Best Walleye Reels Under $100

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Bottom line up front: If you want one reel and you want it now, grab the Pflueger President 6935 (~$65). Smooth drag, solid build, buttery retrieve — it's been catching walleye on the Great Lakes, the Missouri River, and every walleye factory lake in between for two decades. The rest of this list fills in the gaps depending on your technique, your target water, and how deep your wallet is feeling.

Walleye fishing is a game of feel. You're dragging a jig through 22 feet of water, and the difference between a bite and a rock tap can be less than a pound of pressure on the line. Your reel is the last link in that chain. It needs a drag that doesn't hiccup at the start of a run, a retrieve smooth enough that you can feel micro-vibrations in a ½-ounce jig, and bearings that don't turn to sandpaper after a season of river grime.

The good news: you don't need to spend $200 to get all of that. The $60–$95 bracket is genuinely loaded with capable reels right now. Here are five that won't let you down when a 28-inch slab decides to go sideways on you.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Pflueger President 6935 — Best Overall Walleye Reel Under $100

Price: ~$65 | Check Price on Amazon →

Specs at a Glance:

• Type: Spinning
• Weight: 8.1 oz
• Ball Bearings: 10+1
• Gear Ratio: 5.2:1
• Body: Graphite with aluminum spool
• Drag System: Carbon fiber drag washers, front adjust
• Line Capacity: 210 yds / 8 lb mono | 160 yds / 10 lb mono

If you spend any time at all in walleye fishing forums or tackle shops in Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Ontario, the Pflueger President comes up constantly — and not just among beginners. Guys who've fished walleye tournaments on Lake Erie for fifteen years still run a President as a backup rod, and some run it as their main jigging setup.

The reason is the carbon fiber drag system. At this price point, most reels use felt drag washers that can grab or stick at the beginning of a run. Carbon fiber drag surfaces are inherently smoother, and they stay consistent across a season of use. When a walleye makes that short, head-shaking run near the boat, the drag on the President just peels. No hesitation.

The 10+1 bearing count keeps the retrieve feeling silky through the whole range of handle rotation. On a slow jig retrieve, that matters more than people give it credit for — a crunchy bearing translates directly into lost sensitivity.

The graphite body keeps weight reasonable. You're not going to fatigue out after a day of jigging open water with this in your hand. The handle is long enough for two-finger grip, which is the right move for vertical jigging anyway.

Who It's For: Anyone jigging live bait, plastics, or blade baits for walleye in lakes, reservoirs, or slow rivers. Particularly good for 6–7 foot medium spinning rods in the 6–10 lb test range.

Pros:

• Carbon fiber drag is genuinely smooth — rare under $100
• 10+1 bearings for a silky retrieve
• Light enough for all-day jigging
• Been on the market long enough that replacement parts exist
• Handles braided line without needing line conditioner

Cons:

• 5.2:1 gear ratio is moderate — slower retrieve if you're power-fishing crankbaits
• Graphite body won't take abuse the way aluminum will
• Doesn't seal well; rinse it after every river trip

2. Shimano Sienna FE 2500 — Best Budget Walleye Reel Under $50

Price: ~$30 | Check Price on Amazon →

Specs at a Glance:

• Type: Spinning
• Weight: 8.1 oz
• Ball Bearings: 3+1
• Gear Ratio: 5.0:1
• Body: Graphite
• Drag System: Front adjust, felt washers
• Line Capacity: 240 yds / 8 lb mono

Before you write off the Sienna because it only has 3 bearings — stop. Shimano's bearing quality is high enough that 3 good bearings will outperform 10 cheap ones. The Sienna's retrieve doesn't feel like a $30 reel. It feels smooth, consistent, and totally capable for walleye jigging.

The Propulsion line management system (Shimano's tapered spool design) reduces line coils on the cast, which matters when you're throwing a ⅜-ounce jig on light line and trying to place it quietly in 18 feet of water. Casting distance is better than the price suggests.

The felt drag system is where the Sienna shows its budget roots. It's not silky — it's workable. Under 5 lbs of drag pressure it performs fine. Crank it down hard and you'll feel some stickiness at the start of a run. For walleye on 8 lb mono, that's rarely a real problem. These fish don't make the kind of blistering runs that demand surgical drag performance. If you're targeting larger, more aggressive fish on the same body of water, step up.

Who It's For: Beginners building their first walleye kit, or experienced anglers who want a dedicated light-line finesse setup they don't mind scratching up. Also excellent as a second rod for a partner who didn't bring gear.

Pros:

• Remarkable value — performs like a $50 reel
• Shimano build quality and component reliability
• Great casting distance for the price
• Light enough to fish all day
• Good parts/service support from Shimano

Cons:

• 3 bearings means retrieve feels less refined than competitors at $60+
• Felt drag can be inconsistent under heavy pressure
• No anti-twist line roller bearing
• Graphite body shows wear quickly in rocky river environments

3. Abu Garcia Revo SX 30 — Best Premium-Feel Walleye Reel Under $100

Price: ~$95 | Check Price on Amazon →

Specs at a Glance:

• Type: Spinning
• Weight: 7.6 oz
• Ball Bearings: 9+1
• Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
• Body: Aluminum/graphite composite
• Drag System: Carbon Matrix drag, front adjust
• Line Capacity: 200 yds / 8 lb mono

The Revo SX sits right at the top of our price ceiling, and it earns every penny of it. At 7.6 oz it's the lightest reel on this list — not dramatically so, but enough that you notice it after four hours of vertical jigging on Lake St. Clair in November.

The 6.2:1 gear ratio is the real headline. Where the President at 5.2:1 is built around slow-rolling presentations, the Revo SX can do both — slow down a jig retrieve when fish are finicky, and crank up line recovery speed when you need to react fast to a change in current or rip a lure away from cover. This versatility makes the SX a strong choice if you fish both jigging and trolling-adjacent presentations like live bait rigs.

The Carbon Matrix drag system is Abu Garcia's version of carbon fiber drag, and it's excellent. Smooth startup, consistent through the run, and no fade on longer fights. For walleye, where the fight itself isn't usually punishing, the bigger benefit is the even startup pressure — which prevents that annoying lurch at the beginning of a run that costs you fish.

The X-Craftic aluminum gear system adds durability over graphite-body reels. If you fish rivers with sand and grit, the SX holds up better long-term.

Who It's For: Serious walleye anglers who want one reel to handle jigging, live bait, and light trolling setups. Tournament anglers on a budget. Anyone fishing rocky, abrasive river environments.

Pros:

• Lightest reel on this list at 7.6 oz
• Faster 6.2:1 ratio adds versatility
• Carbon Matrix drag rivals reels costing twice as much
• Aluminum components add durability in tough conditions
• Handles braid exceptionally well

Cons:

• At $95 it's nearly outside our bracket — prices fluctuate
• Slightly smaller line capacity than some alternatives
• The faster gear ratio takes some adjustment if you're used to slow-rolling jigs

4. Daiwa BG MQ 2500 — Most Durable Walleye Reel Under $100

Price: ~$90 | Check Price on Amazon →

Specs at a Glance:

• Type: Spinning
• Weight: 8.8 oz
• Ball Bearings: 6+1
• Gear Ratio: 5.3:1
• Body: Monocoque aluminum body
• Drag System: ATD (Automatic Tournament Drag), front adjust
• Line Capacity: 220 yds / 8 lb mono

The BG MQ is the tank on this list. The Monocoque body — a single-piece aluminum construction that replaces the traditional two-piece body-and-side-plate design — is the strongest body construction in spinning reels at any price. It doesn't flex. When a big fish loads up the rod and torques the reel, everything stays in alignment. Gears mesh right, drag seats properly, retrieve stays smooth.

At 8.8 oz it's the heaviest reel here, and that matters if you're jigging all day. On a walleye-specific 7-foot medium spinning rod, the balance point shifts toward the reel when you add nearly 9 ounces of metal there. Not a dealbreaker, but something to be aware of.

Daiwa's ATD (Automatic Tournament Drag) is the standout feature. Traditional drag systems have a static startup friction that causes that initial grab before the drag peels. ATD is designed to engage smoothly the instant tension is applied, with a consistent progressive pressure curve as the fish runs. In practice, it means almost zero startup inertia — the reel just flows when a fish moves. For walleye, where fish often turn and run the moment they feel resistance, this is genuinely valuable.

6+1 bearings is adequate, not exceptional, but the quality of those bearings in Daiwa's BG line is high. The retrieve is smooth in a way that doesn't just feel like bearing count — it feels like machining quality.

Who It's For: Anglers who fish rough conditions — river walleye in current, Great Lakes open-water jigging in choppy conditions, guides who need a reel that survives client abuse. Anyone who's broken reels before and wants something genuinely bulletproof at this price.

Pros:

• Monocoque aluminum body is the most durable construction available under $100
• ATD drag is exceptional — smooth startup, consistent pressure
• Handles heavy use season after season
• Works equally well in fresh and light saltwater (bonus if you travel)
• Excellent long-term value despite higher upfront cost

Cons:

• Heaviest reel on this list — fatigue is a real concern on all-day jigging trips
• 6 bearings is below competitors at this price
• Larger frame can feel bulky on light, fast-action walleye rods

5. Lew's Speed Spin LS — Best Value Walleye Reel for Jigging

Price: ~$55 | Check Price on Amazon →

Specs at a Glance:

• Type: Spinning
• Weight: 8.3 oz
• Ball Bearings: 10+1
• Gear Ratio: 6.2:1
• Body: Graphite
• Drag System: 8-point carbon fiber drag, front adjust
• Line Capacity: 190 yds / 8 lb mono

Lew's doesn't get the same name recognition as Shimano or Daiwa in the walleye world, but the Speed Spin LS is a genuinely impressive reel for $55. The 10+1 bearing count matches the Pflueger President, and Lew's uses carbon fiber drag washers at this price point — which is unusual and welcome.

The 6.2:1 gear ratio is fast for a spinning reel in this class, matching the Abu Garcia Revo SX. For walleye applications, that means faster line pickup when you need to rip a jig away from structure or react quickly to a boatside fish that turns and runs underneath you. It's a retrieve speed that some experienced walleye anglers actively seek out for certain presentations.

The retrieve feel is genuinely smooth for the price. Not quite at the level of the President or Revo SX, but very close. The handle knob is comfortable and large enough for a secure grip in cold weather gloves, which matters when you're night fishing for walleye in October.

Line capacity is the lowest on this list at 190 yards of 8 lb mono. That's enough for most walleye applications — you're rarely getting spooled by a walleye — but if you're fishing heavy current or layering braid under a mono top-shot, do the math before you spool up.

Who It's For: Anglers who want a fast-retrieve spinning reel without paying Abu Garcia Revo prices. Walleye anglers who fish both jigging and snap-jigging presentations and want a reel that keeps pace.

Pros:

• 10+1 bearings and carbon fiber drag at $55 is legitimately impressive
• Fast 6.2:1 ratio adds versatility
• Comfortable handle for cold-weather fishing
• Smooth enough retrieve for finesse jigging
• Good balance and weight distribution

Cons:

• Line capacity is the lowest on this list
• Graphite body shows wear in