The Best Reels for Pike Fishing for 2026

The Shimano Baitrunner CI4+ XT-B LC is the reel I would put at the top for pike, because for deadbaiting it does everything a predator angler needs and does it beautifully. Shimano themselves rate it as their ultimate Baitrunner.

Deadbaiting is where it shines. The rear-operated freespool lets a taking pike move off with the bait before I pick the rod up and engage, and the huge long-cast AR-C spool, which is close to big-pit size, throws a legered deadbait right across a reservoir or a big gravel pit.

The clever part is the weight. It is built from Shimano's Ci4+ composite, so a reel this big feels impossibly light, which helps rod speed on the cast, and inside there is HAGANE gearing and X-SHIP for smooth, powerful cranking, plus X-Protect water resistance for grim winter sessions.

It is a premium price and it is a big reel aimed at range rather than close-in lure work, so a lure angler is better served lower down this list. For serious deadbaiting on big waters, nothing here touches it.

The Savage Gear Thoriz is the reel I would choose for lure fishing pike, because in the larger sizes it is built to throw and retrieve the bigger baits pike want. It is designed to partner Savage's SG rod range and it matches them for performance.

The bigger models handle big softbaits, spinnerbaits and jerkbaits without complaint, so a day working a lure round a pit or drain is well within it, while the smaller sizes drop down to finesse work for perch and zander if I want one reel to cross over.

The K-Alloy body takes all the flex out under load so the Precision Cut gearing stays smooth even when a fish is hanging on the drag, and it runs carbon drag washers with a Hydro Sealed system plus a tapered spool lip for casting distance and fewer wind knots. It feels tough and dependable in the hand.

It is a lure and general predator reel rather than a long-range deadbait tool, so for casting big legered baits across a reservoir the baitrunners suit better. For working lures for pike, it is my pick.

The Fox Rage Rage TR is the reel I would pick for finesse predator work, because it is Fox Rage's flagship fixed spool and it feels genuinely high-end. It is aimed at the modern lure angler who fishes light.

It comes in 1500 and 2500 sizes, which is small for a big deadbait but perfect for dropshotting, jigging and twitching smaller lures for perch, zander and the smaller, more active pike that fall to that style. On a canal or a drain working light lures, it balances a short lure rod nicely.

The spec backs up the price. It runs 10+1 bearings for a super-smooth wind, a carbon-reinforced rotor and a magnesium body to stay rigid and light, a CNC aluminium drive gear, and a high-grip spool band so braid can be tied straight to the spool without slipping. The cork and EVA handle grips well even when wet.

It is a small, finesse-focused reel, so for launching big lures or deadbaits it is the wrong size. For light lure and dropshot work, it is a lovely little reel.

The Shimano Baitrunner DL 6000 is the value deadbait pick, because it brings Shimano's proven baitrunner mechanism to pike fishing at a sensible price. The Baitrunner name has been the deadbaiting standard for years for good reason.

The 6000 size suits smaller lakes and rivers, where I am not casting to the horizon but still want a bolting pike to take line freely on the take. The freespool tension adjusts across a wide range, from virtually zero resistance for a shy fish right up to almost locked for fishing near snags.

This latest DL generation has upgraded internals and quiet, carpy cosmetics, with Varispeed line lay for a tidy spool, an XT-7 body, a cold-forged aluminium spool and a spare spool in the box so I can carry a second line. It is an honest, hard-wearing reel.

It is a mid-water deadbait reel rather than a long-range big-pit tool, so for casting a bait a very long way I would step up to the CI4+ at the top. For everyday deadbaiting, it is hard to beat for the money.

The Okuma Ceymar HD is the all-rounder I would point most pike anglers towards, because it is built around power and it does not cost a fortune. Okuma pitch it squarely at strength and cranking muscle.

That focus suits pike. Working a lure back or leaning into a fish that has buried itself in weed asks a lot of a reel, and the oversized HDG-II high-density gearing and gear-stabilisation design give it the grunt to keep cranking under load. It crosses over happily to light float or bait work too.

The details are a cut above the price. It has a machined aluminium screw-in handle for a solid, no-flex connection, an Even Flow Roller with a DLC coating to look after braid, a multi-disc oiled-felt drag and 7+1 bearings for a smooth wind, plus a heavy-duty aluminium bail wire that will take some knocks.

It is a general predator and coarse spinning reel rather than a specialist deadbait or dropshot tool, but as one tough, keenly-priced reel to cover a lot of pike fishing, it earns its place.

The Fox Rage Prism X Baitcast is the pick for anyone getting into baitcasting for pike, because it packs a proper casting reel into an unbeatable price. Baitcasters give real control with bigger lures once the thumb is trained, and this is an easy way in.

It is designed to pair with the Prism X casting rods for throwing jerkbaits, big crankbaits and heavier softbaits, the kind of lures a fixed spool struggles to cast well. Fished off a short casting rod it lets me fire a big lure accurately under a far bank and stay in direct contact with it.

The spec is honest and up to the job, with a cold-forged aluminium body, five bearings, a fast 6.6:1 gear ratio to pick up line quickly when a pike hits, a healthy 6.8kg of drag and room for 105m of 0.35mm line. At 212g it sits light on a casting rod.

A baitcaster has a learning curve and this is a keenly-priced starter rather than a flagship, so a seasoned lure angler may want more. As a first pike baitcaster, it is a smart, affordable buy.

The Daiwa 23 Ninja LT is the budget pick, and it shows getting a dependable pike reel does not mean spending big. Daiwa's LT, or Light and Tough, concept gives it a spec well beyond its price.

In a 4000 or larger size it makes a genuinely useful all-round pike reel for light lure work and smaller deadbaits, so it is a sound first reel or a spare to keep in the bag. The lightweight Airdrive rotor helps it balance nicely on a lure or float rod through a long day.

For the money the internals are strong, with a Tough Digigear for high retrieve power and a smooth wind, an ATD Type-L drag that stays responsive under pressure from a better fish, and a Longcast ABS spool with Twistbuster III that handles braid well, which matters for predator fishing.

It does not have the muscle or the freespool of the dearer reels here, so a committed deadbait angler will want more, but as a light, trusted, low-cost fixed spool to start pike fishing with, it is excellent value.