Best Ice Fishing Reels for the money in 2020. Tried, tested & reviewed

Ice fishing is a great way to get out of the house during those long and cold winter months. It gives you the ability to enjoy the outdoors during those long duration’s of cabin fever and boredom. Simply venture out onto the ice with an ice fishing shanty, an electric ice auger in your favorite ice fishing reel and rod combo, and you’re ready to go.

Finding the best ice fishing reel can be an arduous task if you’re unaware of the exact type of fish you’ll be going after. There are various forms of ice fishing reels currently on the market and each of them are tailored for specific kinds of fishing as well as a specific type of angler.

Depending on your personal fishing styles you’ll have to choose the right reel for your specific fishing style and ability. Luckily we’ve done the testing and the research associated to finding the top ice fishing reels currently on the market so you can easily and effectively determine which one is best for your specific situation and needs.

If you’re on the market for an ice fishing reel or just looking for some good ice fishing reels then you come to the right place. Here are our picks of the best ice fishing reels for the money in 2020.

Enjoy Our Ice Fishing Reels Review

Image	Name	Top Choices	Latest Pricing
	1. 13 Fishing Black Betty Freefall Ghost	Our Favorite	Amazon
	2. Pflueger MONICEB Monarch Ice Spinning Reel	Premium Pick	Amazon
	3. Piscifun ICX 5 Ice Fishing Reel	Great Value	Amazon
	4. 13 Fishing One 3 Descent Ice Reel		Amazon
	5. Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel		Amazon

Pricing of these Ice Fishing Reels Range Between $26-$85

13 Fishing Black Betty Freefall Ghost Review

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The Black Betty Freefall Ghost offers those who ice fish a major advantage when it comes to strike zone control. This is due to its revolutionary freefall trigger. This works by the press of a button. It will send the smallest of jigs straight down into the water to where the fish are – ready and waiting for you to set the hook. The freefall is really easy to control as well, and will stop exactly where you want it to. It is however, easy to trigger accidentally, so watch where you are placing your hands.

This reel comes with 4 stainless steel ball bearings and an instant anti-reverse. It and be used one-handed for a smooth drag and easy operation. It has a 2:5:1 gear ratio for shallow to mid-depth fishing and has a tangle-free pool cap to simplify managing your line.

It has a composite graphite frame that is saltwater resistant and with aluminum handles and soft touch knobs, it one of the best inline ice fishing reels currently out. It has an integrated fender and instant hookup system. This reel is great for sub-zero temperatures, however when placed on the ground the line does have a tendency to freeze up which isn’t ideal.

Pros

•      Freefall trigger
•      Instant anti-reverse
•      Aluminum handles and soft touch knobs

Cons

•      Can trigger accidentally
•      Line prone to freezing

Pflueger MONICEB Monarch Ice Spinning Reel Review

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The extended handle on the Pflueger Monarch Ice spinning reel offers a comfortable grip on either hand and the secure body attaches well on to your rod. It has a 5 bearing system with corrosion resistant stainless steel ball bearings that require very little maintenence. They are also fully secured as they are sealed inside the reel to allow for a smooth layout. The bearings also mix well with the graphite body. As graphite is very lightweight, this keeps the overall weight of the Monarch down to only 11 ounces. This is still quite heavy for a full reel, however it feels very solid and not unwieldy even though it is quite large.

The aluminium bail of this reel offers a rigid wire to prevent misting while the easy to use line insertion system prevents tangles. The bail angles back towards the rod – this minimizes pulsing when reeling in. It has very smoth continuous clutch action with no clicks, that grabs immediately. One of the biggest downsides to this reel is the fact that it has no anti-reverse switch, which is a must have in the majority of reels on the market today. Apart from this however, the reel performs very well in all conditions. One of the best ice fishing spinning reels currently on the market.

Pros

•      Comfortable grip
•      5 stainless steel bearings
•      Minimizes pulsing when reeling in

Cons

•      Larger than expected
•      No anti-reverse

Piscifun ICX 5 Ice Fishing Reel Review

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This Reel from Picifun is designed for all of your ice fishing needs. It has a high strength body made from graphite as well as a graphite rotor that ensures toughness in all of the elements. One of the best features of this reel is the quick folding handle. It folds neatly away for easy transportation while not compromising on strength.

This ice fishing reel has 5+1 sealed ball bearings and a zinc alloy drive gear. Along with instant anti-reverse, the gives it a very smooth performance, particularly when you are wrestling with a big catch. The aluminium spool design is water resistant and prevents water from getting to the rotor. Not only this, but the line management gives an even line lay.

This is a lightweight reel and comes in two different colors. It has an extended stem that is perfect when for use when wearing gloves, and the carbon fiber washers alongside stainless steel discs offer twice the drag surface of ordinary reels. The front drag system is easy to adjust, with the oversized spool preventing excessive line coiling. One of the downsides to this reel is that it isn’t for saltwater, only for fresh, however it is one of the best valued reels on the market. However, it’s hard to say how durable it would be over time.

Pros

•      High strength
•      Quick folding handle
•      Smooth performance
•      Inexpensive

Cons

•      Not for saltwater use
•      May not be durable over time

13 Fishing One 3 Descent Ice Reel Review

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The 13 Fishing Descent Inline Ice Reel  features a high-performance graphite frame to provide strength and rigidity. You can use this reel while using the pistol grip without touching the spool. Another feature is quick and easy spool changes with the new rapid release spool design. This drop speed control allows you to have control over even the smallest of jigs. It has a  2.7:1 gear ratio for rapid line pickup as well as a built-in fender.

There are five stainless steel ball bearings for the smoothest line operation available. As well as this, the Descent reel has an instant anti-reverse that works well every time. This reel has a soft touch finish as well as an aluminum handle which makes it easy to put consistent pressure on large fish.

It even comes with a dead stick bait alarm that works brilliantly when fish start running with your bait, however only for larger fish. The drag can get jumpy from time to time when you have a very large fish on, however extra lubrication can help to solve this issue.

Pros

•      Rapid release spool design
•      Drop speed control
•      Anti-reverse
•      Dead stick bait alarm

Cons

•      Drag can be jumpy
•      Bait alarm best for large fish

Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel Review

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Fiblink Inline Ice Fishing Reel has a super smooth drag system that can be adjusted according to your needs. It also features an instant ani-reverse. The ultra-lightweight design makes it the perfect companion for all of your ice-fishing needs. It has a comfortable nonslip cork grip and a star drag knob. This reel also comes with a protective bag to store it in.

It also has a free spool release button, however this isn’t as reliable as some other models and it cannot be adjusted. With a CNC machined aluminum spool, this gives the reel and extra large line capacity. The gear ratio on this reel is 2:7:1 and it has 4+1 stainless steel ball bearings that are corrosion resistant and protected inside the reel. This is a very reliable, durable reel that will stand the test of time well compared to some similar models at the same price.

There aren’t any instructions with this product, so if you haven’t had an ice-fishing reel before then this probably isn’t the best one for you. However, if you are familiar with them, this is a very good price for a standard reel.

Pros

•      Nonslip cork grip
•      Super smooth drag
•      Anti-reverse
•      Extra line capacity

Cons

•      Free spool is unreliable
•      No instructions