Casting a piece of muscle between the pilings or a live sardine just ahead of a school in the open water requires skill and a well-designed reel. The best baitcasting reels are not always the most expensive, but a reel should perform in ways that suit your approach and style of bait fishing. Light, medium and heavy casting reels all have their place with certain types of fishing. Line capacity, balance and the internal components are qualities to look for in baitcasting reels.
Light Reels
For kayak and surf fishing, the Shimano Corvalus baitcaster is a reliable reel that’s designed for lighter baitcasting rods. The compact design and thumb lever button provide balanced, one hand operation when casting. Modestly priced, the Corvalus has several features that are found in higher-priced, light line reels. The trademark VBS® (Variable Brake System) allows you to adjust the spool tension for casting with a light or weighted bait rig. The Shimano 300, 400 and 401 models feature a level wind, star drag adjustment and a reel alarm clicker for free spool fishing. The die cast aluminum body is resistant to corrosion and the reel is designed for easy take down and thorough cleaning.
All Purpose Baitcasters
Penn reels are synonymous with satisfaction, which is largely due to the adjustment features and durable drag systems. The Squidder 140 and 145 have a spool tension adjustment knob that allows you to get maximum distance without over-spin when casting a live bait on the fly or with a sinker. The start drag at the base of the handle is conveniently situated for making adjustments while playing a fish. The reels have a deep spool that holds 275 yards of 20-pound test monofilament, and the narrow configuration across the rod translates to excellent balance. The Squidder is best suited for medium class bait casting rods and can also be used for throwing light jigs.
The Squidder features a removable side plate that allows you to change spools when a situation calls for a different test line. Replacement drag washers, aluminum spools and custom handles for the Penn Squidder 140 and 145 are readily available through fishing tackle accessory outlets.
Big Bait Reels
The Shimano TLD series 15, 20 and 25 baitcasting reels are designed for top water species such as yellowtail and tuna, as well as deep water dwellers such as grouper and rock cod. These are serious reels intended for fishing with larger bait, as well as retrieving fish over greater distances. The versatility of the TLD series allows you to fly-line a sardine or mackerel bait and cast a rock fish rig with a heavy sinker. The range of line test is 20 pounds to 40 pounds, and the capacity of the larger TLD is as much as 450 yards. The reel features a one-piece graphite body, and it boasts a large surface area drag system that rivals other open water and deep water baitcasting reels.
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