The number is very important when it comes to crankbait reels.
For crankbait fishing, you might need to go for reels with gear ratios ranging from 5:1 to 7:1 or thereabout. Your main focus should be on the high end models. This quite the opposite for other types of fishing like ice fishing since its always advisable to go for a lower number. The difference is that most fishing lines with lower gear ratios tend to experience a lot more torque as compared to their counterparts with higher ratios.
Does the Gear Ratio and Inch Per Turn Measure the Same Thing?
Not quite. Some people believe that the number of times the spool rotates is the same as the amount of inches retrieved per turn and they couldn’t be more wrong. This is because fishing crankbait reels usually come in a range of designs which means they are quite different. For instance, a larger spool cranking with a 6:1 gear ratio brings in more line as compared to a smaller one with the same specifications.
Which Reel Can I Use for Deep Diving Crankbaits?
The whole idea of deep diving crankbaits is holding the lure in place for longer. For this to happen, you’ll need to go for a crankbait fishing reel with a slower gear ratio than its counterparts probably within the range of 5:1. The gear ratio with more torque than the slow ratios have, tend to have greater resistance usually experienced when fighting larger fish.
Which Reel Can I Use for Square Bill Crankbaits?
The bait usually sits in water in depths ranging from 1 to 8ft. This type of shallow fishing needs a square bill crankbait best suited for shallow waters to deflect the cover. A crankbait reel with mid gear ratio would be ideal sitting at around 6.3:1 to about 6.5:1. The best fishing reel for square bill crankbaits is a standard bait cast reel and a medium action rod.
Which Fishing Reel Can I Use for Lipless Crankbaits?
The best crankbait reel for this type of fishing is designed for use at the bottom of the lake. For this type of fishing, the fisher needs to jerk the line to free the catch from both the branches and grass. It requires a lot of effort which means you’ll need a crankbait reel with a higher gear ratio about 7.1:1 or thereabout.
Conclusion
The right gear plays a significant role in how successful your fishing adventure is going to be. You need to be conversant with some of the features explained above since knowing them only doesn’t help much. The specs will help you narrow down the options when looking for the best crankbait reel and will also give you a better fishing experience.
