5 Best Ice Fishing Reels

In order to get the most out of your ice fishing, having one of the 5 best ice fishing reels could make the experience more comfortable and pleasurable. Having a good ice-fishing reel will allow you to cast and retrieve more smoothly, eliminate backplay, and avoid wobble upon retrieval. Quality materials will keep the ice-fishing reel from corroding in the icy waters and freezing weather.

1. Shimano Symetre Spinning Reel.  This high quality ice-fishing reel has many features for a lower price which makes it very popular. It features four A-RB anti-rust ball bearings and a Super Stopper II anti-reverse roller bearing which allows you to retrieve smoothly and eliminate backplay. The Fluidrive II and the DynaBalance increase efficiency and eliminate wobbles on retrieval. You can cast longer distances without backlashes because of the Propulsion spool lip. It also has S-Rotor for retrieving comfort, an S-Guard prevents the frame and motor from damage on impact, and the S-Arm Cam and one-piece bail reduces tangles and line cuts. The Power Roller III reduces twist when you cast or retrieve. The internal gears are easy to access through the maintenance port. Friction between the pinion gear and spool shaft is reduced by the floating shaft which allows for smoothness and durability. It has a cold-forged spool, aluminum frame, machined-aluminum handle, lightweight sideplate and rotor made of graphite, and the handle grips are rubber.
2. Pflueger President Spinning Reels. This moderately priced ice-fishing reel features an aluminum spool with a strong titanium lip and a machined aluminum handle. It performs smoothly because of the 10-bearing drive which features nine ball bearings and one roller bearing. The hooksets are solid because of its anti-reverse, one-way clutch bearing. It comes with a spare aluminum spool. It is available in models that have a soft LP style knob, a Rosewood barrel knob, or a large soft-touch handle knob.
3. Abu Garcia Cardinal 400i Spinning Reels. If you are looking for a quality spinning ice-fishing reel, the Cardinal 400i has all the important features. Seven bearings make castings and retrievals very smooth. The anti-reverse bearings are corrosion resistant and ensure the reel will work for a lifetime. Wobbling is prevented by a Sealth Oscillation, and the Durable Everlast bail system assures performance. The aluminum handle and Advance Polymeric body and rotor make it lightweight. There is a spare spool included.
4. Mitchell 300Xe Classic Series Spinning Reel. This ice-fishing reel is not only innovative but also features advanced technology. The design is simple, it is easy to use, and it is made of quality materials for a reasonable price. The body and rotor are made of advanced polymetric and graphite material. The body is coated with Comfort Touch which makes it more comfortable when you fish for long hours. Hooksets are immediate with the instant anti-reverse. The gears are high performance and perform smoothly and are durable. The multi-disc drag system gives you performance that is consistent and adjustments that are precise. Increased strength and reduced line twist is provided by the oversized bail wire and line roller, which also make it more durable. Reliability is provided by the NeverFail compression bail spring.
5. Quantum Kinetic PTiB Spinning Reels. This affordable ice-fishing reel is a professional grade along with its quantum-level innovation. The six polymer-stainless hybrid PT bearings make it smooth. The ThinLine strong aluminum body has a side cover that eliminates weight. The TiMag titanium bail has a magnetic trip. The stacked ceramic drag system has gears that are high performance and extra hard. The LMS system prevents the line from twisting or snagging by feeding the line directly to the roller. The crank handle is not only machined aluminum, but is also collapsible. It comes with a spare aluminum spool.