6 Best Walleye Spinning Reel | Best Walleye Fishing Reels on the Market

Searching for the best walleye spinning reel? 

Walleye is a clever fish that won’t miss any chance to escape. To make sure you successfully haul up the walleye, you need the right tool, and reel is one of them! Since there are a bunch of walleye spinning reels available, choosing the right one could be a little daunting. 

However, in this guide we have reviewed 7 best walleye fishing rod, these are the top-rated models of the market right now! You don’t have to pick any of them just because we said they are best! 

Read the reviews, check out what the real users are saying, and then decide whether you should pick or not!

Which Are The Best Walleye Spinning Reels?



6 Best Spinning Reel for Walleye Comparison

IMAGE PRODUCTS FEATURES PRICE
Top Pick
  • Gear Ratio: 5:3:1
  • Reel Size: 8000
  • Monoline Capacity: 340/20 – 310/25 – 230/30
  • Braided Line Capacity: 475/50 – 390/65 – 345/80
EDITORS CHOICE
  • Gear Ratio: 5:2:1
  • Reel Size: 5000
  • Monoline Capacity: 12/220 – 14/190
  • Braided Line Capacity: 50/220 – 60/190
  • Gear Ratio: 4:2:1
  • Reel Size: N/A
  • Monoline Capacity: 12/275 – 14/220
  • Braided Line Capacity: N/A
  • Gear Ratio: 5:2:1
  • Reel Size: 30
  • Monoline Capacity: 225/4 – 145/6 – 130/8
  • Braided Line Capacity: 275/6 – 190/8 – 160/10
  • Gear Ratio: 5:0:1
  • Reel Size: N/A
  • Monoline Capacity: 2/270 – 4/140 – 6/110
  • Braided Line Capacity: 15/85 – 20/65 (Power Pro Line )
  • Gear Ratio: 4:2:1
  • Reel Size: N/A
  • Monoline Capacity: N/A
  • Braided Line Capacity: N/A

1. Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel for Walleye 

If you are looking for a perfect fishing reel for both saltwater and freshwater, then you must take a look at the Penn Battle II Spinning reel. With the highest rating, this very reel model has made its way to many top lists. It can be used for different kinds of fish such as Catfish, Salmon, Perch, rockfish, and walleye. But this reel is best suited for walleye fishing, you will get to know the reason ahead.   

This is a tough reel that does an excellent job holding on the fighting and hard to catch fishes. It features a full metal body and also comes with an aluminum bail wire which makes the reel extremely durable. Since it is a heavy-duty walleye reel, it is a little heavy, you have to deal with that. On the other hand, the weight and heavy-duty construction make catching bigger fish easier since the reel wouldn’t flex. 

This reel features HT 100 drag system which uses carbon washers, this is an excellent one, better than the felt washers. The drag of this reel is powerful, but that doesn’t interrupt the smoothness of using. It comes with an anti-reverse technology the prevents the back play.

Moreover, it comes with five sealed ball bearings, they are made of stainless steel which makes them corrosion resistant. One thing about this reel the everyone loves is the super line spool, because of this you will have a count on how many lines left in the spool. 

Overall, this is an extremely durable walleye fishing reel. Not only walleye, but you can also go after other heavyweight saltwater fishes as well. You might have you struggle a bit with the heavyweight, but that shouldn’t be a major issue. Heavy-duty items would be a little heavy, that’s obvious. 

Pros

  • Highly durable reel. 
  • Features superline spool.
  • It comes with a powerful drag.
  • Suitable for both saltwater and freshwater.
  • Top-quality bearings. 

Cons

  • This reel is a little heavy. 

2. KastKing Sharky III Fishing Spinning Reel

This is another classy and top-rated spinning reel for walleye, the KastKing Sharky III reel. It is designed for giving tough battle to heavy fishes like salmon, walleye, etc. The manufacturer has used high-quality material and constructed heavily so that it lives up to the expectation of the users.

The body of this reel is constructed with a high percentage fiber-reinforced graphite and the rotor is also made of the same material. Even after being a heavy-duty spinning reel, the weight of this reel is pretty low which is an advantage for the angler. 

It features triple disc carbon fiber drag which is extremely reliable, stainless steel shaft which is oversized, and mesh manganese brass pinion gears. There is a technology that this manufacturer uses on their reels, KISS (KastKing Intrusion Shield System).

This technology keeps the water out of the reel and keeps the reel dry. The rotor, spool, and body, water won’t be staying long in any part, thanks to KISS. 

Moreover, this reel also comes with 11 top-notch ball bearings which are made of stainless steel. Not only that, but these bearings are also double shielded, saltwater rated, so they will last very long.

With this spinning reel, you also get instant lock anti-reverse feature. The handle comes with this reel is covered with EVA foam grip that makes it very comfortable. And lastly, you will get more line capacity compared to other walleye spinning reels. 

Pros

  • Durable reel.
  • Top-quality bearings.
  • EVA foam grip handle. 
  • Anti-reverse feature.
  • Increased line capacity.
  • Reasonable price.

Cons

  • According to a few users, after a couple of fishing trips, the smoothness gets reduced.

3. SHIMANO TEKOTA LEVELWIND Reel – Best Walleye Trolling Reel.

 If you are someone who trolls both saltwater and freshwater fishes, then you might be interested in this SHIMANO Tekota Level Wind. This is one of the best trolling reels for walleye.

Incredible built quality, outstanding performance, you can expect to have both with this very reel. It comes with a single piece die-cast aluminum frame that makes the reel extremely durable and long-lasting. If maintained well, you can spend seasons after seasons with this very model. 

This walleye reel comes with a crossbar forward design that enables you to directly access the spool. Not only that, for batter line management with this reel you get a non-disengaging level wind system as well. Bearings that comes in this are completely rust-resistant and corrosion-resistant. They are pretty smooth as well, which ensures you have a great reeling experience. 

The reel isn’t heavy, it weighs only 13.3 oz. and delivers 18lbs max drag. You can use this reel heavily, it can take a good amount of abuse. According to some users, this reel is best for shallower trolling with lighter braided or monofilament line. 

Pros

  • Features die aluminum cast frame. 
  • Delivers 18lbs max drag.
  • Corrosion and rust-resistant bearings. 
  • Highly durable reel.
  • Better line management. 

Cons

  • Few users complained about the build quality, they find it cheaply build. 

4. Pflueger President Spinning Walleye Fishing Reel

The Pflueger President Spinning Walleye Fishing Reel is designed in a way that it is suitable for both beginners and experts. It is a well-constructed fishing reel that performs well in different weather conditions.

Trolling, jigging, retrieving, and casting, you can get along with any technique with this very reel. It delivers some feature that makes it stand out from the competition easily, let’s get into them one by one. 

One of the best perks of this reel is the price, it comes at an affordable price. The manufacturer has done the cost-cutting on the packaging, you wouldn’t get a fancy heavy stock cardboard box. It is wrapped in a high-density plastic bubble shell, and inside it the reel is safe. 

This reel features an aluminum handle that enables you to reel very conveniently, and the handle is durable as well. The reel got graphite construction, the entire body is constructed with graphite.

With this reel, you also get braid ready spool, good rotor, and slow oscillation gearing. One thing that almost all user has praised about this reel is the line retrieval, it is very easy. 

Features stainless steel 10 lb. drag system, it has oil felt and that delivers consistent drag. Moreover, the drag system has enhanced corrosion resistance as well since it is completely sealed. This reel comes with 10 bearings which are extremely smooth, the smoothness will enable you to have outstanding fishing experience. 

It comes in an attractive design, that makes people fall for this reel even more. Overall, the Pflueger President Spinning Walleye Fishing Reel is definitely a great deal. 

Pros

  • Affordable price.
  • Smooth-rolling high-quality bearings.
  • Durable graphite construction.
  • Braid ready spool.
  • Classy design.

Cons

  • Few users have faced little line twisting on this reel.

5. SHIMANO Sedona FI Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel

Undoubtedly, this Shimano Sedona FI Freshwater Spinning reel is a great catch for anglers. It comes at a very low price but features that it offers are found on expensive reel models.

It comes with Cold-Forged HAGANE gears, this is the flagship gear of Shimano. With this very spinning reel, you will get incredible drag power. Not only that, but the gear ratio of this reel is also increased, and the way the reel is designed it functions well in every environment. 

Heavy or light, this reel is suitable to fight with any size of fish. The reel weight is reduced, so you can expect to have convenient fishing and there is very little chance of facing hand fatigue when fishing for a long day. This reel has increased line capacity, thanks to the double anodized machine cut spool.

For better line management this reel features the Propulsion line management system. And this line management system makes sure you don’t deal with backlashes and wind knots. 

However, this reel might be a little tough to handle for the beginners but with time anyone would get a good hang. And one more thing that users find unpleasant is the reverse switch, it doesn’t come with the reverse switch. 

Pros

  • Features flagship HAGANE gearing system.
  • Suitable for both inshore and offshore.
  • Increases line holding capacity.
  • Prevent backlashing.
  • Highly durable and long-lasting.

Cons

  • Doesn’t feature reverse switch.

6. Daiwa Accudepth Plus-B Line Levelwind Walleye Fishing Reel.

And here comes the last reel of the list for now! This another top-quality model that you can rely on blindly, the Daiwa Accudepth Plus-B Line 

Levelwind Walleye Fishing Reel. Like other top-quality fishing reels, this one also features a graphite composite frame that is highly durable. It can withstand high abuse, so don’t worry about the build quality. 

Even after being a heavy-duty fishing reel, it weighs pretty low. Due to less weight, there will be very little chance of dealing with hand fatigue when you are fishing for long hours. With this reel, you will get brass gear which is cut accurately for enhancing the cranking power. Not only that, through auto engage clutch the brass gear provides you greater control as well. 

It comes with a spool clicker and line counter, these things improve the precision. These make sure you do the right casting every time and also helps you to set perfect trolling speed. With this reel, you also get top-notch felt drag washer along with Teflon, smooth drag, and greater control is obvious with it.

The spool comes with this reel is made of cast aluminum, that is durable. Plus, untangling and folding is very easier with this spool. And lastly, it doesn’t matter whether you are a lefty or righty, this reel comes for both. 

Pros

  • Affordable price. 
  • Extremely reliable walleye reel.
  • Graphite composite frame. 
  • Top-quality spool.
  • Easy line untangling.
  • Rust and corrosion-proof.

Cons

  • It stutters sometimes. 

How to Choose the Best Walleye Fishing Reel?

How to Choose the Best Walleye Fishing Reel

Choosing the ideal walleye reel is quite a task. You will have to find the right balance of weight and durability, then choosing the right drag, and what not.

If you want to make sure that you end up pointing your finger over the ideal walleye fishing reel, there are some factors that you will have to consider right before making the purchase decision.

We have mentioned those below, make sure to go through and use a deciding factor you are buying a reel.

Material

The first thing you will want to consider is the construction material. There are a bunch of materials that different manufacturers use but then the most popular materials for reels are aluminum and graphite. Aluminum is a highly durable material but that makes the reel a bit heavy. And if you want corrosion protection then you can also choose an anodized version. 

And then comes the graphite which is a very lightweight material but in terms of durability, it doesn’t match with aluminum. Graphite wouldn’t give the strength that you will get from aluminum. However, for small and medium-size fishes they are still a great choice. Plus, graphite is highly corrosion-resistant. 

Drag System 

A good drag system will increase the chances of catch, so it is extremely mandatory for a reel to have a great drag system. The line needs to be tensioned properly, but that doesn’t mean the tension needs to be high, which will cause you to miss the catch. Proper tensioning means a perfect balance, not to tight nor lose. 

It will best for everyone to choose a reel that comes with a disc drag system, along with increasing the chances of catch, it will make the reel very smooth and hence you will have a great fishing experience. 

Extra Features

Well, this is not mandatory but will be good to have on the reel. For example, if the reel has a spool clicker that will be useful in terms of casting and that will also make fish nibble. Line counter, which will improve the casting. The anti-reverse knob, this will give you more control over the reel. 

Conclusion 

Though this guide is about best walleye spinning reels, but we have added the best walleye trolling reel as well. However, these are the 6 best walleye fishing reels you will find in the market right now. All of these are top-rated and some of them are the best-selling models. But still, before you make a purchase, take a look at the user review, see what the users are saying and then purchase. 

Since different manufacturers are continuously bringing new reels, we might add some more if we find them worthy. With that said, wrapping the article up! Hope you get your hands on the right walleye fishing reel. And don’t forget to tell us how the reel is going with you, that will help others. 

Happy Walleye Fishing! 

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