The Rundown
Best For Most Anglers: Penn Battle II and III 5000 (click to see)
“The Penn Battle is made to last and handles huge fighting fish. Ideal for anglers targeting catfish under 100 pounds who want a reasonably priced durable spinning reel.”
Best Premium Option: Penn Spinfisher VI 7500 (click to see)
“The Spinfisher VI offers power and extra casting distance – a great combo for a spinning reel. Its durable construction makes it a worthy investment and a fishing partner you can count on.”
Best Power In A Budget Reel: KastKing Sharky III 5000 (click to see)
“The Sharky III has a graphite build and clever design for powerful and smooth retrieval for a huge catch. Ideal for anglers looking for a powerful, lightweight reel to handle big catfish.”
When you’re looking to catch big catfish, you want a durable and robust reel that’s easy to use. Good thing the technology for spinning reels has come a long way, making them as strong and durable like any other kind of reels available.
When it comes to catfish spinning reels, you want one that’s made with quality materials with an extensive line capacity so you can use heavier lines. You also want a significant amount of drag power so you can keep the catfish from running into holes or under snags.
We rounded up 9 of the best catfish reels that you need to grab for a successful catch.




Best Catfish Reel For The Money
Our Top 9 Picks
Best for Most Anglers
Penn Battle II and III 5000
Best Catfish Reel For Most Anglers
Anti-reverse bearing stops reverse reeling
Carbon fiber drag sealed with rubber gasket
Best Premium Option
Penn Spinfisher VI 7500
Best Premium Catfish Reel
35-pound max drag and 40-inch retrieval
Known for stopping power
Best Power
KastKing Sharky III 5000
Best Power In A Budget Catfish Reel
39 pounds of max drag on carbon drag washers
10+1 stainless steel ball bearings and anti-reverse
Best Budget
Piscifun Viper X 5000
Best Budget Catfish Spinning Reel
Two gear ratio retrieval
Zinc alloy driveshaft
Best for Live Bait
Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000
Best Catfish Spinning Reel For Live Bait
Large line capacity, 140 yards of 24-pound monofilament
Rear drag allows free-lining live baits
Best Mid-Sized
Shimano Stradic FL
Best Mid-Sized Catfish Spinning Reel
A rigid metal body keeps it from flexing
Increased comfort due to closer center of gravity
Best Aluminum Body
Daiwa BG3500
Best Catfish Reel With Aluminum Body
Anodized aluminum housing and spool
Waterproof drag system
Highest Drag
Dr. Fish 12000
Highest Drag Catfish Spinning Reel
48 pounds at max drag
Huge aluminum spool for high weight lines
Best Warranty
Quantum Reliance 55
Best Warranty On A Catfish Spinning Reel
Watertight body seal
5-year warranty on defects and materials
Table of Contents
Best Spinning Reels For Catfish
Here are 9 of the best catfish reels you need for your next fishing trip:
- Penn Battle II and III 5000
- Penn Spinfisher VI 7500
- KastKing Sharky III 5000
- Piscifun Viper X 5000
- Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000
- Shimano Stradic FL
- Daiwa BG3500
- Dr. Fish Spinning Reel
- Quantum Reliance 55
Penn Battle II and III 5000
Best Catfish Spinning Reels For Most Anglers

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KEY FEATURES
- Braid ready
- Full metal aluminum body with stainless steel bearings
- Carbon fiber drag sealed with rubber gasket
- Anti-reverse bearing stops reverse reeling
The Penn Battle II is a great saltwater reel made to last and handles huge fighting fish. Paired with the right rod and line, it’ll easily pull in catfish well over fifty pounds. This spinning reel is best for anglers catching catfish under 100 pounds who want a reasonably priced catfish reel to last a long time.
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Penn Spinfisher VI 7500
Best Premium Option For Big Catfish

KEY FEATURES
- 35-pound max drag and 40-inch retrieval
- Fully sealed metal body
- CNC machined for precision
- Known for stopping power
The Penn Spinfisher is one of the best saltwater spinning reels on the market. It’s fully sealed, meaning water won’t be getting inside the reel unless it gets completely submerged, and it is made of CNC machined metal throughout. Spinfishers are best for anglers looking to catch the biggest catfish and those who want to buy a reel and have it last for years.
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KastKing Sharky III 5000
Best Power In A Budget Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- 39 pounds of max drag on carbon drag washers
- 10 +1 stainless steel ball bearings and anti-reverse
- 190 yards of 40-pound braid
- Aluminum spool and handle, graphite body
KastKing’s Sharky III brings a ton of power at a pretty low price. This reel works best for anglers looking for a powerful reel for giant catfish at a low price.
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Piscifun Viper X 5000
Best Budget Catfish Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- Two gear ratio retrieval
- Shielded bearings
- Zinc alloy driveshaft
- CNC cut braid-ready spool
A budget option that won’t leave you lacking in power is the Piscifun Viper X, with its 33 pounds of drag. Using carbon drag washers and a zinc alloy drive gear gives it plenty of power at a lightweight. The Viper X is best for anglers looking to get into catfishing at a lower cost or deal mostly with smaller catfish under 30 pounds.
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Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000
Best Catfish Reel For Live Bait

KEY FEATURES
- Large line capacity, 140 yards of 24-pound monofilament
- 28-pound maximum drag
- Front and rear drag
- Rear drag allows free-lining live baits
Sometimes catfish will bite best on small live baits that float across their faces. The Yoshikawa Baitfeeder is best for anglers looking to use live baits or freeline baits in rivers. The rear drag allows you to free-line baits without worrying about sharp hits to the interior parts of the reel on strikes.
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Shimano Stradic FL
Best Mid-Sized Catfish Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- A rigid metal body keeps it from flexing
- Sealed bearings and precision alignment
- Wide range of drag settings
- Increased comfort due to closer center of gravity
Shimano Stradic is well known for its comfort and reliability. These spinning reels focus on conserving angler energy and increasing performance in casting and power. This reel is best for anglers who plan on casting and fighting big fish quite often.
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Daiwa BG3500
Best Aluminum Body Catfish Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- Anodized aluminum housing and spool
- Dual anti-reverse
- Waterproof drag system
- Oversized gear for longevity
The Daiwa Spinning Reel is a lightweight aluminum reel built to last. While not the best option for giant catfish due to its drag power, it will work well for anglers looking for small catfish in lakes.
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Dr. Fish 12000 Reel
Highest Drag Catfish Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- 48 pounds at max drag
- Stainless steel bearings at 13 +1
- Huge aluminum spool for high weight lines
- Slow gear ratio at 3.9:1
If you’re looking for the most drag weight on the market, then the Dr. Fish Spinning Reel is the best reel you can get. High line capacity and an oversized drag weight mean it’s built for big fish and perfect for anglers looking for huge catfish.
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Quantum Reliance 55
Best Warranty On A Spinning Reel

KEY FEATURES
- 5.6:1 gear ratio
- Watertight body seal
- 5-year warranty on defects and materials
- Mostly aluminum bodies
The Quantum Reliance is backed by a great warranty on defects and materials, up to five years from purchase date, and has most of the features you should be looking for in a good catfish spinning reel. This reel is best for any anglers looking for a quality product with a manufacturer guarantee.
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What Should I Consider When Buying Catfish Spinning Reels?
There are generally a few things you’ll want to look for when you’re buying a spinning reel to catch catfish. The most important things to consider before buying are the size of the catfish you’ll be fishing for, the line capacity, reel retrieval, how the reel is made, the handle, and the gear ratio.
Size of Fish
To determine the reel you need, you need to consider the size of fish you’re targeting and the size of catfish in the area.
You don’t want to fish a spot that consistently has catfish over 100 pounds with a reel that isn’t built for it. You’ll fry the reel and lose the fish. You need a reel with enough power and enough line capacity to catch the fish.
Line Capacity
Speaking of line capacity, you want to look for a high line capacity to make sure you can use a heavy line weight.
Catfish aren’t like saltwater fish. They won’t run a ton of line off your reel when they run off, at least usually. But the high line capacity lets you use a much heavier line, something like a 40-pound braid, to allow you to exert force onto the fish.
The heavier lines are also less likely to snap when fighting a big fish. Compare the size of the catfish you’re fishing for to the line weight you’ll need, and try to get a reel that holds around 200 yards of that size line weight.
Draw
The line’s draw, or retrieval rate, determines how many revolutions the spool makes per handle turn.
Fast retrieval rates above 6:1 ratios allow you to set hooks faster and reel up the slack line quickly. The retrieval rate matters most in the presentation of lures, with a slow rate being favorable for bottom bumping lures and faster ones working well on jigs.
Quite simply, a higher retrieval rate reels in faster and helps you get the fish to you faster, but it puts more strain on the gears in the reel. So you’ll generally want a medium retrieval rate, around 5:1 or 6:1, to balance out the speed and stress.
Construction
Consider the materials the reel is made of before buying, and lean towards catfish spinning reels that are hard metals inside and sealed well.
Stainless steel is one of the better materials to look for since it resists rust incredibly well and lasts a long time. However, if you go for an aluminum reel, check to see if it is anodized or aluminum parts before buying.
If gears inside the reel aren’t metal, do not buy the reel. Plastic gears shear quickly when using the drag on any size fish and make the reel worthless. The best bet is to purchase full metal bodies that are sealed well to get the longest life out of your reel.
Handle
Handles are where you’ll be cranking the fish up to you, so you need to make sure it is comfortable.
The best option is to go into a store and get your hands on the reel. However, if the handle isn’t comfortable in the store, it won’t be pleasant to fish with.
Graphite isn’t a bad thing, but metal handlebars will bend and break less frequently. Ensure the actual handle is soft and fits your hand well to avoid blisters or hurting your hands.
Benefits Of Catfish Spinning Reels
The most significant benefit of using spinning reels for catfishing is the ease of use. Spinning reels use a flipping bail to cast a line that is held by the fisherman’s finger. For inexperienced anglers or those uncomfortable with bait casters, spinning reels are a better option.
While some people think spinning reels are smaller or weaker than other reels, this isn’t the case. Instead, many saltwater spinning reels have more power and line capacity than bait casters, making them use heavier lines and exert more force on giant catfish.
Spinning reels are also easy to maintain and can take a beating. However, there are fewer moving parts to spinning reels, and many can be maintained simply by removing the spool. In addition, spinning reels have the advantage in longevity, as any issues with them can usually be taken care of a lot easier than with other reel types.
Questions & Answers

What is the best gear ratio for catfishing?
The best gear ratio for catfishing is going to be around 5:1 or 6:1. This is a medium speed, but it allows you to retrieve your line quickly for hookups and put power onto the catfish without stressing your gears too much.

What is the best spinning reel for catfish?
The best spinning reel for catfish depends on the size of catfish you are going for. If big catfish are on the menu, using the Penn Spinfisher VI 7500 is your best option, as it has the most power and durability on this list. For smaller catfish, you can get away with a smaller size Spinfisher, such as the 4500 or 5500.
The best budget option for a spinning reel is going to be the Piscifun Viper X. It’s sealed well and has plenty of power and line capacity to get the job done.

What type of catfishing reel is the best?
Historically, conventional or bait caster reels are the best for catfishing. If you’re hooking into monster catfish well over 100 pounds, then a conventional reel is right for you since you’ll need the heaviest lines you can get. Outside of this, though, the absolute best catfishing reel is whatever is most comfortable for you to cast and use.
Conclusion
When it comes to catfish spinning reels, you get what you pay for. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but it’s pretty common for the cheaper reels to be of cheaper quality. Don’t let that discourage you though, you can get plenty of fishing done with budget option spinning reels as well.
Look for a high line capacity and a drag weight in at least the upper 20s to get the most out of a catfish reel. Sealed bodies will help prevent rust and extend the life of your reel as well.
If you’ve ever doubted catfish spinning reels, now is the best time to try them since they’ve caught up with other models power-wise. If you’re a fisherman who doesn’t like baitcaster or conventional reels, spinning reels are probably for you. They’re an easy-to-cast, strong, and durable option for catching catfish.