The Avenger Baitfeeder series from Okuma has garnered a name for itself as an excellent all-purpose spinning reel, but it will serve you equally well as an affordable and dependable tool for catching medium-weight catfish.

Featuring the manufacturer’s signature Baitfeeder technology, the reel is particularly adept at dealing with bothersome catfish that make a break for it the moment they pick the bait. By letting them run with the line freely, the reel lets you lull the fish into a false sense of security before switching back to primary drag and reeling it in.

Thanks to the 22 lbs. of drag, you’ll easily be able to conquer 30 to 40 lbs. catfish, especially given the large spool size that lets you pack plenty of heavy weight line (330 yards of 30lb. mono). Even though the gear ratio inclines towards torque at 4.5:1, the spool size ensures a blazing fast line retrieve at 40 inches per turn, allowing the reel to be used in a wide variety of catfishing techniques.

Smooth and efficient long distance casting is ensured through the integration of 6 stainless steel ball bearings into the drive system, while looseness in the handle is eliminated through an express stainless steel anti-reverse bearing. An S-Curve oscillation system provides consistently uniform line lay, even when you’re using slippery braid.

The ABF 90’s frame is made almost entirely from graphite (which is corrosion resistant), whereas the spool is made out of aluminum, so it strikes a decent balance of weight and strength. The rigid die-cast aluminum handle is definitely strong enough to weather the stress of pulling in 30+ lbs. of catch.

My only issue with this reel is its drag system, which despite being waterproof, features inferior felt drag washers that will have to be replaced sooner or later (likely sooner when you’re dealing with catfish). Also, given the economic price-point, this reel does come with the risk of manufacturing defects – fortunately, it has a 1 year warranty that you can avail in such an eventuality.

The Coronado Baitfeeder reel packs considerably more muscle than the Avenger series, thereby enabling you to go after prize catfish, while retaining the same sturdy yet manageable graphite construction of its cheaper cousin.

As mentioned above, the biggest selling point of the Okuma Coronado Baitfeeder is its robust Dual Force Drag system. For the CD-80a model, it can handle a hefty 33 lbs. of max. drag, which will let you go after heavier species such as blues. The waterproofed DFD system maximizes the utilization of the spool surface to enhance the smoothness and efficiency of the drag over conventional drag systems.

For the Coronado, the manufacturer has used a higher 4.8:1 gear ratio, but with a downsized spool size (280 yards of 25 lbs. mono tops), so you end up with a slightly reduced retrieval rate as compared to the Avenger series. Nonetheless, the 34 IPT retrieval is still quite decent on its own, and will let you to perform the majority of catfish angling techniques easily.

Another noteworthy feature of the Coronado Baitfeeder is its Precision Elliptical Gearing system that greatly improves line laying so you don’t have to experience looping and knotting problems. The gears in this system are continuously engaged, thereby yielding an exceptionally fluid spool stroke free of jerks present in inferior gear configurations.

Overall casting performance is guaranteed by 4 higher performance stainless steel ball bearings, whereas a one-way roller bearing yields an instant anti-reverse. It is quite praiseworthy that the manufacturer has reduced the weight of the reel (24.7 oz.) while upping the drag as compared to the lower-tier Avenger!

All in all, the Coronado is a remarkable catfish spinning reel that provides incredible value for the money and can be used in a wide range of settings. There have been only a few complaints about quality control problems with this reel, but the manufacturer has held true to their 1 year warranty according to angler reviews.

With its powerful drag, free spooling system, and sterling track record with anglers, the Baitrunner D BTR12000D is one of, if not the best spinning reel for big catfish.

In the context of catfish angling, the most meaningful feature of the BTR12000D is its high-end waterproof drag system with its 25 lbs. top limit and carbon fiber drag washers. The combination means that not only will you be able to halt beefy prey in its tracks, you will also be able to do it consistently and efficiently.

As expected from a reel of its heritage, the Shimano’s free reeling mechanism works exactly as intended: you disengage the primary drag, let the cat run with the reel for a while and after you’re certain of a hookset, put the force of the primary drag on it to bring it in. Anglers have also been perfectly happy with the audibility of the bait clicker, which happens to be repairable too.

The sizeable spool can sustain a healthy 265 yards of 20 lbs. mono, or 230 yards of 80 lbs. braid, and in spite of the torque-centric 4.4:1 gear ratio, is able to churn out an ample 37 inches/turn of line retrieve. Put another way, you’ll be able to apply any kind of technique / lure you want to capture catfish with this reel.

The manufacturer has used a custom spool lip design, as well as their signature Power Roller and Varispeed features to ensure kink-free laying of the line, even if it is an ultra-thin braided variety. 3 high end corrosion resistant bearings have been used to enhance the overall castability, and reverse play in the handle is dealt with satisfactorily through a one-way bearing.

It goes without saying that the reel’s slightly bulky design (in spite of the liberal use of graphite in its frame) is an advantage when dealing with larger catfish species that put strain on the entire setup.

If you’re strictly limited in your budget but want to indulge in some casual catfishing nonetheless, the Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000 is a refreshingly solid low-end spinning reel you could consider.

As is a staple feature of catfish spinners, this reels incorporates a bait-running mechanism that will help you lure panicky catfish into your trap. The clicker is also nicely audible within a 30 feet radius too, so you’ll know exactly when a fish is pulling on your bait.

The reel is made predominantly from graphite, so it’s lightweight and durable enough to handle a respectable degree of stress. However, given the fact that the manufacturer has not disclosed drag limit and line retrieval rate, I’ll advise you to stick with lighter channel catfish.

The 6000 model utilizes 10 corrosion free gears to make things smooth; indeed, the reel’s fluidity has been complimented by most anglers who have used it, especially considering its price point. However, the spool line capacity is a bit stifling, at 24 lbs. / 140 yards of mono max – again, I’ll reiterate that this reel is only suitable for lightweight freshwater catfishing.

With all said and done, one thing to bear in mind is that this is a budget reel of Chinese manufacturer (even though the name seems Japanese in origin), so there’s an inherent risk of defects. However, it is worth noting that the manufacturer’s support team is quick to respond to negative feedback and offers complete assistance in fixing issues.

If you’re strictly limited in your budget but want to indulge in some casual catfishing nonetheless, the Yoshikawa Baitfeeder 6000 is a refreshingly solid low-end spinning reel you could consider.

Sporting a corrosion resistant rigid metal frame that does not yield even to the toughest of forces, the reel keeps its drive train in precise alignment even after prolonged use. The handle is large, with a wooden grip, and is clearly focused towards power reeling. It can be folded for convenience when you’re transporting the reel.

The reel’s 4.3:1 gear system is able to achieve both remarkable torque and a decent retrieval rate (37 IPT), and combined with its 33 pound maximum drag limit, it will let you do serious catfishing on par with baitcasters. The line capacity too, is quite generous at 175 yards of 40 lbs. mono – this translates into an incredible capability for pulling in massive catch if you switch to braid.

The reel uses a combination of stainless steel and Teflon drag washers, which may not be as high quality as carbon fiber varieties, but are more than able to ensure lasting smoothness according to consumer feedback.

The BG90 is one of the heaviest spinners in the market – at 30.9 ounces, but when you’re fighting with powerful fish, this can be an advantageous feature which protects the structural integrity of your tackling setup, and ensures stability when casting large bait and heavy line.

This heavy-duty yet reasonably affordable spinning reel is rated very highly by veteran anglers, and its robust design does not suffer from even minor design flaws. However, it does lack the free-spooling feature present in the majority of catfish reels, so you’ll have to manually adjust the drag as you go after the fish.