Product Reviews
Top 5 Reels for High School Tournament Anglers
Sep
Having the right rod is just half the battle! Now it’s time to look into my experiences with various reels.
My Top 5 Reels for High School Tournament Anglers!
In our last article I discussed my experiences using various rod brands and tried to simplify what a new high school angler needs to get going. Reels are a little less complicated and deal more with quality of the parts within as well as the physics aspect that will be used in the application. While my top 5 reels for high school tournament anglers will cover my own personal opinions I still encourage people to use fellow angler’s combos to see what fits them best before buying!
What Are The Major Differences In Reels?
Reels should be looked at in two ways…First, which application is the reel being used for? Second, What material is used in the makeup of the gears in the reel?
The application is extremely important. If you’re using a flipping stick you do not need a reel with a high gear ratio on the other hand, if you’re burning a spinnerbait you don’t want to wear yourself out using low gears. Spinning rods require spinning reels and open faces can sometimes hold more line resulting in longer casting distance! Fear not, I’ve got you covered on matching below.
The parts inside of a reel make up are just as important as the application. Go to a big box store and look at reels costing less than $50.00. They look the same as the ones in the fancy display case that only a dealer can retrieve for you to look at, “I’ll just buy it for now” you think to yourself, heck what can go wrong? Plenty! Cheap reels contain plastic parts that wear down quickly. I’ve seen them crap out in less than a month of consistent fishing. On the other hand the more expensive reels contain ceramic bearings and parts which if taken care of correctly can literally last the rest of your life.
Taking Care Of A New Reel
Unless you come across a rare lemon, with the proper maintenance you will get a lifetime out of a well built reel. I was once told by an expert reel cleaner that if people only new that most reel issues just involve dirt getting inside them. He told me if I were to oil my reels after every tournament I would only need a deep cleaning every few years. Like an oil change it’s important to have your reels cleaned by a pro so that you can depend on them year in and year out.
Ranking The Top 5 Reels For High school Tournament Anglers
and now for the reels to combine with your rods!
  SHIMANO Calcutta B Round Reel |   G. Loomis Casting Series | ||
  Quantum KVD Smoke S3 SKVD100HPT 7.3:1 |   St. Croix Rods Premier Casting Rod | ||
  Shimano CURADO DC |   Carrot Stix Casting PRO Wild Wild Orange | ||
  Lew's Custom Inshore Speed Spin |   G. Loomis IMX-PRO 802S JWR Spinning Rod | ||
  Lew's SuperDuty Wide Speed Spool |   TP1 Black Speed Stick 7' |
5.) Lew’s SuperDuty Wide Speed Spool
Pair with TP1 Black Speed Rod
I own 5 of these combos and they go with me every tournament! Each turn of the reel brings in 35″ of line which helps make me an efficient angler. Lower gear ratio reels should be reserved for flipping and crankbaits. Higher gear ratio for most other applications. Lew’s has gone above and beyond in their support of high school tournament fishing and I expect them to be around for a very long time!
My favorite applications for these combos are all top water, swim jigs, Carolina rigs, and they are adaptable to every other situation except for finesse rigs making it the jack of all trades!
4.) Lew’s Custom Inshore Speed Spin
Pair with G. Loomis IMX-PRO 802S JWR Spinning Rod
On large lakes high school tournament anglers are more aware of the benefits of finesse fishing. With pressure on fish at all time highs, it takes a different presentation on certain days. Lighter line paired with Ned-rigs, drop shots, or finesse Carolina rigs can only be handled efficiently with spinning reels.
Staying loyal to Lew’s and their support of our high schools I have purchased 2 of these reels. One is combined with the Loomis IMX-PRO 802S JWR Spinning Rod and the combo cannot be beat. If you look at the price of the combo understand that these parings can last well over 20 years due to the quality.
3.) SHIMANO Calcutta B Round Reel
Pair with G. Loomis Casting Series
I’ve owned this reel since 2004 and have used it exclusively for crankbaits. Shimano doesn’t play around when it comes to their high end reels. If you pay high prices, you’re going to get the best money can buy it’s that simple. These are made for casting 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, year in and year out with usually only needing oiled regularly to maintain smoothness and cleaned every 5 years from my experience to last me another 15 years!
2.) Quantum KVD Smoke S3 SKVD100HPT 7.3:1 
Pair with St. Croix Rods
Between this combo and the Lew’s is where you’ll find your most economical pairings. The KVD has been in my arsenal since a girlfriend gifted to me from Bass Pro Shop close to 15 years ago. Named after Kevin Van Dam (The GOAT) these reels come from quantum who has been in the game ever since I got started. I can honestly say I have never owned a bad reel from their brand.
With this particular model I pair it with all of my spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and it makes a great substitute for a top water if needed.
1.) Shimano CURADO DC
Pair with Carrot Stix Casting PRO Wild Wild Orange Flipping Stick
Most serious anglers own at least one Curado in their arsenal. It’s a workhorse for lakes with a lot of shallow structure and involving pitching and flipping. Shimano struck gold with this design and will likely keep it in the lineup as long as they are around.
My favorite application is to pitch heavy jigs, drag football jigs, and punch heavy soft plastics. The gear ratio is perfect for resistance but is quick enough if you need to cast toward a fish that comes up to feed out of nowhere. This is a reel that will be a staple used in most tournaments.
Concluding My List Of Top 5 Reels for High School Tournament Anglers
Once again I must stress these are not reels that someone has paid me to recommend. They come from my own experiences through 30 years of hardcore fishing. I also cannot stress enough that these are tools that must be well taken care of so that your purchases can be handed down. Find a good reel cleaner you trust, or learn the craft yourself and your initial investment will eventually pay for itself! High school anglers likely don’t have the funds this early in their lives to pay for quality which can leave them at a disadvantage, so if you’re looking to give a great gift consider the options above. Happy Fishing!
