Fishing Reels: How Much Should You Expect To Pay

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Going shopping for a new fishing reel can sometimes get a bit overwhelming. There are so many different options to pick from and a bunch of different price tags to go along with it. In this post, I’m going to be talking about some of the more well-known reels and how much you can expect to spend on average.

On average, a new fishing reel will cost somewhere around $112 USD for something of high quality but will range between $50 and $200. You can definitely end up spending more money than this but this seems to be the average for the most popular models. If you’re a bit tighter on a budget you can always try to find a used fishing reel. You could expect to pay a little less than half for a used reel.

The good news is that there’s a solid reel out there that’ll fit your price point. Continue reading because I’ll be briefly touching on some of the more popular fishing reels out there and how much they cost.

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Fishing Reel Prices

The examples that are selected for this list are based on popular brands and models. Prices were based on Amazon prices at the time of writing this.

Let’s break things further down into each model. You can clearly see that there is a wide range of different prices. It all comes down to the brand, performance, and quality of the reel. All the reels I’ve mentioned are solid though and the reason I included them was that they were all part of my favorite fishing reel brands list.

Shimano Stradic Ci4

Price: $225

This is one of my all-time favorite fishing reels and would highly recommend it if you have the money to spend. It has 6+1 bearings and the drag ranges between 7 and 24 lbs based on what model you get.

Rating: 4.5/5

Shimano Sedona

Price: $69

This is the most budget-friendly spinning reel from Shimano but I still do really like it. You can get it in a 1000 series all the way up to an 8000 series, so whatever you need it for, it should be able to handle.

Rating: 4.5/5

Shimano SLX

Price: $99

This was the first baitcasting reel I got and still think it’s the best option under $100. It has a few different gear ratios to pick from and the max drag is somewhere around 12 lbs.

Rating: 4.5/5

Shimano Saragosa

Price: $269

If you’re going to be doing any sort of heavy saltwater fishing then this might be the rod for you. The smallest size is 5000 and it goes all the way up to 25000.

Rating: 4.5/5

Penn Battle II

Price: $88

This is a mid-level spinning reel from Penn that comes in sizes ranging from 1000 all the way up to 8000. Even though it’s an inexpensive reel, it still performs just as well as some high-end models.

Rating: 4.5/5

Penn Spinfisher VI

Price: $159

This is one of the more expensive reels from Penn and the main difference between the lower end reels is that this one has stronger gears that won’t wear out as quickly.

Rating: 4.5/5

Penn Pursuit III

Price: $49

This is Penn’s entry-level spinning reel and the main difference between this and the Battle II is that the Battle has a tougher body, more bearings, and better washers. Still a great reel though.

Rating: 4.5/5

Penn Slammer III

Price: $180

This is their higher-end reel that’s going to be perfect for heavy-duty fishing. You can go all the way up to a 10500 series and the drag on these reels is really impressive.

Rating: 4.5/5

Okuma Ceymar

Price: $38

This is probably my favorite spinning reel under $50 and is the one I use for trout and kokanee fishing. They have sizes from 10 (or 1000) to 65 (or 6500). I use the C-30 and it can handle trout, steelhead, crappie, bass, etc.

Rating: 4.5/5

Okuma Magda Pro

Price: $54

This is probably my favorite trolling reel for around $50 and it also comes with a line counter. It’s not the most advanced reel but it has a great drag and the price is really tough to beat.

Rating: 4.5/5

Okuma Coldwater 350

Price: $113

This is one of the higher-end trolling reels from Okuma. It has a 5.4:1 gear ratio and the max drag is around 25 lbs. That’s what makes it the ultimate salmon or lake trout reel.

Rating: 4.5/5

Okuma Cold Water Lightweight

Price: $97

This reel is very similar to the Coldwater 350 but it’s a bit lighter duty. The gear ratio is slightly lower and so is the max drag. Still a really good fishing reel.

Rating: 4.5/5

Daiwa Lexa 1000

Price: $135

This is probably my favorite trolling reel that isn’t going to break the bank. It has a 6:3 gear ratio and the max drag is somewhere around 11 lbs. Not exactly heavy-duty but it’ll work great for smaller fish.

Rating: 4.5/5

Daiwa BG

Price: $102

This is an awesome entry-level reel that’s solid in pretty much all aspects. You can get a 1500 series reel all the way up to a 6500 series reel. That should be able to handle whatever you throw at it.

Rating: 4.5/5

Daiwa SSaltist

Price: $174

This is one of the best saltwater reels under $200. If you want to spend a bit of money but don’t want to break the bank, this could be perfect for you.

Rating: 4.5/5

Daiwa Tatula SV

Price: $199

This is one of my favorite baitcasting reels under $200. It’s got a little bit of a price tag but it’s incredibly smooth, it has a good drag, and the quality is top-notch.

Rating: 4.5/5

Cadence CS4

Price: $47

This is their entry-level spinning reel that anyone can afford. It’s not the most advanced or smoothest reel, but it should do what you need it to do.

Rating: 4.5/5

Cadence CS10

Price: $116

This is a really awesome spinning reel that isn’t overly expensive but it still offers a bunch of value. It comes in 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 series reel, and the max drag is between 30-35 lbs.

Rating: 4.5/5

Cadence CB8

Price: $59

If you’re looking for an inexpensive baitcasting reel then this could be for you. I haven’t been able to try it yet but the reviews all seem to be pretty solid.

Rating: 4.5/5

Cadence CS5

Price: $57

This is very similar to the CS4 but it’s a little bit more heavy-duty. It’s probably worth paying a little bit extra.

Rating: 4.5/5

Redington Crosswater

Price: $49

If you’re looking for a solid entry-level fly reel then this will be for you. It’s probably my favorite reel under $50 and you can pair it with the Crosswater rod as well.

Rating: 4.5/5

Redington Behemoth

Price: $119

This is my favorite fly fishing reel right now and the good news about it is that it’s not too expensive. It’s made from stronger material and it’s a lot smoother and sturdier than other reels.

Rating: 4.5/5

Redington Zero

Price: $73

This is another one of their entry-level units and the main difference between this and the Crosswater is that this reel is spring-loaded and has a clicker drag system.

Rating: 4.5/5

Redington Rise

Price: $162

This is one of their more expensive fly reels and will be perfect if you want a high-quality lightweight reel. It has an oversized drag knob and the drag system is carbon fiber.

Rating: 4.5/5

Favorite Fishing Soleus

Price: $129

This is one of their more expensive baitcasting reels. It has an internal centrifugal braking system, an aluminum frame, and carbon side plates.

Rating: 4.5/5

Favorite Fishing Sick Stick

Price: $79

This is their entry-level baitcasting reel. I haven’t tried it myself and I don’t imagine it being as solid as the SLX but it should do the job if you’re on a budget.

Rating: 4.5/5

Favorite Fishing Rush

Price: $149

This is their most expensive spinning reel. It only comes in a series 2000 and 2500 so it’s not going to be ideal for larger fish. It’ll handle trout, bass, crappie, and other smaller fish.

Rating: 4.5/5

Favorite Fishing White Bird

Price: $49

This is their entry-level spinning reel. The body is made of carbon and has 5 stainless steel ball bearings. The gear ratio on this reel is 5.2:1.

Rating: 4.5/5

Conclusion

The amount you’ll end up paying for a fishing reel will all depend on the brand name, what it’s made of, the quality of the gears and ball bearings, and a number of other factors.

At the time of writing this, the average cost of a fishing reel is right around $112. Obviously, there are reels that are going to be less and there are reels that are going to be a lot more. All you need to know is that for a little over 100 bucks you can expect to get a really solid reel that’ll do everything you need it to do.

It doesn’t matter if you want to buy a spinning, baitcasting, or conventional reel, if you’re willing to spend a little over 100 bucks, you should be able to get a really solid unit.