As anglers, we all understand the importance of having quality gear. The case could be made that no matter what you’re chasing, your chances of success can depend greatly on that gear's ability to perform - and perform well.
Perhaps none is more important than when fishing for salmon. Too often, I witness utter disappointment when anglers underestimate the brute force these fish are capable of, whether in vast open water or the rivers they run during the spawning period. Salmon can punish even the best tackle, and having the gear to handle them can help you catch them rather than end your day in disappointment.
Taking the brunt of that punishment is your reel. Big, powerful head shakes and long, drag screaming runs: without the right reel, salmon will make quick work of shoddy equipment.
But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune to gear up, and we’re here to help with our picks for the best salmon reels in 2023, including some budget friendly options that will get the job done:
Weight: 9.3 oz. (4000) and 9.5 oz. (5000)
Line Capacity:8/240, 10/200, 12/160 (4000) and 10/240, 12/195, 14/165 (5000)
Bearings: 8 + 1
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1 (40 IPT)
Max drag: 24 lbs.
Spinning reels are by far the most versatile option when it comes to salmon fishing in rivers, whether you’re fishing off a pier right at the river mouth or chasing fish that have pushed upstream.
Shimano is well known in the fishing world for good reason: they know how to make a great reel. From entry level reels to high-end options, the care put into their precision equipment is obvious.
The Sustain FJ is without a doubt one of their best, and while its price may have you wondering if it’s necessary, it’s the perfect example of a reel that gives you more than what you pay for.
Depending on the water being fished, the 4000 and 5000 sizes are the best options, but regardless of which one you choose, there is a reel size to cover any salmon in any water. T
When John fished the Sustain FJ, he found that it was a real winner.
The drag system in the 4000 and 5000 delivers ultra-smooth performance and plenty of durability. It's a carbon washer system capable of producing 24 pounds of drag, making it ideal for running the heavy braid you'll want when you tie into a monster.
And as you'd expect from a name like Shimano, the gearing is quiet and silky smooth. It also generates tons of torque and blazing speed: both the 4000 and 5000 gobble 40 inches of line per turn of the crank!
On the water, he found that this mattered.
The torque and Hagane-machined aluminum body worked together to tilt the odds in his favor, and the 40 inches of retrieve per crank made taming big fish a lot easier than it should have been.
Casting was uniformly awesome, too, as you'd expect, even on blustery days.
Yes, the Shimano Sustain FJ isn't cheap, but then that level of performance never is.
Pros
Cons
Weight: 10.1 oz.
Line Capacity: 320/10 280/14 200/20
Bearings: 9 + 1
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1 (38 IPT)
Maximum drag: 14 lbs.
We've reviewed the Pflueger President XT before, and we came away impressed, especially by the larger sizes.
And for salmon, there's no denying that bigger is usually better!
As you can guess, Dan recommends the 40-size Pflueger, and John agrees.
This upgraded President has cut costs compared to its rivals, but still performs well on salmon.
Let's get into the details.
Right off the bat, let's discuss the drag system. It's old tech - oiled felt - and it's capable of reliably smooth performance with a sensible maximum tension of 14 pounds.
More expensive reels like the Sustain FJ are going to run higher-priced, and higher-performing, carbon fiber drags, and they'll typically generate more force and last longer than old-school felt.
That's not all bad news, as it places the XT in reach of all but the most cash-strapped anglers.
Pflueger knew that weight would be an issue, especially in the sizes you want for salmon fishing, and the XT sports an aluminum main shaft and pinion gear to shave ounces off the overall bulk of this reel without compromising its fighting strength. The result is a 4000-size reel that weighs in at just a touch over 10 ounces.
The gears are admirably smooth and torquey, and John knew he could depend on the XT to do its thing if he did his.
He really appreciated the speed the big gears and healthy spool create: eating 38 inches per crank, this is a fast reel that's more than capable of keeping a tight line when a salmon decides to turn back toward you.
And capacity is excellent, offering plenty of space for heavy braid.
Overall, John found the Pflueger President XT more than a match for mean salmon.
Pros
Cons
Weight: 8.1oz
Line Capacity: 10/155
Bearings: 7 total
Gear Ratio: 7.4:1 and 8.5:1
When it comes to fishing big steelhead in big water, a casting reel is the way to go. While not the best choice for smaller Great Lakes tributaries, or the big rivers of the west coast, professional guides and amateur steelheaders alike turn to casting reels as a go-to, multi-technique option.
A favorite for many of those guides and our top choice is the Shimano Curado DC 200. Shimano knows how to put together high quality reels at reasonable prices, and the Curado DC 200 is no exception.
Designed for anglers using larger tackle, whether float fishing, casting lures, or back trolling plugs, this reel features 40% more line capacity than the regular Curado, ideal for those long drifts and powerful runs.
The Curado DC employs Shimano's legendary drag system, delivering ultra-smooth release with no stops and starts. IT can apply a maximum of 12 pounds of tension to your line, allowing you to run braid in the neighborhood of 30 pounds, which will help tilt the fighting odds in your favor, facilitate long casts, and create sharp, hard hooksets, even at distance.
In fact, John prefers to run braid on his Curado, especially when he'll be making long casts or letting his lure/bait drift to distance. The added sensitivity and low-stretch make long-distance hooksets doable, and for him, a few feet of mono shock leader keep his hooks where they should be, come what may.
Like most baitcasting reels, this one will take a few hours to master if your new to this design, but the reward will be longer casts with heavier line and lures, as well as rock-solid hooksetting and an excellent drag system.
But like all baitcasting reels, the Shimano Curado DC 200 will struggle a bit in the wind, even with it's awesome braking system, and throwing light lures can create bird nests and backlashes.
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No products found. | Abu Garcia
Weight: 7.9oz
Line Capacity: 10/175, 12/145, 15/100
Bearings: 8 total
Gear Ratio: 5.4:1, 6.6:1, and 7.3:1
Where John grew up in Louisiana, Abu Garcia was a household name among saltwater anglers. And while steelhead fans may not e familiar with the name, you can trust Abu to deliver the goods.
The Abu Garcia Revo5 X has a lot going for it as a budget alternative to the incredible Shimano Curado DC 200.
First off, it costs less than half as much, which will surely ease stress on your finances.
But beyond that, it's a great performer that won't leave you feeling like you've made a compromise.
Abu uses carbon fiber to manufacture the body and plate. That makes this reel significantly lighter than the Shimano, which is a very good thing when you've been casting for hours.
The downside to carbon fiber is that while strong and light, it's not nearly as rigid as aluminum. John didn't finds that a problem on the water, and he didn't feel that even big salmon were able to torque the body and work the gears out of position.
And speaking of gears, Abu's Duragear Gen II system, an over-sized set of precision-machined brass gears, means that you can't beat the feel, torque, or power this reel can deliver.
It's not blazingly fast, however, and with the mid-range 6.7:1 gear ratio, you can expect to eat about 27 inches of line per turn.
Capacity is excellent, and the MagTrax magnetic braking system really works, flattening the learning curve considerably, and helping you cast light lures, light lines, or both - even in a breeze.
John didn't think that the Revo5 X could match the Sustain Fj on windy days or with light lures, but he was still surprised by its casting ability.
Finally, the Carbon Matrix drag, just a fan cy way of describing a carbon washer drag system, is reliably smooth and powerful, offering a 20-pound maximum that can accommodate heavy braid without missing a beat.
If the Curado DC 200 is too rich for your budget, take a close look at the Abu Garcia Revo5 X.
You won't be disappointed!
Pros
Cons
Weight: 16.4 oz.
Line Capacity: (mono) 16/390, 20/300, 25/240
Bearings: 3 + 1
Gear Ratio:6.3:1 (38” IPT)
Reviewing Shimano reels is pretty easy, as in many cases, they set the bar of excellence that every other manufacturer tries to reach.
This generation of Tekotas replaces the old models with an all-new redesign, including a new rigid S-compact body and all-new guts.
Let’s take a closer look.
The more compact body is a nice touch, and it still offers the rock-solid rigidity that made this reel popular. You’ll find that strength and durability are confidence-inspiring when you’ve got a big salmon on the line, but the reel has shed a lot of its bulk.
The drag is Shimano awesome, as you’d expect, providing very smooth, very reliable performance. With a maximum of 24 pounds, you’ve got a lot of drag to work with, too, allowing very heavy braided line if you wish.
Powered by a 6.3:1 gear ratio, the Tekota A 500 is lightning-fast, picking up 38 inches of line per crank. If you’re fishing in the Pacific for salmon and running a barbless hook, you’ll know how important keeping a tight line is, and this Tekota will help tilt the odds in your favor.
The line counter is generally very good and easy to read, with new anti-fog covers being easy to get and simple to install.
The only thing not to love about this reel is the small spool size, a nod to the need to keep this reel compact. In the real world, I just don’t see this as a problem.
Overall, this is a very hard reel to beat for precision trolling.
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No products found. | Okuma
Weight: 17.4 oz.
Line Capacity: (mono) 20/580 25/430 30/330
Bearings: 2
Gear Ratio: 4:1 (26 IPT)
Maximum drag: 18 lbs.
Okuma’s Magda Pro Line Counter series is a great buy, offering good tech at a very reasonable price, provided you can do without a levelwind.
Let’s get into the details.
The 45 series sports a large, single knob that allows for excellent power application to the crank, something John noticed in his first fight.
The gearing in every Magda Pro Line Counter is machined from solid brass, providing a smooth feel and plenty of torque even when you’ve got the fish of a lifetime on your line. That's a nod in the direction of performance over weight, and he really appreciated that trade off in each and every battle over a long weekend's fishing.
Unfortunately, something's gotta give at this price point, and it's speed: with a gear ratio of just 4:1, the Magda picks up just 26 inches of line per turn. That's far from blazingly fast, and it was something challenging to keep a tight line on big fish when John ran this reel through its paces.
But the Magda Pro Line Counter series runs a carbon fiber drag system that’s smooth and reassuring, though I’d like to see maximum settings that are a bit higher than the teens for heavy braid.
That said, 50-pound line is no joke, and these reels will take a hard fight, no question.
As you’d expect, this price point demands compromises, and the line counter is another place you’ll find them.
Overall, it works OK and it won’t crap out on you on your first day on the water. But it can be finicky, sometimes sticks, and the reset button doesn’t always do its job - so check before you put your line back in the water.
Overall, this is an affordable, quality reel with a line counter that’s reliable enough to recommend.
Weight: 3.8oz, 4.2oz, 6oz, and 7.2oz
Backing Capacity: 20/100, 20/200, 30/200
Line Weight: 3/4 5/6 7/8 and 9/10
There isn’t a fly angler around that isn’t familiar with the Sage brand, and that's because they're one of the top producers of high quality, long lasting fly fishing equipment.
The Sage Spectrum is a super lightweight, large arbor reel perfect for steelhead fishing. Whether you’re a spey-caster, use a switch rod, or prefer single-hand casting, there is a Spectrum to cover you.
Cold-forged, tempered, and anodized aerospace-grade aluminum make this reel ultra-light yet strong. In addition to the great line capacity, the Spectrum features a concave spool surface and an upsized hub that provide both high drag efficiency and coil-less line flow, making it easy to use and capable of handling even the biggest steelhead.
Dan's a huge fan of the Sage Spectrum, and he loves the way it fishes!
Pros
Cons
Weight: 5.5oz and 6.3oz
Backing Capacity: 20/100 and 20/200
Line Weight: 4/5/6 and 7/8/9
If you're an outdoorsman of any kind, you know the Orvis name. And among fly anglers, there's perhaps no more established brand.
Orvis's Clearwater delivers quality at an affordable price - not exactly what you expect from a company with a reputation for insane pricing = making it a perfect reel for someone just getting into fly fishing for steelhead.
The Clearwater features an inline carbon to stainless stacked drag system that is strong and durable, able to tame salmon from coast to coast, whether that's hot Atlantics in the east or chunky Kings in the west. The positive-click drag knob makes drag adjustments easy, even mid-fight.
That makes this reel easier to learn to fish on steelhead, tilting the odds in your favor a b it more during a hard fight, especially when compared with standard centerpin designs.
The diecast frame and anodized finish results in a reel that is lightweight and able to withstand the elements for countless hours of fishing without fail. Whether used single-handed or switch, paired with the right rod, this reel will not disappoint.
Do yourself a favor and pick one up!
Pros
Cons
Whether you’re looking for a technique-specific reel or one that you can use to cover a few, your options can be somewhat overwhelming. Whichever one you need, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing the best reel for salmon fishing.
There is no more important factor when it comes to choosing the right salmon reel than the drag. The brute force of these fish can make quick work of an inferior drag system and you can be left wondering what just happened as the fish makes a b-line back towards the ocean.
What you need to look for isn’t always the strongest drag (although it helps if they’re strong) but instead the smoothest and most consistent - a drag that isn’t going to loosen or tighten on its own under the pressure of a hot fish, a more common problem than most anglers realize.
As quickly as a salmon can take off away from you, it can come screaming back, and it’s important to be able to pick up line as quickly as possible to catch up. That’s where gear ratio comes into play. Generally speaking, the higher that gear ratio, the quicker the reel is going to pick up the line and the better chance you’ll have at keeping pressure on a fish coming back at you.
Whether you’re fishing in a river or out in the open water, a salmon can easily strip off 100 yards of line in a single run. Line capacity is typically something related directly to the size of the reel, and the right size reel is related to the body of water being fished. It is entirely possible to go too big, so bigger isn’t necessarily better. With that being said, when fishing rivers, a reel that will hold 150 yards of 10 pound test line is the bare minimum for salmon.
Salmon reels don’t necessarily have to be overly expensive and there are plenty of entry-level reels that are high quality. What you should keep in mind when factoring in the price of the reel are the sacrifices you may be making with a cheaper reel.
Lower cost reels are that way mainly because of the material used to make them. While these reels can have just as good, and sometimes better drag and gear systems, they will often sacrifice other areas like the body construction and overall protection, making the reel heavier and more susceptible to the elements. You can counteract this by balancing the reel on the rod properly, and with regular maintenance. A little patience and care can go a long way in making a less expensive reel just as reliable and long lasting as higher end models.
Salmon are some of the strongest, hardest-fighting fish in fresh or saltwater, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that quality gear is necessary for success. If there is one thing that should be of the best possible quality, it’s the reel. Not only will it take a good chunk of the punishment a salmon can dish out, it needs the strength to be able to control their often underestimated power.
We hope we were able to help you narrow down your choices for the best salmon reel and ultimately help you decide which one best suits your needs.
Leave us a comment and let us know!
