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We just completed the most comprehensive side-by-side testing of spinning reels ever conducted. Over the last month, I tested 22 spinning reels on various fisheries to determine which ones currently on the market are the best based on quality, construction, innovation, weight, price, strength, and smoothness.
The most eye-opening discovery throughout this process was the parity in modern spinning reels. Yes, there are a few standouts, but of the 22 I tested, I’d recommend buying 21 of them. Even with all the great choices, we had to make some cuts. So I narrowed down the list to the top 10 spinning reels available for bass fishing. Then, we awarded winners in four different categories. There are premium options for serious finesse anglers, value reels for those looking to expand their spin setups, and great budget picks for those who don't want to spend a fortune. Here are the best spinning reels you can buy for bass fishing in 2025.
Best Overall: Abu Garcia Revo Zenon MG-X
Best Value: Daiwa Tatula MQ LT
Best $100 Spinning Reel: Shimano Nasci
Best Budget: Okuma Avenger
The Rest of the Best Spinning Reels
How We Tested the Best Spinning Reels
Pooling all our resources together at Field & Stream, the team and I were able to call on several spinning reel manufacturers, including Daiwa, Shimano, Abu Garcia, and others, to send out reels for consideration. Once we got them in hand, we compared the reels based on the following criteria:
Quality
Construction
Innovation
Weight
Price
Strength
Smoothness
For the first leg of side-by-side testing, I took the reels to a local lake to put the drags through the wringer against big largemouth and striped bass. After two days of fishing and a few dozen fish catches, I was able to whittle the lineup down to 17. Then I took the remaining reels to a stocked pond for further testing. To add a constant across all the reels, I spooled them with 15-pound Sufix 832 Braid. Then I tied on several similar finesse fishing baits and went to work.
I caught a quality fish in the 3-pound range on almost every one of the reels. From that final go-around, I was able to confidently select four award winners. However, the competitions were close in all these categories, so we also reviewed six honorable mentions. As far as how the award winners were selected, the Best Overall award went to the best spinning reel from the test, regardless of the price. I determined the Best Value award based on getting the most bang for your buck. Then we awarded the Best $100 Spinning Reel, because so many models fall into this price range. Lastly, the Best Budget award went to the reel that was the most capable for the least amount of money.
Best Overall: Abu Garcia Revo Zenon MG-X
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 6.2 ounces
Weight: 5.5 ounces
Bearings: 10 + 1
Price: $470
Available Sizes: 2500, 3000
Pros
Extremely smooth
Strong
Durable
Cons
Expensive
The Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X is a work of art. When I pulled it out of the box, I was shocked by how light it was. At 5.5 ounces, this reel is approximately 30 percent lighter on average than the other reels I tested. And although it’s lightweight, it remains extremely rigid and durable. Abu's Air-Fin Spool and one-piece X-Mag (magnesium alloy) frame combine to create this lightweight yet strong design.
My favorite feature is the drop shot weight holder on the spool tension knob of this reel. It's genius. Dangling and swinging drop shot weights are a menace when it comes to spinning reels. Having a way to quickly and securely stow your weight is fantastic. The only downside to this reel is the price. At $470, this was the most expensive reel in the test. But if you're a serious angler who relies on spin gear and uses finesse techniques often, this reel is the best you can buy. Great Lakes smallmouth anglers will appreciate the Zenon MG-X when fishing drop shots, Ned rigs, wacky rigs, and other finesse baits.
Best Value: Daiwa Tatula MQ LT
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 6.7 ounces
Bearings: 8+1
Price: $200
Available Sizes: 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000
Pros
Strong
Smooth
Effortless bail mechanism
Fill line for spooling
Cons
None that I can see
The Daiwa Tatula MQ LT is a fantastic reel for the money. At $200, this reel is less than half the price of the Zenon MG-X, yet it offers comparable performance. One of the features I like most about this reel is how smoothly and easily it opens and closes the bail. You barely have to turn the handle before the bail flips down easily. No other reel in the test was able to do this. It is slightly heavier than the Best Overall winner, but it comes in more sizes and has a smooth and strong drag.
Best $100 Spinning Reel: Shimano Nasci FC
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 8.5 ounces
Bearings: 5+1
Price: $100
Available Sizes: 1000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000
Pros
Durable
Fairly smooth
Quality reel
Great price
Cons
Not as capable as some of the high-end reels
I’ve had this reel for several months now, and in that time, it has separated itself from the others that are priced right at $100. It’s strong, fairly light, and very capable. The drag is sensitive and easy to adjust on the fly. All of the mechanics of the reel are crisp with no wiggle or play. It almost has all the bells and whistles of a high-end reel for only $100.
All that being said, if you’re a northern smallmouth guy fishing tournaments and relying on spinning reels for a living, you’re probably going to want to work your way up the price chart a little. The weight is noticeably heavier than the premium models. But for the guy throwing the occasional Ned rig, wacky rig, or jighead swimbait, this is a great reel for the price—one I would be more than comfortable fishing tournaments with myself.
Best Budget: Okuma Avenger
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 5:1
Weight: 7.8
Bearings: 6+1
Price: $47.50
Available Sizes: 2500, 3000 (on Okuma’s site, there’s also a 500, 1000, 3000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 10000 model available)
Pros
Great price
Quality reel
Strong and durable
Cons
Not as capable as some of the high-end reels
The Okuma Avenger is a dang good spinning reel for the money. At only $47.50, you can get 10 of these for the price of one Abu Garcia MG-X. It costs only 10 percent of the most expensive reel in this test, but you get much more than 10 percent in performance. Besides longevity (I haven't fished with this reel for more than a few months), the Avenger is almost as capable as any other spinning reel I’ve ever thrown. I have concerns about the materials, but if you get a couple of seasons out of this reel and it breaks, you can buy another and still spend less than $100 in total. For those who don't do much finesse fishing, this is a great choice to save money but still get the job done when you want to throw softer presentations.
Shimano Vanford A
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 5.8:1
Weight: 6.2 ounces
Bearings: 7+1
Price: $250
Available Sizes: 500, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000
Pros
Highly capable
High quality
Priced accurately
Cons
Getting into the expensive territory
The Vanford A is a proven workhorse. With many similarities to the beloved but discontinued Shimano Stradic, the Vanford A has quickly garnered a loyal following. After six months of fishing with the Vanford, I’ve caught some great fish and have really come to appreciate the strength, durability, and smoothness of this reel. At $250, it’s not inexpensive, but it's still half the price of the Abu Garcia MG-X. And the difference in these two reels, performance-wise, is very small. The Vanford was a close runner-up for Best Overall and an excellent choice for any spin angler.
Okuma X-Series
Specs
Size Tested: 2500
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 7 ounces
Bearings: 10+1
Price: $220
Available Sizes: 2500, 3000, 4000
Pros
Great price for the value
Strong
Stylish
Smooth
Cons
None that I noticed
I was only recently introduced to Okuma products, but have been extremely impressed by every single product they have sent out for testing. The Okuma X-Series spinning reel offers fantastic performance, a lightweight design, and a strong yet sensitive drag. Pair this with the X-Series rod, and you have an excellent setup.
Lew's Custom Spin
Specs
Size Tested: 3000
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 8.7
Bearings: 10
Price: $120
Available Sizes: 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000
Pros
Smooth reel
Strong
Great value
Cons
Not available in a 2500 size
Lew’s stepped up their game in the last few years when it comes to spinning reels. The company has long been a leader in the casting reel market, but its spinning reel selection was limited when it came to bass fishing. Not anymore. Now they offer several solid spinning options, including the Lew’s Custom Spin. Though this one couldn’t knock off the Daiwa Tatula MQ LT for Best Value, it wasn't far behind. Plus, the Custom Spin costs $80 less. It is a little heavier, but has a smooth and strong drag to make up for it.
Abu Garcia Max Elite
Specs
Size Tested: 3000
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 7.8 ounces
Bearings: 9+1
Price: $110
Available Sizes: 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000
Pros
Sturdy
Strong
Great value
Cons
Not as capable as the high-end models
I feel the same way about the Abu Garcia Max Elite as I do the Lew’s—it is a great reel for the price, but it’s not quite on par with the Tatula MQ LT. Still, for $110, this is an excellent reel for nearly half the price of the Tatula. Abu pulled from their popular Revo and high-end Zenon line-up to build a more reasonably priced workhorse for the masses.
Daiwa Exceler LT
Specs
Size Tested: 3000
Gear Ratio: 5.3:1
Weight: 7.1 ounces
Bearings: 5+1
Price: $100
Available Sizes: 500, 1000, 2500, 3000, 4000, 5000
Pros
Outstanding reel for the money
Sensitive drag
Available in lots of sizes
Cons
Not as capable as the high-end reels
The race was very close for the best $100 Spinning Reel award. The Nasci barely edged out Daiwa’s Exceler, but this is another great reel for the money. I’d put both of these reels up against several of the $150 to $200 spinning reels in quality and capability. Packed full of a lot of Daiwa’s industry-leading tech, this one is light and crisp.
Daiwa Regal
Specs
Size Tested: 3000
Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
Weight: 7.2 ounces
Bearings: 6+1
Price: $69.99
Available Sizes: 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000
Pros
Strong
Smooth
Great price
Cons
Not quite as capable as high-end reels
The Daiwa Regal is another stellar reel if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option. Our Best Budget award winner just beat out the Regal. Still, Daiwa is known for making excellent spinning reels, and they did it again here. This is an outstanding reel for $70.
