When going ice fishing in winter you should secure the best ice fishing option to go with. Do not pursue the immense desire to bring your favorite summer tackle out there with you. Just make a break, and let it rest for a while until the next fabulous summer season to where it naturally belongs. Let you go ice fishing fully equipped with your proper winter gear to step out onto the ice! As far as adverse weather conditions are considered, we are coming up with some in-depth knowledge to ensure your best ice fishing reels choice. Read on to learn more about how to escape typical ice fishing issues and perform on ice like a pro.
If you are looking for a great adventure, do not let any little thing to sabotage it. You’ll need some perfect reels, a cool event actually begins with great reels, so that your special attention should be paid to the ice fishing reels. A proper selection of these is crucial since this item from within your fishing tackle is undoubtedly one of the most sensitive to any rapid temperature differences. Both experienced professionals and amateur leisure fishermen do appreciate each and every bit of it performing right without any delay or, worse, accidental going out of function due to its wear out or breakage. Just keep this in mind, let it be your reason to discard summer options.
Our TOP 11 Best Ice Fishing Reels Pick
- Eagle Claw in Line Ice Reel – Great ice fishing reel proudly made in the U.S.
- Eagle Claw Inline Ice Fishing Reel – another great inline ice fishing reel to enjoy, a balance of price & quality.
- Frabill 690701 Reel Straightline 371 Bro Clam Pack – right size & right price, just one of the best available on the market.
- 13 Fishing 2015 Black Betty Fishing Reels – an unbeatable Editor’s choice, cool one from the award-winning fishing tackle manufacturer.
- Frabill Straight Line 261 – a great free spool line-drop option.
- Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel – a super-smooth drag & anti-reverse retrieval inline reel.
- Celsius Blizzard CEL-310P/CP – a nice smooth retrieve small reel for the money.
- KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels – a superbly done ultra-smooth lightweight & powerful option.
- Ming Yang CL20 – a small and decent baitcasting fishing reel to cast like a pro
- Clam 8480 Jason Mitchell Reel – a great large size reel pick with lots of the line at affordable price.
- Shakespeare Glacier Ice Reel – a cool sturdy spinning ice fishing reel with anti-freeze lubrication.
Comparison of the Best Ice Fishing Reels
| Preview: | Reel: | Weight: | Bearings: | Gear Ratios: | Price: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Eagle Claw InLine Ice Reel Best value Inline reel Review | 5.6 | 4+1 | 2:6:1 | under 50$ |
| Eagle Claw InLine Ice Reel Also great Inline reel Review | 6.4 | 4+1 | 2:6:1 | under 50$ |
| Frabill 690701 Best straightline reel Review | 8 | 5+1 | 2:6:1 | under 100 |
| 13 Fishing 2015 Black Betty Editor’s Choice Excellent ice fishing reel Review | 7.8 | 5 | 2.7:1 | under 100$ |
| Frabill Straight Line 261 More lighter and good cheap ice fishing reel Review | 2.4 | 4+1 | 2.6:1 | under 50$ |
| Fiblink Budget inline ice fishing reel Review | 5.8oz | 4+1 | 2.6:1 | under 50$ |
| Celsius Blizzard Most affordable spinning reel for ice fishing Review | 4.8 | 3+1 | 5.2:1 | under 50$ |
| KastKing Summer and Centron A lower priced spinning reel option from KastKing Review | 7.3oz | 9+1 | 5.2:1 | under 50$ |
| Ming Yang Ice Fishing Baitcast Reel Good for pike fishing Review | 6 ounces | 1 | 3.2:1 | under 50$ |
| Clam 8480 Jason Mitchell Another strong ice fishing spinning reel option Review | 6.4 ounces | 5 | 5.2:1 | under 50$ |
| Shakespeare Glacier Ice Reel The best ratio of price and quality Review | 1.21 Pounds | 1 | 5.2:1 | under 50$ |
Best Ice Fishing Reel Reviews
Eagle Claw InLine Ice Reel Review
This one is a proudly made in U.S. ice fishing reel, manufacture by the Wright & McGill Co., a most recognizable brand in all fishing worldwide, with its base in Denver, Colorado.
The reel you are going to own is going to be your American legacy item!
Should you look for a really durable thing, this one is for you. You are going to like the way it works regardless of the cold outside. It is featuring a firm-grip no-slip handle made from aluminum, thus constituting a really fine inline ice fishing reel. It also can be called a bargain. It takes a bit of practice but comes up easy enough to learn and master.
PROS:
- A proudly made in U.S. inline reel
- Works really great
- No more spool memory issues
- Featuring the body and spool made from Nylon
- Unique Teflon drag system to go ultra smoothly
- Progressive spool tension adjustment to ensure your maximal comfort
- Featured here is a free spool button to release it
- Unique complex of a star drag plus special clicker for the line
CONS:
- Some anglers would find the material it is made of substandard.
Eagle Claw Inline Ice Fishing Reel Review
PROS:
- A great pick at affordable price
- Unique free spool feature (release button)
- Featuring a spool tension adjusting knob to do the perfect job
- Ultimately smooth action and great performance
- Teflon made parts
- Perfect line retrieve function & reduced line twist option
- Proudly made in the U.S.
- Works really great at low temps
CONS:
- Some anglers would find the material it is made of substandard.
Frabill 690701 Reel Straightline 371 Bro Clam Pack Review
Frabill, Inc., an American fishing products manufacturer from Wisconsin, has been manufacturing a robust quality top-rated collection of products for your best experience and to achieve your fishing goals since 1938.
PROS:
- Over the top materials used when manufactured
- Extra smooth action
- Practically tested in all weather conditions
- Performs great in freezing conditions
- Featuring gear with super smooth drag and nearly instant anti-reverse option
- Featuring an ultra-fine bearing spool
- Enjoyable long-stem/short stem positions to accommodate heavy gloves or palm the reel
- Make your jigging like a pro with the free spool action featured
CONS:
- Make sure you’ve adjusted the spool to change from its free spool action, if necessary, it may go loose sometimes
13 Fishing 2015 Black Betty Fishing Reels Review
Don’t run out your breath while counting the advantages of this high-rated ice fishing reel! With this, you’ll get quality and affordability from one of the well-known and well-established fishing products manufacturer, an award-winning global market champion, DQS International, Corp. The top-rated 13 Fishing, being founded in 2012, has quickly evolved into a well-respected one, really created with the main principle in mind, to develop high-quality cutting edge products for an angler. Your best crappie fish jigging experience granted. An inline reel you’ll love.
PROS:
- Advanced and improved fishing reel for your smoothest cast
- Great ratio to give you just enough while performing
- Progressive adjustment knob easy to learn
- Aluminum CNC machined ultra-sturdy construction
- Cool fishing line retrieval function
- Featuring a carbon drag
- Nearly instant anti-reverse action granted
- Comparatively small size with enough line capacity to feed
- Extensive use item to perform best at lowest temperatures
- Anti-freeze gear lubricated
CONS:
- Complaints were, its weight is over standard due to aluminum frame
- Anti-reverse action may be slower than expected
Frabill Straight Line 261 Ice Fishing Reel in Clamshell Pack, Black Review
Here we come up with yet another perfect fishing reel from the same manufacturer. Frabill, Inc., an American fishing products manufacturer from Wisconsin, has been manufacturing a robust quality top-rated collection of products for your best experience and to achieve your fishing goals since 1938.
PROS:
- Over the top materials used when manufactured
- Extra smooth action
- Practically tested in all weather conditions
- Fast-paced smelting
- Quick retrieve
- Free spool line drop
- Well-made and attractive design
- Modern high-quality materials used to make it a great choice pick
- Fishing reel from an award-winning manufacturer Frabill
- Great clamshell pack
- Comparatively small size and just enough power to play with large prey
- Fine drag
- Reliable reel to perform at lowest temps in a no-failure mode
- Featuring an easy-to-adjust rotating action fitting to match your personal styles
- Ultimate durability and functionality
- Lightweight yet strong and powerful
CONS:
- The only complaint is that the reel needs a lot of adjustment to perform full range
Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel Right/Left inLine Ice Reel with 4+1 Ball Bearings Review
PROS:
- Quality materials used
- Innovative engineering solutions applied
- Affordable price for adequate quality
- Extensive use item to withstand tough weather conditions
- Featuring an innovative inline spool tension adjustment fitting
- Cool free spool release button to maximize accuracy and casting distance
- Featuring a plastic star drag and handle
- Durable brass gears to rely upon
- Sturdy stainless steel shaft
- Innovative reduced line twist solution
- Featuring a line clicker
- Enjoyable super smooth drag and instant anti-reverse performance
- Cool gear ratio to go with
- Featuring ball-bearings 4+1BB
- Lightweight and with just enough line capacity
- Great customer support service and return
CONS:
- There were complaints about the complicated adjustment system
- The spool needs some extensive learning of how to operate with
- Plastic star drag sometimes goes unstable
Celsius Blizzard Spinning CEL-310P/CP Reel 4 ball Bearings/Anti-Reverse Review
We’ve noticed, most of the ice fishing reel manufacturers tend to avoid the most frequent spool issues and really put in a lot of innovative effort to improve their products. As we have realized, all that is with the only purpose – to make their reels capable to withstand the cold conditions fishing reels suffer in most cases. So, keeping in mind such tough conditions and offering a wide selection of spinning reels, the top-rated manufacturer of these will never disappoint you. The Celsius Blizzard spinning reel is just one of these excellent products available on the market to make your ice fishing experience an unforgettable one. Once you secure this reel for your tackle, you will be using it for years! It is a special factory cold gear lube applied here to reduce freezing. Again, the modern materials used and the machine-made construction pays off over the top. Furthermore, this a reel to actually contribute much to your casting accuracy and styles. Retrieve the line nearly effortless due to the smoothest performance option and enough bearings present here. Finally, get your ultimate control over the largest fish you are going to pull up. The last but not least: this is the one worthy of your buck!
PROS:
- Made of the highest quality materials
- Machine-made for precise parameters
- Greater accuracy and durability extended
- Smooth retrieve and stable performance
- Relatively small but powerful enough to play with your prey
- Long stem handle size to accommodate your gloves on
- Affordable price for the best quality available for the money
- Quality product of premium class
- Performing well in the cold
CONS:
- The spool needs some extensive learning of how to operate with
KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels, 9 +1 BB Light Weight, Ultra Smooth Powerful, Size 500 is Perfect for Ultralight/Ice Fishing Review
Keeps fishing fun, this is the slogan of the Manufacturing company, and they really rock. These spinning reels are top of the rate indeed and the absolute best for the price. These spinning reels have reputably evolved into a high-quality angler’s best ice fishing reels currently available on the market. The manufacturer used every option to turn the item into a high-performance spinning reel able to attract and to withstand the most severe winter conditions on the ice. Make sure you’ve secured one for your gear, this will literally save your day and put in your professional reputation. From the very start these baitcasting spinning reels were given biggest chances to go out as great as their high-dollar rivals thanks to the precise and balanced machine-operated and computer-based engineering and industry solutions applied here. The outcome is these superbly made smooth action impressed efficiency ice fishing spinning reels for your best fishing experience you’ve ever had!
PROS:
- Reduced snap-backs
- Spool memory issues reduced to a minimum
- Featuring a feeling clicker that feels like high-dollar
- Barely smooth action and the most stable performance with frequent catch per time
- Impressed efficiency and progressive design
- Looks great and feels good
- Ultimately minimized twisting of the line
- Almost as smooth as the expensive rival brands
- Greatest value at the reasonable price
- Ultimately lightweight option: featuring a graphite frame that is ultimately narrow
- Computer-balanced system for your best experience and high performance
- Ultimately compact to hit your rates
- Great option for an ice combo
- Featuring a shaft from gardened metal for ultimate sturdiness and durability
- Barely smooth high-efficiency performance due to nine quality ball bearings
- Featuring instant stop option
- Anti-reverse system
- Anodized aluminum multiple color spool to attract the eyes
- Holds enough fishing line to compete
CONS:
- Flimsy drag knob/drag linkage at times
- Handle may feel small for large hands.
Ming Yang CL20 Ice Fishing Baitcast Reel Walleye Pike Crappie Sunfish Reel Review
Here comes a new one, a very decent little fishing reel to fit your baitcasting needs. Reportedly given a five stars feedback on fishermen sites and communities, the item looks great and featuring a special level-wind mechanism for efficient performance. Performs just ok with heavier lines and baits. Cast and retrieve like a real pro due to its smooth action. The main thing is, it would never cost you a leg or an arm to purchase and add to your gear! Although needs some effort to learn the ways around. More care and attention to the adjustment fittings should be paid to maximize the efficiency and perform on top. Evidently one of the best models currently available for the money.
PROS:
- An excellent crappie fishing option
- Extra quality at affordable price
- Progressive ratio
- Innovative star drag system featured here
- Good-looking and extra efficient ice fishing baitcasting reel
- Featured here is a one-way clutching device
- Quality durable materials used when manufactured: brass, aluminum
- Great ball-bearing support system to ensure the barely smooth operation
Clam 8480 Jason Mitchell Reel Review
As a matter of fact, the long story is much shorter to say spinning reels are highly valued by anglers for their actual versatility and all-weather properties. As the major advantage of these goes that of a modern high performance features list implemented in the form of high-end novelties with the most of fishing reels manufacturers on the market. Here goes one of the most reasonably priced and praised spinning reel to do the job on the ice. This is a perfect match for your purpose, should you aim at a big catch. This is also one of the true pay-off since you have not to spend a fortune buying these reels. So, meet the best buy for the money currently available.
Jason Mitchell actually demonstrates the devotion to anglers, offering the great selection of really high-quality fishing goods. The reel is totally capable of holding enough line, just enough to be fed while playing with really large game.
PROS:
- High-end quality and highly durable materials used
- Nearly life-long service due to ultimate durability and high performance
- Award-winner brand’s item
- Featured here is a complex solution to make your ice fishing experience an event
- Ice Reel is made for both professional anglers and leisure fishermen
Shakespeare Glacier Ice Reel Review
We know what you think here. Is it true? How come the name of the brand sounds like that? Let us assure you, the name is the telling one this time. The ice fishing reels manufactured by this company have deserved their name. It’s because of the fact they really do their job perfectly. Just like the guy who (no true history here guys, a mere guess only) borrowed his name to the company used to.
Jokes aside, these reels are cool. Not because they are the lowest price pick on the market, but thanks to their simplicity and reliability. You’ll find here all the standard ice fishing reel features to feel on the safe side when on the ice.
PROS:
- Aluminum spool construction for durability and sturdiness
- Good grip with convenient glove-friendly reel
- Modern graphite reel frame and body featured here for lightweight and heavy usage
- Featured here is a longer extended stem for better clearance
- Easy to adjust the tilted option for 15-degree orientation
- Optimal fishing line flow feed option
- No-frost option with anti-freeze cold gear lube to withstand lowest temps
- User-friendly easy-to-learn construction for great performance
How to Tips to Select Your Best Ice Fishing Reel
The basic rule here is any ice fishing tackle should be picked so that it performs right. Anyway, you will find out any repair job on your winter gear in the cold is, to say less, an extreme experience. Again, solving problems by a replacement will bring you more interruptions and feel no better than a repair at low temperatures. Any delay in your mobility like that will prevent your successive catch from the ice.
Therefore, your perfect ice fishing tackle should be the best lightweight construction to be easily carried and installed as soon as you require this. If you are looking for the best reel choice, learn more about how to use our best ice reel selection criteria below.
For the season experienced anglers prefer compact portable rods featuring a traditional seat. Such a combination fits best for this type of winter fishing. So, consider the following as your pros and cons when choosing an ice fishing reel.
Best Ice Reel Selection Criteria
For the season experienced anglers prefer compact portable rods featuring a traditional seat. Such a combination fits best for this type of winter fishing. So, consider the following as your pros when choosing an ice fishing reel:
- Reliability and durability of all parts & elements should be granted. Look for reels manufactured from either graphite or aluminum
- Lightweight yet stronger options will go first. Look for a spool that has been treated with some kind of lubrication to ensure its anti-freeze ability
- Progressive high-quality braking system is a must
- Smooth & stable go characteristics are required. The ball bearings here come inevitably handy and efficient
- Sufficient fishing line capacity allowed would be a bonus
- A reel to perform with no problem at lowest temperatures will be a hit
- A reel to come as a water-resistant option will be a champ
- An open spool model to quickly determine how much line you’ve got left or so will be your first choice.
Now, being either a novice or a leisure angler willing to get started, in addition to the above hints just make sure you’re keeping in mind the size of a fish you’re after. This you’ll need to choose the right reel and, obviously, catch a big one. The trick is, if you’re hunting panfish or smaller game, especially if doing this in shallow water, here an inline reel will be the advantage then. Willing to catch some other medium or even large-sized fish, look for a spinning reel as your best choice to fit this task of yours. Or, suppose you are planning to use your live bait, then you will have to pick a spinning reel that matches all together with extra drags specific for this type of a reel. It may come jigging is your priority, so, here again, it is time to consider an inline fishing reel to pick. In addition to all its goodness it will enable your efficient jigging due to the lack of twisting line disturbance inside the spool.
Best ice fishing reels are currently available with an array of great manufacturers. There are some high rated most recognizable companies on the market, among them there are few to offer some state-of-the-art tricky features to go with their reels for your best comfort and experience. A word should be dropped here, the complexity of the brand does not necessarily mean a plus. An army of anglers simply go outside with their simplest design inline reels mounted on their rods to feel like efficient, comfortable, and benefit from both durability and convenience.
Why the best ice fishing reels are those lightweight? Simple as that: while making a cast or trying to retrieve the line an angler should feel ultimately comfortable, his hand should not get tired of the game while holding the rod. Again, a lightweight option will be an easy-to-carry/transport day saver.
Did You Know?
Historically, any top-rated best fishing reel of today initially started in China. There these were invented in about the year 1195 AD.
Of course, a fishing reel has undergone the long and profound changes since then, having turned in a widely-used and highly-praised device to be proudly owned by anglers worldwide. To tell you the truth, any modern reel to secure before going for your new and exciting ice fishing experience usually has fittings and adjustments to add to your distance of casting and better accuracy as well as to improve your skills in handling your retrieval line, compared to the ancient relatives.
Finally, the very first popular fishing reel was officially recorded in America around 1820.
Here are the main types of fishing reels available on the market to get started with.
Best Ice Fishing Reel Comparisons
Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
You’ve got a wide selection of spinning reels to choose from.
To name just a few, the advantages of these reels are their versatility and cool performance at low temperatures.
The spinning ice fishing reel is typically mounted onto the fishing rod’s bottom. This type is an open-faced fishing reel. It can be specified as one of the most popular reels with anglers. At the same time, spinning reels have been recorded to be much easier to operate. This is because of their in-built principle for the line to leave the spool freely during a cast. Even more: as far as an angler operates his spinning reel, his cast may be stopped literally instantly. To perform like that a single finger action will do!
So, a greater extent of casting accuracy and faster rate is thus obtained even for heavier baits!
These reels are also spool-fixed. Which means a spool here is a non-rotating feature. If required by a situation, an angler has nothing to do except using his thumb/finger to instantly stop the lure or bait going outwardly. Since these reels were initially designed to utilize the ability of the line to twist/untwist, they reportedly perform best when accompanied by some fishing line with nice flexibility.
Ice Fishing Inline Reels (or, so-called Straight-Line Reels)
What is the best, an ice fishing inline spinning reel to be used in winter is a portable lightweight durable item, a complex of a reliable construction and best configuration engineered for your easy use and comfort.
As a disadvantage for this type of reel can be named that of an easy snow-stuck or frequent freezing in the cold tendency.
This is just another great option for you. Inline reels got their fame quickly and currently are becoming a bestseller among ice anglers. As a rule, this type of reel is to be positioned below the rod for the best performance. It also goes with the friction braking system adjustment to feed the line smoothly, in a no-failure mode.
These are a cool option for ice fishing, practically fine and extremely durable. Inline fishing reels are simple and smart design items, allow extra ball bearing installments, comparatively cheap with easy and comfortable handling and maintenance, as well as perfect customer service options.
Ice Fishing Baitcasting Reels
Professional fishermen, as they say, actually prefer ice fishing baitcasting reels. This is because of the fact these provide for better control over an angler’s cast.
One should note a handle that is operating as a kind of a stopper here, this is one of the special features of this model. There are also special features like a handle which is operating as a stopper to prevent the reverse of the line, as well as the specially designed fittings to slow down runs from powerful game. Note that both the weight and the momentum of the lure are utilized by a reel, these pull the fishing line from the spool. Thus special attention should be paid to the type and parameters of your lure and line parameters to work for better and faster retrieval and longer accurate casts.
One of the greatest advantages with modern ice fishing baitcasting reels is that they are mostly made of the highly durable materials able to withstand rough circumstances and capable of being used in many different applications: aluminum, stainless steel, contemporary composites, etc.
Note that a cool reel usually features a special mechanism, actually a lever, added as an adjustment to the reel. This is to prevent your fishing line from being stacked on the spool, which traps interfere greatly with your casting tempo and rate.
Spinning or Inline Reels? Final Thoughts & Advice
To be frank, the relationships between these two could be formulated with one word only: a matchup. This matchup really exists and one can’t necessarily go crown this one or another one the winner. Each one will prove a perfect match for this or that situation, being chosen as a reel to fit your exact needs best.
Just think ahead and accomplish the one you think the best reel for the job to be done.
Although there does exist a checklist to test your needs smoothly.
Pick an inline ice fishing reel whenever you need a smooth, easy-going, uninterruptable, continuous performance, and you need this to be fine regardless of the trip distance and temperature.
There is serious evidence, inline reels perform better even when frozen up, tending to thaw faster when compared to spinning reels.
An angler seeking his true level of expertise with ice fishing reels will definitely look for a spinning reel as his better choice. All that because of the true simplicity and extensive durability of a spinning reel system to be heavily explored for years. These are also the most versatile and popular items around there.
With all this in mind, pack your gear and get started right away!
Well, to stay on top and never lose, here are some of the final things to remember:
Ice Fisherman’s Real Life Hacks
- To feel on the safe side, just keep a pair of spare reels with enough line on them to replace if necessary changes of fishing mode, situation or application required
- Reduce your rod’s stay on ice/snow to minimize freezing or cold impact on your reels; you’ll benefit then from your reel longer service life
- Make sure you dismantle and grease your reel frequently
- Stick to the simplest and inexpensive gear, these very often occur of greater use and life-long servers.
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