7 Best Spinning Reel With Bait Clicker In 2025 [Baitrunner]

If you fish live bait or cut bait, a bait-clicker (often called baitfeeder, freespool, or Shimano’s “Baitrunner” or Live liner) is a game-changer. Flip a lever and the spool turns under a light, secondary drag so a fish can run without feeling heavy resistance; turn the handle and the main drag engages instantly for the hook-set. It lets you set rods down confidently, feed wary fish, and avoid pulled-over rod holders—on the bank, the surf, or a pier.

Here we have a list that’ll show you the best spinning reels with baitrunner.

7 Best Spinning Reel with Bait clicker or Baitrunner

1. 1. Shimano Baitrunner D Spinning Reel
   2. SHIMANO Baitrunner OC Reels
   3. SHIMANO Baitrunner DL RB – Reardrag baitrunner Reel
   4. SHIMANO THUNNUS CI4, Offshore Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel
   5. PENN Fierce Live Liner Spinning Fishing Reel
   6. Okuma Avenger Baitfeeder ABF-55b Graphite Spinning Reel
   7. KastKing Sharky Baitfeeder III Spinning Reel 10+1 Shielded Stainless Steel

These reels are made with high-quality building materials and with great design. The bait clickers are loud and alarming. They come up with EVA grip and good quality handles to make your fishing more reliable. You can get the maximum drag force and line capacity with these reels.

Our fishing expert team researched the market well and they came up with this result. So, if you’re intending to buy a spinning reel that features a baitrunner, we highly recommend you choosing one of these reels to get your job done properly.

If You Want A Baitcasting Reel With Flipping Switch You Can Check This.

So, let’s jump into the review section!

7 Best Spinning Reel with Bait clicker Reviews With Pros & Cons

01. Shimano Baitrunner D Spinning Reel

Why it stands out: The classic, bomb-proof Baitrunner many of us cut our teeth on. Smooth, simple, and built to last. Shimano’s AR-C spool, S A-RB shielded bearings, and one-piece bail are all about reliable casting and durability. Specs for the 4000D: 4.8:1 gear ratio, 7 kg/15 lb max drag, ~383 g/13.5 oz, 3+1 bearings, ~72 cm retrieve per crank.

Best for: Catfish, carp, inshore reds/snook when you want a compact, tough freespool reel.
Unique tech: AR-C Spool, S A-RB bearings, One-Piece Bail.

Pros

• Proven durability for fresh or salt

• Simple, positive freespool engagement

• Great line lay & casting with AR-C

Cons

• Heavier than pure graphite competitors

• 3+1 bearings feels basic next to modern rivals

02. SHIMANO Baitrunner OC Reels

Why it stands out: The “Oceanic” value sibling—built tough from Shimano’s XT-7 composite. Same 4.8:1 gearing as the D, 7 kg/15 lb max drag, ~380 g/13.4 oz, 3+1 bearings. Adds Varispeed oscillation for tidy line lay with mono or braid.

Best for: Budget-minded bait anglers in salt or fresh who still want Shimano’s freespool pedigree.
Unique tech: AR-C Spool + Varispeed oscillation; Shielded A-RB bearings.

Pros

• Tough, salt-ready construction at a friendly price

• Clean line lay with mono or braid

Cons

• Fewer bearings than premium options

• Not as refined as Thunnus CI4+

03. SHIMANO Baitrunner DL RB – Reardrag baitrunner Reel

Why it stands out: A traditional rear-drag Baitrunner—handy for quick tweaks to the fighting drag mid-battle. The 6000RB runs 4.6:1 gearing, 6 kg/13 lb max drag, ~590 g, 3+1 bearings, ~85 cm retrieve. AR-C spool + Varispeed for smooth casting.

Best for: European-style carping, bank fishing for big cats/carp where rear-drag fine-tuning is preferred.
Unique tech: Rear-drag Baitrunner feel, AR-C + Varispeed.

Pros

• Rear-drag convenience for quick adjustments

• Balanced double handle on larger sizes

Cons

• Heavier than front-drag designs

• Lower max drag than similarly sized front-drag models

04. Okuma Avenger Baitfeeder ABF-55b Graphite Spinning Reel

Why it stands out: A long-time fan favorite for carp and catfish. Okuma’s baitfeeder uses a rear micro-adjustable secondary drag; one handle turn switches you to the main drag. The ABF series features 6+1 bearings, Cyclonic Flow Rotor (CFR) for water shedding, and up to 22–26 lb max drag depending on size. The ABF-4000/6000 are sweet spots for all-round bait work.

Best for: Budget-friendly carp/catfish setups, surf chunking on a value combo.
Unique tech: On/Off auto-trip baitfeeder, CFR rotor, brass pinion, RESII rotor balancing.

Pros

• Excellent value with a true, adjustable baitfeeder

• Nice feature set for the price

Cons

• Felt drag (oiled) vs. carbon in pricier reels

• Heavier than magnesium/CI4+ style bodies

05. KastKing Sharky Baitfeeder III Spinning Reel

Why it stands out: Feature-packed “bang-for-buck” baitfeeder with 10+1 bearings, carbon drag (up to ~26.5 lb on larger sizes), braid-ready CNC spool, and both front & rear drag functions. Great starter or backup surf reel.

Best for: Value-minded surf/cat anglers who want lots of features and a spare spool included.
Unique tech: Carbon drag, braid-ready spool, spare spool in the box.

Pros

• Very smooth for the price

• Comes with a spare spool

Cons

• Tolerances/finishing aren’t “Shimano-premium”

• Long-term salt durability requires diligent rinsing

06. SHIMANO THUNNUS CI4, Offshore Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel

Why it stands out: The premium, lightweight Baitrunner. CI4+ body drops weight while Shimano’s Hagane cold-forged gearing keeps it strong. TU4000CI4 specs: 4.8:1, 7 kg drag, ~360 g/12.7 oz, 6+1 bearings, ~75 cm retrieve. Built for serious saltwater live-baiting.

Best for: Inshore salt—snook, reds, stripers—when you want a refined, lighter setup that still brawls.
Unique tech: Hagane Gear, CI4+ body, S A-RB bearings, AR-C spool, One-Piece Bail.

Pros

• Noticeably lighter than metal-bodied competitors

• Premium smoothness & salt durability

Cons

• Premium price tag

• Baitrunner lever is small with wet, gloved hands (minor nit)

07. PENN Fierce Live Liner Spinning Fishing Reel

Why it stands out: PENN’s Live Liner system gives you a bait-runner-style secondary drag that auto-disengages on the handle turn—simple and rugged. Typical 4000LL specs: 6.2:1, ~15 lb max drag, ~14.9 oz, 4+1 bearings, ~37 in/94 cm IPT, full-metal body, HT-100 carbon drag.

Best for: Inshore bait fishing, beach pompano/whiting rigs, pier live-baiting where toughness and value matter.
Unique tech: PENN Live Liner system; HT-100 carbon drag; full-metal body.

Pros

• Strong metal body with proven HT-100 drag

• Live Liner is easy to adjust and auto-engage

Cons

• Heavier and less “buttery” than high-end Shimanos

• Not as many bearings as some rivals

Quick Selection Cheat Sheet:

Size & Line Quick Guide

• Carp / Channel cats (lakes/rivers): 4000–5000 | 12–17 lb mono or 25–30 lb braid

• Flatheads / Stripers / Light surf: 5000–6000 | 15–20 lb mono or 30–40 lb braid

• Inshore reds/snook: 3000–4000 | 10–15 lb mono or 20–30 lb braid

• Heavier surf / big baits: 6000–8000 | 20–30 lb mono or 40–50 lb braid

One-Line Why (each reel)

• Shimano Baitrunner D 4000: Classic durability, clean freespool, great line lay.

• Shimano Baitrunner OC 4000: Value version of the D; sturdy and salt-friendly.

• Shimano Baitrunner DL 6000 RB: Rear-drag Baitrunner for on-the-fly tweaks (carp/cat).

• Shimano Thunnus CI4 4000: Lighter, smoother, premium salt-ready option.

• PENN Fierce III 4000LL: Metal body + HT-100 drag; simple Live Liner system.

• Okuma Avenger ABF-55b: True baitfeeder, micro-adjust rear drag, great value.

• KastKing Sharky Baitfeeder III 6000: Feature-packed, smooth, spare spool included.

Drag & Clicker Preference (choose your feel)

• Front-drag & Baitrunner lever (power/smooth): Baitrunner D, OC, Thunnus

• Rear-drag & baitfeeder (quick tweaks): Baitrunner DL, Okuma ABF

• Auto-disengage on handle turn: PENN Live Liner, Okuma ABF

Quick Matchmaker (target → pick)

• Carp from the bank: Okuma ABF-55b or Baitrunner DL 6000 RB

• Mixed carp/cat + occasional salt: Baitrunner D 4000/6000

• Inshore live bait (snook/reds): Thunnus CI4 4000

• Pier/surf abuse, value metal: PENN Fierce III 4000LL

• Feature-rich starter/backup surf: KastKing Sharky Baitfeeder III 6000

• Shimano feel, lower cost: Baitrunner OC 4000

30-Second Setup (don’t overthink it)

1. Spool & balance: Match reel size to rod power; fill to ~1–2 mm below lip.

2. Set freespool (bait clicker) light: Just enough tension so wind/current doesn’t peel line.

3. Set main drag for the fight: ~25–30% of line strength (pull by hand).

4. Engage/disengage practice: Flip lever (or turn handle) a few times so it’s muscle memory.

5. After the run: Turn the handle to lock in, sweep set, and fight on the main drag.

Maintenance Mini-Checklist

• Rinse with fresh water after trips (especially salt).

• Back off the main drag in storage.

• Light oil on bail roller/handle knobs; wipe the line roller clean.

Decision Flow

Target species & venue → Reel size → Front vs rear drag preference → Clicker style (lever vs auto) → Weight/refinement vs budget → Pick from “Fast Picks.”

Use this cheat sheet with the earlier details and you’ll land on the right bait-clicker reel in minutes. Tight lines! 🎣

How Baitrunner Or Baitclicker Option Works In Spinning Reel

Conclusion

So, these are our best spinning reels with a bait clicker. We’ve tried to share their features and specs step by step. This is our own ranking according to our fishing experts.

If you’re searching for a fishing reel that comes up with a bait runner on a short budget, you can buy one of these reels. All these reels are good and tested. To read more articles like this, visit our website. If you have any queries, feel free to leave a comment here.

Happy fishing!

You May Also Like-

Closed Face Reels

Jigging Reel Reviews

Anti Backlash Baitcast Reel

Spinning Reel For Walleye

Swimbait Reel Reviews

Catfish Spinning Reel