Power Assist Fishing Reel Review
Some of the best game fish come from extreme depths of our favorite fishing areas around the US. Whether you love to catch Tilefish off the Atlantic coast, big ugly Ling Cod off the northwest states or stubborn Gulf Grouper they all have one thing in common, deep water. To help us deal with this reality the electric reel was invented.
While fishing for these challenging species is usually fun, probably no one looks forward to cranking up a bunch of lead plus 5-10 lbs of fighting fish out of 300 feet of water. Thankfully we have access to some great manufacturers of power assisted electric fishing reels. Along with new battery technology that is always increasing the life of our electronics we can fish for a day or more without need of a charge.
Electric fishing reels vary greatly. There are many bells and whistles that you will want to consider and decide if they are included and worth the extra money. Price varies greatly for an electric reel, anywhere from $300 to well over $6,000. The weekend warrior will probably be looking at price points under $1000 so we have included the best of this group in the review below. For those with a deeper pocket we included the best of the best, the LP 1200 as well.
Best Electric Reels
| Top Picks | Best Price |
|---|---|
| Shimano BeastMaster |  |
| Diawa Tanacom 500 | |
| Banax Kaigen 7000 | |
Best Budget Electric Reel
| Daiwa Leo Blitz | |
Electric Reel Key Features To Consider
- Max Drag
Drag capacity is important and you want to be sure the electric reel you buy has enough drag to handle the size fish and lead weight you will be working with. For typical bottom fish applications I would look for nothing less than 35 lbs of max drag. If you are fishing for larger species like Swordfish you will want much more.
- Braid Capacity
The main function of a power assisted electric reel is to get your bait down to deep water and pull up big fish from those depths. If the line capacity of your spool is not sufficient you will find that when you are out fishing and you try to get the bait to the bottom, you run out of braid line. Not a fun thing to happen. Be sure the spool on your electric reel has enough capacity to get to the depths you want to fish and have about 25% extra line on top of that.
- Gear Ratio
Gear ratios determine the speed at which a reel picks up line. Fishing reels with a gear ratio of 3.5:1 means the spool rotates 3.5 times for every full turn of the reel handle. The higher the gear ratio the faster the line will be reeled in. So be sure to compare this when deciding on your electric reel
- Brand Reliability
Power assist reels are electronic marvels. Electronics, rough handling and salt water don’t usually go well together. With sensitive equipment, there is always the chance of your device going belly up or having some technical glitch. Be sure to choose a manufacturer you feel is trustworthy, who has a good warranty and a reputation to stand by its product.
Best Power Assist Electric Reels
1. Shimano BeastMaster Power Assist Reel
At the pinnacle of the electric fishing reel is the Shimano BeastMaster. Due to great effort by the engineers at Shimano, we now have a reel that is able to explore very deep reefs and bottom structure. Extracting giant fish from the deep is a specialty of the brushless, high-torque, high-speed, and long lasting GigaMax Motor. This engineering marvel packs a winding strength of up to 290 pounds. The Beast Master boasts an amazing 55 pounds of thermo-adjustable drag power with a 50% reduction of drag heat, so fish from the depths like Tilefish, halibut, grouper, swordfish and tuna will not stand a chance. The rotation of the spool can be stopped by anglers with the aid of the mechanical brake knob. This will stop any backlash from the reel as it drops to your preferred depth.
Specs
- Model – BM3000xp
- Weight (oz) – 29
- Bearings – 9
- Gear Ratio – 3.9:1
- Retrieve per Crank (in) – 35
- Braid (lb/yrd) – 40/437, 50/382, 60/328, 80/218
- Max Drag (lb) – 44
2. Diawa Tanacom 500 Power Reel
Smaller than typical electric reels, the Diawa Tanacom 500 and 750 are unique in their size.
New areas of use by power assisted reels are now available because of this compact design. Due to the lighter weight and smaller size you can easily hold them by hand and use them in stand up fishing scenarios instead of having to keep them stationary in a rod holder.
Now you can more easily target sand dabs, lingcod, halibut, rock cod and tilefish due to the lighter fishing line that can be used. This is not a flimsy build reel though. The Tanacom boasts a stiff aluminum frame that can hold up to heavy loads.
There are many features that combine to make this a great reel. The unit comes with a strong power cord to keep you connected to power throughout the day. You can make real time changes to your line retrieval speed via the variable speed control system.
The quality of these reels is further seen in the Model 500 which contains 6 ball bearings and a roller bearing. You will not have trouble pulling up those bigger fish due to a 33-pound maximum drag pressure rating.
Specs
- Model – TANACOM500
- Ball Bearings – 7
- Gear Ratio – 3.7:1
- Line Per Crank – 22.3
- Weight (oz) – 28.2
- Braid Cap (lb/yrd) – 40/550, 50/440, 65/330
- Max Drag – 33
3. Banax Kaigen 7000 Electric Fishing Reel
Banax is a quality electric reel made to last. It uses 6 carbon fiber drag discs which gives a smooth pull to dampen hard runs. Banax spool are larger than the competition to ensure rapid retrieval of your fish. Level wind is critical to reliable operation of a reel. Banax uses dual ‘through shafts’ for greater strength and is fitted with a ceramic guide less likely to chafe braid. The motor design is cast aluminum for water resistance and heat dissipation. With these and other extra features you can be sure the Banax Kaigen will be a reliable electric reel.
- Black anodized aluminum diecasting frame
- Power on/off and speed control available by speed lever
- Spool made of forged Aluminum
- Sensitive adjustable digital unit to set the depth
- Smooth carbon fiber drag washers (6 total)
- Jigging function
- Memory back up if unplugged
- Soft EVA handle knob
Specs
- Model – Kaigen 7000sv
- Gear Ratio – 3.5:1
- Ball Bearings – 6
- Max Drag – 42
- Weight (oz) – 25
- Braid Cap (lb/yrd) – 40/437, 50/481, 65/360
4. Lindgren-Pitman LP S2 1200 Electric Reel
When it comes to electric fishing reels, the LP line of power assisted reels is the leader in the field. This is the go to reel for big game fishing and commercial use. The company’s name has been synonymous with longline fishing gear for 40 years. This is the company that invented monofilament longline spool. The LP 1200 electric reel is the go-to reel for many sport fishing boats and commercial operations.
This electric fishing reel has a rock solid reputation for reels that can take the abuse of non-stop use and be ready to go day after day. The reel was described to me by a long time saltwater fisherman as ‘reliable, line capacity to catch 700lb swordfish, ability to switch spools in 30 seconds converting your deep drop reel to a dredge reel or planer reel or bottom reel… versatility and reliability second to none. Expensive yes, but you will never need to buy another electric reel’.
Description.
Newer technology has allowed for increased efficiency providing high performance with 12 volt input not previously available. Advanced electronics allows for many new features. The model now includes a counter and stop at top automatic operation.
The all new cantilever spool design allows for a completely sealed drive system for long reliable, maintenance free use. The gear driven level winder line wraps automatically for hands off easy retrieval. Testing suggests the LP 1200 is the most rugged and ergonomically designed electric reel on the market.
- State-of-the-art 12 volt DC high power motor operation
- Electronic Control and Switching.
- Digital Counter
- Stop at Top Mode
- Easy To Use Controls
- Hands Off Hauling
- Level Winder That Is Gear Driven
- Ergonomic Cantilever Design
- Inert Gas Atmosphere Sealed Electronics
- Optional Titanium Spool – Use Type or Size of Fishing Line
- Anodized Aluminum Alloy Build
- Fast Change Spool Design
- Drag System With 2 Stages
- Vernier Control and External Preset Drag Control
- Smooth Wide Span Drag Control
- Drag Capability Of Up To 100lb plus
- Designed for Non Stop Fishing for Large Fish in Deep Water
- All ‘Line Type’ Spool Design
- Spool Designed for High Line Storage
Specs
- Fishing Line Capacity
- 2500 yds of 80 lb braid
- 1200 yds of 100 lb braid
- 1200 yds of 100 lb mono
- 1000 yds of 100 lb stainless wire
Average Price – $5,500
There you have it. These are some of the best electric reels on the market today. If you are tired of the long haul from sea floor, get an electric reel and let the hardware do all the work. It makes fishing a lot easier and a bit more fun.
