Catfish Reel Comparison Table

Why Fishing for Catfish Requires Specialized Reels

The wider mouths and general behavior of catfish require certain modifications to set the hook and reel them in. Baitcasters are popular for their more accurate casting, though some simply feather a spinning reel.

A drag system to fight bigger targets should alternate to hold them off or give them enough line to tire themselves out. The spool should have a higher line capacity in case they really go on a run. Other helpful modifications like a baitclicker to let you know when you have a bite are important parts of catfishing reels.

Choosing a Quality Catfishing Reel

Reel Type

Drag System

Tension from the line is controlled with a drag system to prevent a powerful fish from snapping the line. Pulled line engages drag to turn the spool backward and let some line off. If you set the drag too high, then the line won't give at all, and it will snap. If you set it too loose, though, you won’t have enough power.

Power & Durability

The drag system and gear ratio determine power. The best reels have strong CNC-machined parts, usually made out of durable materials like aluminum, brass, or sometimes carbon fiber. If you can find an all-metal catfishing reel, it’s likely to be the most durable and last the longest with proper care.

Speed & Smoothness

The gear ratio is normally what controls retrieval speed. How fast you can get the line back onto the spool is critical in the time before a fish has really started to fight back. A smooth cast comes from a good braking system. The line should be loose but not completely free if you want to cast it out really far.

Spool Tension

The number of rotations of the spool when you crank the handle one time is called the gear ratio. We’ll discuss this later on in this article. Line capacity is the amount of line a spool can hold. You need lots of line to cast far and feed it out to fish that go on a run.

Ease of Use

The handle is vital on a catfishing reel not only for comfort but for performance. It should give you a good grip and be slip-free to make sure you can keep reeling. Many are made with an EVA covering to prevent slipping and make sure you can keep fishing for long periods.

Price & Warranty

Look for telltale signs of an inexpensive reel like a smaller number of ball bearings and try to get a mid-range reel in terms of weight and line capacity if you want to catfish on a budget without sacrificing all the good performance of a catfishing reel. Warranties are generally limited to defects that occur during the manufacturing process if they exist at all. Luckily spare parts are usually easy to order to repair broken reels.

1. Abu Garcia Ambassadeur

A strong and powerful round reel specifically designed for catfishing, this is the best catfish reel among Abu Garcia catfish reels and their competitors across the market. It comes in size 6500 as well in case you want a lighter setup. The Ambassadeur has added torque in the extended bent handle and power knob, which makes it great at fighting big cats on the run.

Despite the comparatively low number of stainless steel bearings, this reel is incredibly smooth. That has a lot to do with the 6-pin centrifugal brake system that keeps the spool from spinning too fast, giving anglers an accurate cast and preventing backlash at the same time.

Having the line automatically spool evenly via the wind system is one less thing to worry about, especially when using braided line. The star-shaped drag is conveniently located for chases when you want to let a catfish tire itself out, get out of cover, or get set on a circle hook without feeling tension on the line.

Is the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur Good for Catfishing?

Short answer: yes, absolutely. If you’re chasing trophy cats or targeting larger flatheads or blues, be prepared to get heavy tackle and the strongest, abrasion-resistant, heaviest test line you can fit on this reel. For channels and any reasonably-sized targets in a lake or reservoir, this reel works like magic. Jigs and bucktails are readily executed, and there's enough power to get fish on the boat.

2. KastKing Rover Round

Is the KastKing Rover Round Good for Catfishing?

The variety of sizes and line capacities make this reel a competent one for a variety of targets. If you're looking for a reel that you can customize and fish just about any lure on, this could be the one for you. It casts with ease, and everything from the handle to the spool to the side plate is durable enough to last you a long time. You’d be surprised how high above its weight class this reel can punch, which is why it has remained one of the best catfish reels to use for any size target since it was released.

3. Daiwa BG8000

If you want the best big catfish reel, you'll need additional power and torque. That's just what you'll get with this reel thanks to its oversized drive gear, which is one of the largest on the market. The reel has machined aluminum housing that's durable, scratch-resistant, and saltwater-friendly.

The aluminum construction is lightweight, and the rotor has been designed to eliminate excessive weight. Between the additional strength from the rotor and the solid handle, anglers will likely be impressed with the strength output of this reel.

The spool is designed to fit more line without creating a need for backing line that never actually gets off the reel. Gear ratio is less on the larger BG8000, but the larger spool sends line out in greater coils so you can get a farther cast more easily.

With more ball bearings than some baitcasters, this spinning reel operates exceptionally smoothly. The bail has a manual return for more control. The drag system offers good resistance for larger cats, and the whole thing is waterproof, which is an obvious plus when you’re out on the water.

Is the Daiwa BG800 Good for Catfishing?

You can go after much larger catfish without fear with this spinning reel. Its ability to hold more line should ease any fear you have that a big target will snap so much line that you’re left unable to continue casting out after just a few snapped lines. Braided line works just as well on this model if you want to try and get some additional strength to prevent snapped line in the first place.

4. PENN Spinfisher V Spinning

Is the PENN Spinfisher V Good for Catfishing?

The V is especially useful for targeting larger catfish for folks who aren't familiar with baitcasting reels or want to try out saltwater fishing without ruining a perfectly good baitcaster. The open-face option is great for untying knots quickly and feathering the line.

The bail flips with just a touch for those who understand how much better it is for casting and for the inner gears over the long term to flip the bail manually rather than reeling in to make it flip by itself. This reel is powerful enough to fight a big fish and accommodates heavier tests with ease. Pair the larger 10500 size with a medium-heavy fast action rod, and you'll have yourself one of the best catfish rod reel setups you can get, even if it's a bit on the heavier side.

5. Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000

Is the Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 600 Good for Catfishing?

6. Zebco ZB310BX3 Bullet

This is a spincast reel so many anglers, particularly beginners, will find much easier to use. There are some drawbacks in performance, strength, and durability that you trade-off for ease-of-use, but it does work.

One thing you can certainly say about this spincaster is that it’s not cheaply built. It also comes with two spools of 10 lb test mono line that are pre-spooled. The all-weather handle knobs give a good grip. This is a very fast reel, which means you can cast it really far and reel in quickly. There’s no backlash since this is a spincaster.

One drawback is the weight of this reel. The rubber cover over the rear thumb button tends to tear after prolonged use, but it does do a good job letting the reel spin freely as it’s meant to do. The Bullet is also not the smoothest operation you’ll find on a catfish reel.

The drag is fairly smooth and operates efficiently with a dial on one side of the reel. In fact, you can adjust the drag with your rod hand and keep your dominant hand on the handle to reel in. Be careful, though, because it's easy to adjust the drag too high and snap your line.

Is the Zebco Bullet Good for Catfishing?

First off, this reel works best with mono light- to mid-weight test. You can get braid on there, but it just functions better with mono and perhaps some fluoro now and then. There’s nothing even approaching water-tightness in the design, so while you can take this reel saltwater fishing, it's not built for it, and it's likely going to be more of a headache.

While the thumb stop makes casting easier than with a baitcaster, the button underneath the rubber cover is one of the only plastic parts in this reel and tends to break down, stick, or wear out. It's more of a mid-range reel than a pro-level one, but for the majority of anglers, this is a great Zebco catfish reel that will add a lot to your gear collection.

7. Abu Garcia Catfish Commando

Is the Abu Garcia Catfish Commando Good for Catfishing?

It’s fair to assume that this catfish rod and reel are excellent for catfishing since they’ve been specifically designed for it. Once you see it in action, you can see that while it may not be the best of all possible combinations, it does perform very well. There are better Abu Garcia catfish reels, but they generally add features that only pro anglers will need and come at a higher price point.

The longer rod length and the smoothness of the reel's operation are both great to have when you're targeting catfish, and additional features that have become must-haves like the baitclicker will help when you've got your line out in the water. The only thing you should make sure of is finding the properly sized rod holder. There's a slight hump at the bottom of the rod that prevents it from fitting in the standard orange rod holders.

8. Penn 1481260 Spinfisher VI

An updated version of the Penn Spinfisher V, this best-rated model has many of the same features and several significant improvements. The gears have all been upgraded to CNC-machined aluminum on the smaller models and CNC-machined brass on the larger reels.

The seals that made the V so watertight and made constant cleaning sessions unnecessary for most anglers have also been improved in the revamped VI. Carbon fiber drag washers give you enough power to fight those big cats and get them onto the boat. Penn also offers this model in various styles, including the bail-less and long cast.

Is the Penn Spinfisher VI Good for Catfishing?

It's not just good for catfishing, it's great. Having a reel that's wholly sealed like this one will save lots of strife down the line since all that crud that normally gets into reels and locks them up isn’t able to creep in. The drag system in the live liner model is particularly helpful because it’s easier to use than a standard drag system.

Simply flip the switch on the rear of the handle and fight the fish a little. When you’re ready to start reeling in again, you can go ahead and spin the handle. That will automatically disengage the drag system. Everything you need for catfishing is not only on this model but also performs just about as good as you could ever want it to.

Understanding Reel Gear Ratio

Fishing Reel Sizing Guide

Different manufacturers size their reels with different numbers. Larger numbers indicate a larger reel. The numbers are usually either in tens or thousands, i.e., 20, 30, 40, 50, etc., or 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, etc. It's important to consider your environment and target.

To determine what size spinning reel for tackling catfish in saltwater, for example, a larger reel might be needed to hold more and heavier test line. Most folks need between a 4500 and a 6500 sized reel.

Tips for Using a Catfish Reel

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What are the best catfish reel brands?

Abu Garcia is famous for its rod and reel combos. Lew’s also makes really dependable reels. Okuma and KastKing make inexpensive reels that perform consistently well. Team is a great one-stop-shop for a variety of reels. For spinning reels, Penn is probably the best overall. The best catfishing baitcasters are probably from KastKing.

What is a bait clicker for a spinning reel?

Bait clickers are alarms for anglers to know where there’s some action on the line. If you leave multiple lines out in rod holders at one time, that clicking noise becomes one of the nicest sounds in the world. When the line is pulled out, the reel clicks. The bait clicker can often be disabled, and it shouldn't sound when you cast.

Does the fishing environment affect the type of reel I choose?

Baitcaster reels are not going to be so much fun on saltwater. Spinning reels are great for saltwater, but they may not have the gear ratio you want for fighting larger fish. Just like the environment affects the size of the fish, it will affect what line, rod, and reel you want.

Is there any special maintenance that needs to be done to my catfish reel?

You should clean your reel after every use. Watertight reels like the Penn Spinfisher VI can be cleaned with a simple spray. Others will need to be taken apart, cleaned, and reoiled. If you don’t fish very often, a once a year deep clean should be fine. If you fish saltwater, get all the salt off after every trip to prevent corrosion. Store reels in a dry place with their handles secured.

Are more ball bearings in a catfish reel better?

Five good bearings are often better than eleven bad ones. It’s more about the construction materials and the location of the bearings. Smooth reeling can come from more bearings or well-placed bushings. Bearings are a good way to drive the price of a reel up, so don’t let that be the most important factor. Plenty of reels with 2 bearings reel smooth as butter.

Where is the best place to find catfish reels for sale?

While you may want to take a look around a sport's or outdoor store just to see what a reel feels like, the best place to purchase them is Amazon. Not only can you often find great sales, but more models are readily available on Amazon than you’re likely to find in person.

How do you remove backlash?

To altogether avoid backlash, use a spincaster. But since that’s not really a solution, you can stop backlash by buying a reel with a good brake system and make sure it's adjusted well before you cast. You can remove the knots in a bird's nest with your fingers, or you can put pressure on the spool with your thumb and turn it. Engage the reel and then pull the line out with your other hand. Repeat this process if it doesn’t get the knot out.

Conclusion