Choosing the right fishing reel for walleye can be a difficult process. There are so many choices available to you when it comes to the best one, and making sure that your choice is the correct one takes time and effort. To make this task easier for you, we’ll go over what factors come into play when choosing which fishing reel is right for your next trip out on the water.
What We Consider When Selecting a Walleye Reel
With so many different types of reels available on the market today, it can be difficult to know which one is best for the type of fishing you are doing. The purpose of this article is to help demystify some options available in different types of reels and help you choose which one would be best for your needs.
Casting, Trolling, or Both?
When it comes to choosing the right reel for your fishing needs, there are many factors involved. One of these is what type of bait or lure you plan on using with your spinning setup; if this will involve casting jigs and other lures that require lighter line-speeds (such as soft baits), then an appropriate size would be required by law in order not exceed Vessel’s Weight Limit restrictions which could put both boat occupants at risk during rough weather conditions when they’re being pounded relentlessly by high winds off Lake Michigan shorelines every year come October!
Trolling is a great way to catch some big fish, but if you plan on trolling for longer periods then the precision of spinning reels can be difficult. For those times when it’s just more convenient and accurate with conventional gear, there are still enough options out there that will meet your needs!
Walleye Line, Capacity, and Drag
The best way to catch a walleye is with a 6- to 8-pound test line and 10 -12 lbs of fluorocarbon leader. Tony Roach, pro angler says “I usually run my braid off the hook but in lakes infested by zebra mussels I’ll step up into larger offerings.”
Walleye reels come in a variety of sizes to suit different needs. For trolling, the mono runs easier through afloat and has a cushioning effect that helps load your rod for better hooksets on fish – so choose wisely!
I recommend using 150-yard spools when fishing from shore or 40-yard bundles if you’re at sea with plenty leftover either way; however, this will depend entirely upon where exactly they’ll be casting their line from most often (shoreline vs boat).
Best Walleye Reels Reviewed
Thoroughly consider what type of fish you will be targeting before choosing a fishing reel. Different fish species are attracted to different types of bait and require different techniques for catching them.
Casting: Spinning Reels
Cadence CS8
The Cadence CS8 is a great spinning reel for anglers that are new to the sport. It outperforms other less-expensive offerings with its 32” per turn gear ratio, 6 bearing system, and 6+160 line capacity. If you’re not sure which one suits your fishing style best, don’t worry because it’s time to get in the game!
Try out Cadence CS8! Lightweight, versatile, and sleek with features to please even more experienced anglers. 10ft of mainline that’s easy to cast, a drag system that will give you no more worries on tough days, and liveliness for those lazy afternoons on easier waters. With its 5lb weight, it really is as light as a feather. Totally worth every penny – go on now!
Pflueger President
The Pflueger President is a premium reel for bass fishing. With an I-limitation drag, you can use it on surface lines as deep as 20 yards with little fear of breaking the line. And who doesn’t want your future catch to be extra fresh? The reel features a 9 + 1 roller bearing system that provides smoothness with minimum maintenance, thanks to the heavy-duty Teflon bushings and sealed ball bearings. For versatility, this reel has three sets of gearing so you can fish without worrying about getting stuck in one gear rate or capacity level. This thing is even more versatile than what 17th-century colonialists would need on their long voyage out west!
Shimano Ultegra
Shimano Ultegra is a masterpiece of engineering and a must-have for any enthusiast. With a maximum drag at 20lbs, the Shimano Ultegra is great for catching anything from small panfish to huge bass, without letting your line tangle or twist around itself. It’s also worth mentioning how amazingly lightweight this reel still manages to be at just 8.47 ounces! If you need an extremely powerful yet lightweight rod/reel combo that will last through years of fishing, look no further than the Shimano Ultegra.
Trolling: Conventional Reels
Shimano Tekota
Shimano Tekota is the ideal reel for you! One of its best features is that it only weighs 14.3oz- an incredible feat considering that Shimano’s other high-end reels weigh up to 17 ounces. Regardless of what type of fishing you’re doing, our Tekota Reel will be perfect for your needs with its 25 inches per turn and 18 lbs maximum drag capability, we guarantee it!
Shimano’s Tekota offers all the performance and features you need to catch walleye in deep, remote waters. The Shimano Tekota offers a lightweight body that makes spinning easy when fighting against pulls from fish this size. You’ll love the power of the steel gears when winding them in, and deft cranking will help you reel in hawg after hawg with little trouble. Featuring state-of-the-art innovations like 4 ball bearings and an all-metal gear set, your Shimano Tekota is built to stand up to years of hard fishing!
Okuma Cold Water Line counter
The Okuma Cold Water Line counter is built to work in the harshest conditions out there. With a gear ratio of 5.1:1, you’ll struggle to find a better line counter for those tough jobs! The RPT at 23″ per turn and bearing capacity give it impressive power as well as speed, so you can reel those lines over sharp rocks without worrying about your spinning tradition running on empty! Weighing just 14.6 ounces with top-of-the-line hardware, this rod won’t give up when that big one takes your best lure away from you or when it feels like something sneaky might be lurking on the other side that thicket. With an industry high 13 pounds max drag capability coming with 2 bearings.
The Okuma Cold Water Line counter is the perfect freshwater fishing reel for keeping your lines tight and performance-sensitive. With its lightweight body, this reel is easy to control with just one hand. The huge capacity for walleye makes reeling in even the biggest fish a breeze. It features all-metal gearing which keeps every season fresh with fast cranking power at hand when you need it most. If you want precision, look no further than this line counter’s accurate line counter and smooth drag system that really gets a stronghold on those lazy swimmers. This all-around versatile rod holder also has great abrasion resistance if durability against rough weather conditions is what you’re looking for!
Final Thoughts
I think it is important to understand that reel selection depends on the type of fishing you do. If you predominantly troll for walleye, a conventional reel is the best bet. But if you throw jigs and other lures, or run live bait under a slip float, I’d select a spinning reel. Within these broad categories, you have plenty of solid choices, and all of the options on our list will deliver the performance you demand.