Pflueger Supreme Or President – Which One Should You Buy?

UPDATED 14 MAY 2023

by Robert Ceran

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Are you thinking about getting a new Pflueger Supreme or President spinning reel, but not sure which model is right for you?

For this article we tested the most important features of the Pflueger President vs Supreme reels side by side, and will cover their main differences, to help you choose the best one for your purpose.

Pflueger Supreme vs President compared side by side

Model nameImagePriceFrame materialBall bearingsWeight (oz)Gear ratioRetrieve rate Max drag (lb)
Supreme XTMagnesium106.0 to 8.75.2:1 to 6.2:122.8" to 38.6"8 to 14 lb
SupremeMagnesium96.6 to 9.65.2:1 to 6.2:122.8" to 38.6"8 to 14 lb
President XTGraphite7 to 106.6 to 10.15.2:1 to 6.2:122.4″ to 38″8 to 14 lb
PresidentGraphite7 to 107.5 to 11.55.2:120.2″ to 31.6″8 to 14 lb

The table above compares the most important specifications and features of the four reel series that we tested next to each other.

As you can see, many of their specs are very similar, which is why many anglers are confused about what makes them distinct from each other.

Let’s take a closer look at the most important differences that we found during our testing.

The most important differences of the Pflueger Supreme and President series

Frame material: This is the most important area with differences between the Supreme (both regular and XT series) and President (both regular and XT series). While the former has a frame made of magnesium, the latter is made of graphite carbon. 

A magnesium frame is lighter and more durable than graphite, but also more expensive to produce, which explains the price difference between the two lineups.

Bottom line: Based on our testing, the biggest difference between the two reel series is that the Supreme frame is made with magnesium, while the President frame is made with carbon. Magnesium is both lighter and more durable than carbon.

Weight: As a result of the different material used for the reel frame, when we put them to the test, we found that both the regular version of the Supreme and the XT version are significantly lighter than the President series (both the regular and the XT versions). 

For example, the regular version of the Supreme series weighs 6.6 to 9.6 oz, while the regular President weighs 7.5 to 11.5 oz. And if you compare the two XT series, they have a similar weight difference.

Bottom line: During our testing we found that the Supreme is significantly lighter than the President, which makes it a better choice if you plan to do a lot of casting and retrieving of lures.

Gear ratio: While the large sizes of the two XT series, plus the regular Supreme, have a gear ratio of 6.2:1, the regular version of the President is only available with a gear ratio of 5.2:1 (including the largest sizes), which makes it significantly slower.

Bottom line: When we put it to the test, we found that the regular President series has a lower gear ratio than the other 3 lineups.

Retrieve speed: Due to the difference in gear ratio, the regular version of the President has a slower retrieve rate of 20.2” to 31.6”, compared to 22.8” to 38.6” in the Supreme.

Bottom line: Our testing revealed that the Supreme retrieve rate is significantly faster than that of the President.

Size: This is another area with some differences between the reel series. While both Supreme series come in the sizes 25 to 40, the President series (both regular and XT) come in the sizes 20 to 40. For an in-depth discussion of sizes, check out our guide on spinning reel sizes.

Bottom line:  if you’re looking for an ultra light spinning reel, the President series offers you an extra small size that the Supreme doesn’t.

Ball bearings: There are only minor differences in this area. The regular version of the Supreme has 9 bearings, while the XT version has 10, which makes the XT a little smoother with respect to retrieval action.

The President 20 size comes with 7 bearings, but all other sizes have 10 bearings, which makes them identical to the Supreme XT in this regard.

Overall, the differences in this area don’t have a major effect on reel performance.

Drag Power: All four reel series are identical in this category, with 8 to 14 lb max drag.

Now let’s look at each of the models in more detail.

Pflueger Supreme XT review

This is the most high end model out of the 4 compared in this review. When we put it to the test, we found that its most important distinguishing feature is its lightness of weight, which is significantly lighter than the other 3 lineups, and makes it one of the lightest spinning reels on the market.

Due to its lightness, speed and smooth retrieval action, this model is a favorite among pro anglers, who need to do a lot of casting and retrieving during a tournament.

Features:

  • Magnesium body and rotor
  • Lightweight carbon fiber handle
  • Sealed carbon fiber drag

Pflueger Supreme review

This is the first Pflueger reel that was built with a Magnesium body and rotor, which makes it significantly lighter than most other Pflueger spinning reels (except for the Supreme XT). 

Compared to the President, our testing showed that it also has a faster retrieve rate, which makes it a better choice for casting lures. 

Features:

  • Magnesium body and rotor
  • Aluminum handle
  • Braid ready spool

Pflueger President XT review

If you compare the Pflueger President XT vs President, you’ll see that its main distinguishing features are that it is lighter and faster than the latter.

The increased speed is due to a higher gear ratio of 6.2:1, compared to 5.2:1, and when we put it to the test, we found that this makes it better for casting/retrieving lures.

Features:

  • Aluminum main shaft
  • Carbon handle
  • Rubber cork knob

Pflueger President review

This is hands down the most popular Pflueger reel, and offers incredible value for money. While our testing showed that it doesn’t have the speed and the lightness of the other models discussed here, it is incredibly durable, and works reliably for years and years on end. 

Most anglers use this reel as an all-round reel for bottom fishing, float fishing, live bait fishing, etc. Many describe it as a workhorse reel that gets the job done reliably, without any bells or whistles.

Features:

  • 9 plus 1 ball bearings
  • Graphite body
  • Aluminum bail and handle 

Final remarks

To summarize: both series are superb reels (which is why included them both in our review of the best spinning reel under $100).

So what makes them different? Based on our testing, the Supreme is significantly lighter than the President, and it also has a faster retrieval speed. These traits make it a better choice for anyone who wants to do a lot of casting with lures.

On the other hand, the President is an extremely reliable all-round reel that makes an excellent choice for many fishing applications that don’t involve lots of casting.

Finally, the XT versions of both series provide additional speed and lightness compared to their regular counterparts.

Gear used for testing

For consistent testing results, we paired both reel series with the same rod, a 7’0” St Croix Premier Light spinning rod. We spooled the reels with 12 lb test Berkeley Trilene Fluorocarbon, and used them with 1/8 to 1/2 oz fishing lures, including soft plastics, swimbaits, and jigs.

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