Best Ice Fishing Reels to Make Fishing Expedition Even More Fun
In the northern areas, ice fishing is quite a popular sport. It is perfect for allowing fishermen to enjoy this lovely sport all-round the year. Just like any other outdoor winter activity, you cannot enjoy fishing to the fullest if you do not have the right fishing gear. Hopefully, you are ready with the best ice fishing boots and have found the best shelter on the market, now it is time you find the right fishing gear too.
Though you may have packed the gloves required for ice fishing, you may not realize now, but it is as important to get the right fishing gear, designed to cater to the harsh weather conditions. One of the most vital considerations beyond having a good quality fishing line is picking good ice fishing reels, something that is particularly designed for ice fishing.
The best ice reel are the ones, which are designed to provide you with the most stellar performance, regardless of the low and the icy conditions. Because of the freezing temperature, you may find some difficulty with regards to the line’s sensitivity.4
Ice fishing is truly a fun sport. It offers you access to the lake’s areas, which you may not have had the foot access to in the warmer months. When making your pick, please know that given the myriad of options available in the market finding the top rated ice fishing reels can be a bit hard as the decision making process can be a bit overwhelming.
To help you make the choice for best ice fishing reels, we have come up with a list of some of the top rated ice fishing reels. You can browse through our list, and make your choice.
Quick Navigation
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- Top Rated Ice Fishing Reel
- KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels
- Eagle Claw Ice Reel
- Fishing Black Betty 6061
- Piscifun ICX 5 Ice Fishing Reel
- Abu Garcia ICEMAX Spinning Fishing Reel
- Daiwa D-Spin Ultralight Spinning Ice-Fishing Reel
- SHIMANO Sienna FE Ice Fishing Reel
- Domybest Baitcasting Spinning Ice Fishing Reel
- Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel
- Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel
- Tips To Pick The Best Ice Fishing Reel
- Can You Use Just Any Reel For Ice Fishing?
- Final Thoughts
- Top Rated Ice Fishing Reel
Best Ice Fishing Reel For The Money
| Product | Rating | Buy Now (Amazon Link) |
|---|---|---|
KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels |
4.5 |
Buy now |
Eagle Claw Ice Reel |
4.4 |
Buy now |
Fishing Black Betty 6061 |
4.2 |
Buy now |
Abu Garcia ICEMAX Spinning Fishing Reel |
4.6 |
Buy now |
SHIMANO Sienna FE Ice Fishing Reel |
4.3 |
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032K3EL2?tag=fmp-besticefishingreel-20 |
Domybest Baitcasting Spinning Ice Fishing Reel |
4.1 |
Buy now |
Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel |
3.8 |
Buy now |
Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel |
4.6 |
Buy now |
Piscifun ICX 5 Ice Fishing Reel |
4.5 |
Buy now |
|
Daiwa D-Spin Ultralight Spinning Ice-Fishing Reel |
4.4 |
Buy now |
1. KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels: One Of The Top Rated Ice Fishing Reels
One of the top rated ice fishing reels, the KastKing reel has received positive responses from buyers. They appreciate the overall design of this reel. The reel’s featured graphite frame enabled it to withstand the cold temperatures. This is one of the very good ice fishing reels for beginners. It is lightweight, and the convenience it offers is unmatchable.
The reason we love this reel is primarily because of its affordable pricing. This one is indeed one top-quality gear that is ideal for buyers who are shopping on a budget. Owing to the graphite construction, it is the perfect winter reel. More so, the gear enables you to fight some of the most potent fish species. Its power launch lip lets you have longer casts.
Who should use it the most?
We recommend this reel to beginners who need ice fishing experience without splurging. The kind of value that it offers exceeds the price tag that it comes with. This is an excellent pick for someone who wishes to establish longer casts. More so, it is a good pick for fishers who are after a powerful and big fish.
Wrapping about this item, we would like to conclude by saying, in all, it is one reliable pick for someone who wants to enjoy fishing in the colder climate without burning a hole in the pocket. The ball bearings enable better fishing performance, and it is easy to adjust. The best thing is that this one does not weigh much. So, you can carry it around with ease.
|
$24.99 |
4.5 |
Buy Now |
Key Features
- Loaded with features, regardless of the low price
- Best value for money
- Lightweight
- Narrow graphite frame design
- Superior performance
- Compact
- Great gift for someone who enjoys fishing
- 500 size reels match the ice rods well
- High power
- Attractive finish
Pros
|
Cons
|
2. Eagle Claw Ice Reel
Next in our top rated ice fishing reels is the Eagle Claw’s hooks. These are engineered with high-strength nylon. These are super budget-friendly reels, which offer straight line spooling, which prevents line twist. More so, unlike the spinning and baitcasting reels with tiny spools that force the line to twist tightly, this reel helps avoid line memory.
This is one of those good ice fishing reels, and its spool has a higher line capacity than you probably need, given that it is a jigging machine. However, for people wanting to undertake ice fishing, this should not be a problem. It has a gear ratio of 2:6:1. Thus, at no time will you see deep fishing as a chore. The reel has a spool release, which makes dropping the jigs nothing harder than pressing a button. It is indeed a great feature, and we genuinely appreciate this.
The only downside is that its drag system is not up to the mark. It is not smooth enough to feel useful with a lighter weight line, maybe a 2-pound test. What further makes it worse is that setting the drag towards the lighter end of the spectrum means that the spool is very loose. However, if you plan on fishing with a line that is 4-pound or even more, this one can work well.
|
$29.99 |
4.4 |
Buy now |
Key Features
- Nylon spool and body
- Smooth teflon drag
- Star drag and line clicker
- Free spool release button
- Spool tension button
- Lightweight
- Gear ratio: 2.6:1
Pros
|
Cons
|
3. Fishing Black Betty 6061
Fishing’s Black Betty is one of the best ice reels we have on the market. We wanted to mainly talk about its 6061 model because we are pretty impressed with this one, and we are sure you will be too. It has an aluminum body, and the design is pretty tough. This can hold more line for jigging than you possibly will need. It is strong enough to hold everything from a 2-pound monofilament on up. Just like the Eagle Claw, this best ice fishing reel also presents to you a free spool button that assists your jigs descents. We are particularly impressed by the spool’s smoothness and the bearings. It drops approximately 1/32 jigs without any trouble.
Similar to others, the large spool and the in-line design eliminate the twist and the line memory. The drag of this reel works very well, even with its light line. However, it is not as smooth as the comparable spinning reels.
Having said it all, you will not like this best ice reel for someone who is a dedicated jig angler. Moreover, it is one expensive reel, as compared to others on our list.
|
$29.99 |
4.2 |
Buy Now |
Key Features
- Chic machine aluminium construction
- Unparalleled durability and toughness
- Incredible frame design that lets you fish a pencil or pistol grip style
- 2:7:1 Gear ratio
- Premium components
- Multiplier fly-style reel
- Lightweight
Pros
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Cons
|
4. Piscifun ICX 5 Ice Fishing Reel
Next in our list of top rated ice fishing reels is the Piscifun ICX 5. The recent buyers for this best ice reel have quite liked the design of it. They even appreciate the availability of two different color options that provides them with more to pick from. Moreover, the graphite body of this best ice reel is truly praise-worthy. It is what adds to its durability and strength. Buyers will love the five plus one sealed bearings, which work best to counter the friction. The good thing about this best ice reel is that it is easy to use for buyers.
It is the design of this best ice reel, which makes it stand ahead of the competition. Beyond that, the rotor and the body are made of graphite. It is this construction of the reel, which adds to its durability. All of this makes this the best ice reel. With this reel, you can expect a lot of portability because of its deluxe folding handle. Its spool is made of aluminum. This ensures that the water does not penetrate the rotor.
It is indeed one of the best ice reels for anyone who needs a stylish ice fishing reel. This one is indeed durable and perfect for use in the harsh winter weather. You will never have to worry about it not performing adequately because it will not freeze. It is also a perfect pick for anyone who does not wish to put in a lot of effort into retrieving the bait.
All in all, it is a great ice reel, and you can carry it anytime and anywhere with you, all thanks to the fact that it does not take up a lot of space. The reel is incredibly easy to adjust. Moreover, its stylish design is sure to catch your eye. The overall construction of this reel is indeed of top-notch quality and helps do away with the friction.
|
$27.99 |
4.5 |
Buy Now |
Key Features
- Durable body
- Graphite body
- Deluxe quick folding handle
- Easy transportation
- Exquisite design
- Available in two color options
Pros
|
Cons
|
5. Abu Garcia ICEMAX Spinning Fishing Reel
Another best ice reel that you can shop for is the Abu Garcia IceMax spinning ice-fishing reel. This one is indeed one of the most appealing combinations of high-end features and top-notch durability. This one is a perfect pick for anglers who have a strong affection for ice fishing. Known for its sturdy gearing system and smooth performance, this one is a hit.
With this best ice reel, your entire experience of ice fishing will seem like a breeze, all thanks to its super collapsible handle design that enables easy and hassle-free storage. You will love the convenience of the button switch collapsible design that saves you some effort and time as compared to the other models that need complex unscrewing of nuts for folding the handle. As a beginner, you may not quite like the hassle of the bail reverse feature. The spool, at times, gets stuck because of the faulty anti-reverse gear.
The hassle-free portability and the smooth drag are a few top-liked features of this best ice reel. Any angler who wishes to experience fishing during a trekking trip across the mountain valleys must take a good look at this reel. Apart from just some tiny issues with the anti-reverse, this is indeed the best ice reel you can invest in.
|
– |
4.6 |
Buy now |
Key Features
- Top quality cold gear lube
- 3+1 ball bearing and roller bearing system
- Durable aluminium spool
- Collapsible reel handle
- Strong bail system
Pros
|
Cons
|
6. Daiwa D-Spin Ultralight Spinning Ice-Fishing Reel
Next, in our list of top rated ice fishing reels we have the Daiwa fishing reel, which is indeed a deserving entrant in the best ice fishing reel list. This best ice fishing reel’s popularity is primarily because of the brand’s commitment to improving its performance continually. This Daiwa D-Spin Ultralight is also the best ice fishing reel because of its high reliability. For anglers with a specific fishing style, this one is indeed a great pick. This best ice reel comes with two models. So, you can make your choice according to your needs.
This best ice fishing reel is hugely appreciated for its good looks, which have always caught customer attention. The looks of this best ice fishing reel are indeed quite dominant. You will fall in love with the sturdy feel of this power-packed gearing system. Another excellent thing about this reel is that it comes with smooth retrieval, thanks to its longer stroke oscillation present in the 1000-model.
However, this reel’s only problem is that this reel takes a lot of force when you try to close the bail. For many anglers, this can be a bit exhausting.
We want to conclude by saying that this best ice fishing reel is indeed a good pick for the anglers who need a reel that is as good in the looks as in the performance. With this reel, the knob issues are only occasions. You can remediate the reel knot issues. Overall, this one is a reasonable buy from our list of best ice reels.
 |
$16.62 – $25.39 |
4.4 |
Buy now |
Key Features
- Innovative digigear system
- Premium ball bearing system
- Lightweight, composite reel case
- Appealing color contrast, which comes with a modern design
- Two models for you to shop from
Pros
|
Cons
|
7. SHIMANO Sienna FE Ice Fishing Reel
Next in our top rated ice fishing reels is the Shimano reel. Well, in all honesty, this one did quite raise the bar for the upcoming fishing reels by putting together a myriad of performance and design upgrades in this best ice reel. This one is one of those good ice fishing reels that will surely catch your attention from the first look itself. You will like it more when you find out about its appreciable features.
With this one of the good ice fishing reels, Shimano has brought about a noticeable improvement in the reel, especially in the oscillation gear, which is placed closer to the rod. You will appreciate the enhanced balance and the sturdy feel of the spool, which is great for long-distance casting.
Even though this is one of the top rated ice fishing reels, and has a good feel about it, the line does twist when you reach out for shorter casts. Moreover, the reel may feel a bit stiff when you go for a more massive catch.
This is one of the good ice fishing reels for anglers who quite like the deep jigging for inshore or deep water fishing. You may experience a few minor issues with the ice fishing line initially, but you can get used to it with some practice. On the whole, it is indeed a good pick for you.
|
– |
4.3 |
Buy now |
Key Features
- Upgraded compact body
- Dyna-Balance, which prevents any wobbles
- Super Stopper II technology that assures better anti-reverse
- Oscillation gear placed closer to the rod
- Upgraded compact body
- Propulsion line management system
Pros
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Cons
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8. Domybest Baitcasting Spinning Ice Fishing Reel
This best ice fishing reel for the money is made with top-strength aluminum alloy. The entire reel is corrosion resistant. This means that you can use this best ice reel even in the sea. The reel has been engineered with materials, which are not naturally prone to coating to ensure this. Further, the presence of aluminum in this best ice fishing reel for the money makes it exceptionally lightweight. This one does not weigh over 149 grams.
Most of the top rated ice fishing reels come with ball bearings, which ensure a smooth reel movement. Domybest is equipped with ten bearings that provide one of the finest and the smoothest fishing experience. This best ice fishing reel’s release button has been redesigned completely to offer a more precise line release. A side bumper bar has been included in the reel, which protects the spool when you set down the reel. It adds to the balance and stability of the entire setup.
|
$45 |
4.1 |
Buy now |
Key Features
- Heavy duty materials
- 10 ball bearings
- Corrosion resistant coating
Pros
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Cons
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9. Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel
This top rated ice fishing reels is one unique looking reels, which is excellent for inline reels for fishing in the ice. It is equipped with a black body and orange spool, and it would not be wrong to say that it does happen to be one of the best looking reels in the market. The reel is equipped with a 4 + 1 bearing setup and a dedicated anti-reverse. On the whole, the entire reel weighs only 5.8 ounces. Hence, it is one of the lightest reels that you will get in the market.
With this reel, you can adjust the spool tension with just a push of a button. The handle of this best ice fishing reel for the money is a bit oversized, given its extra-grippy knobs. Its super-smooth drag can be effortlessly adjusted with ease. Fiblink indeed has made it more potent than quick with its 2.6:1 gear ratio. To make this one even better, the gear is made from durable brass material.
Owing to this reel, the inline fishing simply feels so uncomplicated. You can see how much line you have left and make adjustments accordingly.
|
$23.99 – $33.99 |
3.8 |
Buy now |
Key features
- Left or right handed options
- Powerful gear ratio
- Flashy design
Pros
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ConsA few buyers think the make is poor
|
10. Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel
Last in our best ice fishing reel list is this Penn Pursuit II Spinning Reel. It comes packed with a durable design, which is quite up-to-date with great technology. Its anodized aluminum spool comes with line capacity rings. Further, it is lightweight and durable owing to the aluminum composition.
This best ice fishing reel has capacity rings nestled at specific intervals. Consequently, the spool offers you just the desired amount of line. The reel also has an oiled drag that enables the drag to stay lubricated. Dry drags face some performance issues, which can cause a snapped line or stick on the first engagement. With its oil felt drag, you may not experience any problems.
Owing to the best ice fishing reel’s instant anti-reverse, you get access to two essential functions for the reel. They stop the back play that lets you hold on strong once the drag is engaged. It also comes with four shielded stainless steel ball bearings covering the wall with thin metal plating and capturing them inside the bearing. It is useful to lessen wear and prevent harmful gritty particles from entering it.
|
$39.99 |
4.6 |
Buy now |
Key features
- Lightweight
- Corrosion-resistant graphite body
- Ergonomic handle for comfortable reeling
- Fluid cranking with four shielded stainless steel ball bearings
- Graphite make
Pros
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Cons
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What Features Should You Look For In An Ice Fishing Reel?
Weight
One of the most crucial aspects to consider when shopping for the best ice fishing reel is the weight. The lighter the weight of the reel, the better it ought to be. It then becomes more comfortable to carry and store, and there is undoubtedly less fatigue in having to hold it for hours and waiting for the bite to come off.
Ball Bearings
Good ice fishing reels have ball bearings that enable you to ensure that the reel operates freely and smoothly regardless of the drag load. It, in a way, reduces the friction that is created in the reel. For better performances and the spin speed of the reel, more ball bearings are preferred.
Reel Construction
Usually, the best ice fishing reel has been designed with graphite. It is a prevalent component choice in reels. It is high in strength and very lightweight. All of this makes it perfect for the harsh winters.
Anti-Ice System
Several new materials are used in the reels to reduce the lock-up when the components freeze. The inline reels present to you a much better recovery time in this department. In the worst-case scenario, you should possess some sort of Antifreeze Paste on the hand. It will lower the freezing on the rod guides and the line.
Tips For Picking The Best Ice Fishing Reel
We understand that finding the best ice fishing reel can be a bit of a challenging experience. It only gets harder when there is a complete spectrum of fishing reels available with minor differences. Here are some tips that you can use to pick the best ice fishing reel.
Pick only lightweight reels
As for good ice fishing reels, anglers usually escape in the small huts and tents, which do not have a lot of space to accommodate the large reels. Thus, your number one priority should be to go with a lightweight and portable design at all times. Believe us when we say this, the last thing that you would possibly want when you go trekking on the rugged mountains is to carry along extra weight that will only exhaust you sooner than you know. One more advantage of shopping for the lightweight reels is that they offer you higher sensitivity levels, and you can easily detect the nipples on the other end of the line. Thus, you need to opt for a lightweight fishing reel and a lightweight rod.
Pick a sensitive drag system
We recommend opting for this reel for the anglers who intend to catch the calm targets, such as pike and walleye during the ice-fishing ventures, that brings you the most sensitive drag. Usually, it is the two kinds of drag system, which are most preferred for ice-fishing.
You can find the Star Drag mostly on the precision marked, high-grade baitcasting reels. You can go with star drag for the more straightforward and lower-grade ice-fishing reels as it will accentuate the pressure on it and boost spool rotation. It is indeed simpler in ice-fishing reels as opposed to the baitcasting reels.
Another best system, which you can opt for is the Front Drag In. This drag will help in spool rotation anytime you have a fish on the line. When you seek smoother retrievals, this one can be a good thing to start with.4
Finalizing the Gear Ratio
Gear ratio is the relation, which exists between the spool rotation and handles speed is another yard stick for good ice fishing reels. The standard 11 gear ratio means that the handle completed its complete turn of the spool once. For the good ice fishing reels, you should opt for a reel that determines whether your trip will be beneficial or not. You may want to go with a higher ratio if you want to pull the water line off fast.
It is best to avoid picking on the 11 gear ratio and instead opt for a slightly higher gear ratio, probably something that is lower than 7.01. Reels that fall in this range often have the most versatile action, considered useful in ice-fishing.
Can You Use Just Any Reel For Ice Fishing?
As for ice fishing, the choice of the best ice fishing reel is vital. It will primarily influence the performance and experience you have while fishing in the cold and icy conditions. Some fishermen go with the regular fishing reel along with a regular rod or an ice fishing rod for fishing in the ice. However, we do not recommend doing the same to you. For you, we would only recommend picking the best ice reel whenever you intend to fish in cold weather conditions. Opting for good ice fishing reels will sure mean better performance. When you try to catch the fish on the ice, you should go with the ultralight reel. These reels are less pricier than the open water reels. Beyond that, during the low temperatures, the grease on the regular summer reel does freeze up. So, when you pick the best ice fishing reel, your chances for success while fishing is increased greatly.
Final Thoughts
Amongst all these good ice fishing reels, we cannot particularly pick one. You can pick yourself the best ice reel based on its durability, line capacity, price and reviews. Another thing that we would particularly like to point out about the above listed reels is their appreciable gearing and portability factor. These some of the best ice reels are perfect for long trips across the snowy mountains and for people who enjoy sitting by the side of the icy lakes to catch some of the most challenging and the best targets of your fishing career. You can select a reel from our listing based on what we liked about these notable good ice fishing reels.
So, that is all from us. We have filtered some of the good ice fishing reels and presented it for you. It would be a good idea for you to read through the buying guide, understand the pros, cons, and features, and then make an informed decision. Happy fishing!