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Best Spinning
Abu Garcia Max Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
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Summary
A purpose-built spinning reel from Abu Garcia, made just for the ice.
Best Overall
Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid Reel
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Summary
Torture-tested by the fanatical members of the Clam Ice Team, this reel has it all.
Best for Walleye
13 Fishing Wicked Ice Spinning Reel
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Summary
Extra room for thick gloves on those brutally cold days.
Whether it’s your first time out on the hard water or the hundredth, a good ice fishing reel is one of the most important pieces of gear. There are a bunch of options out there—from inline to spinning reels—from some of the most popular fishing brands, including Clam, Abu Garcia, and Shimano. As for which one is right for you? That all depends on your level of experience, your use, and your personal preferences.
Some folks go ice fishing for something fun to do once in awhile during the winter months. Then there are the hardcore anglers that live to get out on the ice and do so nearly every day. Regardless of where you fit in the spectrum of frozen water fishermen, the right reel can make a big difference at the end of the day. To help you choose, our angling experts reviewed and ranked some of the best ice fishing reels out there today.
The Best Ice Fishing Reels
Best Ice Fishing Reel Overall: Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid Reel
Best Spinning: Abu Garcia Max Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
Best Inline: Pflueger Trion Inline Reel
Best for Walleye: 13 Fishing Wicked Ice Spinning Reel
Smoothest: Shimano Sedona 500 FI Spinning Reel
Best Budget: 13 Fishing Thermo Ice Spinning Reel
Best Value: KastKing Centron Spinning Reel
Best Ice Fishing Reel Overall: Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid Reel
Best Overall
Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid Reel
Pros
Trigger-adjustable anti-drag
Aluminum and graphite construction
Made specifically for ice fishing
Accommodates any side jig
Cons
A little pricey for the casual angler
Anti-drag trigger takes some getting used to
Drop reels are made specifically for ice fishing and working your bait under a hole in the ice. This is one of the best inline reels we’ve ever used, due in part to the anti-drag trigger that lets you add just the right amount of drag force you want to use when fishing.
With this reel, the drag is always engaged and the trigger cancels it out so you can drop your jig down the hole. The trigger lets you control the drop to your liking, which takes a little getting used to, but once you do, it helps create a better presentation. Everything else about the reel is top quality and the reel is tested and used by the Ice Team.
Specs
Weight: 7 oz.
Gear Ratio: 3.6:1
Bearings: 3 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right and left hand
Best Spinning: Abu Garcia Max Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
Best Spinning
Abu Garcia Max Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
Pros
Four-position anti-reverse
Durable Everlast bail
Lightweight
Smooth action
Cons
No spare spool
No left-handed option
The Abu Garcia Max Ice is easily one of the best spinning reels designed specifically for ice fishing. It has the line management features that are found on Abu Garcia’s open water spinning reels that help you have better control of the line as it comes off the reel, resulting in fewer tangles. It has slow oscillation for even more control when reeling in line. It can handle both braided and monofilament lines. This reel is a solid value, too, with a great price for anglers of any skill level.
Specs
Weight: 6.4 oz.
Gear Ratio: 3.0:1
Bearings: 3 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right hand
Best Inline: Pflueger Trion Inline Reel
Best Inline
Pflueger Trion Inline Reel
Pros
Lightweight
Silky smooth action
Fast retrieve
Cons
It has a left-hand orientation only
The Pflueger Trion reel is one of the first modern inline reels I had used, so it set the standard for me. It is a really nice reel that is very smooth. It has a free-spool trigger for dropping the line down the hole. I like to use it when a walleye grabs my minnow so I can let the fish run with the bait for a little bit before I set the hook. This reel has a fast retrieve being a 5.0:1 gear ratio, so getting the fish up is quick, or if you need to re-bait with a good bite going on underneath you.
Specs
Weight: N/A
Gear Ratio: 5.0:1
Bearings: 3 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Left hand oriented
Best for Walleye: 13 Fishing Wicked Ice Spinning Reel
Best for Walleye
13 Fishing Wicked Ice Spinning Reel 13 FISHING
Pros
Fast gear ratio
Best for those who wear gloves all the time
Lightweight
Smooth action
Cons
If you don’t wear heavy gloves, it can feel weird
This is one of those products that makes you ask, why didn’t they think of this sooner? This is an ice-fishing specific reel that has built-in antifreeze in the lubricant for the internal workings of the reel. It works amazingly well for anglers who wear heavy gloves, as it does for those that don’t wear them all the time, too. It just takes a little getting used to. It is a fast retrieve reel and the 5+1 ball bearing drive is silky smooth. This is a great reel for anything from panfish to walleyes and more. It is my go-to cold weather reel.
Specs
Weight: 5.15 oz.
Gear Ratio: 4.8:1
Bearings: 5 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right and left handed
Smoothest: Shimano Sedona 500 FI Spinning Reel
Smooth Operator
Shimano Sedona 500 FI Spinning ReelSHIMANO
Pros
Fast retrieve
Classic Shimano quality
Can be used as an ultra-light reel in the summer
Strong drag system
Cons
Not winter specific
Heavier than some other options
Shimano doesn’t make a winter-specific spinning reel, but I have found the Sedona FI in the 500 size to be a truly great ice reel. I just added some Lucas Oil reel lubricant
to it to help keep it from getting gummed up in the cold. What I really like about this reel is just how smooth it is. It feels like it has more bearings than it does, which is something I’ve come to expect from a Shimano reel. I run one in the winter months on a Fenwick rod
, and then swap it over to a Fenwick ultralight for the summer.
Specs
Weight: 6.3 oz.
Gear Ratio: 5.6:1
Bearings: 3 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right and left handed
Best Budget: 13 Fishing Thermo Ice Spinning Reel
Best on a Budget
13 FISHING Thermo Ice Spinning Reel 13 FISHING
Pros:
Price
Quality and function is really good for the money
Great beginner reel
Cons:
A little clunky
I bought a couple of these reels last year. I use them as both back-up reels if something breaks on the one I started using, or as rod and reel combos for my kids to use. These reels are simple reels, but they have many of the features you’d find on reels costing more money. It has a comfort-grip handle that can be right- or left-hand drive and an aluminum spool on a graphite body. Most reels in this price range come with a plastic spool that never lasts. It has a 2-bearing drive system that works better than you’d expect.
Specs
Weight: 5.6 oz.
Gear Ratio: 5.2:1
Bearings: 1 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right and left handed
Best Value: KastKing Centron Spinning Reel
Sleeper Pick
KastKing Centron Spinning Reel KastKing
Pros:
Price
9+1 bearings
Quality for the money
Cons:
Bearings can freeze up in extreme cold
If you haven’t heard of KastKing reels yet, you are missing out. For the money, these are some of the better reels to be found, but not many retailers have them as of yet. This reel is an ultralight reel made for open water use, but it works very well on the hard water, too. My only concern is with the bearings freezing, which can be taken care of with proper lube. I call this my sleeper pick because it is a reel some may overlook, but those that do grab one will be very happy with it. You really are getting a lot of reel for the money.
Specs
Weight: 6.9 oz.
Gear Ratio: 5.2:1
Bearings: 9 plus 1 anti-reverse
Drive: Right and left handed
How We Picked the Best Ice Fishing Reels
I’m from northern Michigan and have been ice fishing for decades on water across much of North America. So I started this article from a position of experience having tested and reviewed many of the ice fishing gloves available while I searched for the perfect pair. What I realized is that there is no one perfect pair, but several that you can rotate out to match the weather conditions and the style of fishing you’re doing that day.
We also took into account user reviews on consumer sites like Amazon, Cabela’s and more. These are important because we realize that not everyone uses equipment the same way we do. Not everyone fishes the same way as others, so picking the best reel is quite subjective. Pick the best features for you and how you fish, set your budget and start from there.
What to Look for in an Ice Fishing Reel
Spinning Reels vs. In-Line Reels
Many anglers use spinning reels for ice fishing, mostly due to familiarity with them. Spinning gear is really good for live bait fishing or deadstick fishing, like where you’re fishing a minnow without a bobber and the extremely light action of the rod is what you use to indicate a strike. An added bonus to spinning reels for ice fishing is that you likely already own one or more that would work great for ice fishing … Or, you can use it as an excuse to buy a new one, saying it can be used year round.
Inline reels have become more and more popular lately. These look like small fly reels and basically have the same function as one, but with some added drag and line control features. The biggest feature of an inline over a spinning reel is the lack of line twist. Since the line comes off the spool in a straight line, there is no action on the line to make it twist, and if you are a die-hard jig angler, this is a major plus. I like using one for fishing bigger minnows for walleye because it lets the fish run with the bait without feeling the drag. But for straight up jig fishing, it is hard to beat the inline.
The other two main styles of reels that are out there—baitcasting and closed-face reels—don’t really offer much advantage while on the ice. In fact, I find closed face reels an invitation to an iced up reel. A baitcaster can work and is very similar to an inline, but there’s really no advantage to one. I have a buddy who likes to use a baitcast reel on a short 4-foot rod while fishing for pike. He uses it on a big shanty
and through a hole he cuts with a chainsaw, and it is very effective at winching a big pike up from the depths.
Gear Ratios
I find gear ratios more important than line capacity, especially in an ice fishing reel. A gear ratio refers to the amount of line that will be spooled with one rotation of the handle. A faster reel will have a higher gear ratio. For this list, the highest is a 5.6:1. Being faster, I would suggest a higher line weight, as you don’t play the fish as much. A slower reel is best if you are going to fish with a lighter line. A lot of jig and live bait anglers go for a slower ice fishing reel, so many inline reels are slower for this reason.
Avoiding Ice Build Up
One of the things I’ve mentioned several times already is ice build up on reels. You have several factors that come into play here. The air temperature can work against you. Some lubricants get gummy in the cold and can make your smoothest reel feel anything but. I suggest using a good synthetic lubricant, as they are less prone to gumming up in cold weather.
It is also imperative to use a line specific to ice fishing, as they don’t hold water. I am a big fan of braided lines, but I use either PowerPro Ice Tec
. These lines are coated to keep water vapor from adhering to them and causing issues. The same goes with ice-rated monofilament lines. Ice on the spool from your line can cause the line to either freeze and not work, or it can create added memory to the line as it leaves the spool, which creates a whole other set of problems when you reel it in.
I have yet to find a way to keep the rod tip from getting a little ice on the coldest days. If I’m in the shanty with the heater going, it is never an issue, but on those days where I’m fishing out in the elements and it is cold, I know I will have to occasionally clear the tip.
FAQs
Q: Can you use any reel for ice fishing?
Technically yes, you can use any reel for ice fishing, but there are some things to consider. Will the reel fit the rod you will be using? Most reels that aren’t ultralight reels are too big. You also need to look at how well the reel will handle the cold and ice.
Q: Are inline ice fishing reels worth it?
If you fish a lot and are into jig fishing, then you definitely want to try out fishing with an inline ice fishing rod. I like them for some live-bait presentations, too. There is a bit of a learning curve that goes along with using one, so if you’re just getting into ice fishing, they may not be the best option to start with.
Q: How do you put a line on an ice fishing reel?
You spool an ice fishing reel the same way you’d spool any reel, however, it is a smaller space. I like to use a small piece of waterproof friction tape to keep the line from spinning loosely on the spool. It is important to use waterproof tape to avoid that ice issue.
Q: How do you attach a reel to an ice rod?
It depends upon the rod and the rod handle when it comes to attaching the reel to an ice fishing rod. If the handle has a threaded clamp, then it is just the same as a regular rod. Some ice rods
just have reel seats that slide freely on the handle. Friction is all that keeps the reel from moving, but there is an advantage in that you can often set where you want the reel to sit. Some anglers use a strip of tape, or even zip ties to keep the reel in place. Whatever works best for you.
What is the Best Ice Fishing Reel?
is a great way to spend some time getting out of the house during the cold winter months. Having the best ice fishing reel—like the Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid reel
—helps make the experience more enjoyable. Some anglers prefer it to fishing on open water, too. I know of one angler that had special holes cut into his nice boat, just so he could use his ice fishing gear during the summer months. He likes to ice fish that much. Get out on the ice and have fun this winter. It’s a great place to be.
Best Ice Fishing Reel Overall: Clam Gravity Elite Inline Hybrid Reel
Best Spinning: Abu Garcia Max Ice Fishing Spinning Reel
Best Inline: Pflueger Trion Inline Reel
Best for Walleye: 13 Fishing Wicked Ice Spinning Reel
Smoothest: Shimano Sedona 500 FI Spinning Reel
Best Budget: 13 Fishing Thermo Ice Spinning Reel
Best Value: KastKing Centron Spinning Reel
Why Trust Us
For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.
