Baitcasters are an excellent option for fishing, especially game fishing, as they generally offer greater line capacity and drag strength for fish that are bigger and harder to land.
However, with copious baitcasters on the fishing market, how can you find out which one is best for a beginner? We’ve got the answer for you.
We’ve made a list of the top 5 best baitcasters for beginners to aid your search. Alongside this, we’ve written a handy buyer’s guide as well as some frequently asked questions.
Take a look at our top pick below.
EDITORS CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK
The KastKing Royale Legend GT Baitcasting Reel is designed with beginners in mind!
This baitcaster features one of the best dual brake systems with a quick, easy to fine-tune reliable centrifugal and magnetic brake system for superior casting control.
The precision cut brass gear structure and carbon fiber drag system delivers 17.5 LBs of drag power, offering the ultimate high performance.
Pros:
- Easy to use! Designed and created for anglers who want outstanding performance.
- This baitcasting reel features 8 cross-fire magnets for magnetic braking efficiency and superior casting control.
- 11 + 1 double shielded MaxiDur ball bearings for super smooth casting, retrieve, and long life.
Cons:
- A few customers experienced some backlash when casting with this baitcaster.
EDITORS CHOICE
The KastKing Spartacus I & II Baitcasting Fishing Reel is a high quality, high-performance baitcaster perfect for beginners!
This baitcaster features superior shielded 7 + 1 corrosion resistant ball bearings, CNC anodized aluminum spool with power launch, and aluminum handle for smooth casting.
The corrosion-resistant components of this casting reel will give you hours on end of fish fighting performance! Suitable to be used for freshwater or saltwater fishing.
Pros:
- This baitcasting reel boasts instant stop anti-reverse, meaning that you don’t have to worry about your reel unspooling by accident.
- This reel is smoother, smaller, lighter, and more powerful than any other brand bait casters in its price range.
- The Spartacus reel features a lightweight aluminum handle and comfortable EVA handle knobs for complete control and comfort.
Cons:
- A couple of customers claimed that they had issues with the thumb button.
BEST VALUE
The Abu Garcia Revo SX Low Profile Fishing Reel delivers the most powerful, durable, and high performance yet.
The Revo SX comes equipped with a Power Stack Carbon Matrix Drag System that allows for a very smooth, consistent pressure across the entire drag range with a max drag of up to 24 pounds to stop any fish.
The featured DuraClutch design increases its durability, reduces thumb bar resistance when casting heavy baits for an improved engagement with the turn of the handle, and enhances casting smoothness.
Pros:
- This low profile reel also features the X2-Cräftic alloy frame, which provides a strong yet lightweight frame.
- The dual braking system allows for a wide range of adjustments to suit any style of bait.
- The Revo SX features the Infini II Spool design that allows it to handle extreme loads and delivers improved castability.
Cons:
- A few customers had problems with the side plate on this specific baitcaster.
RUNNER UP
The Lew’s Mach Crush Baitcast reel features a strong and lightweight, super low profile graphite frame and side plates.
This reel features a double-anodized aluminum spool tension adjustment with audible click and a rugged carbon fiber drag system which provides up to 20 pounds drag power to help you land the biggest fish!
This baitcaster boasts a machined and double anodized aluminum U-shape 32 millimeter spool and a high strength solid brass main gear and crankshaft.
Pros:
- Premium 10-bearing system with double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings and Zero Reverse one-way clutch bearing.
- Multi-setting brake! Externally-adjustable dual cast control system utilizing both an external click-dial for setting the magnetic brake.
- Quick release side plate lock lever, a zirconia line guide and an external lube port.
Cons:
- One customer claimed that the casting on this baitcaster was not as smooth as they were expecting.
RUNNER UP
The Piscifun Phantom Carbon Baitcasting Reel is lightweight and made out of a premium carbon fiber frame, weighing only 5.70 ounces.
The double hard anodized aircraft grade aluminum main gear and pinion gear paired with 4 disc carbon fiber drag washers deliver exceptional 17 lbs stopping power to fight even the biggest of fish.
The 7.0:1 gear ratio provides long-distance, accurate casting and instant hook set, 6 anti-corrosion stainless steel ball bearings plus 1 clutch bearing, all shield to extend the durability.
Pros:
- This featherweight baitcasting reel is easy to use and handle! Perfect for beginners.
- The hard-anodized aluminum alloy main gear and shaft make sure you get consistent performance.
- 0-10 external magnetic brake gives you precise adjustment for a wide variety of baits to avoid backlash.
Cons:
- One customer claimed that their line would not lay right in this baitcaster.
Best Baitcaster For Beginners Buying Guide
There are a few things to consider when it comes to buying baitcasting reels for beginners, but it mainly revolves around the braking system that is ultimately going to make your life much easier as a beginner.
Good quality baitcasters are great for game fishing, but you want to ensure that you’re choosing the right one for a beginner. Don’t be persuaded into buying a baitcaster that is more advanced, as you might find it doesn’t have the appropriate braking system to aid your learning and you could struggle to fish with it as a result.
We’ve written a buyer’s guide of aspects to consider when looking for a baitcaster, alongside some frequently asked questions that are handy to know.
Check out the features below before you buy your baitcaster.
Baitcasting Vs Spinning Reels
Although baitcasters and spinning reels have a wide variety of applications, there are some significant differences and there are pros and cons to both baitcasting and spinning reels.
Spinning reels are used for a variety of purposes that overlap with a baitcaster, but some of its purposes include spin fishing, surf casting, and offshore fishing. Depending on the reel, they’re typically cheaper than baitcasters and easier to master, too.
However, generally speaking, spinning reels are not used for very heavy applications, such as big game fishing, which is a domain generally reserved for baitcasters.
Baitcasting reels are designed for a higher degree of casting accuracy. Generally speaking, they have long-distance casting abilities and can handle heavy lures, as well as having the capability to help you to land bigger sized fish.
However, baitcasters are notoriously difficult to master and can have a higher risk of backlash when casting. Whichever reel you decide to buy, make sure that you do your own research on which is best for you and your lifestyle.
Size
Something important that you need to consider is the size of the baitcaster, as this directly correlates to the capacity of spool that your reel can carry.
The size of baitcaster that you choose will also depend on how far you intend to cast out. Ask yourself, what type of fishing do you hope to be doing? Generally speaking, you’ll be looking at mostly low profile or round baitcasters.
Low profile baitcasters - Typically low profile baitcaster reels use either 10 or 100 sizing naming conventions.
Sizes range from 100 (smallest) up to around 400 as the largest, but you will find that lots of ranges of low-profile reels don’t offer much variation in size.
Round baitcasters - The majority of round baitcaster reels use the 1000 naming convention to detail their sizing.
Whichever baitcaster you decide, make sure to do your own research and to check the sizing before buying.
Weight
Something to consider when purchasing a baitcaster is its weight and the weight of the line, as if you’re out on the water for long periods of time, you don’t want to be worrying about damaging your wrist whilst you’re learning to master the baitcaster.
Baitcasting reels are not designed for light line, as they have the capability to catch larger sized fish with ease. You should therefore take the weight into consideration.
When you are just beginning to use a baitcaster, use monofilament around 17 pounds until you’ve got the hang of it as it is much easier to handle and try to avoid picking a reel that is heavier than 10 pounds.
Braking system
Something you need to consider when purchasing a baitcaster as a beginner is the braking system.
Magnetic - Depending on the baitcaster, a magnet system typically relies on 6 to 10 magnets that slow down the spool. It can be adjusted by pulling the magnets in or out, subsequently placing them closer to the spool, or further away from it.
Centrifugal - A centrifugal system uses centrifugal force to slow down the spool during rotation, and can be adjusted to apply more or less resistance to the spool.
More experienced fishers heavily rely on thumb pressure to slow down the spool rotation while casting with a baitcaster. The reason for this is that it allows you to modulate pressure during the casting process, which generally means you have a much higher accuracy when casting.
However, this is not recommended for beginners, since it is a skill you acquire over time and is next to impossible to get it right at first, which means you could end up very frustrated on your first few fishing trips.
Instead, we recommend relying on the braking system as a beginner until you’re proficient enough to switch to thumb control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best baitcaster for beginners?
The best baitcaster for a beginner is subject to change. However, there are a few things that you should look out for.
Firstly, you should look for a baitcaster with a good braking system whilst you learn how to use the baitcaster properly to avoid disappointment and frustration. After all, fishing is all about patience!
You should also look for a baitcaster that isn’t too heavy to use, as you will struggle to spend a lot of time fishing whilst you build up your wrist strength.
Lastly, you should think about the type of fishing you want to be doing and buy a baitcaster that has the right spool capacity according to your desires.
What are the advantages of a baitcaster?
If you can afford one, there are many advantages to having a baitcaster. A baitcaster affords you better line control than spinning reels do, generally allowing for further and more accurate casts.
Secondly, a baitcaster allows you to maintain contact with the lure, even when the reel is in free spool, so you can detect any strikes that may occur as you are letting out the line.
A baitcaster allows you to slow down the lure so it softly falls into the water without spooking nearby fish, important when flipping baits into cover.
Although they are generally perceived to be a more expensive alternative to spinning reels, baitcasters offer you a wealth of fishing opportunities, especially when it comes to game fishing. Why not give one a try?
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