The best baitcasting reel for redfish is a must having thing if your target is specific and you’re focusing only on redfish. Redfish are not easy to deal with and they can trick you at a glance. In that case, you need the full setup along with a good reel.
Reels made with aluminum are the best as they give you lightweight features and they allow you to use them for a long time. Graphite body reels are great too! There are many facts you need to check when you’re buying a baitcasting reel.
The best baitcasting reel for redfish must have a decent bearing system and braking system. You need a good gear ratio and a suitable drag force. Well, the drag force doesn’t have to be much but a medium like 10 lbs will do everything perfectly.
In this article, we’re going to share the 9 best baitcasting reels for redfish available on market right now. We’ll discuss the good sides, the bad sides, along with a buying guide. So, let’s start!
9 Best Baitcasting Reel for Redfish
- SHIMANO Chronarch G SW Baitcasting Fishing Reel
- SHIMANO SLX DC
- Lew’s Custom Inshore Speed Spool Baitcast Reel
- SHIMANO Curado K Baitcast Reel
- Lews Fishing Tournament MB Baitcast Reel
- Lew’s Mach Crush SLP Baitcast Reel
- KastKing Crixus ArmorX Baitcasting Reel
- KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Reels
- KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel
9 Best Baitcasting Reels for Redfish Review, Buying Guide, and Tips
1. SHIMANO Chronarch G SW Baitcasting Fishing Reel
The Shimano chronarch baitcasting fishing reel is the best baitcasting reel for redfish. It’s specially designed and manufactured for such kind of water species. The brand Shimano is pretty popular in this sector and they’re making fishing gears for a long time now. If you’re not a newbie in this sector, you know how their products are.
However, this redfish baitcaster from Shimano comes up with almost everything you need. It weighs only 6.5 ounces which is great as you can control it smoothly. The color of this package is black. But you can choose according to your preferences.
The gear ratio of this Shimano baitcasting reel is 7.1: 1. This gear ratio is pretty perfect for catching redfish and casting bait. The line retrieves for this baitcasting reel is 30. The maximum drag force of this reel is 11 lbs. This drag force is pretty enough if you’re going only for redfishes. The main material for this reel is aluminum. It comes up with an 8+1 bearing system that makes the reel operating smoothly.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Aluminum as the main building material
- Weighs only 6.5 ounces
- A great gear ratio of 7.1: 1
- Maximum drag force 11 lbs
- 8+1 bearing system
- Versatile packaging option
2. SHIMANO SLX DC
The next one is also from the mighty brand Shimano. In this article, you’ll be seeing a lot of reels from this brand. This one is almost a replica of the previous one. There’s no big difference between these two. It also has Aluminum as the main and handle material. Besides, this one is also lightweight and gives you convenience while you’re casting with it.
It weighs only 215 grams which is great. The reel contains a hegane body construction that makes it more durable and long-lasting. This one is a new technology of the mighty manufacturer Shimano. This building method makes sure that your reel body is getting more resistance and you’re getting much flexibility out of it.
The SVS infinity braking system makes the reel outstanding and with this, you have more control over your casts as you’ll be able to stop the reel just whenever you want to. It contains an S3D spool design. This design ensures that your reel is vibrating less. This reel runs with a bearing system that gives you smoothness while you’re fishing.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- High drag force reel
- Hegane body construction
- Aluminum as a building material
- Weighs only 215 grams
- SVS braking technology
- Good bearing system
- S3D spool design
3. Lew’s Custom Inshore Speed Spool Baitcast Reel
The 3rd reel on this list is from the mighty brand Lew’s. They’re also popular in this sector as they’ve been making gears for a long time now and their stuffs cutting the market pretty well. This one of the brands Lew’s is made with synthetic material. However, the handle material for this fishing reel is stainless steel.
It comes up in a variety of colors while it weighs only 6.6 oz. This Lew’s baitcaster redfish reel is compatible with the mono line. The aluminum frame makes sure your reel is durable and lasting longer. It has a c45 gearing side plate. The bearings of this reel are premium graded. They’re made with corrosion-resistant stainless steel.
The bearing system contains 10+1 bearings. These bearings are double shielded to give you longevity. It has an aluminum spool as well. The spool is U-shaped and the thickness of the spool is 32 mm. The multi-setting braking system makes your controlling easier and comfortable. It has 4 aluminum disc brake shoes to stop your reel instantly.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- High-quality building material
- 10+1 bearing system
- Double shielded stainless steel bearing
- Weighs only 6.6 oz
- 1-way clutch bearing
- U shape 32 mm spool
- The multi-setting braking system
4. SHIMANO Curado K Baitcast Reel
Shimano made another Curado series reel that blew our mind and we thought of putting that in this list. Casting for redfish with this Curado reel is fun when you have everything you need. The reel weighs only 0.75 pounds and comes up with a tough body that is saltwater and corrosion-resistant.
The maximum drag force of this reel is 11 lbs. This drag force is pretty huge for a reel when it’s the case of redfish. The gear ratio of this reel is 6.2:1. You can do baitcasting smoothly with this gear ratio. It comes up with a micromodule gearing system that allows you to shift smoothly.
The SVS infinity braking system is ideal for any kind of task related to stopping the reel at a glance. It comes up with 6 ball bearings and one reverse bearing. The bearings are made with high-quality stainless steel. These bearings are corrosion resistant and lasts longer than other traditional bearings. The X ship technology makes the reel durable as well.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- X ship technology
- SVS infinity braking system
- 2:1 gear ratio
- 6+1 bearing system
- Made with aluminum
- Weighs only. 75 pounds
- Maximum drag force 11 lbs
5. Lews Fishing Tournament MB Baitcast Reel
The 5th baitcasting reel on this reel is also from the brand Lew’s. Lew’s make good quality reels and other fishing gears. It’s also made with synthetic material. The handle material is aluminum for this one and the bearing material is stainless steel. It comes up with different colors and variations. Besides, this Lew’s baitcasting reel is pretty lightweight and weighs only 0.4 pounds.
The die-cast aluminum frame keeps your reel tight and aligned. It also has a double anodized spool of U style. The thickness of the aluminum frame is .31 inches. It comes up with an MSB multi-setting braking system. The magnetic brake system stops your reel right where you need it the most.
With the brass gearing, you can get the most out of this reel. It has a 9+1 bearing system. These bearings are all made with high-quality stainless steel and they have corrosion resistance power. The gear ratio for this reel is 7.5:1. It comes up with a huge drag force that is a benefit if you want to go for a bigger target.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Weighs only 0.4 pound
- Comes up with great versatility
- Die-cast aluminum frame
- U style spool
- The double-shielded bearing system
- The multi-setting braking system
- 9+1 bearings in the reel
- 5: 1 gear ratio
6. Lew’s Mach Crush SLP Baitcast Reel
This one from Lew’s is one of their crush series reels. It’s specially made for baitcasting and targeting redfish. It also comes up with synthetic building material. you can get the versatility of color and variations of the look. However, the handle material of this reel is stainless steel.
It has a graphite frame for a lighter body and size. It gives you convenience and it feels smooth. The side plates are made with graphite as well. The spool of this reel is also U style and made with double anodized aluminum. The solid brass main gear is for quick shifting and fast controlling.
The bearing system of this lew’s redfish reel contains 10 stainless steel bearings that are double shielded and corrosion-resistant. There’s a zero reverse one-way clutch bearing as well. It also has a multi-setting braking system which is great to have. The max drag force of this reel is 20 pounds.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Multi setting braking system
- Solid brass gear and crankshaft
- Graphite as the main material
- U shaped spool
- 9+1 bearing system
- Made with high-quality stainless steel
7. KastKing Crixus ArmorX Baitcasting Reel
Kastking is one of the leading brands in the fishing sector. They make all kinds of fishing accessories and their things are pretty good. They have plenty of reels in their collection. In this article, we have 3 kastking reels. Which indicates their quality and building. Their reels are long-lasting and durable.
The Kastking Crixus baitcasting reel comes up with every single thing. The gear ratio of this reel is 7.2: 1. This gear ratio is enough for redfish hunting. It features a high-quality aluminum frame. This frame makes the reel lightweight yet durable.
The Kastking baitcasting reel comes up with a 9+1 shielded bearing system. The bearings are made with high-quality stainless steel and they can prevent corrosion easily. It weighs only 6.8 oz. The 8 buttons magnetic braking system allows you to stop the reel wherever you want. 4 disc carbon fiber drag gives you much power.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Made with high-quality aluminum
- The gear ratio is 7.2:1
- High-quality stainless steel bearings
- 9+1 bearings in the bearing system
- Weighs only 6.8 oz
- 4 disc carbon fiber drag
- 8 button magnetic braking
- Polymer grips for comfort
- Great drag power
8.KastKing Royale Legend Baitcasting Reels
This one is also from the mighty brand kastking. This one is their royal legend series baitcasting reel. It has a huge amount of positive user reviews on it. So, you don’t have to worry about quality and longevity. It comes up with everything you need to go for your target.
The gear ratio of this fishing reel is 7.2: 1. The 4 coded gear ratios help you to control the reel more conveniently. Like the previous one, it comes up with a magnetic braking system. This braking system is pretty powerful and stops your reel instantly. The main building material of this reel is aluminum.
It features an ergo twist opening. In the bearing system, there are a total of 12 bearings including 1 reverse bearing. All these bearings are made with high-quality stainless steel that has corrosion resistance power. It’s light as well. It weighs only 7.2 ounces.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Compact design for comfort
- Aluminum as the main material
- Contains ergo twist opening
- 12 bearings in the reel
- Bearings made with high-quality stainless steel
- High drag force
- Magnetic braking system
- 4 coded gear ratios
9.KastKing MegaJaws Baitcasting Reel
If you have come through the whole article and didn’t find any of these reels interesting, hold on. We have another one to offer you and hopefully, this one will be able to fulfill your requirements. This one is also from Kastking. But it’s a bit different than the previous two kastking reels.
It comes up with a gear ratio of 5.4: 1. Though you can buy the 9.1: 1 gear ratio reel. You need to change the model. This one is pretty good and gives you various options. Besides, the bearing system of this reel is great. It features stainless steel corrosion-resistant bearings. The number of bearings is 12. The reel contains a 1-way reverse bearing.
The braking system is magnetic that responds and works pretty quickly. It can stop your reel at a glance. It comes up with a classic carbon fiber drag system. This system uses a disc to pull. The max force of this drag system is 17.6 lb.
What makes this redfish baitcaster stand out
- Highly versatile reel with multiple gear ratio
- 12 high-performance bearings
- Bearings made with double-shielded stainless steel
- Maximum drag force 17.6 lb
- Uses carbon fiber disc drag
- Magnetic braking system
- Aluminum as a building material
Redfish Fishing Tips and things you must know!
When you’re catching or trying to catch redfishes, you need to focus on a few things. Here are a few tips that’ll help you run on the game perfectly.
- When you’re using live baits, make sure they’re smaller and they go with the water. Croakers and mullets can be a real examples of this.
- You can use frozen mullet as your bait. Redfish are very fond of mullets. But if you manage fresh mullet, that would be nice.
- The best time for going to catch redfish is in the morning of the summer season. At that time, everything stands still and they start biting everything until the sun is up.
- Shallow water isn’t the right spot for redfish. Try cruising shorelines or oyster bars.
- Always use 3/0 to 6/0 hooks for redfish. They are ideal for hooking them up.
- Always stay geared up and full of things. You don’t know what you need when. Keeping the best reel along with the line, a rod is a must.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the best reel for redfish?
The best reel for redfish is the Shimano CHronarch baitcasting reel. It comes up with everything you need. 9 bearings, 11 lbs of drag force, 7.1:1 gear ratio, all are in this reel. Besides, it weighs only 6.5 ounces.
How do I choose a baitcasting reel?
Go through the steps of checking. First of all, make sure it’s made with aluminum or graphite. Now, check the gear ratio and the braking system. Check the spool. Check out the bearings. When everything is done, check if it’s lightweight or not.
For a better understanding, check our buying guide section.
What pound test is good for redfish?
You don’t need a reel that comes up with a huge drag force when you’re targeting a redfish. Usually, 10-12 lbs will do everything. But if you want to get a higher one, grab the 15 lbs drag reel.
What is the best time to catch redfish?
During the summer season morning while the heat is gone and a little light is just showing up. Redfish bite in that kind of situation until the sun is up and it’s getting hotter.
Do redfish hit topwater baits?
Redfish hit anything that’s below their size. 1 inch baits will be fine to fish with. If you’re using topwater baits, that’s totally okay.
Best baitcasting Reel for Redfish Buying Guide: How to buy the best one
Well, in this section we’ll be discussing how you can buy the best reel that cast baits if your target is specifically redfish. There are plenty of things you need to check. Let’s discuss the most important things among those.
- The gear ratio
The most important thing for a redfish baitcaster reel is the gear ratio. It helps you understand the spin of the reel. When you’re going to grab a reel make sure it has a gear ratio that’s compatible with redfish. In this case, a 7.0:1 gear ratio will be perfect. You can go a little up or down.
- The building material
Having this checked is a must. Baitcasting reels made with aluminum last longer than other material reels. They are lightweight and they provide you peace of mind. If your reel is not made with good material it won’t have saltwater resistance. It’ll cause corrosion and other messy kinds of stuff. Make sure it’s aluminum or graphite and it’s light.
- Bearing system
Bearings are the things that make your reel smoother. Reels with a lot of bearings are ideal for redfish. They don’t make a sound at all and they keep it simple. 10 bearings in a bearing system will do. Make sure there’s a one-way reverse bearing included.
- Drag force
Drag force determines how much weight can you pull up with your reel. For redfish, you don’t need a reel of 40 lb drag force or higher. If you buy a reel that comes up with 10-12 lb of drag force, that’s pretty enough.
- The braking and gearing system
Make sure your reel has a good magnetic or disc braking system. These are popular nowadays. Besides, it’s important to make sure that your gears shift pretty quickly and they work in a decent manner.
Understanding Redfish Behavior
Redfish, also known as red drum, are structure-oriented creatures. They are primarily motivated by three factors: spawning, food, and comfort. For the purpose of this guide, we’ll focus on the latter two: food and comfort, which also includes protection.
Redfish are always susceptible to predators. Dolphins and sharks are their main threats, so they tend to stick to areas that offer both food and protection. Grass flats, submerged or exposed, are ideal habitats as they provide a rich biomass that attracts shrimp and crabs, the primary diet of redfish.
Identifying Redfish Habitats
When targeting redfish, look for areas with grass and oysters. These environments not only offer higher water quality but also attract shrimp and crabs, making them perfect feeding grounds for redfish.
Docks, jetties, and laydowns also provide excellent habitats for redfish. They offer an opportunity for redfish to feed and provide protection from predators. Depth changes and current lines are other key areas to focus on as redfish are opportunistic feeders and often ambush their prey in these locations.
Seasonal Movements of Redfish
Redfish behavior changes with the seasons. In winter, their main concern is survival. They move into shallow creeks with dark, muddy bottoms that warm up in the sun, providing a comfortable environment. They also form large schools for protection against predators.
As spring arrives and the water warms up, redfish become more active. They start breaking away from large schools and feed more aggressively. By summer, the biomass in the waterways increases significantly, providing ample food for redfish. However, as the water temperature rises, redfish seek comfort in deeper waters or areas with significant depth changes.
Fall is arguably the best time for redfish fishing. The cooling water temperatures trigger a feeding frenzy in redfish, making it an excellent time to target them. They can be found in shallow flats, deep channels, and everywhere in between.
Conclusion
So, these are our best baitcasting reels for redfish. These reels are well researched and tested. If you’re looking for a redfish baitcaster reel, grab any of these as soon as possible undoubtedly. All these reels are tested by experts and they’re good enough to blow your mind.
You can also check our guide about bass baitcasting reel.
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