Let’s face it, even though we hate to admit it, everyone can’t fish like KVD or Bill Dance.
These guys get every single thing they use in fishing for FREE so they get the top of the line in reels and whatever else they want.
But do you really need a $300 baitcaster?
(Updated: 3/18/2019)
Now if I could afford it I probably would spend a little extra for lighter weight, more power or features but for me and most anglers we just can’t swing it right now.
Fortunately for us, technology has advanced so far that there are reels on the market with great features and are still really affordable.
Top 10 Best Baitcaster Reels Under $100 in 2017
| Baitcast Reel Name | Weight | Gear Ratio | Ball Bearings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KastKing Royale Legend | 7.5 oz | |||
| Abu Garcia Black Max | 7.3 oz | |||
| Shimano Caenan | 7.2 oz | |||
| Daiwa Laguna | 7.7 oz | |||
| Lew’s Speed Spool SSG1SH | 7 oz | |||
| Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S6500 | 11.1 oz | |||
| Piscifun Kylin | 8.03 oz | |||
| KastKing Stealth | 5.98 oz | |||
| Abu Garcia Pro Max | 7.3 oz | |||
| Piscifun Saex Premier | 6.3 oz |
We’ve put together a list of the best baitcast reels under $100 to save you some time making your choice of a new reel.
1. KastKing Royale Legend – Top Baitcaster for the Money
Remember when you checked out “cheap” baitcasters in the past that made you think “yeah, you get what you pay for”? Well, this ain’t that reel!
It’s amazing the features this baitcaster packs at such a low price point.
It has dual braking with both centrifugal and magnetic braking which gives you limitless cast control whether you’re a seasoned caster or just starting out. It also has 17.5 pounds of drag made of carbon fiber, brass gearing, a stainless steel main shaft and non-slip eva grips.
With a hi-speed 7.0:1 retrieve, the Kastking Royale is great for speedy lures and flipping and pitching to get your lure back quickly.
With an aluminum wiffle spool, this baitcast reel only weighs in at 7.5 ounces.
What we like most- It’s hard to imagine that you could find a baitcasting reel packed with the features and price point as the Kastking Royale Legend. Truly an amazing reel.
- Dual braking system
- 12 ball bearings
- 17.5 lbs of drag
- Brass gearing
- A little noisy on cast
2. Abu Garcia Black Max
From the legendary reel maker Abu Garcia comes this tough little gem!
Delivering superior performance and superior value, the Abu Garcia Black Max has what it takes to handle a wide range of bass fishing techniques.
It has a lightweight one-piece graphite frame, easy to palm frame that is easy to fish all day, and its five stainless steel bearing system provides super smooth performance.
What we like most- The Black Max fits so well in your hand it almost disappears and if you fish for a few hours you’ll appreciate that it doesn’t tire you out, meaning more fishing time!
- Machined aluminum spool
- MagTrax brake system
- One piece graphite frame
- Power Disk drag system
- Compact bent handle
- Basic beginner baitcaster
3. Shimano Caenan
The Shimano Caenan baitcaster just looks mean! Mean like bass should just jump in the boat when they see you coming kinda mean.
All kidding aside, this is the reel I thought I’d never see from such a high-end reel maker like Shimano. It sports the same High Efficiency Gearing and Variable Braking System that its higher priced Shimano brethren have.
It also has the new Stable Spool Design to increase casting distance of lightweight lures dramatically and comes in two gear ratios, 6.3:1 and 7.2:1. Weighing in at only 7.2 ounces, it won’t wear you out either.
What we like most – The Caenan looks like and sports some of the same features as the higher priced Shimano reels at a much lower price.
- HEG: High Efficiency Gears
- VBS: Variable Brake System
- S3D: Stable Spool Design
- Effortless casting
- None yet
4. Daiwa Laguna
Now you can get legendary Daiwa performance at an affordable price with the Daiwa Laguna.
It has a lightweight composite frame and side plates and an aircraft grade aluminum deep spool. It also has the always dependable Magforce cast control system to cast all sizes and weights of lures easily.
Swept handles are all the rage because of their power and looks so of course the Laguna has a 90 mm swept handle with oversized padded soft tough knobs.
What we like most – The Daiwa name means smooth, long-lasting performance and as an owner of a few I can testify that they are some of the very best reels made.
- A7075 Aircraft grade aluminum deep spool
- Magforce Cast Control
- 90mm Swept Handle
- Daiwa performance and reliability
- retrieve may be a little noisy
5. Lew’s Speed Spool SSG1SH
With a graphite frame and sideplate, machine forged aluminum spool and a high-strength brass gearing system the Lew’s Speed Spool is easily one of the best baitcasters at any price.
It has a large 95mm swept (or bowed) oversized power crank handle and 10 pounds of drag to power fish out of cover and a smooth star drag control to keep him on. And the 7.5:1 retrieve speed will get him to the boat quickly, too.
Available with 10 ball bearings and weighing only 7 ounces this reels performance exceeds its price.
What we like most- Starting out, my buddies and I bought many lower priced reels and the worm gear or line guide would fail quickly. We started buying Lews reels for their zirconia line guide and worm gear and never had that problem again. This reel still has it!
- Zirconia line guide
- Premium 10 double shielded stainless steel bearings
- Externally adjustable Magnetic Control System
- Anodized bowed aluminum reel handle
- Light baits are harder to cast
6. Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S AMBS-6500
We all know someone who is a diehard “round” Abu Garcia fan, kinda like Harley owners. Well this throwback reel has the look and feel of those earlier baitcasters. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right?
The Ambassadeur S 6500 is the perfect reel for anglers on a budget needing a baitcaster to cover all fishing situations.
It is built for power with a low 5.3:1 gear ratio, 2 stainless steel ball bearings and a powerful synchronized levelwind system. The 4-pin centrifugal brake allows you to cast lightweight or large lures with ease.
What we like most- Adding a power, bent handle for a modern look to a classic reel is a nice touch and shows that Abu Garcia is even looking out for the classic reel lover.
- Multi Disc Drag System
- Synchronized Levelwind System
- 4-pin Centrifugal Brake
- Compact Bent Handle and Drag Star
- Needs regular greasing
7. Piscifun Kylin Baitcasting Reel
With 10 stainless steel ball bearings, a 6.3:1 gear ratio and 13.2 pounds of drag, the Piscifun Kylin is a newcomer worth looking into.
A sturdy aluminum alloy frame, carbon fiber drag system and double-anodized V-grooved spool is not only strong but cuts weight to a minimum.
It has great casting distance with a magnetic cast control and a Titanium coated ceramic line guide for friction-free performance.
What we like most- For a newcomer to the industry, the Piscifun Kylin is an impressive performer.
- 10 stainless steel ball bearings
- Fully adjustable magnetic brake system
- Anodized aluminum spool
- Titanium coated ceramic line guide
- May need to tighten reel handle
8. KastKing Stealth Baitcasting Reel
Need a lightweight reel? How about 5.9 ounces? Thats right, the Kastking Stealth baitcaster is only 5.9 ounces!
By using a carbon fiber drag system, aircraft-grade hardened aluminum gearing and a cnc/anodized aluminum drilled spool, virtually all weight has been eliminated.
It also has a dual braking system for effortless casting, a 7.0:1 gear ratio and a swept handle with eva padded foam grips.
What we like most- Lightweight, lightweight, lightweight! Never thought we would see a reel at this price have so many features and be so light.
- Weighs only 5.98oz
- 16.5 lbs of drag
- 11 Stainless Steel bearings
- Carbon fiber drag system
- Takes a bit of fine tuning
9. Abu Garcia Pro Max
With a machined aluminum spool and Duragear brass gearing, the Abu Garcia Pro Max is just a step under the Revo and Orra lineups.
It has 8 stainless steel ball bearings and MagTrax braking for great casting distance and control. The Pro Max also has a bent handle with star drag, a 7.1:1 gear ratio and weighs in at 7.3 ounces.
What we like most- With 3 reels in our top 10, its easy to see that Abu Garcia takes customers in this price range seriously and have made them a priority.
- Machined double anodized aluminum spool
- Duragear brass gear
- Recessed reel foot
- MagTrax brake system
- although 7.3 oz feels heavier
10. Piscifun Saex Premier
The new version of the Piscifun Saex Premier has cut 2 ounces off the already lightweight frame!
It still has the 270 degree magnetic braking system, 11.4 pounds of drag and 7 stainless steel ball bearings but now weighs only 6.3 ounces.
Available in both 6.5:1 and 7.3:1 gear ratios, this low-profile beast has you covered no matter what lure you’re throwing.
What we liked most- To be a relative newcomer, Piscifun has shown with this reel that they are constantly improving their product and not content to stand pat even with reels at this low price.
- Only 6.3 oz
- Double-anodized aluminum spool
- 270-degree magnetic brake system
- premium Japanese stainless steel ball bearings
- May be a little noisy for some (more greasing?)
How We Chose Our List Of Best Baitcast Reels Under $100
We took several things into consideration when forming our list and although price was the main priority, it was not the only one.
The reel had to be able to cover a wide range of fishing situations, lure retrieves and speeds and pack a nice set of features with it too.
We also used customer reviews from different sites including Tackle Warehouse and Amazon to form our final picks when all else was equal.
We think you’ll be hard pressed to find 10 reels more worthy to be on this list and we hope this list helped make your decision easier.
