Selecting the Best Reel for Steelhead Fishing
Whether you’re looking for a technique-specific reel or one that you can use to cover a few, there are so many good options that it can be overwhelming. Whichever one you need, there are a couple of things to keep in mind when choosing the best reel for steelhead fishing.
Water size
The size of the river is going to be a big deciding factor in which reel you choose. On smaller rivers, you might be able to get away with a smaller reel with less line capacity because the fish occupying those waters can't make long runs. Those small rivers also often require lighter terminal tackle, meaning they are better suited for a spinning reel that has the ability to cast and handle that smaller tackle.
Finesse is key in small water!
Big rivers, on the other hand, are home to much bigger fish and require heavier tackle. This is why you tend to see casting set-ups on these bigger rivers, more specifically, those on the west coast. Not only can casting gear handle that tackle more easily, but they also often have more line capacity for when steelhead make long runs.
Steelhead size
While we could lump the river size and the size of the steelhead together, small water doesn’t necessarily mean small fish and vice versa. Plenty of smaller rivers hold huge steelhead, and I often run into anglers using spinning gear that is underpowered for the fish they are anticipating.
It’s not wrong to think that a small river requires lighter gear - and that’s most often the case - but going too light could result in you being no match for a big steelhead.
John prefers 2500- to 3000-size reels for most steelhead, relying on strong braid, excellent shock leader, and powerful drag systems to tame brutes.
Drag and gear ratio
Of all the features that a quality steelhead reel can have, none are more important than the drag and the gear ratio.
Yes, in the case of a centerpin reel those two factors are non-existent, but you get into centerpinning knowing your reel isn’t going to help you with that, and it’s all on you.
That being said, most reels do have a drag system, and that should be the thing you focus on most. It needs to be smooth, consistent, and durable. There is nothing worse than hooking the steelhead of a lifetime only to have your drag start binding up, or worse yet, fail completely.
Gear ratio is also very important. In the simplest terms, that gear ratio determines the speed at which your line is being reeled in. It’s not overly important when retrieving your lure, as in a river setting that is very easy to control. Where it does play a big role is when fighting the fish. Just as quickly as a steelhead can turn and run in the opposite direction, it can come screaming right back at you, and you’ll need to be able to pick that line up and catch up to the fish in a hurry.
John looks for drag maximums of no less than 8 pounds for skinny water, and he prefers 12- to 20-pound maximums overall, especially when he knows that the steelhead will be big.
He looks for reels that can deliver no less than about 27 inches or retrieve per turn, but loves running an amazing option like the Shimano Sustain FJ because it's faster than Noah Lyles in the 100 meter sprint.
Final Thoughts
If you’re one of those anglers who flock to their local tributary at the word that steelhead are running, then you’re also one of those anglers who understands the importance of good gear when going after them
That doesn’t always mean having to break the bank, which is why we put this together: to offer you some options for what we consider some of the best reels for steelhead fishing.
We hope we were able to help you make an informed, and more importantly, the right decision to cover your steelhead fishing needs. Leave us a comment and let us know if we were!
