Magnetic Brakes, Centrifugal Brakes or Both 2025

Sherlock 60 reply :

Many of the new baitcasting reels have both magnetic and centrifugal brakes. My Shimano and Abu reels have only centrifugal brakes and my Daiwa baitcaster has only magnetic brakes. So far I have not purchased a reel with both, but probably will in the near future.

Your thoughts, please, regarding the pros and cons of each type of set up.

Goose52 reply :

At present, I have 8 BC reels with dual braking. Best of both worlds and, IMO, the wave of the future. Better cast management at both the beginning and end of the cast. Set the centrifugals for your bait, and then use magnetic to fine tune the end of the cast or to compensate for wind. The cast can then become nearly "thumb-free" except for stopping the spool at the end of the cast.

I'll pass to others to extol the virtues of the older technology single-braking system reels... :

burleytog reply :

Centrifugal > all

BobP reply :

There have been good and bad designs of both so I don't think one is better than the other. A good implementation of either will perform very well. I use both types of reel - Shimano Curado and Abu Revo SX - and like them. I'm skeptical whether a reel combining both offers an advantage and hope it isn't just a manufacturer "throwing" features in for marketing reasons, like some do with ball bearing counts. If you're talking about a reel from one of the major companies like Shimano, Abu or Daiwa, you're probably OK. But the proof is in the pudding.

PondHunter reply :

I have become accustomed to, and prefer, centrifugal brakes. I have owned 3 reels with magnetic brakes and wasn't impressed with any of them, but in all fairness, they weren't exactly the best reels on the market either.

I would like to see what a new reel that has both is capable of.

Goose52 reply :

Quote
I have become accustomed to, and prefer, centrifugal brakes. I have owned 3 reels with magnetic brakes and wasn't impressed with any of them, but in all fairness, they weren't exactly the best reels on the market either.
I would like to see what a new reel that has both is capable of.

Some choices - latest models of:

Abu: Premier, STX

BPS: Johnny Morris Gold & Signature, Carbonlite, RCX, ProQualifier, Rick Clunn (and the discontinued ProLite)

Browning: Midas

Pflueger: Patriarch XT, Patriarch

Could be others out there that I missed...

PondHunter reply :

Thanks Goose!

dodgeguy reply :

centrifugal brakes with magnets added rules.when you get a windy day and want to cast jerk baits or spinnerbaits into the wind you just turn up the magnets a little.wind stops you turn them off.

steezy reply :

I like reels with dual brakes (centri & mag), I had a BPS proqual and it was sweet (wish I still had it). Like dodgeguy says, its really nice on windy days.

Might try a BPS carbonlite reel, it has dual brakes and is only 6.7oz for $119.

Reels with dual brakes are also great to learn how to use a baitcaster.

I wish diawa and/or shimano made a highend reel with dual brakes.

Goose52 reply :

Quote
I like reels with dual brakes (centri & mag), I had a BPS proqual and it was sweet (wish I still had it). Like dodgeguy says, its really nice on windy days.
Might try a BPS carbonlite reel, it has dual brakes and is only 6.7oz for $119.

Reels with dual brakes are also great to learn how to use a baitcaster.

I wish diawa and/or shimano made a highend reel with dual brakes.

I think it could eventually happen Steezy. Why not, it's a great technology and adding the second braking system only adds about .3 or .4 oz to the reel (if you use the old and new models of the Revo Premier as an example) - a great trade-off for the added capability.

The Carbonlite is on sale now at the BPS stores for $89

cart7t reply :

Dual braking is the way to go IMO. The centrifugals will work for you on most days so and you can keep the mags turned off relying on your thumb for correct spool control at the end part of the cast. OR

You can go completely lazy and use the mags in conjunction with the cent brakes all the time.

Dual brake reels can be set up to be thumbs free casting virtually all the time even casting into the wind.

bass or bass ? reply :

Dual braking is great. The only time I get a backlash is when I get lazy and I'm not paying attention!

RoLo reply :

Dual-brake and centrifugal-only reels are both fine,

but I'm very underwhelmed by magnetic-only reels

Roger

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

Dual braking gives you more options for finr adjustments. I prefer centrifugal over magnetic because getting overzealous at the beginning of a cast is when I tend to get major league backlash.

burleytog reply :

How cute, training wheels.

J Francho reply :

I use dual braking....my thumb and Daiwa Magforce-V/Z. 8-)

Bronzefly reply :

I'm a huge fan of Shimano and Daiwa reels. Polar opposites in regards to brake designs of course. I've always found that a well trained thumb will provide you with the best of both worlds. 8-)

Pantera61 reply :

I preferred mag brakes over cent brakes simply because of the "mess around" factor inherent with cent brakes. Go from a 1/4 oz lure to a 1/2 oz lure, adjust the brakes, to a 3/4 oz adjust the brakes, back to a 1/4 oz lure, adjust the brakes, ad infinitum. Mag brakes, keep on minimum and use the brake God gave ya.

That said, I used the new Revo Premier with dual brakes and it's a whole new world. Unlike the bulky, clod-hopper Shimano cent brakes, the Revo (and Pflueger) cent brakes are significantly smaller, precision type brakes. Sort of like the difference between those old, Soviet-style, basketball-sized bearings and the exponentially smaller and more accurate U.S. of A bearings.

michaelc22 reply :

What is the difference between the mag brake and the centrifical? Just started to use baitcasting reels and I am getting confused?

roadwarrior reply :

Centrifugal brakes make casting easier.

Magnetic brakes make it harder.

michaelc22 reply :

So, is the magnetic one the dial with the numbers?

cart7t reply :

Quote
What is the difference between the mag brake and the centrifical? Just started to use baitcasting reels and I am getting confused?

Centrifugal brakes are internally adjustable (usually) sliding blocks mounted on pins. Most reels have 2,4 or most commonly, 6 of them. Those brakes effect the spool and initial spin up of the spool, the hardest part of the cast to control and prevent the spool from over spinning on the first part of the cast.

Mag brakes are normally externally adjustable, fixed magnets that are moved closer too or farther away from the spool end using an adjustment dial. Mag brakes come into play towards the end of the cast as the lure is losing momentum in it's trajectory and prevent the spool from spinning faster than the lure is taking out line. Reels without mag braking force the user to learn thumb control of the spool as the means to keep that from happening.

There is an exception to this, Daiwa's mag force braking system reacts upon the spool during the cast somewhat like Centrifugal brakes do. It's a completely different design of mag braking than other manufacturers.

If you want to really learn to use a baitcaster, a reel with only centrifugal brakes is the way to go OR a dual brake reel and leave the magnetic brakes turned off. It's really a great idea to learn thumb control. Much the same way everybody should learn to drive a stick shift automobile.

bwell reply :

When setting up your C brake do you just leave it with 2 on, or do you use 4 and then adjust your mag brake when needed?

Goose52 reply :

Quote
When setting up your C brake do you just leave it with 2 on, or do you use 4 and then adjust your mag brake when needed?

For me - it's different depending on the weight and casting characteriscs of the bait and the force used on the cast. I've used 0, 2, 3, and 4 centrifugals on my reels (never had to go to all 6 for anything yet). On average though, 2 centrifugals are what I use with most baits. Then, I use the minimum magnetic that I can get away with. I also use very light spool tension.

rubba bubba reply :

Quote
When setting up your C brake do you just leave it with 2 on, or do you use 4 and then adjust your mag brake when needed?

4 is way too many brakes to have on, unless you are just learning. I use 2 on and magnetics off, for the reels that I have with both brakes. When I go for extra distance, I go with just 1 centrifugal on and fine tune the magnetic.

Pantera61 reply :

Quote

Quote
What is the difference between the mag brake and the centrifical? Just started to use baitcasting reels and I am getting confused?

Centrifugal brakes are internally adjustable (usually) sliding blocks mounted on pins. Most reels have 2,4 or most commonly, 6 of them. Those brakes effect the spool and initial spin up of the spool, the hardest part of the cast to control and prevent the spool from over spinning on the first part of the cast.

Mag brakes are normally externally adjustable, fixed magnets that are moved closer too or farther away from the spool end using an adjustment dial. Mag brakes come into play towards the end of the cast as the lure is losing momentum in it's trajectory and prevent the spool from spinning faster than the lure is taking out line. Reels without mag braking force the user to learn thumb control of the spool as the means to keep that from happening.

There is an exception to this, Daiwa's mag force braking system reacts upon the spool during the cast somewhat like Centrifugal brakes do. It's a completely different design of mag braking than other manufacturers.

If you want to really learn to use a baitcaster, a reel with only centrifugal brakes is the way to go OR a dual brake reel and leave the magnetic brakes turned off. It's really a great idea to learn thumb control. Much the same way everybody should learn to drive a stick shift automobile.

Actually, the centrifugal brakes are activated at the beginning of the cast but affect deceleration of the spool. The lure, with the line are moving at one rate of speed and the spool is moving at another rate of speed. The centrifugal brake is attempting to maintain equilibrium between the two.

This is why I always recommend beginners start with the spool tension set lighter than most. If you have the tension control knob set too tight, it requires more power to get the lure moving. What happens next is the spool is moving to fast and you're in backlash city.

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Magnetic Brakes, Centrifugal Brakes or Both 2025

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