Best Musky Reels (Best Value For The Money In 2020)

Musky are among the most ferocious of freshwater fish species and present a fight that anglers do not soon forget.

In order to catch these behemoths, an angler must have nothing but the best gear at their disposal, including a reel of significant strength.

Premium musky reels are designed with power and durability in mind which typically feature robust drag systems, precision ball bearing arrangements, and heavy duty internal components that are specifically designed to take a beating.

Featured Recommendations

• Goture Ares-Max
• KastKing Royale Legend

Best Musky Reels in 2020

What Should I Look For When Buying The Best Musky Reel For The Money

Musky Reel Types

Musky reels come in many different forms. Baitcasting reels are by far, the most popular type of reel among musky fishermen, largely because of their sheer fighting power and performance capabilities. However, some anglers, especially those that prefer to troll for musky, make use of line counter reels. Reels of this type allow anglers to easily calculate the length of line that is extended from the rear of their boat.

Spinning reels are also used for musky fishing, although much less frequently than other reel types. These fishing reels are primarily used in precision casting scenarios, where baitcasters often fall short in precision accuracy.

Baitcasting Reels

Baitcasting reels are immensely popular among musky anglers, due in large part to their powerful drag systems, and robust internal gearing. These are attributes of significant value when musky fishing, as musky present a ferocious fight whenever hooked, a must often be fought for lengthy periods of time, until tiring. 

Baitcasting reels are also prized by musky anglers for their fast rate of retrieve. Because musky are somewhat more scarce on many bodies of water than other species of fish, they are often labeled as “the fish of a thousand casts.” Anglers are able to cover a significant amount of water in rapid succession, when using high speed baitcasters, therefore increasing their odds at enticing a strike.

Spinning Reels

Spinning reels are rather obscure in the world of musky fishing, though they are used on occasion. Reels of this design are often looked over, due to the perceived notion that they are of inadequate size and strength for battling musky. In many cases, a spinning reel’s drag system tends to be less robust than that of a baitcasting reel, and can therefore lead to difficulty when attempting to land a fish of epic size.

If an angler were to use a spinning reel when musky fishing, it would be vital to have the reel’s drag set in an optimal fashion. On the fly adjustments would likely be necessary in the heat of a fight to counteract repeated runs. However, if experienced in spinning reel use, and armed with plenty of line, an angler can find musky fishing success with a reel of this type. 

Line Capacity

When musky fishing, it is immensely important to take a reel’s line capacity in count. Musky fight with a level of intensity that few fish can match, and are fully capable of rapidly stripping line from a reel. If your reel’s line capacity is not sufficient to withstand these runs, you will lose the fish of a lifetime, before you ever realize what happened.

Additionally, many anglers prefer to troll for musky, in order to cover a substantial amount of ground as quickly as possible. In these situations, significant line length is a must. Without plenty of line at your disposal, you will be forced to begin a fight with a nearly empty reel. 

Left or Right-Handed

When speaking of baitcasters used for musky fishing, confusion is common regarding which hand is to be used for reeling, and which is to be used for casting. Right handed baitcasting reels feature a handle that is on the right side of the reel, while left handed baitcasting reels have a handle on their left side. For right handed individuals, this means that a right handed reel will be cast with the right hand, and switched to the left after the cast. 

Alternatively, a left handed reel can be purchased, allowing for both casting and holding to be done with the right hand, though reeling would then be done with an angler’s left hand. The decision of which style reel to use is largely a matter of personal preference, and comes down to what makes an angler feel the most comfortable.

Speed

The speed at which a musky reel operates comes as a direct reflection of the unit’s gear ratio. The higher the ratio, the faster a lure, or fish, can be retrieved. While it might seem as if a high gear ratio would be the most obvious choice, a lower gear ratio also has its merit. It can often be difficult to retrieve a lure in a slow, methodical fashion when using a reel with a high gear ratio. This places importance on planning ahead, and having an understanding of how you intend to fish.

Reels with a higher gear ratio are perfect for burning up top water baits, or quickly winding a swimbait. However, lower gear ratios are of significant value when crawling a spinnerbait through vegetation, or working a soft plastic bait. One must also keep in mind that a lower gear ratio provides additional torque when fighting fish.

Durability

In the world of musky fishing, if your reel is not designed with durability in mind, it simply will not last. Musky are among the hardest fighting of all freshwater fish species, and can absolutely destroy lesser reels, in no time at all. Therefore a musky angler is wise to choose their reel carefully. A poor selection can leave an angler shaking their head in aggravation.

In order to be durable, a musky reel must feature a robust drag system, a premium grade bearing assembly, and ultra-durable gear train components. Most reels of this nature are also constructed to offer superior corrosion resistance.

Line Weight

When purchasing a musky reel, it is important to select a model which is capable of using your preferred weight of line. This information will usually be stamped or printed on a reel’s frame, and is critical to efficient use. While most musky-specific reels are capable of using heavy line, exact sizing options typically vary.

For musky fishing applications, most anglers prefer the use of line that ranges from 60-120 pounds in operational capacity. Because of this wide range in line size, one must often make a decision as to which end of the spectrum they favor, when selecting their reel.

Gear Ratio

Selecting the right gear ratio for musky fishing can be somewhat of a balancing act. While an angler might wish for the use of a higher gear ratio to entice reactionary strikes from musky, they also need the pure torque that only a lower geared reel can provide. In the world of musky fishing, a compromise must take place that often favors fighting power.

Most musky anglers prefer the use of reels with gear ratios in the 5.1:1 to 5.7:1 range. However, when in need of additional cranking power, reels of a 3.1:1 to 4.1:1 range can be selected. These designations simply denote the number of rotations a reel’s spool makes, for every revolution of the reel’s handle.

Gear Materials

The gears within a musky reel generally come in two different compositions, stainless steel and brass. Of these two types, stainless steel is significantly more durable, though it is also heavier. Stainless steel gears are not as susceptible to wear or damage from shock loading, as those of a brass construction. Because of this, most high-end musky reels currently employ the use of stainless steel internal components.

However, brass gears still remain popular with a number of manufacturers due to the ease of machining related to its use. Brass can be easily machined for precise fitment, allowing manufacturers to mass produce brass gear sets to a high degree of quality.

Bearing Materials

Most musky reels feature stainless steel ball bearings. Stainless steel is naturally durable, due to its rugged characteristics. This is of immense importance, as bearings are continuously moving as a reel’s handle is actuated. Bearings of a lesser construction would quickly erode away, leaving an excessive amount of free-play as a result. This free play would then lead to rapid wear of adjoining points and eventual mechanical failure. Occasionally, ceramic bearings are also used in the construction of musky reels, though this is far less common.

It is also important that all bearings contained within a reel be of the highest degree of uniformity. Unevenly matched bearings are unable to operate in a smooth fashion, and are prone to binding when under a significant load. Misshapen bearings also have a tendency to wear at an accelerated rate, due to uneven distribution of force.

Reel Housing, Frames, and Spools

Musky reels are composed from a number of different materials, and differ from one model to the next. Some of the most popular reel housing, frame, and spool materials include graphite and aluminum. Each of these materials have their own merit, and are of unique value in specific situations.

Most musky reel housings are made primarily of graphite, due to its anti-corrosive nature. However, aluminum housings are known to be a somewhat stronger and more durable alternative.

Likewise, musky reels are offered with both graphite and aluminum frames. Graphite is often used in this situation, due to its cost effectiveness. However, an aluminum frame will always be the significantly stronger choice.

Virtually every musky reel employs the use of an aluminum spool, due to the material’s lightweight nature. Aluminum spools come in both forged and die-cast forms, with forged spools being the most rugged.

Warranty

Musky are not docile fish. When at the end of a line, musky fight tenaciously and are more than capable of finding any reel’s weak points. This is one of the many reasons that a serious warranty can be of immense value. After all, no one wishes to be left with an unusable reel, if the fight at hand proves too strong. 

Reel warranties can vary significantly in their length and scope. In the majority of cases, 1-year is the standard warranty which all reels feature. However, many manufactures have begun offering much longer warranties, a number of which are up to 3 years in length. A few select manufacturers now back their reels with lifetime warranties, to compliment their reels.

Price

Musky reels can vary significantly in price. One can pay $50 for a musky reel, or $500 for a reel of this nature. As one would expect, a consumer often gets what they pay for. However, one can often find an excellent musky reel for approximately $100. At this price point, consumers can expect to find reels that operate in a seamless fashion, and are every bit as powerful as more expensive alternatives. 

Prior to purchasing a musky reel, an angler must figure out what their budget is. Once this has been determined, it is best to purchase the best reel that you can, while still operating inside of your budget.

Where to Buy

Musky reels of nearly any type can be purchased from nearly any fishing retailer. However, for ease and simplicity, many anglers have begun purchasing their musky reels on the internet. With today’s rapid shipping times, anglers can typically receive their new reel faster than they would have, if they had been required to visit multiple store front locations.

Purchasing a musky reel over the internet also allows you to browse through an endless array of options, without ever leaving the comfort of your house. This can be a game changer, especially in today’s increasingly busy world. There is no longer a need to fight traffic, or waste the gas in your tank to venture into 5 different stores, when you can view a much larger number of reels from the comfort of your couch.

Questions & Answers

The Goture Ares-Max is the best reel for musky fishing. This reel features a 22-pound drag system for abundant fighting power, an extended line capacity for enhanced trolling and casting capabilities, and 11 premium ball bearings for ultra-smooth operation.

Musky are ferocious fighters, and are more than capable of pushing any line to its breaking point. When fishing for musky, there is no substitute for the use of braided line, as it is simply tougher by diameter than any other line on the market. Most avid musky anglers prefer line in the 60-80 pound weight range.

Musky are predatory by nature, and will therefore strike most any lure that gives off the appearance of a baitfish. Some of the most potent musky lures include spinnerbaits, swimbaits, spoons, buzzbaits, and topwater plugs. Sizable soft-plastic baits can also be highly productive during most any point of the year.

Most musky rods range between 7-9 feet in length. This range tends to offer excellent casting capabilities, while also maintaining enough backbone to fight sizable musky from the depths below. When trolling, a number of anglers tend to prefer rods that are toward the lower end of this range.