Fishing Reels

How to choose a fishing reel

Start with technique and target species, then narrow by conditions. The fundamentals:

• Reel size — small 1000–2500 sizes suit LRF, trout, perch and finesse work; 3000–4000 covers all-round bass, mullet and light lure fishing; 5000+ and dedicated jigging reels handle shore jigging, cod and bigger sea species.
• Spinning vs. baitcasting — spinning reels are the versatile choice for lure and shore work; baitcasters give finer control for casting accuracy with larger lures and pike presentations.
• Saltwater readiness — for surfcasting and shore jigging, prioritise sealed drags and corrosion-resistant construction.
• Gear ratio — high ratios retrieve fast for working topwater and chasing mackerel; lower ratios add torque for jigging and ground fishing.

Why Japanese reels

Japanese tackle earns its reputation through engineering refinement: smooth, repeatable drag curves, tight tolerances, lightweight rigid bodies and machined components that hold up to UK saltwater. The result is better feel at the rod tip, cleaner line management and tackle you can rely on across eging for squid and cuttlefish, garfish on light gear, or grayling and trout in the rivers.

Browse by brand

• SHIMANO reels — class-leading spinning and baitcasting technology.
• DAIWA reels — refined LT bodies and tournament-bred drag systems.
• Okuma reels — strong value across saltwater and freshwater sizes.
• Abu Garcia reels — proven baitcasting and spinning ranges.
• TailWalk reels — purpose-built lure and salt models.
• PROX reels — practical, affordable options for shore work.

Pair your reel with our fishing rods, balance it with the right fishing line, and complete the setup with terminal tackle.