The USA holds one of the largest numbers of anglers who require various baitcasters for fishing. Since imported reels are mostly subjected to unavailability, users prefer buying baitcasting reels made in USA.
There is an overwhelming number of reels in the market but do you know what baitcasting reels are made in the USA? Some of the most widely used brands such as KastKing, Penn, Abu Garcia, etc. roll out made in America baitcasters.
Every company has its unique history with an inspiring success story. Let’s learn how these companies flourished into the best baitcaster brands.
Best Baitcasting Reel Brands In The USA
The best baitcasting reels made in America belong to the following top brands:
1. KastKing
A group of college students from Syracuse University who also happened to be fishing enthusiasts found KastKing in February 2014. It was formed as a new brand under the parent company i.e., Eposeidon Outdoor Adventure. The company’s headquarters are in Garden City, New York, United States.
Even though it has not been a decade since KastKing was born, it has already built an enormous consumer base. All appreciation for the impeccable quality and performance of the reels.
KastKing has launched a variety of lineups such as MegaJaws, Crixus, Royale Legend, Speed Demon, Brutus, and more. However, the MegaJaws lineups offer some of the baitcaster reels made in the USA.
These are extremely versatile and designed for experts and professional recreational anglers. The models from this lineup house the most advanced and unique features such as LFTV (Low Friction Tapered Vortex). It is responsible for minimizing friction and ensuring an excellent cast at longer distances without any backlashes.
For fishing in heavy covers, the KastKing Speed Demon Elite is an ideal choice. However, if you need a budget-friendly yet high-performing baitcaster, the KastKing Crixus would not disappoint.
The best thing about KastKing is the reasonable price even for the most premium baitcaster. The company saves a significant amount by avoiding distributors that help them keep the cost down.
Are KastKing Reels Made In The USA?
No, the high-quality products from one of the best baitcasting reel brands are not made in the USA. The company has its production setups in China where amazing quality reels are manufactured.
2. Penn Fishing
A German immigrant to the USA, Otto Henze was a machinist. He established his own fishing gear company called Penn Fishing in 1932. Following the launch of the first reel in 1933, the brand attracted many anglers.
Penn Fishing started in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later shifted to Spirit Lake in Iowa where its current headquarters are situated. After the founder’s death, his wife took over the company and maintained its reputation.
Penn offers very few best baitcasting fishing reels made in the USA for every kind of user. The reels are mostly designed to be saltwater-friendly as well as inshore and offshore fishing. Speaking of the baitcasters, there are only two models i.e., Penn Fathom and Penn Squall.
Models from the Squall and Fathom series are ideal for inshore and nearshore fishing in freshwater and saltwater. However, the Fathom lineup is best for fighting against monster fish because of its greater drag power and line capacity.
The company has also released some top-tier round-profile conventional reels included in the Internation Series. Unlike KastKing, the baitcasting reels from Penn Fishing are slightly expensive.
If you are a professional saltwater angler that needs a complete package of power and performance, Penn is a good baitcaster brand for you. The baitcasters from this brand are generally available under $300.
Are Penn Reels Made In The USA?
The baitcasters from Squall and Fathom series and manufactured in China. Whereas, the spinning reel models from Torque II and Z series as well as the conventional reel models from Senator and International series are made in the USA.
However, the reels outsourced to China go through the final assembly, design, and quality control at Penn’s manufacturing plant in Philadelphia.
3. Abu Garcia
Abu Garcia’s history is probably the most interesting one. In 1921, AB Urfabriken was a company that made telephone timers, pocket watches, and taxi meters. Later, when the demand for these things reduced, the founder, Borgström started to craft some of the finest fishing reels.
In 1984, the ABU company merged with Garcia, a US-based distributor, and renamed it, Abu Garcia. Since then, anglers have been enjoying the best baitcasting reels made in USA for numerous fishing applications.
Despite being an American company now, the headquarters of Abu Garcia is located in Svängsta, Blekinge County, Sweden.
The best Abu Garcia baitcaster series from the company include Revo, Max, and Zenon. Moreover, it has also rolled out numerous round-profile baitcasting reels too under the Ambassadeur lineup.
Integrated with Abu Garcia’s revolutionary technology i.e., IVCB-IV™ brake system, the Revo models are incredible with performance. Back at the 2012 ICAST, reels from the Revo series won the Best Freshwater Reel Award. Almost every Abu Garcia reel is suited for freshwater and saltwater fishing. For an exceptional fishing experience at a fair price, use the Abu Garcia Revo SX baitcaster is an ideal choice.
The low-profile reels are suitable for a variety of fishing techniques from finesse to heavy. However, the round Ambassadeur reels come with significant power and are ideal for striper, catfish, carp, etc. These reels come in various sizes such as 4600, 5600, and 6600 for tackling hefty species.
Are Abu Garcia Reels Made In The USA?
Even though Abu Garcia transformed into an American company, it doesn’t have its baitcast reels made in the USA. The countries involved in the production of Abu Garcia reels are Sweden, China, and Korea.
The round-profile baitcaster reels from the Ambassaduer series are manufactured in Sweden. However, the rest of the reels including Revo, Zenon, Max, and more are made in two Asian countries including China and Korea.
4. Lew’s Tournament
Lew Childre, the founder of Lew’s Tournament was a die-hard fishing enthusiast. He started the company by making fishing poles using bamboo sticks and got successful by 1970. He further improvised the rods by adding the elements of graphite and fiberglass. In 1973, Childre tried his luck with a baitcasting reel and succeeded.
His first ever baitcaster was the Speed Spool which gave tough competition to Abu Garcia’s Ambassaduer reels. Lew Childre and Sons Inc. started to gain momentum where the father along with his sons worked day and night.
In 2010, Lynn Reeves, a family friend of the Childre family purchased Lews. Later, Peak Rock Capital company acquired Lew’s and is the current owner. The organization turned Lew’s Tournament into a highly competitive and one of the best casting reel brands of fishing gear. Lew’s headquarters are located in Springfield, Missouri.
This company probably has the widest range of baitcasters for every kind of fishing. Looking for a powerful reel that handles various species like a charm? Get your hands on the Lew’s Team Lew’s HyperMag Speed Spool baitcaster.
Need an inshore fishing reel that is compatible with the rigors of saltwater? The Lew’s Speed Spool LFS has got you covered.
All in all, baitcasting reels from Lew’s Tournament are extremely durable and last a lifetime. Moreover, these feature advanced technologies for catching every specie from bass to crappie. Manufacturers have made the reels ambidextrous and suitable for freshwater and saltwater applications.
Are Lew Reels Made In The USA?
Lew’s baitcasting reel manufacturers are in the USA as well as some Asian countries. Baitcasters from the Lew’s Speed Spool and LFS series are made in America. Whereas, all other models are manufactured in China and North Korea.
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FAQs
1. Who makes the best baitcasting reels?
Shimano, a renowned Japanese company makes the best baitcasting reel for exceptional durability and performance. Speaking of the American made baitcasting reel brand, Abu Garcia is hard to beat.
2. What are the best made in America baitcasting reels?
Considering the features, performance, and price, Penn Fishing has the best baitcasting reels made in USA. Though most of its reels are manufactured in China and North Korea, the final assembly and quality testing are done in America.
3. Where are Shimano Fishing Reels Made?
All of the Shimano fishing reels including the baitcasters are manufactured in Japan only.
4. Where are Daiwa Fishing Reels Made?
Initially, Daiwa reels were made in Japan only however, the company expanded its production to the United Kingdom as well as all over the far East countries.
Conclusion
Fishing is one of the favorite hobbies of Americans and hence, they do not compromise on the quality of their arsenals. Finding the best baitcasting reels made in USA is not tricky anymore because of the massive range of available options.
From budget-friendly to top-tier expensive baitcasting reels, these reels will easily meet your fishing criteria. The prominent USA-based brands include KastKing, Penn Fishing, Abu Garcia, and Lew’s Tournament.
All the companies are quite renowned for unique reasons. However, Penn has some of the most amazing reels with unmatched performance for various fishing applications.
