3 Best Round Baitcasting Reels (Top Picks for 2024)

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Did you know that people started using reels way before the industrial revolution? Yes, history records that the first fishing reel was used around 1100 years ago in China. But it was until the 1800s that tackles became famous in the United States. Since then, there has been a lot of development in the fishing industry, providing us with tons of fishing reels options. 

Now, modern fishing reels are designed to meet the accuracy and casting distance that anglers require. You can choose from spincast, spinning, or baitcasting reels.  In baitcasting reels, you can choose between low-profile and round baitcasters. In this guide, I will discuss round baitcasting reels in detail. Then, I will review three of the best round baitcasting reels. Hopefully, the information will help you choose a round baitcaster that will make your work easier. 

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel
  • Gear Ratio : 3.6:1
  • Ball Bearings : 6+1
  • Max Drag (LB) : 30
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S Round Baitcasting Reel
  • Gear Ratio : 5.1:1
  • Ball Bearings : 2
  • Drag System : Multi Disk
Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcasting Reel
  • Gear Ratio : 5.3:1
  • Ball Bearings : 6+1
  • Max Drag (LB) : 22
Also Read : Top Baitcasting Reels in the Market 

Best Round Baitcasting Reels: Reviews 

If you are looking for the best round baitcasters for the job, you are in the right place. I know with the thousands of options available, it can get confusing. But I’ve made it easy for you to get a desirable conventional reel. Here are the top three round baitcasters in 2021:

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel

If you are looking to catch some tunas or muskies, you need a strong tackle to handle them. The KastKing Rover Round is one of the top choices. It is beginner-friendly and quite affordable. You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get it home. Here are a few things you need to know about it:

KastKing Rover Round Construction 

Like most high-quality conventional reels, KastKing Rover Round comes with a high-grade aluminum spool. The handles and some of the internal components are made of stainless steel. As we all know, stainless steel is rust-resistant, making KastKing Rover a perfect reel for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. 

KastKing Rover comes with a 3.6:1 gear ratio, meaning that the spool turns 3.6 times every time you turn the handle. This may not be the fastest speed, but it will still get the job done. Furthermore, the retrieval speed is compensated by the power this reel comes with. The oversized T handles provide the angler with superb control when battling a hard-fighting fish. 

One thing many people have loved about the construction of this reel is its carbon fiber star drag. Such a drag is often found in super-expensive conventional reels, but KastKing provides it to you at a very affordable price. You will have an unbeatable combination if you pair the tackle with a high-quality fishing line. And the good thing is KastKing offers a high-quality braided line. 

Like most round baitcasters, KastKing Rover has a larger spool enough to hold enough line for long casts. Furthermore, the spool can handle all types of lines, including monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided lines. 

Excellent Casting Controls 

KastKing comes with centrifugal brakes, which are excellent at controlling the speed of the cast. Centrifugal brakes are also very helpful when battling large and hard-fighting fish. They are reliable, and they usually deliver constant pressure. 

Stainless Steel Ball Bearings 

The KastKing Rover Round comes with 6+1 stainless steel ball bearings, providing you with a smooth experience when casting and retrieving. They minimize the friction between the movable parts of the reel, and they are so effective that you won’t notice any dragging or winding. 

Pros

  • Corrosion-resistant and effective in saltwater
  • Powerful drag for large catches such as muskies, tuna, and king salmon.
  • Beginner-friendly and affordable for a reel of its quality. 
  • An excellent centrifugal braking system for easier control during casts and retrievals 
  • A perfect reel for surf, offshore, and deep fishing

Cons

  • Slightly heavy for some users 
  • It does not have a level-wind line guide

The KastKing Rover Round is a baitcaster I can recommend to all anglers. Give it a try, and you won’t regret it. 

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S Round Baitcasting Reel 

Abu Garcia is a Swedish company and the leading manufacturer of round baitcasters. Their reels are usually of the highest quality. They don’t disappoint with the Ambassadeur S. Made of stainless steel and covered with corrosion protection. The tackle is designed to last for the longest time. To help you decide it, here are the features that come with it: 

Multi-Disc Drag System 

Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S is designed for large fish, and that’s why it comes with a multi-disc drag. The drag is super powerful to handle any type of fish you catch, including salmons, catfish, and tuna. 

2 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings 

Typically, the ball bearings are put in the moving parts to reduce friction as much as possible. That said, the higher the number of ball bearings, the smoother the reel’s performance is likely to be. However, the number of the ball bearings is not always the only factor to consider. 

If the ball bearings are many but of low quality, they will likely not minimize the friction as they should. Therefore, quality also matters. Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S comes with two high-quality stainless steel ball bearings that ensure that the reel’s performance is as smooth as possible. 

4-Pin Centrifugal Brakes 

Centrifugal brakes use small pins that are often set within the reel. When you activate the brakes, the pins get into contact with the spool, slowing it down and eventually stopping it. Centrifugal brakes are very effective, and that’s why most experienced anglers prefer them to magnetic brakes. They are more consistent, and they do not affect your casting distance when casting. However, they are slightly more challenging to use, especially among novice anglers. 

Stainless Steel Handles 

Like most high-quality conventional reels, the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S comes with many parts made of stainless steel, including the handles. The parts are then covered with corrosion-resistant elements. This makes the reel perfect for both saltwater and freshwater fishing. 

Pros

  • Affordable conventional reel for all people ‘
  • Corrosion-resistant, making it ideal for both saltwater and freshwater fishing.
  • Ideal for long-distance casting and larger fish 
  • Feels good and comfortable on the hand. 
  • Smooth performances with less friction

Cons

  • Some users find the gears too tight. 
  • Made in China and does not match the quality of its Swedish Ambassadeur S counterparts

You should definitely consider the Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S if you are looking for an affordable round baitcaster that will get the job done. 

Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcasting Reel 

This baitcaster is relatively inexpensive, and it comes with an anti-line skip spool. Such a spool makes your spooling much easier, and the fact that the spool is made of aluminum is also a plus. High-quality spools are made of aluminum, a durable and lightweight material. Its forged handle is slightly extended, providing you with a stronger grip when battling a fish. To help you make an informed decision, here are the features that come with it. 

Shielded Anti-Corrosion Ball Bearings 

Piscifun Chaos XS Round is designed to be used in both saltwater and freshwater. It comes with 6+1 stainless steel ball bearings, meaning you can expect smooth performances from it and ball bearings that will last for the longest time. 

Sensitive Clicker Line Out Alarm 

The good thing with the Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcast reel is it comes with an alarm that alerts whenever a fish takes the bait. This means you will know you’ve hooked something even if you are not paying close attention to the line’s movement. 

CNC Concave Aluminum Spool 

With the unique spool that comes with the Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcaster, you can spool much easier, reducing the risk of line tangles and backlashes. Typically, a CNC concave aluminum spool stops the fishing line from slipping out of the “line” when spooling. 

Comfortable and Durable Thumb Bar 

The Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcaster comes with an “S” reinforced thumb bar that is both comfortable and durable. 

Powerful Drag 

Its premium carbon fiber drag is paired with Japanese Haimai-Cut brass gear to provide you with enough power to retrieve whatever you catch. The drag provides up to 20 pounds of stopping power. With such power, you can be assured of landing even the largest catfish. 

Pros

  • Powerful drag for larger fish like catfish and muskies 
  • Smooth performance, thanks to the 6+1 ball bearings that come with it. 
  • High-quality CNC aluminum spool. 
  • Comfortable on the hand 

Cons

  • It has some plastic parts that will likely not last a long time. 

With 20 pounds of stopping power, you can be assured of a strong round baitcaster. I recommend the Piscifun Chaos XS Round Baitcast reel to all anglers. 

What is a Round Baitcast Reel?

A round baitcaster is, as the name suggests, a baitcaster that is round in shape. Low-profile baitcasters, on the other hand, come with a handle and palm side. On the palm side, you can place your hand. The hand fits perfectly on the inside, which makes it more comfortable when using. 

Round baitcasters are also comfortable, but if you have smaller hands, they might not fit in your hands perfectly. This creates some discomfort, especially if you are making many casts per day. That said, round baitcasters have their perks, and that’s why they’ve become quite popular in recent years. 

Why Use a Round Baitcaster?

If you are new to baitcasting, many of your friends are likely to advise you to choose a low-profile baitcast reel. Yes, low-profile tackles have their strengths, but there are several things that round baitcasters are better than them. Here are the advantages that come with using round baitcasters. 

Bigger Spool Size 

Due to their round shape, these baitcasters usually have larger spools. This enables you to load more lines to the reel, which is vital when casting over long distances. You can also load a fishing line with a stronger pound test line and still get enough to cast over long distances. Stronger pound test lines are vital, especially when you want to catch large and hard-fighting fish such as muskies, tuna, and catfish. 

For example, if you hook a large tuna in saltwater, it will start running, trying to get free from the hook. With a strong and more line on the spool, you will allow the tuna to run as long as possible without exhausting the line in the spool or breaking it. 

In fact, the large spool of round baitcasters is one of the major reasons they are very popular for deep fishing and offshore fishing. Therefore, if you plan to do offshore or deep fishing, I recommend a round baitcaster. 

More Power 

Typically, round baitcasters are designed for larger catches. For that reason, they are made with more power than spinning reels and low-profile baitcasters. This action makes it easy for you to handle whatever the hook catches without having to struggle. 

However, it is worth noting that this power, in most cases, comes at the expense of the gear ratio. Therefore, a round baitcaster is likely to retrieve lures slower. Still, their drag power is usually high than spinning or low-profile baitcast reels, making it easy for you to win the battle against larger fish. What’s more, they often have oversized handles, which makes your work even easier. 

Casting Distance 

If you plan to do some surf or bank fishing, a round baitcaster is a perfect solution. They achieve the longest casts, which is ideal for bank and surf fishing. Typically, they outperform spinning and low-profile baitcast reels in terms of casting distance. 

In fact, the longest casting world record of 915.22 feet was achieved by Danny Moeskops using a round baitcaster and a long surfing rod. Furthermore, round baitcasters perform excellently when casting larger and heavier baits such as oversized crankbaits and swimbaits. 

Durability 

Typically, the durability of a fishing reel is determined by the materials used and how well you take care of it. However, since round baitcasters are designed to catch larger and hard-fighting fish, they are made with the most durable materials. They can last for a long time to provide you with the value for your money. 

Most of them can withstand saltwater for years without rusting or impairing their performance. Still, it is essential to buy a high-quality conventional reel if you want it to last long. In the next section, I discuss three high-quality reels that can serve you for years. 

Wrapping Up 

In the end, the best round baitcast reel will depend on your fishing technique and preferences. However, there are some reels that quite solid and ideal to people of all skill levels. For anglers looking for affordable but strong round baitcasters, I recommend the Piscifun Chaos XS Round, KastKing Rover, and Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S. They are all of high quality despite being relatively affordable. Choose the one that feels the most comfortable with you and enjoy your fishing trip.

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