Are you looking for the best high end baitcasting reel money can buy?
If so, you have come to the right place.
In this post, we are going to look at 3 baitcasters that aren’t your ordinary reels. They come at a much high price than others on the market, but they are quality reels with many great features and are built to last many years to come.
Let’s take a look at some of my favorite high end baitcasters on the market today.
What is the best high end baitcasting reel?
Here are my top 3 choices. To learn more about each one, please continue reading.
Shimano Aldebaran ALD50
Features:
- Gear Ratio: 6.5:1
- Ball Bearings: 9+1
- Mono Line Capacity: 10lbs /100 yards, 12lbs/80 yards, 14lbs/70 yards
- Line Retrieval Rate: 25.5 inches of line per turn
- Maximum Drag: 10 lbs
- Weight: 4.7 ounces
- SVS Braking System
- X-Ship Technology
- S3D Spool
- Hagane Body
- A-RB bearings
- SilentTune Technology
Does the Shimano Aldebaran ALD50 have what it takes to be the best high end baitcasting reel? Yes here’s why….
Made from a magnesium frame with CI4+ side plate construction, this makes it extremely durable to undergo all those extreme weather fishing conditions. Many times people associate weight with strength and durablity However, because it is built with both durable and yet lightweight materials it helps to keep it at a very comfortable weight of 4.7 ounces.
Just let that sink in for a little bit. This reel only weighs 4.7 ounces. With the many features this reel has to offer, that is extremely lightweight and definitely worth the high price point.
Let’s talk about some of these great features.
The first feature that I want to highlight is the S3D spool. What this means is that the spool is perfectly balanced. Having a spool that weighs the exact same on the left side as it does on the right side is going to greatly affect your casting abilities for the better.
Another feature on the Shimano Aldebaran is what they call their SilentTune Technology. Basically what Shimano did is they put springs that put pressure on bearings that are on the spool shaft. These springs act like shock absorbers thus greatly reducing any vibrations caused from the ball bearings spinning throughout the cast. The results are a much smoother reel when casting.
Next up is the X-Ship technology. This helps to keep the gears perfectly inline at all times. Of course gears that are perfectly inline at all times is going to make it smoother and it will last longer as well.
The SVS braking system isn’t new on Shimano reels, but it is a great feature to have. It allows you to adjust the brakes with a simple click of a tab located on the exterior.
Lastly, this model is available in a 6.5:1 gear ratio with 10 pounds of drag. However, if you are looking for something with a higher gear ratio you might want to check out the Shimano Aldebaran ALD50HG clocking in at 7.4:1.
See this high end reel in action in the following video:
Abu Garcia Revo MG Xtreme
Features:
- Gear Ratio: 8.0:1
- Retrieval Rate: 32 inches per turn
- Ball Bearings: 11
- Line Capacity: Mono, 10lbs / 145 yards, 12lbs / 120 yards, Braid, 20lbs / 155 yards, 30lbs / 115 yards
- Maximum Drag: 12lbs
- Weight: 4.5 ounces
- Centrifugal Braking System
You thought the previous model was lightweight, wait to you check out what the Abu Garcia Revo MG Xtreme has to offer.
It is made with an X-Mag alloy frame and C6 carbon sideplates. This is extremely durable material that is also super lightweight. Just how lightweight is this reel? You may find it hard to believe, but this reel only weighs 4.5 ounces. Wow! That has got to be one of the lightest baitcasters on the market.
One way that Abu Garcia likes to shave some weight off their reels is by drilling holes in the spool. This design helps to reduce the weight of the reel as a whole, but also to reduce the weight of the spool? Why is that important? Because a lighter spool is going to perform better especially under heavier loads.
This bad boy is equipped with 8 stainless steel HPCR ball bearings. HPR stands for High Performance Corrosion Resistant meaning these bearings are protected from the environment and thus protecting your investment.
The Infinitely Variable Centrifugal Braking system can be adjusted from a small knob located on the outer shell of the reel. In order to access the brakes on some reels you literally have to take off the side plate. However, by having them highly accessible you can adjust them to your liking with just a few clicks.
Lastly, let’s talk about gear ratio. This high end baitcaster has a gear ratio of 8.0:1, bringing in 32 inches of line on each and every turn. Great for topwater fishing to say the least!
Let’s take a closer look at this reel in the following video:
Daiwa Steez STEEZ
Features:
- Gear Ratio: 7.1
- Retrieval Rate: 29.5 inches per turn
- Ball Bearings: 12+1
- Line Capacity: 14lbs / 100 yards, 16lbs / 90 yards
- Maximum Drag: 11lbs
- Weight: 5.5 ounces
- SV Concept Spool
- G1 Duralumin Spool
- TW System
Daiwa has also entered the race for the best high end baitcaster with its Daiwa Steez STEEZ SV TW1016SV. Let’s take a quick look at its many features.
One of the features that really sticks out is the SV concept spool. This concept spool will allow the induct rotor to move back to the magnetic field which brakes the spool on the cast.
So what does that mean? That means that it is designed in a way that you no longer have to put your thumb on the reel to slow down the spool. It will do that all by itself according to the weight of the lure. Don’t believe me? Check out the following video:
Can we say goodbye to backlashes. Yes! We can!
Of course to make all that possible, they have included their standard TW system. The TW system allows a bigger gap (in the shape of a “T” hence the name) for the line to exit the reel. When you turn the handle to engage the reel it turns back into a normal looking reel. This greatly reduces the friction of the line coming off the reel allowing for longer casts and fewer backlashes.
Also because of the SV Concept spool you no longer need to adjust the mechanical brakes knobs as you would on other reels. Instead, you can make your adjustments to the Magnetic dial located on the outside of the reel.
Lastly, let’s highlight some of the specs. This baitcaster is equipped with a 7.1 gear ratio, bringing in 29.5 inches of line per turn. It offers 11 pounds of drag power and weighs only 5.5 ounces.
Final Thoughts…
While most anglers will use casting reels that are in the medium to high price range there can be some benefits to purchasing a high end one.
For one, they offer a lot of features that aren’t offered on lower price point models. Lastly, they are built with better quality materials and are designed to last many years.
So which one do you think is the best high end baitcasting reel? Please share you thoughts in the comments below.
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