Top Musky Spinning Reel Buying Guide

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Updated: November 27, 2020
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Fishing is more than a sport or a leisure. It is a tradition that was passed on from the previous generation of human existence to ours. Being skillful and possessing the right tools is required when fishing for Muskies.

Muskies are the biggest freshwater fish, with some reportedly weighing up to 70lb, and that’s why you need high-quality reels when musky fishing. Anglers make use of two basic types of reels, which are; spinning reels and baitcasting reels. Each type of reel has its pros and cons.

Below are some important points you need to take note of when selecting the right musky reel.

Line Capacity

The capacity of the musky line must be taken into consideration. The average weight of muskies ranges between 15 to 36 lb.; using the line with maximum capacity below the fish’s weight will lead to breakage. Therefore, better safe than sorry, it is recommended that you go for at least 80 lb test line.

Right or Left-Handed

There are left-handed people as well as right-handed people. Most baitcasting reels are designed to be operated with the right hand which may not be very convenient for left-handed people. After casting with the right hand, you would transfer to the left hand while using the right hand to crank up the reel. Even though the right-handed reels are most common in use, for the sake of convenience there are also left-handed reels, and they work well for left-handed people.

Gear Materials

Stainless steel reels are more durable than those that are made out of brass. However, most musky reels are made from brass, i.e., they are the most common. Although they are not always in use, you will not worry too much about the durability.

Bearing Materials

When using a spinning reel, you must consider the materials from which the bearings are made. The common materials used for designing bearings are ceramic and stainless steel.

Stainless Steel Bearings

This is the most common type of bearing, and it is wildly used due to rigidity and durability. However, they can also be susceptible to corrosion because they will be used constantly in water. Saltwater is detrimental to stainless steel bearings.

Ceramic Bearings

This type of bearings is not as common as the stainless-steel variants. They are more durable and more convenient. This because their weight is lighter than that of stainless steel. However, due to the cost of producing them, they are way more expensive.

Kindly note that no matter the material from which the bearing is made, it is required that you lubricate it with oil regularly.

Reel Housing

There are two basic materials for designing the housing of reels: graphite and aluminum. Each of them has its pro and con. For example, reels made from graphite are more corrosion-resistant than those made from aluminum. On the other hand, the reels made from aluminum are quite stronger than those made from graphite.

Frames

When hunting for muskies, you must consider that they are strong creatures and will put up a fight; therefore, it is better to go for a stronger frame. Aluminum reels are stronger than graphite reels even though the graphite variant is cheaper.

Spools

Even though spools are made from aluminum, the manufacturing process may differ. Forged aluminum is made from pounding and pressing the metal. Spools designed from forged aluminum are usually lighter in weight, thus faster to move than the other types. Cheaper spools are made from die-casted aluminum, made by melting the aluminum and forming it in a mold.

Warranty

Sometimes factory errors do happen and this may lead to defects in the performance or structure of the products. Therefore, manufacturers usually make provision for warranty.

Make sure you check the warranty that the manufacturer of the musky reel is offering. Usually, we would recommend that you go for a reel with at least one-year warranty. For example, Shimano offers a year warranty from the day of purchase, and it covers repair or replacement of reels for failure that occurs as a result of manufacturers’ error.

Price

There are musky reels that cost below $200, and there are some that also cost way above $400. You should bear in mind that the extra money that you invest in getting a more reliable and durable real can save you time, money, and a lot of headaches. Therefore, if you can afford to go for premium musky reels, we would recommend that.

Where to Buy

With your money getting a durable musky reel to buy will not be a problem. There are many retail outlets where fishing equipment and tools are sold. You will find the one That You’d love. Furthermore, the internet has made online purchases a suitable solution in such a case. You can order directly and merchant sites and have it delivered to your doorstep.

In-Store

This is the good old way of making purchases of items. It’s her fault you the privilege of properly examining a product and testing it out before you buy it. Before going, make sure you have done proper research to select the perfect one for you.

Online

Online shopping has opened us to a new reality. You can order customizable products directly from the maker. In addition to this, you will be able to save some money that could be bearded into your investments, and thus you can buy a more costly one. Furthermore, you can read past reviews from other users who had purchased the products when you order online.

In summary, choosing the right musky reel is not as difficult as it may seem. Different options in the market are available for you to choose from. Depending on your pocket’s taste and size, you can get musky reels that are as cheap as $100. However, the product’s price is just one out of the several other things you need to consider before buying. This will also help you qualify to claim a warranty in case any fault arises.