Best Ice Fishing Reels for Catching Walleye : With Pros & Cons

When selecting ice fishing reels to catch walleye fish, it’s important to consider the size and strength of your equipment.

The reels used to catch walleyes should be strong enough to drive and handle the weight and pressure a walleye fish can generate.

The last thing you want is to lose a huge fish and break your fishing reel.

Check out the list below to find out the best ice fishing reels to catch walleye fish with.

Best Ice Fishing Reels for Catching Walleye

Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel

The Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel is perfect for anglers seeking a lightweight, high-performance reel loaded with essential features to easily catch walleye fish.

This reel is designed with a corrosion-resistant blade body and is built with a lightweight graphite frame.

It is rugged enough to endure even the harshest conditions and provides consistently smooth performance year after year.

Equipped with an exclusive multi-disc drag system, this fishing reel is capable of cranking in the jiggling walleye fish.

The rotor system features Okuma RESII computer balancing to make it run smoothly. This means you can count on this reel to cast smoothly, even when you use it at high speeds.

A custom EVA handle knob is supremely comfortable and affords a sure contact point on the handle’s face for greater control when you’re fighting the big ones on open water.

The Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel is available in many sizes from C-10 through C-65 that can accommodate two to six-pound test fishing lines up to 20 to 30-pound braided lines.

They recommend the C-30 or C-40 for ice anglers looking for a fishing reel to finesse a walleye fish with a 6/8 pound line.

However, some users observed that the graphite frame is a little flimsy which makes it look and feel like plastic.

Daiwa BG Spinning Reel

The Daiwa Bg Spinning Reel is designed to provide the ultimate comfort, convenience, and ease of use.

This fishing reel features Anodized Machined Aluminum Housing construction for a lighter, higher-performance reel that looks absolutely beautiful in black.

In addition, it has a solid machined aluminum screw-in handle which ensures smooth, lightning-fast retrieves while maintaining optimal stability.

This rugged, heavy-duty fishing reel is equipped with a manual return bail for 4500 and larger sizes.

Furthermore, it comes with infinite anti-reverse systems for 4000 and smaller sizes, and infinite dual anti-reverse systems for 4500 and larger sizes.

Several users pointed out that this fishing reel doesn’t work well in the saltwater environment; it tends to lose its smoothness on certain parts resulting in difficult retrieval.

RUNCL Spinning Reel Titan II

The RUNCL Spinning Reel Titan II is built for the most extreme fishing conditions. It is engineered with the highest-quality materials and multiple mechanisms to ensure longevity and performance.

The full metal body and two-color anodized after-polishing surface ensure durability over all types of fishing environments.

The surface of the rotor component is protected by a phosphating coating for enhanced wear resistance.

Along with it is a 169-hour salt mist test, which means no corrosion in the long term, even when exposed to harsh saltwater conditions.

This reel features performance elements such as 9+1 precision stainless steel shield bearings and stronger precision NCTM (No Clearance Transmission Mechanism) solid brass pinion gears that provide silky-smooth operation.

It features a 20% thicker stainless steel main shaft, which gives it higher strength, and a sealed multi-disc carbon drag system that delivers uninterrupted and balanced performance.

With an incredible 33-pound maximum drag, it handles the biggest walleye fish without fail. The front drag system also includes three premium multi-disc carbon fiber washers for reliable stopping power.

The only thing about this fishing reel is that some of its parts do not come lubricated, so you have to do it yourself.

KastKing Valiant Eagle Gold Spinning Reel

This Reel can tackle a variety of jobs from freshwater bass to saltwater species like redfish etc.

This is because it is designed to be lightweight without compromising on strength, performance, or durability.

It comes with a raptor-inspired lightweight yet strong body with an enhanced graphite frame and rotor.

This helps to reduce weight for better casting capabilities and overall comfortability when used for long periods.

This high-performing reel has an incredible power of an exceptional 22-lb. multi-disc carbon fiber drag system that provides you with smooth and solid stopping power.

It has the same surface finishing treatment that is given to all KastKing reels but uses a total of 7+1 MaxiDur shielded stainless steel ball bearings for remarkably smooth cranking retrieves.

The patent-pending spool is designed to increase casting distance and improve line control for a smooth and steady haul.

A lightweight aluminum handle with an EVA knob is also there to provide you with extra leverage and control when casting.

Many users love how smoothly this fishing reel performs. Even so, some noted that it makes noises when you retrieve the line.

However, using this fishing reel with help you catch walleye. After all, you just don’t want to sit and wait for a long time (like these guys) to catch walleye.

KastKing Zephyr Carbon Spinning Reel

The KastKing Zephyr Spinning Reel is made from a high percentage carbon-infused nylon frame that delivers lightweight and strength.

It features carbon fiber drag and stainless steel bearings for increased durability. This reel is designed for saltwater fishing and has a corrosion-resistant finish.

Meanwhile, its 3-carbon fiber disc drag delivers up to 22 lbs. of smooth drag.

This means that they can handle anything from ultralight fishing to big game walleye fish.

This fishing reel also comes equipped with 10 MaxiDur double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings + 1 instant anti-reverse bearing for a smooth operation fishing experience.

It is manufactured with an aluminum handle with an EVA grip for easy handling and comfort to help you get a firm hold on your fishing rod while reeling in the fish.

The new KastKing Zephyr gives the angler an ultra-light fishing reel that is perfectly matched to today’s spin fishing techniques.

They will be a perfect fishing partner for walleye fishing or catching inshore saltwater fish.

However, some users said that this fishing reel has a bit of difficulty handling heavier lines since it tends to wobble.

How to Choose Ice Fishing Reels to Catch a Walleye

Ice fishing reels are extremely difficult to choose for anglers due to the vast number of options.

The imperative question while buying ice fishing reels is to list out all the features you require in your reel to catch a walleye.

Type of Ice Fishing Reel

There are two types of reels; inline reels and spinning reels in the market. Spinning reels are always preferred over inline reels because of an enhanced as well as improved drag system.

The spinning reels have better balance and smooth finish than the in-line reels.

Although to catch a walleye, an angler should prefer an in-line reel as they offer multiple gear ratios.

They have a direct-on and direct-off feature that eliminates the twists in the line of the reel. The smooth dropping-down action prevents you from repeatedly feeding the line.

Material

There are mainly three different materials used for the manufacturing of ice fishing reels: graphite, fiberglass, and composite.

Graphite is pretty expensive and lighter in comparison to the other two materials. The fiberglass is more bendable and lighter than the graphite and composite options.

Power

The power referred to here is the lighting power that is categorized into ultra-light, light, light-medium, and heavy.

The medium-light is the best choice to catch a walleye as it can effortlessly handle the medium to light lines. 

Length of the Rod

The ice fishing reels with longer rods are specifically designed for walleye fishing as it helps in diverse ways.

The tip of the ice fishing rod is pretty fast with a strong backbone that allows the angler to sense the bite of the walleye.

The rods with a sturdy backbone and sensitive tip are the best combination to catch a walleye.

Final Words

In conclusion, hope this article helps you to find the right ice fishing reel for your adventure on the ice.

Apart from this, don’t forget to carry other essential gear for your ice fishing like an ice fishing auger, heater, headlamps, etc.

It is better to be safe than sorry and this is especially true when you are going out in frigid weather in the middle of nowhere to fish.

We hope you have an amazing ice-fishing trip!