Comparing Some Of The BEST Baitcasters Under $100 (Shimano, Okuma, Kastking, Piscifun) 

What is your favorite reel under $100? Share this video to help grow the Burly Fishing community!

Love the video guys. Was looking at a few of these reels for my setups that are used minimal. Instead of dropping a bunch of coins. I had 3 speed demons and loved them........while they lasted.And thats the main hesistation for purchasing any of the otheres on your list. Prob only got two years out of them before there was big issues. But before that...unreal reels....Cast a country mile. Which came in handy for open water topwater fishing

You two are awesome together, such good banter. Love the video. Been wondering about a baitcaster reel. Will keep this in mind.

Hey guys, nice and fun review. Last month I bought a Piscifun Alloy M baitcaster, which retails for about $90, though I paid around $70 after using a coupon. I am really loving this reel! Have only been using casting reels a couple years, and went from first reel a Piscifun Torrent to a I-can't-believe-I-paid-this-much-for-a-reel Daiwa Zillion SV (2016 model). The Torrent was good for a starter, and I LOVE the Zillion, super easy to cast without backlashes. But this new Alloy M has amazed me with its casting distance and feel. A lot probably has to do with my improved skills, but still, it's been very impressive especially for the cost, about 1/3 of what I paid for the Zillion. Hope you check it out in future tests, keep up the great content!

I love my SLX for under $100 but man those KastKing starting at $35 thru $100, they are super good reels. For some reason I’ve purchased ALMOST the whole budget lineup from KastKing and I freaking love em!! They’re customer service is superior. BUT lol my SLX, uh uh uh!!! I freaking love everything about it. Unfortunately I haven’t tried many others other than an Abu Garcia Silver Max and it’s pretty sweet.... Great video guys, great subject matter and great delivery!! You nailed it, keep em coming and keep ripping them lips my friends

Really appreciate the video! I’m looking to get my first bait caster soon and this was perfect timing!

I am a KastKing-a-holic. My Spartacus Plus baitcasters are great, my Valiant Eagle spinning reel awesome on my Resolute rod. I have so much without regret.

I have the okuma Serrano and although it’s been able to withstand the abuse I’ve put it through being a newer angler it does have its flaws. The grip on the handles fell off of my reel over time and my tension knob stopped clicking. That may be user error after I attempted to clean it but it’s still handled every fish and stick I’ve hooked!

I got the lews American hero camo baitcasting combo for 80 bucks. My first baitcasting combo. Very good for beginners AND pros.

The Bmax2 has proved to be a great reel on a 1 piece 7' MH to drift fish GG's for steelhead. Once dialed in with 30# braid, a 5' mono/flouro leader, a 1/2 - 2oz cannon ball on a snap at the swivel, and a bait of eggs and a corkie I can get a 30 yrd cast for a nice long drift at my favorite spot. That was until I tried for the winter run and hooked a sturgeon. That reel's drag has NOT been the same since AND it's be rebuilt and super tuned by a Penn repairman since.

My serrano rod just arrived yesterday. I'm going to order the serrano reel with the 🔥 gear ratio in a couple of days it's going to be one of my new frog'n rods. But i also wanted to talk about that black max reel I have one on my ST.croix mojo frog rod. When it's fresh out of the box it's a little stiff but after a few fishing trips and it got broken in really fast. And now it's casting like a dream. It's one of my favorite reels. Cool video guys thanks

My first baitcaster was KastKing Royal Legend Elite and 2nd is KastKing Crixus ArmorX. Wanted a good value aluminum frame reel for frogging. Both of these appear much lower profile than Stealth and Speed Demon.

My favorite is anything with centrifugal brakes. As long as it has that I have a pretty good time. My thumbing at the beginning of my cast needs work :)

The black max $50 is great and I also like lews classic $77 just to have one with a higher gear ratio but dang the rods yall are using are crazy long im short just like Paul_Glass lol im 5'8'' and hate using anything over 6'6'' the black max med rod is great but I also have a 6' med heavy and love it for pitching and cranking thank you love the reviews keep it up both of you!

I have used many brands of reels over the years and I don’t think you could get a better budget reel than a Piscifun reel! I own three different models from the Honor XT to the Carbon X to the Captain and I tell you what they are every bit as good and even better than the Shimano and Penn reels that I also own that cost about twice as much! Not just because they are lighter and feel more comfortable in my hand, but they are smoother and have better drags as well! I bought my first Piscifun reel 7 years ago and now they are the only spinning reels that I buy for freshwater. The Captain is made for saltwater and it is the best inexpensive saltwater reel you can buy anywhere! It’s so popular that it is completely sold out! Can’t wait for Piscifun to bring another batch of Captains to the market before inflation hits our economy and the price would probably go up!

Ill have to try that okuma out because i love my slx so if okuma is close to the slx i will definitely have to try

Love the comparison videos! 👍

The kastking crixus is one of the best ones when it comes to cheap reels it feels like a 120$ reel for only 70$, you should try it out. Great video, you have taught me a lot!

Shimano Caius B around $70. Great Reel and it was my first baitcaster

The new KASTKING Megajaws casting reel has a patented AMD spool control system that auto breaks when the spool is over spun. This has never been possible before. No more backlashes! No more thumb control. Cast and relax. The new Mega-jaws reel is the one to have! KASTKING is about to dominate the bait casting reel market!!!! This reel also has a flipping switch on it so it can be set for flipping. No other reel has that feature either!

Love my Picsifun phantom x. I got it in lefty, 6.3:1 and use it on a 6'10 medium action fast tip lews rod. Its my crank bait rod since I don't do any deep divers from the bank. Also works great with spinner baits and Texas rig, or, weightless plastics.

I think the black max is definitely a great starting baitcaster. Funny thing is it was my first one too lol.

Okuma make great rods and reels. But are highly underrated by most people

Love the comparison of the reels

Okay fishing and the gym....it has to be about core strength right? LOL super fun video!! Don't cross your streams....haha

I own the Piscifun phantom as well as the carbon xcs casting reels. I can tell you that i enjoy both more than my Shimano slx mgl. Both were about 55 dollars with free shipping to South Africa. I bought them from aliexpress, first the phantom and then the carbon xcs as soon as it was launched. Both reels are amazing value for money!

I own a Phantom, SLX DC JDM version plus a couple of Lew's baitcaster. I like the SLX but the Phantom is my favorite baitcaster. Spinning reels I have the Piscifun CarbonX 2000 and a Diawa Legalis 2500. I like both the CarbonX and the Legalis holds a amazing amount of line, The CarbonX reel is light smooth everything a quality reel should feel like. My buddy a Shimano snob says Piscifun Phantom and CarbonX they don't feel good to him, they feel great to me.

Great video man👍🏻

Q: if your on a budget (novice fishing). What is more important when your setting up a casting rod. The reel or the rod? Spending more cash on.

My best reel is my Shimano Bantam Magnumlite from the 80s, and it still outperforms all my other reels. Regarding technology, we are talking two spool bearings with one shaft bearing to today's ten bearings and up, and how do four extra bearings located in the handle and the shaft of a reel even affect a revolving spool in a reel?

I love me SLX, the Lews American Hero is $70 and definitely a great beginner reel. 7.2:1.

I use a 20’ Long bamboo cane personally harvested and dried for two years.

Great Video...how about some rod reviews next🤘

Thanks guys love the videos... Lews SLX for the money but I am partial to lews so yes I am bias

I have shimano's and daiwa's but still have the Black Max in rotation quite a bit.

Abu Garcia Pro Max Low Profile is a great value reel. It can be got for $80 or under.

Informative video!

After seeing they included the Shimano SLX, I already know it's the best one of the bunch.

I guess I must’ve been privileged I started with a Zebco Genesis open face 7 foot real medium heavy all around flexed the tip, I use my buddies bantam Corrado 200 and I use it very well I understood how it worked the way it worked from the beginning of the first time I put a bait caster in my hand. After throwing out all day and catching three fish/well I’m a master plumber and eight years ago when I start a fishing again but using nothing but lures and plastics no Live bait!!!!!!! So once I got started again I learned by a tournament fisherman a great friend of my mothers so he was like a uncle To me!!!! So he told me I was pretty good and that I should go out and buy something nice that will last me that I can learn how to use and understand what is quality and he even told me back then that just because it’s $200 in the rods $200 doesn’t mean that it’s a fish catcher and I prove that but catching a lot of fish off my Genesis Zebco rod which was only $28 combo. OK so to get to the whole situation here my first two combinations is a tournament legend jig and worm rod that cost me $369.99/$189.99 Shimano Corrado K 70 HG Hagan/my next ride was a boy Boyd Duckett triad and I had two different types of Duckett rods one had micro eyelets in it and I had two of the day Iowa Fuego Reels and I believe they were only a little over $100 brand-new and then two years ago I bought a brand new Daiwa Tutuila gear ratio from 6.3-7.2-,8.1, but I do have lews spinning rods combos that are under $40 that long as the drag set right with the right line I’ve landed some big fish and I’m talking fighting back Jumpin Pike three and 4 pound Smalleys until are played out you know when you hook a fish good when he jumps out the Internet water 67 times and he didn’t throw that hook keep pressure on him he ain’t getting off but I love this video brother y’all did a great

Paul reminds me of a young version of JK Simmons-aka the farmers insurance guy/Vern Schillinger from OZ

Okuma Serrano reel with the okuma recon rod... good setup

The best reel u have is the Piscifun phantom blows all them on the water ive caught at least 20 bull reds and it had no problem and im a shamino fan i have all of them but the anteres

I've never had luck with braid on my bait caster. Phantom backlashes are a occurrence, and picking them out is big nightmare

This is what happens when you can't fish. Not a Kast King for sure, mine grinds and whines straight out of the box new, needless to say, its still sitting in a box😏. Again no LEW'S? Cant go wrong with a Abu Garcia. Definitely going to check out Piscifun. Thanks guys, stay warm

The SLX would have performed better if the spool was completely filled. Not sure about other reel brands but I know all of my Shimano’s have to have a completely full spool to perform optimally.

SLX is a great reel for the price. I have 2 SLX DC's. $189.99, but completely worth it!!!!

22:00 is the final rankings

That just looks like alot of fun

I know this video is 3 yr old but I think yall should revisit this and add in the piscifun torrent 2 I think you will be amazed at the quality and how smooth a $50 reel is compared to the $100+ price point these days

Love the vids😃

shimano slx lews lfs and a daiwa feugo is my favorite 3 for 100 dollar price point i fish shimano

Great video guys, I really hope to see more content like this in the future at other price points. #Burlyfishing

I’ve held the abu Garcia silver max and it felt rlly smooth in hand for 60$, but it just felt impossible to dial in while casting and I just couldn’t get good distance. Maybe a good flipping/pitching reel but I don’t think long casts are its strong suit.

Yo in the building it’s cold and just want to go fishing 🎣

Been using the Carbon X since the spring. It has pulled in everything from my PB 7lb bass and a 30lb Grass Carp. It's definitely high value per $. I don't feel so tentative as I do with my higher end set ups.

Dudes, that funny that you gave the Okuma 1st. Place. I checked on Amazon and the Okuma had horrible reviews. I bit the bullet and got the SLX.

That would be a drinking game

how do you get one of the Burly fishing hat let me now.

I have 90% of the Kastking and Piscifun lineup both baitcasting and spinning. Great reels. I have the better brands as well so not just comparing to nothing.

I love my Diawa cr80 which is only $80

Piscifun, however you spell it, is not worth the money. Used it for one summer and it broke. Handle completely fell apart. Set the hook and the one knob snapped right off. Also had and issue with the release of the spool when casting. Worth spending the extra 30 for the SLX.

Hey if you don't want that okuma reel. I know a good home it can go too.

are those stock handles on the black max?

Ha you really did have this one in the chamber

You had me at CrossFit

I have Slx and phantom I prefer the phantom

My first baitcaster was a silver max, got it for $50 at Walmart, I still use it when I don't want to cut the sunline off my Curado. Amazing how far things have come.

Nobody had a Tatula? Same price point as SLX.

Great review guys, why can't u do drag power test of all of these casting reels. Let's see which gives us more stopping drag power in a test. And this will be new idea on RU-vid guys. Kindly make it soon..

Quantum ACCURIST PT S3 Baitcaster reel

Thanks for a good video

Please do an under 200 one

What rods were you using?

Gen1 shimano caenan tops them all imo. The only one I haven’t tried from that list is the speed demon. PS the caenan is basically identical to the curado 200e6 except for color, handle/grip, and the material of the frame. 99% of the parts are interchangeable, making the caenan basically the same as the 200$ curado.

Where's Paul's kiddie rod? Lol

If it were me I would just spend another 30 dollars and get the slx xt

Under $100 I have no idea... the abu’s are nearly unbreakable, terrible customer service but I guess who cares if it lasts forever... a lot of guys like lews service but their “American hero” reel is not supposed to be as durable as the abu’s under $100. As for under $150, I have a lews kvd reel that I love, and a 13 inception sport Z

How does these reels compare to the best flippin reels?

I'm one of the suckers that got baited into the KastKing marketing hype a few years ago when a lot of youtubers were being sponsored by them and shilling their reels. Sure they are affordable, but they do not last long at all... after a little while the reel loses it's smooth cast and gears will start to grind, after about year all my reels were unusable. There's a reason they stopped selling their first line of reels, they were garbage, even the speed demon that everyone swore by was a piece of junk.

If I can get the Serrano for $55, is it a good deal?

Does this mean the jerk bait comparison is coming soon???

Abu Garcia Pro Max or Revo would be better in this comparison IMHO.

Where js the Lew's Reels. Considering they have made the best $100 reel for years until the SLX came out and now it's between Lews and Shimano

#burlyfishing mon glad to see Piscifun in the line up !!

No Lews Speed Spool LFS for $99 in this contest? I can even take this serious with an omission like that.

Kastking

For kastking you need to get the royale legend elite series, whole different ball game. Both of the kastkings you have are old and outdated

Where is the lews classic pro?!?!

i enjoyed the video but I couldn't hear what was being said while you were testing them.. Can you Mic up? '

What is above that guy in the green’s lips?

No need to be bashful about. Kast king , their a lot of hot air about quality and gadgets that really do not work very well. Their prices keep increasing as well which is not what he company promised. Multiple dislikes and complaints right out of the box with one of the highest failure rates in the industry. . Shimano SLX for $100 . Lots of reel for $100. and the SLX MGL 70 for $50 more can handle light lures and the power for flipping and pitching . Worth the Extra $50 which should not break a anglers wallet

I don't understand how your score board works

I was thoroughly invest this was going to be a crossfit fishing challenge!! I am very disappointed....lol

No Lew's?

No Lew's love ?

Seems like your height helps you against him a little. And I'm 6'2 and my brother is 6'4.5 so I understand height advantages

My first baitcaster is wrong retrieve..and is a decent 150+$ reel. I got it free with a decent rod ( he was sponsored by said rod company) ... But I still suck at it in my opinion. I'm a Diawa, Penn guy ..only cuz that's what my grandad ,dad. Uncle's had... So . I do get clowned . I flip and pitch with a Diawa underspin trigger closed face ( yeah, I know. But. The B$#@H catches fish. Eventhough it's slow- hey Diawa...I'd luv to figure out how to make a bigger, stronger underspin. Cuz I'm a lefty who throws righty, so lotsa whipping, flipping. But I just can't afford anything ridiculous. Perhaps if I could I'd be bringing more bigginz. But, 2 yrs back. And I'm still addicted.

HAUT TON GRAFFITI S1 Baitcasting Fishing Reel, 7.2:1 Gear

Aloha and Mahalo

First