What difference does a good coarse fishing reel make? For the regular, perhaps it helps you get your casting down to a fine art. For the newcomer, it can help you master the basics of angling and fall in love with the hobby. For the veteran, perhaps it's the difference between bringing in a remarkable catch and cursing the one that got away—again.
Whatever your skill level, a top-quality fishing reel is simply a joy. But which type of fishing reel is best for beginners? What's the best choice for lake fishing? We look at the smoothest casters, the strongest draggers, and the fishing reels offering the best value for money. Let's wade in.
1. DAIWA MATCH - 20 CROSSFIRE BLACK RED: Best for Getting Started
Fishing is a game of patience, so it always brings a wry smile when a first-timer turns up at the lake with a pricey, top-of-the-range fishing reel. Patience—you'll get there. In the meantime, try out the Daiwa Match-20 Crossfire, displayed here in a gorgeous black and red scheme.
The Daiwa Match-20 is a superb reel for beginner anglers, as it offers the precision and quality we associate with Daiwa at an extremely low price. This legendary manufacturer doesn't do second-best, which is why this is our choice for the best reel for beginner anglers.
It uses Daiwa's infinite anti-reverse system to prevent slippage when the hook is set—it entirely prevents back-play. It provides excellent sensitivity and control and is extremely forgiving compared to similar models. Many experienced anglers also favour this owing to its incredible pricing and high performance.
PROS
- Infinite anti-reverse makes it very forgiving for novices (you can also switch this off
- High-end manufacturer—a better guarantee of quality than many beginner reels
- Graphite body is lightweight and great for long days
CONS
- No additional spool provided
- Less range than some models
2. JW YOUNGS - SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT 4.5”: Best for the Seasoned Expert
What can we say about the Super Lightweight 4.5" reel from JW Youngs other than “Mwah.” What a beauty. It's incredibly light, making it an excellent choice for seasoned anglers who will happily stay by the water all day (and all night if not called in for supper).
Then let's move on to the micro-adjustable disc drag. It provides excellent control even when fighting against a powerful catch—this fishing reel more or less doubles your stamina.
The centrepin reel design on the JW Youngs Super Lightweight 4.5" makes casting super-easy, minimising the struggle of landing and creating the best all-around fishing experience you're likely to find. Even a seasoned pro might let loose a whistle the first time they use this beautiful piece of kit.
PROS
- Incredible control due to intuitive micro-adjustable disc drag
- Great for long casts and prolonged battles, even with large catches
- The backplate machined out for one of the lightest reels available
CONS
- On the expensive side
3. DAIWA - 20 TOURNAMENT REEL: Best for Transforming a Hobby into a Sport
The Daiwa 20 Tournament reel is equally appropriate for hobbyists and professionals, which is why we've marked it out as our best fishing reel for taking your game to the next level.
Experienced anglers considering a more serious approach to sport fishing should consider that the Daiwa 20 Tournament reel comes with ten bearings. It enables an ultra-solid feel and a quick drag feature for responsiveness. Plus, it benefits from Daiwa's infinite anti-reverse system and possesses superb strength.
It's also an extremely durable choice—the aluminium body is Magsealed, and as with all Daiwa products, its components are guaranteed to stand the test of time. It's an excellent choice when you're upgrading your game.
PROS
- Solid, robust feel offers better control with tricky catches
- Quick drag makes it an excellent choice for moving into competitive fishing
- The infinite anti-reserve system helps to improve consistency
CONS
- An expensive upgrade
- Not as light as some high-end models
4. SHIMANO MATCH - STRADIC SPINNING 2500 GTM RC: Best for the Committed Hobbyist
The Shimano Match-Stradic reel is one of the best spinning reels out there for match fishing. It's a long-time favourite of feeder and float anglers, which is why we've named it our #1 choice as an ideal fishing reel for committed hobbyists.
The Stradic is available in 1000, 3000, and 4000 sizes as well as 2500. There's plenty of diversity with this reel, depending on your preference.
It's gorgeous pearl white body makes it a beautiful upgrade to your gear. Part of why we love this reel so much for float fishing is that its gears shift swiftly to help you respond quickly to activity.
PROS
- Responsive gears perfect for both float and feeder fishing
- Available in several sizes
- Well-balanced double handle for increased stability
CONS
- At the higher end of mid-range fishing reels in terms of price
- Less specialisation than other reels
5. DAIWA - 19 TDM REEL: Best for Landing the Big One
If your preferred fishing grounds are reservoirs, lakes, and large ponds, we'd guess you're in it for the big game. The monster carp that you feel might swallow the whole rod if you let it go. Well, we've got a treat for you, and it's called the Daiwa-10 TDM reel.
Like its more expensive counterpart, the 20 Tournament reel, the 19 TDM benefits from Daiwa's quick drag system. This engineering allows you to respond instantly to mighty catches, while the lightweight design and Twist Buster mechanism allow you to fight the big one until you bring it home.
This reel is very affordable, and we were almost surprised by how many top-end features Daiwa packed into this reel when we saw the price tag. Besides the quick drag system and the anti-twist mechanism, you've got Digigear II meshing to create an incredibly smooth angling experience.
It's a professional-level reel at a great price, and that's what we love to see.
PROS
- The quick drag system perfect for catching larger fishes
- Ideal for lake or pond fishing
- Casting is extremely smooth due to Digigear II meshing
CONS
- It may be out of the price range of beginner anglers
- Perhaps less suitable for river fishing
6. SHIMANO MATCH - STRADIC FL REEL: Best for Raising Your Game
The Stradic line has always been popular, and with good reason: it turns out accessible reels with excellent durability and great features. This time, manufacturer Shimano has taken it one step further with a feature casual anglers have longed for in a Stradic: a long stroke spool. It increases the casting range and accuracy of the fishing reel.
We've designated this the best choice for raising your game because now you've got the extra distance and the experience that comes with it. Your casting will improve naturally, and the precision this model provides is a blessing.
The Shimano Match - Stradic FL reel benefits from X PROTECT water resistance, making it one of the most durable models Shimano has released.
Stradic enthusiasts will also delight in knowing that it has lost none of the versatility the reel is renowned for; you can take this reel anywhere and have a great time. Only now you've got those extra yards on your cast.
PROS
- Excellent multi-purpose reel
- Long-stroke spool allows for superb casting range
- X PROTECT water resistance feature durable and suitable for all climates
CONS
- At the more expensive end of mid-range reels
- Carbon drag washers may need re-greasing occasionally
7. DAIWA - 18 TDR QD REEL: Best for Durability
The Daiwa-18 TDR QD is a reel built to last. As in, a reel that you might choose if saltwater fishing in the rain is your bag. It's incredibly tough and resistant to damage from the elements, and as one of the higher-end Daiwa reels, it benefits from the quick drag system, which helps with landing bigger fish.
Despite its sturdiness, it's very responsive and is an excellent choice for float fishing. This may be because it holds up well in windy conditions.
Overall, if you tend to go angling in rough conditions, this might be your new weapon of choice.
PROS
- Extremely durable—aluminium body resists corrosion while the design is compact and tough
- An excellent choice for landing larger fish
- Line benefits from a kind of stiffness that helps resist wind
CONS
- Caught in an odd spot between mid-range and high-end
- Lacks the Daiwa infinite anti-reverse feature, although it has a substantial anti-reverse lever
8. PRESTON - CENTRIS 320: Best for Long-Distance Feeder Fishing
The Preston-Centris 320 is perhaps the best long-distance feeder fishing reel we've ever seen, which is why we gave it such an oddly specific title. It's just so good at its job. It benefits from a larger spool size and has an excellent retrieve rate, enabling you to draw a catch in from a feeder area swiftly.
Feeder anglers out there—Preston has heard you and answered your prayers.
PROS
- Powerdrive system provides incredible winding power
- NiTi bail arm resists remaining in bent shape when storing rods
- A superb choice for feeder fishers
CONS
- Might be less appropriate for saltwater or river use
9. DAIWA - NINJA MATCH FEEDER REEL: Best for Value for Money
It may seem a surprising choice for the best value, as the Daiwa Ninja Match Feeder is more expensive than the 20 Crossfire.
However, considering its incredibly lightweight design, smooth 4BB winding capacity, and intuitive rotor shape allowing it to deal with heavier catches, it's not bad. Not bad at all for its price.
Oh, and it's got that swanky Daiwa infinite anti-reverse tech.
PROS
- Extremely affordable
- A high-performance reel that is suitable for beginners and veterans alike
- Very smooth winding
CONS
- Lacks the power of some higher-end models
10. SHIMANO - CATANA RC REEL: Best for Testing the Waters
If you were looking for a manufacturer who would make a reel that was perfect in almost all fishing environments, it'd be Shimano, right? These are the folks who gave us the Stradic line. However, the Catana RC reel is maybe the most versatile model on this list.
We've crowned this our king of testing the waters because it's affordable for beginners, too.
This spinning reel will work well wherever you live, although it prefers freshwater to salt. It's an excellent choice for anyone looking to try out a new area.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Extremely versatile
- Reputable manufacturer
CONS
- Less effective in saltwater