Best Carp Fishing Reels
A quality reel is one of the more expensive items a carp angler will buy. As carp anglers, we are both lucky and unlucky that we can use multiple rods while angling. This is both a blessing and a curse as it allows us to have greater success on the bank, but that success also comes with the added cost of having to buy more gear.
Things can add up quickly if you’re unsure what carp fishing reels to use. I’ve made many mistakes in my purchases over the years. Some reels are made very well and will last years, while others seem to be cheap Chinese replicas that fail on the first few outings. If you’re new to carp angling and all the gear that goes with it, read our complete Beginner’s Guide to Carp Fishing Reels for more information.
I’ve come up with these recommendations for the best carp fishing reels I’ve used as they are the best in quality and performance for the price I’ve come across in many years targeting carp.
Best Carp Fishing Reels for Beginners
Shimano Baitrunner ST 10000 RB – Carp Fishing Reel
Our first recommendation for beginners just looking for a cheap but effective reel to get started with is the same set of reels I started with and still use from time to time to this day, the Shimano Baitrunner ST 10000 RB Reels.
A tremendous free spool reel at a rock-bottom price, these reels have performed flawlessly with a very smooth drag. When you first start carp angling, there can be a lot of gear you need to equip yourself with. Many anglers buy a few cheaper items to save money on those first few orders. Choosing a smaller reel can be a great area to save money.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight (g/oz) | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baitrunner ST 10000 RB | 4.6 | 555g | 10 – 545 12 – 430 14 – 325 | 1/1 |
These reels come with a dual drag system. The dial on the back of the reel is split into two parts. The front part of the dial controls the free spool drag, and the rear portion controls the active fighting drag. A switch is located just before the drag to switch between the two modes.
These reels have two bearings and a 4.6:1 Gear Ratio. The spools are small but still hold plenty of line and allow anglers to cast a fair distance. They come in a Matte Black finish and sport a highly durable line clip.
Recommended Rod Size for the Shimano Baitrunner ST 10000 RB: 10-foot rods or shorter.
These are our #1 Recommendation for those just getting into Carp Angling.
Note: These Reels are small if you plan on pairing them with 12 or 13-foot rods but are a perfect match for a 10-foot rod or under.
Best All-Round Baitrunner Reels for Carp Fishing
Shimano Medium Baitrunner LC 5500 XTB
If you’re a fan of baitrunner reels and looking for a great all-around reel that will pair nicely with small or large rods, then the Shimano Medium Baitrunner LC 5500 XTB is the reel for you. If I could go back in time and only purchase one set of reels to use all the time, the Medium Baitrunners would be my choice.
I have both the Medium and Large Shimano Baitrunner Reels, and although the Large Reels will cast further and easily handle bigger fish, the mediums seem to pair and balance with any rod length better than any other reel I’ve used.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings | Line Retrieve / Crank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Baitrunner LC 5000 XTB | 5.3 | 560g 19.8oz | 10-425 12-315 16-230 | 4/1 | 105 cm 41 in |
Recommended Rod Size for the Shimano Medium Baitrunner LC 5500 XTB: 9 – 12 foot rods.
As stated above, these are our #1 Recommendation for a great all-around reel for use on multiple lengths of rods. For anyone looking to buy one set of reels and be done, this is the model I direct them to.
Best Large Baitrunner Reels for Carp Fishing
Shimano Big Baitrunner LC 14000 XTB – Carp Fishing Reel
Our final recommendation is for those that prefer the Baitrunner Style reels yet have the money to spend on something bigger and better than our first recommended reels. The Shimano Big Baitrunner LC 14000 XTB Reels are my go-to for most long-range fishing.
They are similar in size to my Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD Reels, but I wanted a set of baitrunner reels for my big rods when targeting carp on the great lakes and big rivers. These reels pair perfectly with my set of 13-foot rods for hitting those big distances on rough waters where using a boat is not an option.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings | Line Retrieve / Crank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Baitrunner LC 14000 XTB | 4.6 | 720g 25.4oz | 12 – 600 16 – 440 20 – 330 | 4/1 | 110 cm 43 in |
Recommended Rod Size for the Shimano Big Baitrunner LC 14000 XTB: 12 – 13 foot rods.
Our #1 Recommendation for anyone in the market for a set of baitrunner reels that do most of their fishing on big wild waters. You can’t go wrong with the performance and price of a set of these Big Baitrunners.
Best Big Pit Reels for Carp Fishing
Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD – Carp Fishing Reel
Our next recommendation is the Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD Carp Fishing Reel. I upgraded to a set of these reels long ago and haven’t been let down by their performance since. If you’re more of a fan of “Big Pit” style reels than bait runners, the Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTDs are a great alternative.
These reels are priced higher than the basic baitrunners, but they come packed with every feature that high-end carp fishing reels have. Not only do they perform well, but they also look fantastic. The matte black minimalist look of the XTD model has been well-designed to catch the attention of every die-hard carp angler.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight (g/oz) | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings | Line Retrieve / Crank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultegra 14000 XTD | 4.3 | 620g 21.9oz | 12-600 16-440 20-330 | 1/3/1 | 103 cm 40 in |
The Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD is equipped with a quick drag system. The angler can go from free spool to full fighting drag with just half a twist of the front drag system. The reels are designed to have super slow oscillation for superior line lay and longer casting.
The reels have a gear ratio of 4.3:1. One of my main selling features is they come with an included free spool. The price of the reel, plus the free spool, can’t be beaten for this quality.
I immediately noticed a difference once I upgraded to these bigger reels. They cast further, fight fish more efficiently and save a lot of strain when spombing repeatedly. Your forearms will thank you for upgrading.
Recommended Rod Size for the Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD Reels: 10-foot rods or longer.
These reels are our #1 recommendation if you’re in the market for a solid, reliable set of Big Pit Reels.
Note: These Reels perfectly match my 10-foot rods but also pair nicely on a 12-foot set of rods.
Best Spod Reels for Carp Fishing
While it’s perfectly fine to use your normal big pit reel as a spod reel while carp angling, purchasing and using a specialized spod reel is much more efficient. Not only will it reduce the wear and tear on your expensive reels, but spod reels are specially made to reduce the wear and tear on the angler. If you’re regularly putting out large amounts of bait via spod or spomb, it is 100% worth the cost to purchase a specific reel designed for the task at hand.
Shimano Ultegra Spod XTD – Carp Fishing Spod Reel
As I already had a set of the Shimano Ultegra 14000 XTD Reels, when I finally decided to upgrade to a dedicated spod reel, it was an easy choice to go with the Shimano Ultegra Spod XTD to match. Looking back, I wish I had picked up a dedicated spod reel sooner, as once you get hands-on experience with a specialized reel for spodding, you soon realize how much easier life is.
Some slight design features are often overlooked by most anglers with this spod reel. The handle has a soft rubber grip that is larger than the regular Ultegra reels allowing anglers to grip it easily when dealing with slippery spod mixes. It also has fewer grooves for baits and liquids to get into, which makes it substantially easier to clean.
Slower oscillation, more line clips, quicker retrieval rate and stronger construction, ensure this reel will hold up to the rigours of baiting for many years.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight (g/oz) | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings | Line Retrieve / Crank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultegra Spod XTD | 5.2 | 630g 22.2oz | 10-425 12-315 16-230 | 4/1 | 124 cm 49 in |
Recommended Rod Size for the Shimano Ultegra Spod XTD Reel: 12-foot Spod & Marker Rods or Longer.
These reels are our #1 recommendation if you’re in the market for a solid, dedicated Spod Reel.
Note: I recommend a specific 12-foot spod and marker rod with a high test curve to get the most out of these specific spod reels.
Improved Carp Angling – Recommended Reel Comparison
For a more detailed look at our recommended Carp Fishing Reels Side by Side, I’ve put the details into a table for closer comparison to help with your decision.
| Reel Model | Gear Ratio | Weight (g/oz) | Line (lbs-yds) | Bearings | Line Retrieve / Crank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultegra Spod XTD | 5.2 | 630g 22.2oz | 10-425 12-315 16-230 | 4/1 | 124 cm 49 in |
| Ultegra 14000 XTD | 4.3 | 620g 21.9oz | 12-600 16-440 20-330 | 1/3/1 | 103 cm 40 in |
| Baitrunner ST 10000 RB | 4.6 | 555g | 10 – 545 12 – 430 14 – 325 | 1/1 | – |
| Medium Baitrunner LC 5000 XTB | 5.3 | 560g 19.8oz | 10-425 12-315 16-230 | 4/1 | 105 cm 41 in |
| Big Baitrunner LC 14000 XTB | 4.6 | 720g 25.4oz | 12 – 600 16 – 440 20 – 330 | 4/1 | 110 cm 43 in |
Hopefully, these recommendations aid in your decision to purchase a set of carp fishing reels that suit the conditions you regularly fish. I’ve tried to lay out the choices listed above into choices that will suit almost any angler’s need.
Always remember the size of the rods you plan on pairing with each choice above. I’ve included rod sizes for each choice as I’ve had hands-on experience with each reel. Check out our Recommended Carp Fishing Rods Page if you’re looking for Rods to pair with your new Reels.