Best Fishing Reels – Made in the USA

PENN Slammer III Spinning

Penn has always been a US company and has never strayed to moving their manufacturing abroad. They make awesome reels and the Slammer III Spinning reel is no different. I’ve spent time bringing in huge yellow-fin tuna and dogtooth tuna with these reels and believe me, they pack a punch.

The body, rotor, and side plate are all made for a life in the salt and come with an IPX6 sealed body and spool to protect the drag and gearbox from any salt/dirt that may try and creep in there.

The drag, line capacity and retrieve rate come together to make a reel that will put the hurt on any species out there. The drag is made from Penn’s own Dura-Drag material and can give you up to 60lbs of pressure, that’s some stopping power.

Now throw in a huge line capacity and a super-fast smooth retrieve and you’ve got a winner.

This reel is made to deal with anything the ocean can throw at it, the only downside is that it’s heavy, but it has to be to deal with those large oceanic creatures. Make sure to pick the smallest model that can handle the fish you’re after, this will take the pressure off your casting arm a bit.

KastKing Sharky III Spinning

It was a pleasant surprise to find out that KastKing made their reels in the USA, a company that tries hard to create quality reels at affordable prices. The KastKing Sharky III comes at an amazing price, is light, great to cast with but does have some quality issues on occasion, I guess you can’t have everything.

The graphite body keeps this reel light but durable and corrosion-resistant. The lightweight makes it a pleasure to cast with all day and the high max drag combined with the large line capacity make for a pretty heavy-duty reel that will handle most freshwater and some saltwater species.

The retrieve is fast, smooth but it can cause an uneven line lay and wind knots on occasion. The reel features an aluminum handle, braid-ready aluminum spool, and anti-reverse; everything you’d expect from a good reel.

It’s also sealed but water still gets in and there are some reports of the reel failing after use in saltwater so I’d recommend some virulent maintenance.

PENN Spinfisher V Spinning

We are back to Penn again with another homegrown spinning reel that does the business. The Spinfisher V has you back in fresh or saltwater and it’s got some added features specifically for live-baiting.

If you’re into kite fishing for sails or simply enjoy live-baiting, the live-liner mode on this reel is something you’ll love. You can apply up to 6lbs of drag against your bait and once a fish eats, then click on your main drag at the flick of a switch. This makes controlling, free-spooling, and hooking up from a live bait smooth and effortless.

The frame is full metal, the braid-ready spool, and bail wire is aluminum which all combined do make this reel a tad heavy to cast with all day. It’s a sign of quality at an affordable price though and you’ll want that quality when going up against some big fish.

The drag is solid, the retrieve smooth and quick and it’s made for a life at sea. Overall it’s an awesome reel at a great price.

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel

The KastKing Rover round baitcasting reel is a nit like the leatherman of the fishing world, a multi-tool of a reel you could say. It’s good for trolling, bottom fishing as well as casting with, specifically the size 40-60 models.

There is almost no plastic in this reel, pretty much everything is made from aluminum or stainless steel, making it a robust choice for use in the sea.

It comes with a star drag that uses a carbon fiber braking system that provides up to 30lbs of drag. That’s enough power for most species out there. The reel is not sealed though, so be sure to maintain it well if you plan on using it in the salt.

The line capacity is solid and the retrieve rate is ok. The retrieve overall is nice and smooth plus it can handle a heavy load.

If you do go for the casting 40-60 models be aware that the spool lock and pop on its own causing some backlashes but it doesn’t happen often.

Accurate SR30 Spinning

If you’re looking for bombproof quality that will make a meal of any species, and I mean any species, look no further than Accurate reels and their SR30 dual-spinning reel. This reel was actually designed to catch marlin and I think it might be the only spinning reel in the world that was made just for that.

It’s made from aircraft-grade aluminum with the only true twin drag system in the world that includes a heat-dissipating mechanism. Imagine the first run of blue marlin, your reel can get so hot, it’ll blister and burn you if you touch it.

This reel has been made for that, can you imagine the thought and quality control that’s gone into it.

The drag allows you to pre-set the drag tension like you would on an offshore reel, allowing you to get the strike drag just right. The line capacity is huge, and the retrieve is awesome too.

Now, this reel is an investment coming in at just under $1000 but it’s for life. The only drawback is it’s damn heavy.

Galvan Torque 5 Fly Reel

As far as the fly fishing industry goes, Galvan has made their mark and continue to do so with their well thought out and enthusiastic designs.

This reel has won awards for its drag and quality at its price point. The reel was specifically designed to have a better drag than any other reel and be good-looking, and it certainly did the job. The Torque was the first reel to feature the Torque drag system which is now found in every Glaven reel.

The drag is super smooth, strong, and has very little start-up inertia. It’s perfect for use in salt or freshwater. The reel has been designed to be light but durable and comes in a large arbor design for a quick retrieve rate. You can easily change from left to right hand retrieve too

Overall it’s a sexy fly reel that’ll have your back no matter where you’re fishing and is well worth the money.

ABEL Super 10 Fly Reel

Abel makes awesome reels. Their signature cork drag system is one of note and I’ve seen them make light work of GT’s and sailfish which isn’t easy for a fly reel, believe me.

The Super Series comes in a large arbor for a quick retrieve and has a specially designed oblong shape that retains durability while keeping them light. The interchangeable spool design means you can switch from a 10 to 12 weight set-up on the same reel which is super useful when targeting multiple species on the flats.

Overall the reel is made of great quality materials with a great drag, solid line capacity and it’s a reel that you can rely on.

Tibor Everglades Fly Reel

Tibor is an American-made company that doesn’t quit on a reel until it’s pretty much perfect. They ask for tips and reviews from some of the most renowned fly fishermen out there and thanks to their dedication to quality, Tibor reels have caught over 350 world records.

The Tibor Everglades Fly Reel is made from solid bar stock aluminum making it super-durable to fishing conditions and a clumsy angler. This does make it quite heavy though and you’ll feel it if you’re consistently blind casting.

The drag is made from cork and is dubbed as the smoothest and strongest in the industry. Some Tibor reels struggle with slipping in my experience due to some start-up inertia but this model may have ironed out those bugs. The retrieve is also solid thanks to the large arbor and large line capacity.

Avet 5.3:1 Lever Drag Conventional Reel

The Avet Conventional reel was designed, machined, and assembled in the USA from marine-grade aluminum. It utilizes a carbon fiber drag system that has some serious stopping power while being smooth as butter.

It features 8 deals stainless steel ball bearings for a solid retrieve under pressure, an ergonomic handle to reduce wobble, and a super comfortable handle knob.

Overall a solid conventional reel that’s affordable.