Spinning reels are an essential part of an angler’s fishing tools. They help users to manage balance and weight while fishing to make the entire process more efficient. Thankfully, you do not have to spend a fortune on the products as various options are available both offline and in traditional stores. Spending less does not necessarily mean that the so-called best spinning reel under 50 will be low quality. You can use valuable equipment to catch as many fish as you would like with ease for a long time.
This article will help you choose the finest spinning reel under $50 while still providing excellent performance and meeting your fishing demands.
Here are our picks for the best fishing spinning reels under $50. You won’t have to wonder if a cheap reel is any good because we’ve reviewed them here and summed up their pros and cons in this article!
Reel Name Weight (oz) Gear ratio Retrieve rate Bea rings Max drag (lb) Material Penn Pursuit III 9.8 - 29.1 5.3:1 33 5 10 - 25 Graphite Pflueger President 7.5 - 11.5 5.2:1 20.2 10 6 - 14 Graphite Shimano Sienna FE 9.2 5.1:1 28 2 9 Graphite Okuma Ceymar 6 5.0:1 22 7 6 - 11 Aluminum Mitchell 300 6.8 - 9.9 5.2:1 21 8 6 - 14 Aluminum Pflueger Trion 6.3 - 11.3 5.2:1 21 7 6 - 14 Graphite Piscifun Flame 8.5 5.2:1 yes 9 19.8 Graphite Okuma Avenger 8.9-22.9 5.0:1 25 7 8-33 Graphite KastKing Centron 9 5.2:1 yes 9 11-17 Graphite
1. PENN Pursuit III
If you’re looking to spend less and get a high-quality fishing reel, then the Penn Pursuit 3 may be for you. Its lightweight construction makes it easy on your arms while reeling in fish at an impressive speed.
This fishing reel is high-performing and easy to adjust, thanks to its oiled-felt drag system. It has a high-precision gear mechanism, which results in more fluid retrieval than many of its competitors in this price range.
This fishing spinning reel is the perfect addition to your fishing gear for a range of different applications. Whether you are looking for light freshwater action or more heavy marine spin, these line features will suit any situation perfectly!
The PENN Pursuit III Spinning Fishing Reel is a quality spinning fishing reel crafted with care. It features lightweight, corrosion-resistant graphite housing, and HT-100 carbon fiber drag system, and shielded stainless steel ball bearings.
This affordable product also includes efficient line capacity rings for your convenience. So if you’re looking to get started in saltwater fishing, the PENN pursuit III will have every tool needed for fun and success!
The Pursuit III is available in six sizes, ranging from 2500 to 8000. It has a reel that can be used for all types of fisheries.
Pros:
- High-quality stainless steel construction.
- Anti-reverse bearing immediately to stop play
- High-performance ball bearings provide smooth action.
- Powerful drag
- Excellent user experience is possible through ergonomic design.
- High gear ratio
Cons
- For newbies, not recommended
- After prolonged use, the bail arm can become stuck.
2. Pflueger President Spinning Reel
Why the Pflueger President is among the most popular reels on the market: it has excellent characteristics and features that anglers appreciate while offering great value at a low price point.
It has 7 ball bearings to make it perform smoothly and efficiently. The graphite body and rotor make it lightweight and helps prevent corrosion.
This fishing spinning reel also comes with a sealed drag system, which means the drag washers are continuously lubricated and will always be smooth.
The braid ready spool allows you to tie your favorite braided line directly onto the spool eliminating unnecessary tangles when winding on a new line.
It also features slow oscillation gearing contributes to decreased line twists, and improved line lay on this model, making way for easier retrieval of fish.
Pros:
- Seven bearings deliver silky-smooth action
- The reel is made of a Lightweight graphite body
- It features an anti-reverse mechanism powered by an anti-reverse ball bearing system and a tough and durable build.
- It has an attractive design that looks elegant and sleek.
- The handle on this fishing reel is comfortable to hold
- Works in saltwater
Cons:
- After prolonged use, the grip of your handle can become loose.
- Sometimes, the life expectancy of bearings and gears is very short.
3. Shimano Sienna FE Spinning Reel
The Shimano Sienna FE Fishing Reel provides an M-compact body that helps the anglers cast deep and far. This high-ranking product is expertly designed, making it a favorite in stores.
The Shimano Sienna FE Spinning Reel is perfect for professional and experienced anglers with its hardcore body, well-cased side plates, easy spooling rotor, and smooth operation.
To make your experience of dragging smoother, it has a well-closed and covered lay line that is aided with bearings. It makes the line spontaneous in terms of support to 20lbs as you will also get two other things – smoothness while dragging and protection from slippage.
The stainless steel gear is well protected from the graphite case, making your reel lightweight and efficient. In addition to this, you will get a smooth edge while fishing with high-quality ball bearings made of stainless steel.
With its bearings and rollers, the reel helps you cast your line with ease. It gives smooth action when dragging, enhanced by these features, allowing quick reversing without issue or hassle. The roller gear of this reel anti-reverse trigger provides an instant triggering effect to prevent unintentional reeling in fish.
The Shimano Sienna FE Fishing Reel is a perfect reel for catching crappies and trout in freshwater. It is available in sizes ranging from 1000 to 4000, so you may pick the best suits your needs.
It has an excellent gear ratio of 5.2:1, which is used by almost every reel.
The Shimano Sienna is a beginner-friendly fishing reel because it’s lightweight and won’t cause novice fisherman arm pain on their first fishing trips.
The Shimano Sienna FE high-tech reel has a handy set of gearing functions unmatched in other products.
Pros:
- Provides longer casting distances
- Fitted for everything from freshwater to inshore fishing
- Dyna-balance rotor
- Casting with a Single Hand
Cons:
- It has 2 ball bearings.
- Not recommended for trophy fishing
4. Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel
The Okuma Ceymar spinning reel is a powerful, lightweight reel. The Okuma Ceymar is an excellent option for beginners as it comes in different sizes ranging from 1000 to 6500. Most of the Okuma Ceymars are under $50, but if you’d like a bigger size and don’t mind spending more money.
The spinning reel is within everyone’s budget and offers more features than one might expect for the price.
The smallest Ceymar in the family, it is perfect for 2- to 6-pound test fishing line. It makes an excellent choice for trout and crappie, where larger gear can easily overpower fish with its lightweight combination of ultra light rods and reels. The Okuma Ceymar C-10 also doubles as an ice fishing rod that pairs well with tiny outfits too!
The C-30 and 40 sizes are famous for anglers looking to catch bass, walleye, steelhead carp, catfish more.
These two sizes are great for anglers fishing for bass, walleye, steelhead, carp, and catfish of all kinds. The 30 size is perfect if you’re looking to finesse fish with drop shotting or jigging techniques that use 6 – 8 pound line.
If you plan on catching larger fish like steelhead and catfish, we recommend the 40 size pole because it has a larger capacity for bait and a more robust line.
A C-55 spinning reel is great for inshore saltwater fishing. It can hold about 240 yards of a 15-pound monofilament line. Still, many will fish it with 20 to 30 pounds braided lines because its versatility allows you to catch striped bass, snook, and redfish in the shallow water bottom environment where they live.
A 65-sized Ceymar reel is excellent for saltwater or freshwater fishing. The Ergo Grip on the oversized model allows you to cast long distances from piers and jetties, but it’s better in big rivers and lakes where catfish are often found.
The Okuma Ceymar has a balance rotor system that allows you to go for longer casts without line entanglements. This balanced design, paired with its firm grip, makes it perfect for medium-sized fish-like bass.
Pros:
- Maximum durability is possible with a rugged build.
- Many features are available on higher-end reels.
- 8 ball bearings provide smooth operation.
- You get great value for a small budget.
- Compact size and a multi-disc drag system
Cons:
- Slower gear ratio
- Not as smooth as other models
- Saltwater may cause damage
5. Mitchell 300 Spinning Fishing Reel
The Mitchell 300 Spinning Fishing Reel is among the most popular for many reasons. It has all the valuable features you would expect, and it is also an affordable spinning reel.
Its polymeric body and carbon fiber drag are the main reasons why anglers choose the Mitchell 300 Spinning Fishing Reel. Its superior ergonomic design ensures its durability.
This durable, lightweight fishing reel is easy to carry and helps you manage your line.
The innovative Bail Halo design creates a stronger rotor that can hold more weight and resists corrosion.
The 8 bearing reels with instant anti-reverse to provide smooth, uninterrupted operation.
The multi-disk drag system maintains consistent drag pressure, whether the load being dragged is light or heavy.
A design with a powerful polymeric body and rotor, this advanced spinning reel is also made of aluminum for the spool and a metal handle.
The Mitchell 300 is the perfect choice for those looking to enjoy a comfortable and lightweight carbon fiber fishing reel.
Pros:
- Smooth retrieval action.
- Great casting performance.
- Lightweight graphite body.
- Carbon fiber body
- Incredibly little weight
- Durable, strong material
- Can handle bigger lines and heavier fishes
- It easily fits on every kind of fishing rod
- Corrosion-resistant body
Cons:
- The fishing reel is smaller compared to other models
- It fits less amount of line
6. Pflueger Trion Spinning Reel
The Pflueger Trion is another budget reel made by the company, but it still has excellent features.
It has 7 bearing system. The body and rotor are both graphite, while the spool is aluminum with a stainless steel oil felt drag for durability.
The Pflueger Trion is no-nonsense. It has the staple spinning reel components. It includes a click bail, removable aluminum handle, soft-touch grip, and solid aluminum spool with titanium roller for smooth performance. The main gear also comes threaded, which helps prevent slipping during use.
The 20 size reel weighs 5.9 ounces, and the 30 size weighs 8.6 ounces, but they both fish smoothly out of the box with solid construction in your hand while feeling a light weight at only a few inches long each way around!
The drag adjustment system is easy to use, with a spool design that allows for quick adjustments during fights. The bail clicks open and closes easily on your cast. You can get the line off the reel well, thanks to its beveled edge!
Pros
- Powerful oil felt drag system
- Sleek design & Smooth drag
- Solid construction
- Varied weights
- On/off instant anti-reverse bearing
- Gear system with slow oscillation
Cons
- Low line capacity
- The maximum drag capacity is 6 lbs
7. Piscifun Flame
The unique red and blue design of the Piscifun Flame makes it a perfect catch to anglers who care about aesthetics. In addition, the braid-made spool is an exclusive feature that only comes with this brand.
It also has different sizes ranging from 2000 to 5000, which might be suitable for your next fishing trip depending on what you want in terms of size and strength.
If you love going saltwater fishing, then the fact that this is made of corrosion-resistant graphite makes it a plus.
A pack of 9+1 high-quality ball bearings that provide buttery smooth cast and retrieve performance.
Triple Drag Washers provides the ultimate smooth drag operation that ensures consistent line out to reduce the chance of breaking your fishing line.
The Anti Corrosion Zinc drive gear is designed with precise mesh teeth, which gives you powerful and consistent operation. It even fights the big fish better than other gears on the market do.
Piscifun’s high-end reels feature a unique spool, which is only available in higher-end products.
The Piscifun Flame Spinning Reel has a crisp click sound because the high-quality parts were precisely assembled. This makes it have better clicker sounds than our competitors’ reels, contributing to buttery smooth drag performance when fishing for fish.
Line Lay spooling system is designed to help anglers cast farther than ever before. With a smooth performance and balanced rotor, Line lay ensures the line wraps evenly on your spinning fishing reel, which ultimately results in an increased cast distance.
A Piscifun graphite fishing reel is corrosion-resistant, allowing you to fish in saltwater. It also offers excellent drag for catching trophy fish up to 19.8 pounds. Regardless of your skill level or training regimen, this lightweight product will help contribute to its success!
Pros
- Lightweight design
- For trophy fishing, the gear ratio is perfect
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Weak anti-reverse system leading to some back plays
- One less customer can complain that they are not suitable for saltwater fishing
8. Okuma Avenger ABF B Series Baitfeeder Reels
The Okuma Avenger is a decent spinning reel with six bearings. It feels smooth out of the box and has some features that we will look at closer in detail now.
The number “6 Ball Bearings” is a bit confusing, as there are 7 ball bearings: six for the reel and one more to ensure that when you engage the anti-reverse gear, it engages properly.
The drag on the fishing reel will allow you to spool out your line at a certain speed. The faster you want to go, the tighter it is set and how much pressure is applied by fish fighting for its life adds up.
Using the drag will allow you to set a speed for your line, depending on how tight or loose you have it and based on what kind of pressure is being applied.
The Okuma Avenger has incorporated oil-soaked felt washers into the drag system. This provides a very smooth feeling as you pull the line off of the spool, and it helps to reduce any jerking when fish are taking in your line.
Some reels have lower-quality systems that tend to jerk while giving away some of your fishing lines. That is not true with this one!
A sealed gearbox should keep water, sand, and dirt out. However, you need to rinse it off after use and take care of the gears for a long lifespan.
With a graphite body and rotor, you can expect this reel to last longer than the average aluminum counterpart. The material of choice is more vital as well; it’s both lighter in weight yet more durable for increased lifespan.
The Okuma Avenger ABF model has a simple on/off switch that allows you to flip the switch and put it into bait-feeding mode.
Pros
- One-handed bait feeding system
- Sealed gearbox
- Best for saltwater and freshwater fishing
- graphite construction makes it lightweight.
- Smooth retrieval
- Materials that resist corrosion
Cons
- The line does not always lay perfectly on the spool.
- Bail cannot clear the top of the spool at all positions
- Spool not Braid ready
9.KastKing Summer and Centron
The KastKing Centron spinning reel is beautiful not only because of its performance but also due to its sleek design. The Summer and Centron models come in white or black, respectively, both with a subtle polished finish that makes them look elegant at first sight.
Anglers who target trophies are in luck with the KastKing Centron. With superior control over its casts and retrieves, you can have peace of mind until your trophy is caught.
KastKing’s Centron option isn’t offered by its Shimano Sienna alternative, which only allows holders to go for small fish.
The size of the KastKing Centron Spinning reel varies from 500 to 5000 and has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 like other reels.
It has outstanding line capacity, allowing for deep casts. Despite this unique ability, the weight of the reel is not affected much at all!
The brilliant benefits of this reel include an anodized aluminum spool, corrosion-resistant graphite frame, and perfect saltwater usage.
The KastKing Centron has a computer-designed balance system that is equipped with an anti-reverse bearing, 9 ball bearings (9+1BB) and also provides significantly smooth retrieves for large bass or catfish.
The reel has an interchangeable handle. The push of a button allows you to easily switch the handle on these reels, making them great for both left-handed and right-handed users.
Pros
- It is used for trophy fishing
- Powerful drag & long casts
- Lightweight graphite structure
- Low budget spinning reels
Cons
- 9 ball-bearing reel is less smooth.
— Cheap Spinning Reel Buying Guide —
Spending less on the spinning reels does not warrant blind choosing. It would help if you still went through the various options available to pick the best one that will suit your needs. Factors that should be at the back of your mind when shopping for the best spinning reel under 50 include:
I. Ease Of Use:
Always find products that you can handle with ease. You do not want something that will present problems because you will already be fighting with the fish, and you do not need any more struggles at the moment. Go for a reel that is not heavy and comes with a comfy grip so that you can control it easily.
II. The Line Capacity:
It is paramount that your line size matches the baitcasting reel. For instance, if you are looking forward to a big catch, you cannot use a weak line because it needs a line and reel to handle the strain well. While most freshwater reels are ideal for saltwater fishing, it is essential to remember that there could be some abundant wildlife in the waters; thus, you may consider picking something with more capacity.
III. Reel Size
When looking to buy the correct size of the reel, you need to look at your spool. This will provide information about how much line capacity is on there and what type of line strength you’re using which determines exactly what size fishing reel I need? If shopping online, check out their product chart before purchase.
III. A material, The Reels, Are Made From:
It would also help if you thought about the equipment’s materials before deciding on the one to invest in. Although there is a lot of debate on the topic, some fishers say that reels that composite equipment are not ideal. There is, however, no denying that there are pretty great options out there made from composite, and they also present the benefit of being corrosion-resistant and lightweight. An attractive option, though, is aluminum that does not rust easily and is not heavy. Some anglers also choose a steel reel. Even though they do not rust quickly, they can, and obviously, the weight is greater when you compare them to the other options above.
IV. The Species Of Fish You Want To Catch
It is a pretty big deal for anyone who is looking for a spinning reel under 50. It also affects the decision on the spinner, bait, line, and rod that you will get. It is possible to find a reel for bass fish that you can also use easily with other bigger fishes. Moreover, if you want to go home with a small catch, surplus capacity is not worth paying for because it will be of no use.
How to Select The Spinning Reel Under 50?
One of the things that make spinning reels a significant part of a fisher’s arsenal is that they can handle light lines easily and cast lightweight lures. The fixed and open spool makes this possible, making them very easy to cast, rarely creating tangles or backlashes.
Fishers, whether professional or amateur, also like the versatility that the reels offer. Users can opt to use live bait or finesse presentations because they are popular among bass, pan-fish, and walleye anglers. Spinners, small jigs, and small crank-baits are well suited for use with these machines.
Spinning rules also make great training tools because people interested in fishing and have never done it before can learn how to cast and fish comfortably with this piece of equipment. The operation is quite simple where all a person has to do is open bail, finger on the line before they finally lure sail.
As the beginner gains experience and knows how to use the reel correctly, they can upgrade and use more refined models with sophisticated features. Note that with proper maintenance, reels that you purchase on a budget can last for many years without too many complications.
What is the Spinning reel under 50 Dollars?
A spinning reel is a fisherman’s best friend, a wise man once said. Therefore, the article about fishing reels is a must-read, right? Spending less does not mean that the best spinning reel under 50 is of low quality.
Every angler wants to go wider and deeper into the water and bait the biggest creatures possible. Spinning Reels make this possible. Fishing Reels are devices that aid in winding and stowing a line attached to a fishing rod. There are three types of fishing reels: a Spincast reel, baitcasting reel, and spinning reel.
Amateur fishers usually use Spincast reels since it is the easiest to use. On the other side of the spectrum lies ‘Baitcasting,’ which is much harder to master. And somewhere in between the two is the Spinning Reel. This is the most popular fishing reel used. Let’s now slowly get into the spinning reel mode, shall we?
The Spinning Reels are open-face reels that enable baiting at a longer distance than a spin-cast reel. These are much easier to master and have no significant disadvantage over Baitcasting unless the line is heavier than 20lbs. So, spinning reels are the optimum choice unless you are an expert who has mastered using Baitcasting.
When it comes to buying the best-rated spinning reel, you’ll face a variety of choices with different trade-offs. You’ll come across spinning reels as cheap as 20 USD and also as expensive as 2000USD. Why such a big difference? Which one should you buy?
While the super expensive reels above $500 are certainly miles better than the ones on this list, cheaper reels can undoubtedly provide many crucial features for a much lower sum.
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