Roundup Bass Reels
Best Spinning Reels for Bass
Five spinning reels the experts keep picking for bass, from the Daiwa Tatula MQ LT to the Shimano Stradic, with how many roundups name each one.
Reels
Spinning, baitcasting, spincast and fly reels: drag, gearing, weight and durability compared. Reviews, comparisons and buying guides for bass and trout anglers.
Browse by species
Roundup Bass Reels
Best Baitcasting Reels for Beginners
Three digital-control baitcasters for beginners: the Shimano SLX DC I fish, the Abu Garcia Revo X VoltiQ and the Shimano Curado DC. Why DC beats a basic reel.
Review Bass Reels
Pflueger President Review: My Spinning Reel
A few years with the Pflueger President size 30 for drop shotting and finesse: why it is the best spinning reel I have used, and the one downside to watch.
Comparison Bass Reels
Spinning vs Baitcaster for Bass
I fish a baitcaster most of the time and rig spinning gear for finesse. Here is how I choose between them, with the two reels I use side by side.
Guide Bass & Trout Reels
How to Use a Baitcaster and Stop Backlash
How to cast a baitcaster as a beginner: the brake and spool tension setup I tell new anglers to use, why backlash happens, and how to clear one.
Comparison Bass Reels
Shimano SLX DC vs Curado DC: Worth Upgrading?
I fish the Shimano SLX DC. Here is how it stacks up against the Curado DC on specs, and why I would only upgrade for the build, not for the brake.
Guide Bass Reels
Baitcaster Gear Ratios Explained for Bass
What baitcaster gear ratios mean, how 6.3:1, 7.2:1 and 8.2:1 change your retrieve, and which ratio I'd pick for finesse, jigs, crankbaits and cold water.
Review Bass Reels
Shimano SLX DC 150 Review: All-Around Reel
Two years with the Shimano SLX DC 150 (6.3:1) for jigs, finesse and spinners. What the four-mode digital brake does well, where it struggles, and who should buy it.
Roundup Bass Reels
Best Baitcasting Reels for Bass by Technique
Five baitcasting reels for bass sorted by technique: jigs, finesse, crankbaits, topwater and frogs, with the gear ratio to pick for each. One I fish daily.