The best American made fishing reels – This article will discuss some of the top spinning reels that are produced in the United States – the finest fishing reels made in America. Many individuals still prefer to purchase items that are manufactured in their home country, and it’s understandable why.
Supporting the domestic economy by purchasing items made in our own country is a wise financial decision. There are numerous anglers in the United States who desire to purchase fishing equipment that is produced domestically, including rods, terminal tackle, and various kinds of fishing reels.
Despite being a fishing powerhouse, the United States’ fishing equipment manufacturing industry is a mere shadow of what it used to be, particularly when it comes to spinning reels. While specialty anglers who enjoy fly fishing have a plethora of homegrown items to choose from, regular spin reel weekend warriors have a much smaller selection.
In this article, we’ll talk about a few good options for fishing reels made in america for patriot anglers who want to fill their spin gear with American-made reels.
Let’s look at the best spinning reels made in the United States. I’ll also talk about why it’s good to buy American-made products later in the article.
The Best American Made Fishing Reels
It’s important to say again that we’re only talking about the best spinning reels made in the United States.
There are many different kinds of reels made in the USA, such as traditional, game, fly, and other specialty reels.
There aren’t many spinning reels made in USA on the list. In fact, it’s a very small thing.
But spinning reels made in the United States are a mix of new ideas, high quality, and great craftsmanship.
Except for one PENN model, you won’t be able to find an affordable US-made spin reel.
You can argue, though, that they are worth the money because they are built to last.
Most of the US spinning reel models listed below are too expensive for most anglers to buy.
Still, you can be sure that when you buy American spinning reels, you are buying quality that will last a lifetime.
What kinds of spinning reels are made in the United States?
Here are the best American-made spinning reel brands.
- ZeeBaas
- IRT Reels
- Accurate Reels
- PENN (Only a couple of spin reel models are still manufactured in the USA)
ZeeBaas Spinning Reels
When you look at a ZeeBaas spin reel for the first time, you may notice a style you have seen before.
In fact, you’ll notice that most of the reels in this article have a similar look. The ZeeBaas looks a lot like the first-of-its-kind Van Staal.
Some things that stand out are the body shape, the aggressive porting, and the military-style, all-metal design.
The ZeeBaas looks like the kind of reel that seal teams and commandos would get from the military.
The ZeeBaas has the performance to back up such a tough role, which is important.
Even though the Van Staal was built with similar ideas in mind at first, it now serves the business needs of Pure Fishing.
But ZeeBaas is still a separate brand that is dedicated to custom craftsmanship, top performance, and lasting durability.
The customer is really the main focus.
Any kind of question about service or anything else can be asked with a simple phone call or text message.
You will talk to a person who knows the answer to your question.
It’s a small, close-knit group that doesn’t hide behind call centers and other service barriers. The service at ZeeBaas is personal.
In fact, it’s so personal that you can even make your reel fit the way you fish.
You won’t find a ZeeBaas on the shelf because they don’t mix it with other brands that are competing for shelf space and Amazon’s attention.
At ZeeBaas, they say, “If you just want another reel, you’re in the wrong place.”
The ZeeBaas is not put together by a faceless machine that only works on one part at a time and follows a strict clock.
This kind of precise engineering, innovative and custom design, and customer support don’t come cheap, though. There is a price to pay for high performance that will last forever.
To buy a ZeeBaas, you will have to spend a lot more than $900.
Most people who fish on the weekends won’t ever buy this high-end style spinning reel because it costs too much.
Still, ZeeBaas will say that they are worth the money, so they are cheap.
This place gives you a lot for your money.
But “affordable” is a relative term, and I think there aren’t many fishermen who will stretch their fishing budgets to such a price point.
The most important things about a ZeeBaas are its strength, build quality, durability, drag power, ease of retrieval, and full sealing, which makes sure that every ZeeBaas is completely waterproof.
So, the ZeeBaas is a great spinning reel for saltwater fishing that is built to last.
Models include:
ZX20: Perfect for working on kayaks
The ZX-22 is the perfect all-arounder for kayak, boat, and bank work.
ZX-25: Master of Surf and Ocean Rock, with applications near and far
ZX-27: The biggest ZeeBaas for big surf, rock, and offshore targets
lRT Reels for Fishing
As was already said, the current US-made spinning reels have aggressive porting, heavy-looking machined alloys, and big handles and knobs.
In many ways, there seems to be a conscious effort to go against the Asian trend of making reels very light and easy to use.
This seems to be a return to the roots of why American-made goods were so much bigger, heavier, stronger, and more capable than those made by other countries.
It was also important that it looked exactly like how it worked and how it was meant to be used.
The first size in the IRT series is 200 (2000), and it’s not light at all.
The 200 weighs 12.7 ounces, can hold 250 yards of 20-pound braid, and has 30 pounds of drag, which is a lot.
There’s no reason why this reel couldn’t be used in the surf or anywhere else. With these specs, it’s ready to fight some pretty big fish.
Strangely, the 200 is the smallest size available. It only comes in one version, which is the 200. But each of the 300, 400, 500, 6, 7, and 800 is different.
The 300 has the UL version, which combines the body of the 200 with the capacity of the 300. This makes a surf weapon that is smaller and lighter than a typical surf spinning reel.
The DD version, which stands for “dual drag,” is available in all the other sizes. The dual drag is an IRT drag system that adds two Kevlar washers to the top of the spool to give it more pulling power.
The 800 is the biggest IRT available, and it is great for chasing GTs offshore, surf monsters, or Tuna from the ocean rocks.
The IRT series is good for the vast majority of spin reel fishing uses. With an IRT, you can poke any puddle you want. But this isn’t a matter of skill. This is American strength at its best.
The IRT is only sold by a few distributors, just like the ZeeBaas. You won’t find it on Amazon or at your local tackle shop.
There are some ways to customize the IRT, but not as much as with the ZeeBaas. The paint and color choices are particularly interesting.
American-made is one of the things that the IRT team cares most about. The people who make IRT reels are fishermen.
They stay ahead of the development curve by constantly coming up with new ideas, and focused field testing gives them quality assurance.
The IRT story is a lot like the classic American dream and is based on core American values.
Their goal is to be the best at making fishing reels that last the longest, are the most advanced, and work the best.
Even though the smaller IRT reels are easier to get than the ZeeBaas reels, they are still very expensive.
Without any extras or customization, the smallest IRT costs just under $550. The powerful 800 DD is just under $990.
In essence, the IRT is made for the average fisherman, but not everyone may be able to use it.
The IRT is a precise tool made for anglers who want only the best and aren’t satisfied with anything less.
The IRT isn’t about price; it’s about people who love fishing more than anything else.
Models Recommendation:
With the IRT 500, you can get an IRT that can do almost everything. With a 500, you can do a lot of different things inshore and catch a huge variety of fish near and far.
You don’t have to worry about what you’re getting for a thousand dollars when you buy an IRT 500.
On the contrary, with that budget, you’ll have plenty left over to buy a rod of the same height to go with it.
Check Amazon for the most recent price.
Accurate Reels
Accurate is known for its wide selection of traditional saltwater spinning reels.
For anglers who fish in blue water, the Accurate conventional reel range is respected because it is made in the U.S. and has high-performance reels that are also affordable.
Accurate has the one spin reel series and the SR spin reel series, and the prices are not for the faint of heart.
When you ask for more than $1,000, it’s clear that you’re going after anglers for whom Stella and Saltiga are must-haves.
The SR50 is a beast of a reel that was made for wars at sea against the most dangerous fish.
At 47 ounces, it’s not trying to hide how strong it is. It can hold 450 yards of 130-pound braid and has a massive maximum drag of 40 pounds.
With this SR, we’re going after tuna, GTs, and billfish, and the specs back up our desire to catch big fish.
Again, the spirit of American muscle is on display. This is classic America: big, strong, bold, high-performance, and built to last.
There are 5 sizes for each of the 6 models. The SR 30 has a version called the SR30L that has a slower ratio for cranking with more force.
The smallest reel in the range, the SR6, still has a max drag of 15 pounds, which is plenty for a wide range of freshwater and saltwater inshore applications.
Since the SR can hold 200 yards of 20-pound braid, the 10-ounce powerhouse can do almost anything.
With the SR12, 20, and 30, you have a lot of options and can use them in a lot of different ways.
The Accurate is not sold everywhere, just like the ZeeBaas and the IRT. But Accurate is available from the big distributors.
Accurate Grinding and Manufacturing Corporation is the company that makes Accurate Fishing Products.
The family-owned business began making parts for jet turbine engines in 1950.
In the 1970s, they started using CNC machining. In 1990, they started Accurate Fishing Products.
In many ways, the beginning of Accurate is a lot like the beginning of many other well-known fishing brands.
The history of the brand and its name work well together. CNC is about as accurate as it gets when it comes to machining.
All Accurate reels show that this is the case.
The most important thing was the Accurate twin drag idea, which became the most important thing about all Accurate fishing reel series.
Again, the big difference between the reels on this page and the reels made by the factory is the support and backup for the products.
Like the other reels mentioned above, Accurate is proud of how easy it is for their customers to reach them.
Customer service reps and reel technicians who know their stuff answer questions and give advice. Again, you can just call.
You don’t have to fight with a call center or send an email and hope that someone responds quickly.
Accurate is all about making things in the United States, and it’s proud to offer products that are new, precise, and made to last.
The 1-year warranty is the only thing I’m not sure about with the Accurate. If a company makes such claims about how long something will last, I would expect more from them.
Check out the SR50’s specs.
A patented system called TwinDrag
14 Class-5 ABEC bearings made of stainless steel that are sealed with Teflon
The knob on the end of the spool is the only one of its kind.
Titanium drag plates
Gears made of steel
Clips and springs made of stainless steel
AccuDrags
TwinSpin reel bag
AccuCare reel service
Warranty for one year
Great saltwater spinning reel
Penn Spin Reels
PENN is a great example of a well-known American brand that has been bought up by a big company.
Because of this, the famous reel icon only makes two of its spinning reels in the United States now. The Torque II and the Z Series are the two reels that spin.
The Torque II and the Z series show what PENN used to stand for. No one knows for sure how long these spin reels will still be made in the US.
Penn Torque II
The Torque II fits in a bit better with the other reels on this list.
It’s expensive, built to last a lifetime of fishing in the toughest saltwater conditions, and is very strong and powerful.
There are three sizes of the Torque II: 5500, 7500, and 9500. All of the models are traditional PENN heavy, so you can forget about the lightweight cast.
TRQII5500S PENN Torque II Spinning, 290yd/15lbs
The body, side plate, and rotor are all made of metal.
CNC Gear tech
IPX6: Body and spool are sealed.
With Dura-Drag and a sealed Slammer drag system.
Updated on November 20, 2022, with affiliate links and images from the Amazon Product Advertising API.
The main focus of Torque is on big, dangerous species. The 9500 has a maximum drag of 60 pounds, which is a lot for a spin reel. 490 yards of the 80-pound braid will fit in it.
This reel is for big fish in the ocean, like punishing GTs and bullet-train billfish. All of the models are great for fishing in the surf, on ocean rocks, the nearshore, and out at sea.
In many ways, this reel shows how PENN got its start with game fishing. It’s big, strong, and heavy, and it’s made to last a lifetime on the water.
The Torque II is not cheap at all. For a 7500, you’ll pay well over $700. In the end, this reel, like the ones above, is only for fishing fans.
Torque II Specs.
The body, side plate, and rotor are all made of metal.
The CNC GearTM method
IPX6: Body and spool are sealed.
With Dura-DragTM and a sealed Slammer® drag system.
9+1 stainless steel bearing system
Instant anti-reverse bearing with a silent backup ratchet
Superline Spool
Rings for Line Capacity
The USA made a great saltwater spinning reel.
The Penn Z Series
The Z series is by far the most popular because it has been around for 50 years, can be cast without bait, and is designated as a surf series.
The only reel on this list that might be able to fit its bail arm into the affordable price range is the Z series.
In a lot of ways, the Z series is PENN. It is strong and simple, and it can handle the rough conditions of surf fishing.
PENN Z Series Spinning
Type of product: FISHING REEL
The size of the package is 15.24 centimeters long, 15.24 centimeters wide, and 11.43 centimeters high.
Weight of package: 1.85 pounds
Black Gold is a color
Updated on December 1, 2022, with affiliate links and images from the Amazon Product Advertising API.
There are two models to choose from, and each one shows how simple and useful a design can be.
With 15 pounds of drag, you have enough power to catch drums and stripers from any hole or gutter along the beach.
The max drag isn’t very strong, but the huge spool capacity makes up for it. This gives the average angler enough power to handle a small shark if it bites your live bait.
The main gear is made of machined brass, and the pinion head is made of stainless steel. The main gear and pinion head have one and three bearings, respectively, which shows that PENN didn’t want to spend any more money on the trusty old faithful.
Even though the Z series is slow and simple, it will still catch a lot of fish reliably.
Details on Z Series.
Made in the US with parts from the US and other countries
Graphite side plates and a metal body.
Aluminum rotor
A spool made of machined and anodized aluminum
Main gear is made of brass and the pinion is made of stainless steel.
HT-100 drag system
Great protection from saltwater
