Last updated on March 7th, 2023 at 11:34 pm

When it comes to musky reels, there are a plethora of options on the market. Daiwa, Okuma, PENN, and Abu Garcia all make solid quality muskie reels. However, if you are an angler on a tight budget, in our opinion the best baitcasting reel under $100 for Musky is the Shimano Corvalus.

Shimano Corvalus: Best Baitcasting Reel Under $100

Building upon the legacy of Shimano’s great Catala and Corsair reels, the Shimano Corvalus has built in all of the great features as well as the vast knowledge gained from years of fishing reel manufacturing into this reasonably-priced (under $100), tough round baitcasting reel. The Shimano Corvalus is made from a cast aluminum frame and also features all aluminum sideplates which provide for a longer life and very solid casting efficiency.

The Shimano Corvalus incorporates special design features which help to ensure that there is little to no back play in your line spool for solid hooksets. Shimano Corvalus also integrates Shimano’s Variable Brake System (VBS), giving you dialed in performance with virtually no backlashes. Shimano’s Corvalus baitcasting reels are high quality round muskie reels at an affordable price. This best baitcasting reel under $100 for musky was simply designed to get the job done without breaking the bank.

Best Baitcasting Reels

Some of the best baitcasting reels for muskies are the Calcutta and PENN reels. However, those reels cost $200-$400. While they are worth the extra cost in most cases, not everybody’s budget is that high for a tiger musky reel.

One of our readers wrote in to us and had this to say about the Shimano Corvalus:

After going through 5 St Croix Avid Rods, 2 Calcutta TE’s, and 4 Calcutta 400Bs over the past year, I was just about to give up on the high end and high priced reels. In my search for a reliable, cheap musky reel I found the Shimano Corvalus 400. After 8 months of nearly everyday use by both me and my clients, the Corvalus musky reels are still working flawlessly! I was a little nervous at first, since I have had a few other Shimanos fail on me in the past. However, these Shimano Corvalus musky reels really are the best musky reels I have ever fished with. What’s more, perhaps the best aspect of them is that they are under $100.

If you are in need of an inexpensive, yet nice musky reel, I highly recommend getting a Shimano Corvalus. For my charter business, this was the best baitcasting reel under $100 for musky that I could find.

Matt P. – Minocqua, WI

We agree with Matt. Higher end tiger muskie reels are certainly nice if you can afford them. However, to have an enjoyable and successful musky fishing experience, you can keep your musky baitcasting reel budget to under $100.

Best Baitcasting Reel Under $100 For Musky – Final Thoughts

For the price, the Shimano Corvalus is the best baitcasting reel under $100 for Musky. That being said, as with most things, you do get what you pay for. Keep in mind that all musky reels will eventually break or need repairs or service. Calcutta reels or PENN Musky reels will outperform the Corvalus, but at 2-3 times the cost.

You don’t have to take our word for it. Check out the price and other reviews for this reel on Amazon.

Check out this video showing the Shimano Corvalus, the best baitcasting reel under $100 for musky in action.