Best Baitcasting Reel Under $100
Have you been searching for a new baitcasting reel, but can’t find a decent one for a good price? Well, we are here to help you with that right now and right here. We know that finding a good baitcaster can be hard, let alone when you want a good one that won’t cost you a fortune.
Either you get some cheap piece of junk that falls apart when you first use it, or you have to pay a ton of money for something that you probably don’t need. At any rate, we are here to help you find the best baitcasting reel under $100. We have 3 really nice options for you to check out, so let’s get to it right now.
Haibo Baitcasting Reel
When it comes to baitcasting reels under $100, we think that the Haibo Baitcasting Reel is probably your best bet out there at this time. First off, this baitcaster comes with an impressive 18-pound carbon fiber drag system. Such a high level of drag on such an inexpensive baitcasting reel is not something that you can easily find, so we are quite impressed by this. The carbon fiber braking system that this reel comes with might just be our favorite feature.
Moreover, the Haibo Baitcasting Reel features a great 5.4:1 gear ratio. In other words, you can pull in over 22 inches of line per crank so you don’t have to tire yourself out trying to haul in that big fish.
The collocated and extended bent carbon handle allows you to really crank the handle so you can reel in the fish with ease. The comfortably padded handles help quite a bit as well. Literally everything about the Haibo Baitcasting Reel is designed for maximum power so you can reel in the big ones without issue.
We also like the 8 stainless steel ball bearing system which this baitcasting reel comes with. That, combined with the advanced anti-reverse system allows for really smooth and easy casting of far distances, plus it makes reeling your catch in just that much easier.
There are also some features which help to reduce friction when casting, yet another bonus. The fact that the Haibo Baitcasting Reel is corrosion proof is also a big deal because it allows you to fish in saltwater without fear of degradation.
Pros
- Great casting power
- Reduced friction
- Really smooth
- High retrieval rate (gear ratio)
- Lots of drag
- Comfortable handle
- High level of durability
Cons
- A little too large for some people
Piscifun Phantom Carbon Baitcasting Reel
When it comes to a lightweight baitcaster, you will be hard pressed to find a better one than this one right here. The Piscifun Phantom Carbon Baitcasting Reel weighs only 5.7 ounces, which is about as lightweight as something like this can be. Being so light definitely helps make things a lot easier.
At the same time, even though this baitcasting reel is very lightweight, it still manages to come with an excellent level of durability. The carbon fiber design of this reel makes it really durable, not to mention that it also comes with a double hard anodized aircraft-grade aluminum main gear and pinion gear.
Moreover, the Piscifun Phantom Carbon Baitcasting Reel has an excellent gear ratio of 7:1. When it comes to inexpensive baitcasters, this is about as good as can be expected. In fact, a 7:1 ratio is very high, so it does allow for really smooth casting as well as really quick retrieval. A single crank of the handle can retrieve over 30 inches of line, which is quite impressive, to say the least.
We also like the premium carbon fiber drag system which the Piscifun Phantom Carbon Baitcasting Reel comes with. It can handle up to 17 pounds of drag with ease, which makes catching that big fish just that much easier. Also, the A 0-10 external magnetic brake, combined with the 6 pin internal centrifuge system makes casting and reeling much easier still. Moreover, we also like how this reel has a fairly high capacity for line, 120 yards for both mono and braided line.
Pros
- Quite durable
- Awesome gear ratio
- High drag
- Good braking system
- Fairly comfortable handle
- Very lightweight
- Looks nice
Cons
- Very noisy
- Braking is hard to set right
Quantum Fishing Accurist Baitcasting Reel
If you need a baitcasting reel with a high level of power, the Quantum Fishing Accurist Baitcasting Reel is a good way to go. This reel comes with an impressive 7 to 1 gear ratio, which means that you can retrieve over 30 inches of line with a single crank. This makes it easy and reliable for casting and for reeling in too. The titanium-coated line guide also makes casting quite easy and fast.
We also like how the Quantum Fishing Accurist Baitcasting Reel is fairly lightweight because nobody wants a really heavy reel. The one piece aluminum frame is quite durable, which is impressive considering how inexpensive this thing actually is. The MaxCast skeletal spool is another good addition which we need to mention.
The ceramic drag system which is incorporated into the Quantum Fishing Accurist Baitcasting Reel is also fairly nice. It is not the best in the world, but it gets the job done, especially for smaller fish.
Moreover, the polymer-stainless hybrid PT bearings make things even smoother than you could imagine. We also like how the Quantum Fishing Accurist Baitcasting Reel comes with a continues anti-reverse system so your fish does not get away, plus it also comes with an ACS external adjustable centrifugal braking system.
Pros
- Good drag system
- Quite durable
- Lightweight
- Good for long distance casting
- Great braking system
- Smooth retrieval
- High power ratio
- Comfortable
Cons
- Makes odd noises
- Handle is not the most durable
Conclusion
In terms of the best baitcasting reel under $100, we think that all of the above reels we have reviewed deserve some attention. Each of these baitcasters is a great option in its own right. They are each a little different from each other, so it is up to you to figure out which one of them works best for you.
*Don't know how to work things with your chatterbait? Learn How to Tie on a Chatterbait here!*