When it comes to getting into a mess of Crappie, the spinning reel still reigns supreme. The design and subsequent performance of these reels offer the angler exactly what they need for the presentation and retrieval techniques needed for successful Crappie fishing.
In this article, we will take a look at several spinning reel models that we think you should give serious consideration when getting your Crappie outfit ready this spring.
What is the best spinning reel for crappie?
Here are our top 4 choices, for more information on each please continue reading below.
- Ball Bearings: 10 Bearings
- Gear Ratio: 5.2:1
- Line Retrieve: 25.2 inches
- Mono Line Capacity: 4lbs / 255 yards, 6lbs/145 yards, 8lbs/130 yards
- Weight: 8.8 ounces
- Braid Ready Spool
- Maximum Drag: 10 lbs
Does the Pflueger President 30X have what it takes to be the best spinning reel for crappie? I certainly do, but don’t take my word for it, check out all its great features.
The President line of spinning reels from Pflueger is a great bang for your buck purchase. I particularly like the 30X model for panfish applications for several reasons. At a little over 8oz in weight, it pairs well with the more popular sized Crappie rods. It also a spool capacity of 130 yards of 8lb test and 145 yards of 6lb test which is more than enough.
This reel does well with light and slow presentations often used in Crappie fishing. It has a gear ratio of 5.2:1 with a retrieval rate of 25.2″ per turn. This is enough to get a fish in quickly but not so high that it makes slow retrieves or vertical jigging awkward. Retrieval overall it incredibly smooth with ten corrosion-resistant ball bearing system.
The sealed drag on this system is smooth and easy to adjust. You shouldn’t have any issue handling average sized fish, and even you hook into a big one, this drag can handle it.
The arm design and the soft-touch knob handle give this reel excellent feel and control which greatly helps with finesse retrieval techniques often used when chasing Crappie.
Take a closer look at this great crappie reel in the following video:
Features:
- Ball Bearings: 6+1 Bearings
- Gear Ratio: 6.0:1
- Line Capacity: 6lbs / 200 yards, 8lbs/140 yards
- Weight: 8.3 ounces
- XShip
- Hagane Body
- Hagane Gear System
- Propulsion Line Management System
If you want a spinning reel that is near the top of the list in cutting-edge reel technology, the Shimano Stradic FK might be of interest to you.
There are several size models that are compatible with Crappie fishing. I especially like the 2500 model, but some anglers might choose the 1000 size. The 2500 model has incredible a spool capacity with 140 yards of 8lb test, so line amount is never an issue.
This reel is a bit faster than some of the other reels on our list. It has a gear ratio of 6.0:1 with a line retrieval rate of 35 inches per handle turn. This speed, along with the body and gear system that can deal out a good bit of cranking power, lets you get fish in the boat with lightning speed. If you’re wanting to creep a lure, it might be a little fast, but not so much that it’s not going to work. On the other hand, it works well if you are running faster lures.
There is a lot of technology that goes into this reel, but we are only going to look at a couple more pertinent points.
The first is the Hagane Body and Hagane Gear System. This is a full metal body reel and a gear system that runs smoothly for a long time. While cranking power might not be the biggest concern, these designs also give you a reel with longevity.
Casting with this reel is also a big plus. With Power Roller II and Propulsion Line Management System, you get line come offing the spool with minimal friction and a reduction in line twist. When fishing for crappie, you are using very light lures, this is a huge advantage to you in casting distance.
So what do you think? Is this the best spinning reel for crappie? If you still are not convince check out this video to learn more about what the Shimano Stradic FK has to offer:
Features:
- Ball Bearings: 8+1 Bearings
- Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
- Line Retrieve: 35 inches
- Mono Line Capacity: 8lbs / 175 yards
- Braid Line Capacity: 10lbs / 180 yards
- Weight: 7.9 ounces
- Braid Ready Spool
- Rocket Spool Lip Design
- Maximum Drag: 11 lbs
Of course no list of the best crappie spinning reel would be complete without taking a look at the Abu Garcia Revo SX.
The Revo SX from Abu Garcia is a line of spinning reels that also has several model sizes that are applicable for Crappie fishing. Your choice is going to depend on your rod, but we like the 30 model based on overall specs and performance for our setup.
For this size of reel, it is extremely light at only 7.9oz. This is due to the IM-C6 carbon graphite body. Even though you might not need a huge amount of cranking power, the Revo SX body design still gives you that advantage.
The 30 model has tremendous line capacity. It’s enough capacity so that you can comfortably use anything from 4 to 12lb test. This reel, like the previous, is also a little faster in its retrieve rate at 6.2:1 with a 35-inch line retrieval rate.
The Carbon Matrix drag system that is used on these reels. We know drag isn’t high on the list of concern for panfish anglers but a smooth drag is still important and the CM drag system delivers in that category.
Maybe more important to Crappie anglers is line management and casting. The Revo SX utilizes some pretty innovative designs in their line management and lip design that cuts down on internal line friction and line twist. Reduction in both of those categories makes for much smoother casting.
Learn more about the Abu Garcia Revo SX in the following video:
Features:
- Ball Bearings: 6+1 Bearings
- Gear Ratio: 5.6:1
- Retrieve Rate: 33.2 inches
- Line Capacity: 6lbs / 210 yards, 8lbs/170 yards, 10lbs/140 yards.
- Weight: 9.3 ounces
- Maximum Drag: 13.2 pounds
Daiwa is one of the most respected makers of fishing reels on the market, and the quality of its 
These are slightly bigger and heavier reels than most of the other options in this review, but not heavy enough to cause more fatigue. We just mention it so that you notice that even with smaller size models, they might not match as well with certain rods as other similar sized models from other manufacturers. When crappie fishing, we like the BG2500 model. The next smallest model just doesn’t have the max drag that we want to see.
The BG2500 has a weight of 9.3oz and has tremendous line capacity with 140 yards of 10lb test.
This is a very versatile reel when it comes to fishing techniques for several reasons. With a gear ratio of 5.6:1 and a line retrieval rate of 33.2” per turn you can get fish in the boat quickly but still use finesse techniques effectively.
The BG reels standout in their retrieval and casting smoothness. Their oversized gear system and 6+1 bearing system gives you a reel that maintains it smoothness over the entirety of its lifespan. As for casting, the air rotor and lip design of the spool do a great job of laying line down evenly and reducing friction on the cast. When crappie fishing, those are two criteria that most anglers want when searching for the best crappie spinning reel.
To learn more about the Daiwa BG check out the following video:
You May Also Enjoy Reading: The Best Ultraight Spinning Reels For Crappie, Trout & Panfish
Final Thoughts….
The list of better tasting game fish is short and maybe nonexistent in some anglers minds when compared to Crappie. When you get into a school of these fish, the action can be hot, and you want a reel that can stand up to years of action and be able to work in tandem with your rod to present your lures correctly.
The 4 reels we have covered in this article will give you the longevity and the performance a serious crappie angler deserves on the water.
Now it is your turn…What do you think is the best spinning reel for crappie? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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