The following selection of the nine best reel brands is partly based on my own experiences as an angler and partly on the experiences and personal views of thousands of other anglers, whom I have asked for their opinions through several online surveys.
Both Shimano and Daiwa are top-of-the-line reel brands and very similar in terms of quality, material, and practicality. Shimano edges out Daiwa if shove comes to push, but both are solid choices and better than most other reel brands out there.
Daiwa still produces a limited number of their fishing reels in their Tokyo facilities in Japan. These include high-end reel models such as the Certate and Steez. Most other Daiwa reels are manufactured in various Asian countries.
