We really love fishing, isn’t it? We also want to have the best equipment that we will use when fishing. Unfortunately, almost fishing equipment is really expensive. Yeah, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking of that equipment made of high-quality materials yet affordable. One of the most important gears is the trolling reel. Without this, we could not retrieve our catch very easily. Now, I will provide you the top 10 trolling reels under $100 in the market. Here we go!
Penn Warfare Star Drag
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This trolling reel is one of the best trolling reels of Penn. As we all know, Pen is one of the famous fishing gear brands in the world. This reel has an unmatched quality because it will give you a great action reel that will fill the void for a good in-between reel. As other angler says, this reel is a strong kind of reel made by Penn. It will give you a great line for It has a perfect gear ratio that will make the fight become smooth and will give you a clean and clear line retrieval. However, it is not made for those trophy fish but this is a good casual reel for a good starter.
Pros
- Made of graphite frame and side plates
- 5.1:1 gear ratio
- Line capacity rings
- HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
- It is made for smaller to mid-sized fish
- It lands fish despite small size and design
Con
- Not as smooth as other Penn products
2. Shimano Tekota 300 Conventional Trolling Reels
Shimano has its latest model Tekota 300. This trolling reel really holds up to the hype. It is made of excellent reel materials and gives you the coolest design of all time. This trolling reel can help you fight some beasts of a fish without worrying about having to replace worn out parts. This reel can also hold up the pressure and holds a lot of lines, almost 300 feet of braided line, amazing! Isn’t it?
Pros
- Diecast aluminum frame
- Septon handle grip
- 4.2:1 gear ratio
- It can hold a great amount of line
- Excellent performance for chasing trophy fish and mid-sized ones
- It is small but durable
- You can try it for both fresh and saltwater.
Cons
- Smaller
- Not designed for monster fish
3. Fin-Nor Sportfisher Lever-Drag Trolling Fishing Reel
This Fin-Nor Sport fisher Lever Drag trolling fishing reel is quite familiar, isn’t it? This reel is light and stronger due to advances in technology. It keeps pace with those other legends that were made many years ago. It is a great reel that will give you a very professional and excellent feel.
Pros
- It has a solid 1 piece of graphite frame
- Forged 1 piece aluminum spool
- Heavy-duty carbon fiber drag system
- Oversized but lighter and durable unlike other trolling reels
- Professional quality at an affordable price.
Con
- Nothing, it will really satisfy your needs for a trolling reel
4. Okuma Cold Water Trolling Reels
I know what you are thinking. You are really excited about those lake trout, aren’t you? Yes, you are right! This trolling reel is great for lake trout in the cold water area. It can hold up to their size and cold nature. This Okuma Cold Water Trolling Reel will bring you a great performance when fishing in cold water. The addition of the line counter means you are aware of how many lines you got out. Once you hooked up the fish, make sure that you can land the target. This trolling reel is something else! This reel will do a good job with no issue.
Did you know, this trolling reel is commonly used by professionals? This reel is really affordable than another great reel like this Okuma trolling reel.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Corrosion resistant frame and side plates
- Multi-disc and carbonate drag system
- It has 2 stainless ball bearings and 1 roller bearing
- CVT anti-fogging line counter
- IT is built for cold water
Con
- Not as durable as other expensive trolling reels
5. Penn Squall Livewell
It is from Penn again! Penn is really a trusted name in the fishing world. This trolling reel can hook into something bigger than what you expected. It can withstand some torture and abuse when fighting with your targets. This reel is one of the high quality trolling reels of Penn under $100.
Pros
- Made of graphite frame and side plates
- 2+1 shielded stainless steel bearings
- 4.9:1 gear ratio
- HT-100 drag washers
- Strong trolling reel
Con
- The bearing could fail that will result in a broken reel
6. Okuma Magda Levelwind Trolling Reels
This Okuma Magda Pro Line is also one of the best affordable trolling reels of all time. It offers a great balance between cost friendly and top of the line features. This trolling reel is made of high-quality materials. The line counter offers you to easily measure the distance of your cast line. This reel has a great value that can compete with other affordable trolling reels at much higher price points.
7. Penn Warfare Level Wind Reel
Penn comes in a different sized to fit whatever you are chasing. This reel has a great design that is smooth which will make other anglers envious of you thinking that you paid a lot more for its expensive design and excellent quality when trying on. You can save with reel and still have the quality you deserve.
Pros
- Lightweight graphite frame and side plates
- HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
- 5.1:1 gear ratio
- Line capacity rings
- Durable
- Dependable
- A trusted brand name without any doubt.
Con
- The release button of this trolling reel is small and stiff
8. KastKing Rover Round Trolling Reels
KastKing’s Rover Round Trolling reel is one of the best choices in the market. This trolling reel is made of metal materials which will keep it last for years. It delivers smooth operation when you are reeling in a catch. It also comes with an intelligently designed release mechanism which will make one hand use a great one.
Pros
- Affordable
- Metal construction
- The intelligently designed release mechanism
- The rover is loaded with so many great features
9. Sougayilang Trolling Fishing Reel
This trolling reel is one of the best and famous bargains in the market. It is one of the best low-cost trolling reel options. This reel offers good quality construction for saltwater and freshwater. Its big reel is capable of holding plenty of lines. This Sougayilang’s trolling reel will give you the best performances that a trolling reel must have.
10. Okuma Classic Pro XP Levelwind Trolling Reels
This Okuma trolling reel will give you a high quality without spending too much. IT is a great option for bottom fishing. It is strong enough to fight with those targets even those big blue 100 pound catfish under the water. This reel comes at an affordable price. It comes with the optional clicker that you can turn on and off with ease.
Pros
- Corrosion resistant graphite frame
- It has 2 ball bearing drive systems
- 3.8:1 gear ratio
- Self-lubricating gear system
- It can also land even 100+ pounds of fish
- It is great for bottom fishing
Con
- It is for right-handed only
Conclusion
With a lot of options out there in the market make you realize that you don’t need to buy expensive fishing gears specifically, trolling reels. It is important to consider the price and what is right for you. I guess it would not be really hard to choose the right trolling reel for you because there are a lot of reels that have different levels of performance. With the list above, I wish it helps you find the right trolling reel. Hit the water and ready to reel in your favorite freshwater and saltwater!
