Conventional Reels Directory

Conventional reels — star-drag, lever-drag, two-speed and level-wind — are the backbone of offshore and boat fishing: bottom fishing, live bait, jigging, trolling and stand-up fights with tuna and billfish. This directory covers ten makers, from the big Japanese and American brands to specialist machinists in California, Virginia and Italy, with a detailed review page for each. Official product information was checked on 6 October 2026, with the newest 2025–2026 releases highlighted first.

How to use this directory: start with the company table to narrow brands by price and focus, then open the full brand review for model-by-model specifications, generation notes and buying advice. Prices are US MSRP unless marked otherwise; Alutecnos is listed in euros, and Avet, Seigler, Fin-Nor and TICA in dealer prices because they publish no MSRP. Electric reels and low-profile baitcasters are excluded — see the Casting Reels Directory for baitcasters.

Full reviews

Newest 2025–2026 conventional reels to know

Shimano Ocea Jigger CT — lever-drag jigging reel with a backlit digital line counter, announced July 2026 and shown at ICAST 2026, $829.99–$849.99.
Daiwa Saltiga Lever Drag 80 2-Speed — the largest Saltiga lever drag, 59.5 lb maximum drag, listed July 2026 at $1,499.99.
Okuma Makaira SEa Gold and Tenma — a gold two-speed big-game edition ($679.99–$1,449.99) and a new lever-drag casting reel for big lures ($469.99), both June 2026.
PENN 250th Anniversary International VISW — 250 serialized, USA-made reels, July 2026, $999.95.
Alutecnos Gorilla 30W 2S Limited Editions — “USA 250 Years of Freedom” (50 units) and “Smoked Black” (100 units), 2026, €1,065.
Shimano Talica 40II A / 50II A — two-speed lever drags with 66 lb maximum drag, ICAST 2025.
Accurate Ascender — TwinStarDrag star drag that makes Accurate affordable, 2025, from $299.99.
Daiwa Saltiga G 35, Saltist SD and Saltiga 300 — 2025 jigging and star-drag reels from $329.99 to $799.99.
Okuma Tesoro LDJ — lever-drag jigging reel in both hands, ICAST 2025, $469.99.
PENN Warfare II and Rival II Level Wind — refreshed value level winds with line-counter options, late 2025, from $94.99.

Conventional reel companies

Company	Country	Key conventional lines and prices	Website
PENN	USA (Pure Fishing)	International VI ($609.95–$1,469.95), Torque LD 2-Speed ($599.95–$659.95), Fathom II Star / Lever / Level Wind ($279.95–$409.95), Squall II ($179.95–$249.95), Warfare II LW ($139.99–$169.99), Rival II LW ($94.99–$139.99)	pennfishing.com
Shimano	Japan	Ocea Jigger CT ($829.99–$849.99), Talica II A ($659.99–$1,259.99), Tiagra A ($699.99–$1,519.99), Ocea Jigger LD ($649.99), Trinidad A ($544.99–$584.99), Torium Jigging Special ($299.99–$309.99), Tekota A ($254.99–$344.99)	fish.shimano.com
Daiwa	Japan	Saltiga LD 80 2-Speed ($1,499.99), Saltiga Lever Drag ($529.99–$899.99), Saltiga G 35 ($799.99), Saltiga 300 ($699.99), Saltiga Star Drag ($499.99–$569.99), Saltist SD ($329.99–$379.99), Lexa HD 500 ($499.99)	daiwa.us
Accurate	USA	ATD Platinum ($1,229.99–$2,499.99), Valiant 2 ($539.99–$899.99), Valiant 2 Lite Line and Jigging ($569.99–$799.99), Tern2 ($549.99–$629.99), Ascender ($299.99–$339.99)	accuratefishing.com
Avet	USA	T-RX (about $900–$1,530), Pro EX / EXW (about $570–$920+), Raptor and Raptor Plus (from about $470), HX (about $430), SX / MX / JX / LX G2 (about $241–$390) — dealer prices	avetreels.net
Okuma	Taiwan	Makaira SEa and SEa Gold ($599.99–$1,594.99), Alijos ($399.99–$549.99), Tenma ($469.99), Tesoro LDJ ($469.99), Cavalla 2-Speed ($269.99–$389.99), Cortez Black ($199.99–$214.99), Solterra SLX b ($172.99–$367.99)	okumafishingusa.com
Seigler	USA	SGN Signature ($450), SGN Slow Pitch ($424.99), SGN ($399.99), SG ($400), LGN ($449.99), LG ($450), OS — dealer prices; between production runs	seigler.fish
Alutecnos	Italy	Gorilla 2S (€875–€1,195), Gorilla 30W 2S Limited Editions (€1,065), Gorilla single-speed (€705–€795), Albacore 2S (€975–€2,115), Albacore (€665–€1,315), Albacore Veloce (€715–€755)	alutecnos.com
Fin-Nor	USA (Pure Fishing)	Marquesa Lever Drag / 2-Speed (dealers US$432.50–$557.99), Marquesa Pelagic, Lethal Lever and Star Drag, Primal — brand appears inactive; remaining stock only	finnorfishing.com
TICA	Taiwan	TicaTeam WTS and ST/STL, Oxean OX (NZ$339–$499), Victor TYA (US$376.90–$455.50), Titan Claw TC, Sea-Wave, Toptec, Themis, Seaspirit — dealer prices	ticafishing.com

What to look for

Star drag or lever drag: star drags are simpler, cheaper and good for bottom fishing, live bait and jigging. Lever drags let you preset a strike drag and return to it precisely, which matters for tuna, billfish and long fights.
Strike and full drag: brands such as Okuma and Avet publish both the strike setting and full drag; others publish only a maximum. Fish at about a third of your line's breaking strength at strike, not at the reel's maximum.
Single, two- or three-speed: a high gear recovers line fast; a low gear gives the power to lift big fish. Two-speed reels are standard for tuna; Avet also makes three-speed models with an even lower gear.
Frame and size: machined aluminum (Accurate, Avet, Seigler, Alutecnos, Saltiga, International) stays rigid under heavy drag; graphite reels are lighter and cheaper but flex more. Choose capacity for the line class you fish — reel size numbers are not consistent between brands.
Level wind and line counter: level winds lay line automatically for trolling and bottom fishing; line counters (or Shimano's new digital counter) show depth for trolling and jigging.
Handedness and support: confirm right- or left-hand retrieve for the exact code, and check parts and warranty support — especially for small makers and brands with uncertain status.

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