It took me a while to find a good spinning reel for catching bass, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re facing a bit of confusion in the face of this decision.
It’s only a matter of considering some certain aspects and getting a reel that matches your needs.
And on this list, I’ve gathered the best spinning reels for bass you can find and reviewed them for you.
The 6 Best Bass Spinning Reels for 2020
1. Shimano Stradic Ci4+ – The Best Bass Spinning Reel
Design
With an innovative design and a Magnumlite (MGL) rotor, the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB comes at 25% lighter weight.
However, it’s still a little above the average weight of the reels on this list.
The G-Free body design brings the center of gravity of the reel closer to your hand’s position which provides the maximum comfort and reduces fatigue.
On top of that, it is water-resistant thanks to the CoreProtect 360-degree coating that extends its durability.
Components
The Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB comes with a cold forged-aluminum spool and hard Hagane drive gears to make it more powerful than both die-cast aluminum and graphite.
Furthermore, the X-ship components make it more accurate and smooth –especially during fights with stubborn fish.
Specs
The carbon-fiber body makes it weigh 8.6 ounces but it’s still capable of dragging in a 24-pound fish.
This incredible capability stems from its high 6.2:1 gear ratio mixed with the 39-inch line retrieve per crank.
Moreover, it can handle a monoline of 200 yards per 10 pounds.
Extras
To further increase the smoothness and stability of the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB, the pinion gear is supported by 2 Shimano A-RB roller bearings.
Additionally, there are 6 S A-RB shielded stainless steel ball bearings that prevent any water, salt, or dirt from passing into your reel.
Finally, the solid hooksets were guaranteed thanks to the Super Stopper II anti-reverse switch. Although it felt a little too small, it was still effective.
Pros:
- Superb line management
- Nearly 100% water-resistant
- Incredibly smooth operation
- Portability
Cons:
- Quite pricey
- The anti-reverse switch is a little too small
Bottom line:
The Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB combines fast action with smoothness. It’s the best bass spinning reel if you’re going for bigger fish.
Although it’s a little expensive, it gives you great value for your money.
2. Abu Garcia Revo SX – An Excellent Freshwater Reel for Bass
Design
The Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30 comes with an IM-C6 body design and a graphite rotor that work together to make it very light.
Its alloy frame enables it to resist corrosion and the carbon handle side plates, housing, and body materials make it both durable and lightweight.
Additionally, the Revo 2SX30 uses a Carbon-Matrix technology in its hybrid drag system. The latter consists of a group of carbon washers that keep the drag pressure consistent.
Specs
The reel weighs only 7.9 ounces. However, it’s only capable of reeling in fish of 11 pounds.
With a gear ratio of 6.2:1 and an ability to reel in 35 inches of line per crank, the Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30 helped me finish my fights quicker than the bass would realize what’s happening.
The Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30 8 stainless steel ball bearings and roller bearing work in coordination to make its operation as smooth as possible.
Extras
In terms of line management, the Rocket system and Rocket spool lip design work amazingly.
Moreover, I never felt any wrist fatigue or any discomfort as the flat EVA knob provides a pretty solid and comfortable grip.
The hooks were always pretty intact thanks to the K-Clutch anti-reverse system.
And to top it all, the Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30 comes with a magnetic brake system that absolutely eliminates backlash and makes the operation very quiet –a great aspect when you consider how the slightest disturbance causes bass to run and hide.
Pros:
- 9-ball bearing system to guarantee smoothness
- Magnetic brake system
- Very lightweight and portable
- Exchangeable hand retrieve
Cons:
- Not very affordable
- Small drag power
Bottom line:
If you’re going to be fishing for bass exclusively in freshwater, you’ll get no better performance than from the Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30.
It’s strong, durable, and performs with incredible efficiency.
3. KastKing Royale Legend – A Budget Baitcasting Reel for Bass
Design
The KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Reel is quite thin and light.
It’s durable and strong, so you can use it to fish both in saltwater and freshwater.
Specs
This high-speed baitcasting reel can retrieve line at a ratio of 7.0:1 and retrieves 31.5 inches of line per crank very smoothly.
Thanks to the 11 corrosion-resistant ball bearings and anti-reverse one, it can perform both smoothly and quietly.
Extras
The CNC-machined precision gears work on enhancing the strength of the retrieve.
Moreover, I found the Dual Breaking system quite impressive. It’s exclusive to KastKing Royale Legend, and it controls the deceleration of the spool after casting to facilitate tasks and eliminate backlash.
In addition, the KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting has an incredible drag system that works with carbon fiber discs.
It doesn’t matter if you’re left-handed or right-handed as the retrieve can be switched.
The dual grips repel water and feature an EVA foam padding that adds comfort to the flat grip.
Pros:
- Highly affordable
- Smooth and quiet operation
- Lightweight carbon fiber drag system
- Precision cut brass gear structure
Cons:
- Requires frequent maintenance
Bottom line:
The KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting does an amazing job at providing high-quality features at a very low price point.
Although it’s the cheapest on the list, it has the highest gear ratio, the lightest weight, and has the second-biggest drag capability. It’s simply a great bang for your buck.
4. Daiwa BG 3000 – Best Value Reel for Catching Bass
Design
The Daiwa BG 3000 comes with an anodized aluminum body that’s superior to the painted one as it highly extends the reel’s durability.
Equipped with an ABS spool, cross-cut carbon fiber washers, and a carbon ATD drag system, it’s a very smooth and reliable choice.
Specs
The Daiwa BG 3000’s gear ratio is 5.6:1 and it can pull in 37.4 inches of line per crank.
And although it weighs only 10.8 ounces, it can reel in fish of up to 15.4 pounds –which is quite impressive for how affordable it is.
On top of that, its performance is quite smooth thanks to the 7 stainless steel ball bearings.
And even though they’re not shielded like the higher-end Daiwa models, this one is still pretty durable.
Extras
There’s more space for teeth to come in contact as the Digigear system is very spacious to make your retrieves a lot smoother.
Moreover, this increases the torque and provides you with more power to be able to reel in bigger fish.
Mix that with the air rotor that maintains the reel’s balance, the ABS spool that extends castability, and the carbon ATD drag system and you get amazing functionality and stability.
Pros:
- Very smooth performance
- Strong anodized body
- Superb drag capability
Cons:
- The spool is not anodized but only painted
Bottom line:
The Daiwa BG 3000 is the best bass reel you can get for that price level. Although it’s not completely sealed, it’s still easy to maintain.
5. Penn Battle II – An Affordable Spinning Reel for Bass
Design
Coming at less than a hundred bucks, the Battle BTLII3000 performs very well as a bass spinning reel.
This model also comes with an improved paint quality that gives it protection against saltwater –mix this with proper maintenance and you’ll get a reel that lasts quite long.
Specs
It has a high gear ratio of 6.2:1 and retrieves 35 inches of line per crank which means you’ll be able to pull in the shy bass pretty quickly.
Weighing only 12.3 ounces, the BTLII3000 can drag in fish of up to 15 pounds.
This is thanks to its smooth operation that runs on 5 stainless steel ball bearings which are sealed to protect the reel.
Extras
Moreover, the anti-reverse bearing helps keep your hooksets stable.
The Battle BTLII3000’s monoline capacity is 180 yard per 10 pounds and there are line capacity rings on the Superline spool that indicate how much of the line you have left.
Finally, the Battle BTLII3000 has rubber inlay that enables you to load braided line directly without backing it up with mono.
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Premium build quality and feel
- Smooth drag system
- Braid-ready spool
Cons:
- Can face many wind knots
- Not completely sealed
- Some inconsistencies with the performance
Bottom line:
It’s not that common to find a budget-friendly spinning reel that performs well in saltwater but the Battle BTLII 3000 is definitely a great candidate.
For its price, it delivers reliable performance.
6. Pflueger Supreme SUPXTSP35x – An Excellent Lightweight Spinning Reel
Design
The Pflueger Supreme SUPXTSP35x comes with a magnesium body, side plate, and rotor that are both very lightweight and durable.
Moreover, its aluminum spool is double-anodized to resist corrosion and helps keep the weight to a minimal with the machine ported sidewalls.
Specs
The Pflueger Supreme SUPXTSP35x’s gear ratio is 6.2:1 while it retrieves 33.8 inches of line with every crank.
This enables you to reel in 12-pound fish with no trouble –which isn’t the biggest maximum drag but it’s good enough for medium-sized bass.
In addition, the Pflueger Supreme SUPXTSP35x has 10 stainless steel corrosion-resistant ball bearings to help it operate smoothly.
Extras
The sealed carbon drag system is light and durable. However, it does allow some dirt and grime into the reel.
And although the EVA knob was comfortable to the grip, it would have been easier to adjust if it were a little bigger, in my opinion.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- The smooth and sealed carbon drag system
- Solid anti-reverse
- Braid-ready aluminum spool
Cons
- Hard to clean and maintain
- Portholes collect dirt and grime
Bottom line
The Pflueger Supreme XT can’t handle braid line that well, even its monoline performance isn’t as great as other reels.
But when you figure out how to work with it, you’ll definitely enjoy its fast and smooth performance.
What to Look for When Buying a Spinning Reel for Bass
When you’re looking for a good spinning reel for bass to buy, there are a couple of important things you should keep in mind:
Gear Ratio and Line Retrieve
Bass are quite timid fish that usually stay around cover and run for it with the smallest disturbance in their surrounding.
That’s why you need a reel with a high gear ratio and a quick line retrieve to finish the fight as quickly as possible.
A 6:1 gear ratio with around 30 inches of line retrieved per crank should be good enough for a fast win over a bass.
Material and Weight
I put these 2 together as they’re inter-dependent.
An aluminum reel would be less portable than a graphite one but also more durable and strong.
However, you can’t go for an aluminum reel if you’ll be fishing in saltwater or off-shore.
And if you fish for extended periods of time, an aluminum reel would likely put your wrist under a lot of strain and cause fatigue.
Drag System and Power
Depending on how big you plan your bass to be, you should get a matching drag power.
Drag systems are responsible for applying pressure to a hooked fish and releasing the line during battle.
A 15-pound drag power is adequate enough for many bass, but you can still go for a higher number.
If you’re looking for more durability, go for a front drag system.
Personally, however, I prefer a rear drag system as it’s more accessible. Especially during fights.
Bearings and Anti-Reverse Switch
These two features control the smoothness of the operation of your reel.
The more bearings you have on your reel, the smoother it will perform.
Moreover, a good anti-reverse switch will help keep your hook sets solid and in place as they prevent the handle from spinning backward.
How Is a Spinning Reel Different?
A spinning reel’s operation mechanism depends on a fixed-line spool, a safeguard, and roller framework (sometimes referred to as a wheel) that goes around the spool handle and discharges the fishing line.
This enables you to cast the rod as well as the line at varying distances to be able to catch various fish sizes.
Final Thoughts
While all the options on the list are the best spinning reels for bass on the market, there are some choices that I recommend for specific reasons.
If you can afford the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 4000 XG FB, I’d definitely recommend that you go for it. It’s superior in several ways and can catch quite big fish. It particularly enjoyed how easy it was to operate and how smooth its drag felt.
While the KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Reel is the most affordable, it also stands out in a number of ways. It has the highest gear ratio and the lightest weight on the list.
Finally, the Abu Garcia Revo 2SX30 makes a good combination between affordability and versatility of functions.