Best Low Profile Spinning Fishing Reels of 2026

Paul Tilton Avatar
Paul Tilton
Last Updated: Jan 29, 2026

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Low profile spinning fishing reels are a popular choice among anglers due to their compact size and lightweight design. These reels are perfect for those who prefer to fish with a lighter line and want to reduce the overall weight of their fishing setup. They are also great for targeting smaller fish species such as panfish and trout. Low profile spinning reels come in a variety of sizes and styles to accommodate different fishing techniques and preferences. They are easy to use and provide a smooth and reliable performance on the water.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Reel Cover #TOP 1
Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Reel
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel Cover #TOP 2
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Piscifun Torrent II Baitcaster Fishing Reel Cover #TOP 3
Piscifun Torrent II Baitcaster Fishing Reel
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Low Profile Spinning Fishing Reels

Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Reel

MAX5PROLP-L
White/Red
Max Pro (New Model)
Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Reel Cover
Abu Garcia Max Pro Low Profile Baitcast Fishing Reel, Left, Lightweight Design, Graphite Body and Sideplates, Duragear Brass Gear, Carbon Matrix Drag System

The Abu Garcia Max Pro Reel is designed to provide smooth and fast performance for various fishing styles. Its high recovery rate means you can quickly reel in 31 inches of line with each turn, making it easier to keep up with active fish. The lightweight graphite body keeps your gear compact and comfortable for long fishing trips, while the durable Duragear brass gear ensures your reel lasts through many uses. With nine stainless steel bearings and an adjustable MagTrax braking system, you get smooth operation and precise control in any fishing situation. Plus, the carbon matrix drag system offers consistent pressure, helping you manage tough fights with ease.

What We Like
High line recovery rate
Lightweight graphite body
Durable brass gear
9 stainless steel bearings
Adjustable MagTrax braking
#TOP 2

Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel

1593807
Multi
Standard
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel Cover
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel, Right Handle Position, Graphite Body and Rotor, Corrosion-Resistant, Aluminum Spool, Star Drag System

The Pflueger Monarch Baitcast Reel offers a great balance of quality and affordability, making it an excellent choice for anglers who want reliable gear without overspending. Its lightweight graphite body and machined aluminum spool resist corrosion, so you can enjoy fishing in various conditions without worrying about wear. The reel’s 6.1:1 gear ratio allows you to retrieve your line quickly and smoothly, improving your casting control. Plus, the multi-disc star drag system with a maximum drag of 15 pounds helps you tire out fish efficiently. This reel’s smooth operation, thanks to its 5-ball bearing system and instant anti-reverse feature, ensures a pleasant fishing experience every time.

What We Like
Lightweight corrosion-resistant body
Efficient 6.1:1 gear ratio
Strong 15lb drag system
Smooth 5-ball bearing operation
Instant anti-reverse feature

Piscifun Torrent II Baitcaster Fishing Reel

Piscifun-BRL003-PN
8.1:1 Gear Ratio
Piscifun Torrent II Baitcaster Fishing Reel Cover
Piscifun Torrent II Baitcasting Fishing Reel, 20LB Carbon Fiber Drag Baitcasters, 8.1:1 Gear Ratio & Magnet Braking System Low Profile Casting Reel, Right Handed

The Piscifun Torrent II Reel is a sleek and stylish baitcasting reel that offers excellent durability and performance. With its innovative design, including a matte gray body and comfortable EVA knobs, this reel is perfect for your next fishing trip. The CNC aircraft-grade hardened, anodized aluminum main gear and brass pinion gear provide exceptional durability, corrosion resistance, and impact resistance, allowing you to battle trophy fish with confidence. The Torrent II comes in different gear ratios and sizes, making it suitable for various fishing techniques. It features an easily adjustable external magnetic brake and advanced carbon fiber drag system, providing a powerful and smooth drag. With its lightweight and low profile design, the Torrent II offers a comfortable and efficient fishing experience.

What We Like
Great performance for the price
Easy to adjust and fine-tune
Durable and high-quality construction
#TOP 4

Abu Garcia Revo 5 X Fishing Reel

REVO5 X LP-L
White
Abu Garcia Revo 5 X Fishing Reel Cover
Abu Garcia Revo 5 X Low Profile Fishing Reel, Left Handle Position, C6 Carbon Frame & Asymmetrical Body Design, Durable, Lightweight Fishing Reels

The Abu Garcia Revo 5 X is designed to elevate your fishing experience with its lightweight C6 Carbon frame and unique asymmetrical body. You can easily recover 27 inches of line with each crank, thanks to its efficient gear ratio of 6.7:1. The reel is equipped with 8 stainless steel bearings, ensuring smooth operation and instant anti-reverse to keep tension on your line. With a reliable Carbon Matrix drag system, enjoy a maximum drag of 20 pounds, making it ideal for tackling bigger catches. This combination of features provides you with performance and convenience on the water.

What We Like
Lightweight carbon frame
Smooth operation with bearings
High recovery rate
Reliable drag system
#TOP 5

Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Left Handle Reel

MON61LP-L-C
Multi
Standard
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Left Handle Reel Cover
Pflueger Monarch Low Profile Fishing Reel, Left Handle Position, Graphite Body and Rotor, Corrosion-Resistant, Aluminum Spool, Star Drag System

The Pflueger Monarch Left Reel offers a smart balance of quality and value, making it a great choice for anglers who want reliable gear without overspending. Its lightweight graphite body and corrosion-resistant aluminum spool ensure durability and ease of use, especially in challenging fishing environments. Designed for left-handed users, the 90mm bowed aluminum handle provides a comfortable grip for better control. With a gear ratio of 6.1:1, you can retrieve 26 inches of line with each turn, giving you smooth casting and efficient line recovery. The reel also features a multi-disc star drag system with a max drag of 15 pounds, helping you tire out fish more effectively during the fight.

What We Like
Lightweight graphite body
Corrosion-resistant aluminum spool
Left-handed 90mm handle
Efficient 6.1:1 gear ratio
Strong 15lb star drag system
#TOP 6

Abu Garcia Revo 5 SX Reel

REVO5 SX LP
Grey
Abu Garcia Revo 5 SX Reel Cover
Abu Garcia Revo 5 SX Low Profile Fishing Reel, Right Handle Position, X2-Craftic Alloy Frame & Asymmetrical Body Design, Durable, Lightweight Fishing Reels

The Abu Garcia Revo SX is designed for anglers seeking high performance in a lightweight reel. Its X2-Craftic alloy frame and unique body shape ensure durability without adding extra weight, making it easy to handle. With a recovery rate of 29 inches per crank and a 6.7:1 gear ratio, you can efficiently reel in your catch. The 10 stainless steel bearings, including 9 HPCR bearings, provide a smooth operation, ensuring that once your hook is set, it stays under tension. Additionally, the advanced drag system allows for a maximum drag of 25 pounds, giving you the control you need during intense fishing sessions.

What We Like
Lightweight and durable
Smooth operation
High recovery rate
Strong drag system
Ultimate control
#TOP 7

Abu Garcia Max SX Flipping Switch Baitcast Reel

MAX5SXLP-F
Black
Abu Garcia Max SX Flipping Switch Baitcast Reel Cover
Abu Garcia Max SX Flipping Switch Low Profile Baitcast Fishing Reel, Right, Lightweight Design, Graphite Body and Sideplates, Duragear Brass Gear, Power Disk Drag System

The Abu Garcia Max SX Reel is designed to give you smooth and precise casting every time. Its flipping switch makes it easy to adjust your casting quickly, so you can handle different fishing situations with ease. With a gear ratio of 6.8:1, you can retrieve a good amount of line per crank, making your fishing more efficient. The reel’s lightweight graphite body ensures you won’t get tired during long fishing trips, while the durable Duragear brass gear promises long-lasting performance. Plus, the 8 stainless steel bearings and MagTrax braking system help keep your casting smooth and under control, even in tricky conditions.

What We Like
Flipping switch for quick casting
Efficient 6.8:1 gear ratio
Lightweight graphite body
Duragear brass gear durability
8 stainless steel bearings
#TOP 8

HiUmi KD500 Big Game Baitcasting Reel

gray
HiUmi KD500 Big Game Baitcasting Reel Cover
Big Game Baitcasting Reels 33Lbs Max Drag Low Profile Baitcaster Fishing Reel (Right)

The HiUmi KD500 Baitcaster is built tough with premium materials to ensure long-lasting durability, so you can rely on it when targeting large freshwater fish. With a powerful 33-pound drag and hardened brass gears, it helps you handle big fish and heavy swimbaits, making it ideal for both freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing. The reel includes high-quality components like five double-shielded stainless steel bearings and an instant anti-reverse feature, which provide smooth operation and reduce noise. Its ergonomic design features a stable line guide system and a magnetic braking system that prevents line overruns, helping you cast accurately and comfortably during long fishing sessions.

What We Like
Durable construction
33 lbs max drag power
High-quality bearings and gears
Magnetic braking system
Ergonomic design

KastKing Centron Lite Baitcasting Reel

KK-CE BC-All-2
A:White-Right-7.1:1
KastKing Centron Lite Baitcasting Reel Cover
KastKing Centron Lite Baitcasting Fishing Reels, 7.1:1 Gear Ratio, Right Handed Reel, White

The KastKing Centron Lite Baitcasting Reel is an ultra-light and ultra-powerful reel designed for longer casts. It features 5 double-shielded stainless steel ball bearings, a 10-magnet braking system, and a maximum drag of 15.4 LB. The CNC Anodized Aluminum Spool has Standard Braided Line Capacity LB/Yds 12LB/180Yds, 15LB/145Yds, 20LB/120Yds, Standard Mono Line Capacity LB/Yds 8LB/90Yds, 10LB/80Yds, 12LB/55Yds. This reel is perfect for anglers looking for longer casting distance and a smooth, reliable performance.

What We Like
Lightweight, compact design
Excellent casting distance
Easy-to-use magnetic brake
Smooth drag and retrieval
Great value for price
#TOP 10

Pflueger President Baitcast Reel

PFLPRESLPB
Multi-color
PFLPRESLPB
Pflueger President Baitcast Reel Cover
Pflueger President Baitcast Low Profile Reel, Freshwater Fishing Reel, Right Handle Position, Graphite Construction, Multi Disc Star Drag System

The Pflueger President Reel offers a smooth and reliable fishing experience thanks to its quality components and balanced design, making it a great companion for your fishing trips. Its low-profile build with a lightweight graphite frame and aluminum spool ensures durability without weighing you down, perfect for right-handed anglers. With a gear ratio of 6.5:1, you’ll retrieve 28 inches of line with every turn, helping you reel in your catch quickly and efficiently. The multi-disc star drag system provides up to 15 pounds of resistance, allowing you to tire out fish more easily, while the 6+1 ball bearing setup and instant anti-reverse feature deliver smooth and responsive performance on every cast and retrieve.

What We Like
Smooth operation
Lightweight graphite frame
Efficient 6.5:1 gear ratio
Strong 15lb star drag
6+1 ball bearing system
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does a low profile reel mean?

A low profile baitcast reel is a little different than a spinning reel. For one, it sits on top of your rod rather than below. The main difference is that the line comes directly off of a spinning spool, while on a spinning reel the line comes off of a stationary spool.

2. What is the smallest size spinning reel?

Ultralight spinning reels are not a type of reel itself but are the smallest model/size of a spinning reel. Typically, ultralight reels are within the sizing of 1000, 1500, 2000 & 2500 (or 10 – 25). These numbers are common model numbers that are given to represent the size of the spinning reel.

3. What are low gear ratio reels good for?

Low gear ratio reel | 5.1:1 thru 5.4:1 A lower fishing gear ratio reel is ideal for big baits that pull a lot, such as deep crankbaits. These reels have the highest amount of torque, allowing you to put less effort into retrieving the bait and more energy towards finding the fish.

4. What is the smallest Shimano spinning reel?

Shimano Stradic FL 1000 The Stradic ultralight reel is the lightest model – coming in at less than a pound. The reel continues to use the same HAGANE technology of the higher end model.

Editor's Notes

During our low profile spinning fishing reel research, we found 24 low profile spinning fishing reel products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 29,815 customer reviews through our big data system to write the low profile spinning fishing reels list. We found that most customers choose low profile spinning fishing reels with an average price of $42.02.

The low profile spinning fishing reels are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of low profile spinning fishing reels, including Abu Garcia, Pflueger, Piscifun, HiUmi, KastKing. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Paul Tilton Avatar

Paul Tilton is a fitness enthusiast. He doesn't like to work in front of a computer screen so he quit his job and runs a gym in Washington. He spent a lot of time on the road and has been a contributing writer for a well-known travel guide website. He is now happy to share his travel experience and professional knowledge of travel gear and fitness here.