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Casting reels are the foundation of many bass fishing setups. They can handle everything from skipping jigs and bombing frogs to winding spinnerbaits and winching crankbaits. While premium reels can burn a hole in your wallet, there are plenty of capable options for under $100. Thanks to increased competition and advances in materials and manufacturing, anglers no longer have to break the bank for a reliable baitcaster. To find the best, I tested a lineup of sub-$100 casting reels head-to-head on the water before narrowing the field to my top four picks. Here are the results, along with my recommendations for the best baitcasting reels under $100.
- Best Overall: Shimano Caius 150 Casting Reel
- Best for Power Fishing: Daiwa Aird 80 Casting Reel
- Best Low Gear Ratio: Abu Garcia Max5 SX Winch Casting Reel
- Daiwa CC80 Casting Reel
Best Overall: Shimano Caius 150 Casting Reel
best overall
Shimano Caius 150 Casting Reel
Specs
- Price: $94.99
- Retrieve: Right and left
- Gear ratio: 7.2:1
- Line capacity: 12-pound monofilament/110 yardsÂ
- Weight: 6.5 ouncesÂ
- Bearings: 3+1
The Shimano Caius 150 casting reel feels a lot like the brand’s Curado line. It has the same smooth, low-profile frame and similarly rubberized handle grips. What the Caius doesn’t share with the Curado is its price tag. At $95 (compared with the $235 Curado 150 M), it’s a great option for anglers with champagne tastes on a Budweiser budget.
I tested the reel with 15-pound fluorocarbon and threw everything from shaky heads to small glidebaits. The Variable Braking System (VBS), which is adjusted by removing the side plate, does a solid job of accommodating both light and heavy baits. Shimano’s Super Free Spool helps with casting by eliminating contact between the pinion gear and the spool shaft. All in all, the Caius is easy to fish and offers impressive versatility for the price.
Best for Power Fishing: Daiwa Aird 80 Casting Reel
best for power fishing
Daiwa Aird 80 Casting Reel
Specs
- Price: $99.99
- Retrieve: Right and left
- Gear ratio: 7.5:1
- Line capacity: 12-pound monofilament/110 yards
- Weight: 7 ouncesÂ
- Bearings: 7+1
The Daiwa Aird 80H is an excellent yet affordable power-fishing reel. I spooled it with 40-pound braid and tied on a frog as soon as I got it. On my first outing, I caught several solid bass by skipping frogs beneath bushes, sometimes as far as 15 feet. The reel skipped baits exceptionally well, and its 90 mm handle with large, flat knobs provided a secure grip on both the hookset and the fight. If you’d like to learn more about the Aird 80H, read our full review here.
Best Low Gear Ratio: Abu Garcia Max5 SX Winch Casting Reel
best low gear ratio
Abu Garcia Max5 SX Winch Casting Reel
Specs
- Price: $84.99
- Retrieve: Right and left
- Gear ratio: 5.6:1
- Line capacity: 12-pound monofilament/130 yards
- Weight: 7.3 ouncesÂ
- Bearings: 7+1
When it comes to budget casting reels, most are designed with a 7:1 gear ratio. For certain techniques, though—like cranking—many anglers prefer a slower retrieve. If that’s your preference, the Abu Garcia Max SX Winch is worth a look. With a 5.6:1 gear ratio, it delivers plenty of torque. I fished a small glide bait on it during testing and found it easy to maintain a smooth cadence with the slower retrieve. It also hauled in a couple of good fish without issue. The Winch casts well, has strong drag, and offers excellent performance for the price.
Daiwa CC80 Casting Reel
Daiwa CC80 Casting Reel
- Price: $79.99
- Retrieve: Right and left
- Gear ratio: 7.5:1
- Line capacity: 12-pound monofilament/110 yards
- Weight: 6.9 ouncesÂ
- Bearings: 4+1
The Daiwa CC80 is a solid reel for the money. It feels lighter in hand than it actually is. At 6.9 ounces, it’s comparable to the other reels on this list—a little lighter than some and a touch heavier than others. The carbon frame and side plate likely contribute to its crisp, lightweight feel. Because of that, I paired it with a finesse popper on 30-pound braid during testing. The reel cast the lightweight bait with ease, and the combo felt well matched. I also liked the large paddle knobs on the 90 mm handle. The handle doesn’t overpower the reel, but it’s easily its beefiest feature.
Final Thoughts
There’s no need to spend hundreds on a new baitcaster. With several quality options on the market for less than $100, anyone from a touring pro to a kid could use these reels effectively. Besides quality of materials, the biggest consideration when choosing a reel is user-friendliness. Finding a reel with multiple gear ratio options is also a good idea, so you can build a more versatile arsenal over time. As long as the reel is available in something over a 7:1 gear ratio, you can do almost anything you’d want to do with a baitcaster.
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
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