Slots Like Fishin’ Reels: The Pragmatic Fishing Game With Two Bonus Paths
Fishin’ Reels comes from Pragmatic Play and runs on a straightforward 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, sitting at a headline RTP of 96.50% (reduced 95.50% and 94.50% builds also circulate at some operators). The standout feature is a choice of two free spin modes rather than the usual single bonus, plus a frog and a goldfish leading the paytable and a top win of 1,200 times your bet. Stakes range from 10p to £100 a spin, the volatility sits in the high band, and if you have been hunting for slots like Fishin’ Reels this page runs through exactly how the two bonus paths differ.
Where to Play
18+ only. T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly.
How the Game Works
Reviewed by Paul StonePublished: July 2026
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Pragmatic Play released Fishin’ Reels in March 2021, at a point when fishing themed slots were already a crowded shelf. Rather than copy the format outright, the studio built its own bright, cartoon reef setting, then added a decision point that most rivals in the genre skip entirely. You choose your bonus mode before the spins even start, and that single choice changes the whole feel of the round that follows.
The base game is calm by design. Card suit symbols decorated with little gems handle the low end, beach gear like flippers and a snorkel mask sit in the middle, and a grinning frog and a gold-scaled fish take the top two regular spots, with the fish paying 100 times your bet for five in a row. It is the Golden Marlin scatter that everyone is really watching for, since that is the symbol that unlocks the good part of the game.
This one suits players who like a bit of agency over their session. If you enjoy picking your own path through a bonus round rather than being dropped into a fixed feature, and you do not mind a theme that leans cheerful rather than gritty, Fishin’ Reels earns its spot on the shortlist. Newcomers to high volatility fishing slots could also start here, since the choice of modes lets you lean toward steadier drip-feed wins or hold out for the bigger single hits.
Symbols and Paytable
Four gem studded card suits fill the bottom of the pay table, moving up to a starfish, a lobster, snorkel gear and a pair of flippers in the middle tier. The frog sits just below the top, and the goldfish is the best paying regular symbol on the reels, worth up to 100x your stake for a full line of five. Wild symbols only appear on reels 2, 3 and 4, so they never land on the outer reels, which is worth knowing when you are chasing a particular combination.
Choosing Your Bonus: Reel It In vs The Big Catch
Landing three, four or five Golden Marlin scatters anywhere on the grid triggers the bonus and hands you a straight choice between two free spin modes. Reel It In is the calmer of the pair. Fish Money symbols carrying random cash values between 0.5x and 250x your total bet appear across the reels during the spins, and a Fisherman symbol that only ever lands on reel 5 sweeps up every visible fish value the moment he shows. A handful of fish carry a plus 2 spins award instead of cash, which is how the round can run longer than its starting count.
The Big Catch Mini-Game
The Big Catch is built for bigger single hits rather than a steady drip. During the spins a Big Catch overlay symbol can land on any position, and once three have appeared you drop into a standalone fishing mini-game. You are shown eight collectible fish, each hiding a value between 0.2x and 250x your bet, and a fisherman on screen reveals them one by one. As with the other mode, some of the reveals add extra spins rather than cash, so a lucky run can stretch the whole feature out.
Free Spins Awarded
The number of scatters you land decides your starting spin count before you even reach the mode choice screen. Three Golden Marlins pays out 10 free spins, four pays 12, and five bumps that up to 15, giving you more room to work with in whichever bonus you pick. Independent tracking puts the combined hit frequency for reaching this feature at somewhere around one in every 3.85 spins, though that figure comes from a single reviewer rather than a cross checked average, so treat it as a useful guide rather than gospel.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- A genuine choice of two bonus modes gives the game a strategy layer most fishing slots do not bother with
- The 96.50% headline RTP sits above the UK average when the default build is in play
- 10, 12 or 15 starting free spins depending on scatter count, with both modes able to extend themselves further
- The cartoon underwater art and animations are polished and hold up well after repeated sessions
- A £0.10 floor keeps the game accessible even though the variance runs high
Cons
- High volatility means dry spells in the base game are common, and the frog and goldfish alone will not carry a session
- Reduced RTP builds at 95.50% and 94.50% are in circulation, so the default figure is not guaranteed at every operator
- The 1,200x ceiling is respectable but well short of the biggest payouts in the current Pragmatic catalogue
- Wilds are restricted to the middle three reels, which limits how often they can complete a line
- Choosing between the two bonus modes adds a small layer of decision pressure that some players would rather not have
Game Screenshot
Demo Play
Fishin’ Reels is widely available in free demo mode through Pragmatic Play’s own game page and most licensed operator sites that carry the title. A demo run is the easiest way to see both the Reel It In and The Big Catch screens before you decide which one suits your style, since the choice only really makes sense once you have watched both play out.
Expert Take
Fishin’ Reels works because it does not try to reinvent the fishing slot, it just adds one smart decision to a formula everyone already understands. Reel It In rewards patience with a steadier trickle of fish values, while The Big Catch is built for players chasing a single dramatic reveal, and having both available from one purchase point is a genuinely useful bit of design. The 1,200x ceiling will not turn heads next to some of Pragmatic’s bigger releases, but the presentation is clean, the bonus choice adds real replay value, and the high variance is honestly telegraphed rather than hidden behind a misleading RTP.
Similar Slots to Try
Blueprint Gaming’s original take on the theme, and the game most reviewers reckon inspired this one. A single fixed free spins round rather than a choice of two.
Takes the same Blueprint family up to 117,649 ways to win, a very different engine to the fixed 10 lines used here.
Another underwater cabinet built around a money collect idea, for players who want the fishing theme without the two-mode bonus choice.
A different Pragmatic fishing release with a modifier menu instead of two full bonus modes, and a considerably bigger 5,000x ceiling.
About the Developer
Pragmatic Play is headquartered in Gibraltar with further offices in Malta, the UK, the Philippines and India, and it holds licences from the UK Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority and more than 30 other jurisdictions, with its games certified by GLI and other accredited labs. The studio traces its roots back to 2015 through the acquisition of Topgame Technology, and unlike some of the bigger names in the industry it has stayed independent rather than being folded into a larger group, remaining privately owned by investors led by Veridian (Gibraltar) Limited. That independence shows in the release pace, with Fishin’ Reels just one entry in a catalogue that spans jackpot slots, live casino products and bingo. You can see more of its output on our Pragmatic Play slots page.
Pragmatic’s other, unrelated fishing title, built around a single money collect bonus rather than a choice of two modes.
One of the studio’s longest running hits, swapping the fishing theme for a plains wildlife setting and a money respin feature.
A tumbling candy themed release that shows the studio’s range well outside the ocean and jungle settings it is also known for.
Another high volatility Pragmatic release, this time built around sticky wilds rather than a fish money collect mechanic.
Fishin’ Reels Key Stats
Fishin’ Reels slot information last reviewed: July 2026
| Fishin’ Reels Slot Info | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Fishin’ Reels |
| Provider: | Pragmatic Play |
| Developer Rank: | A mid tier entry in Pragmatic’s fishing themed slots |
| RTP: | 96.50% (95.50% and 94.50% builds also run at some operators) |
| RTP Category: | Medium-High |
| RTP Rank: | Above UK average on the default build |
| Feature Description: | Golden Marlin Scatter, Choice of Two Free Spin Modes, Fish Money Collect, Big Catch Mini-Game, Reel 2-4 Wilds. |
| Feature Categories: | Free Spins, Money Collect, Pick and Click Bonus |
| Reels: | 5 |
| Rows: | 3 |
| Paylines: | 10 fixed |
| Volatility: | High |
| Volatility Rank: | High |
| Min Bet: | £0.10 |
| Max Bet: | £100 |
| Max Win: | 1,200x stake |
| Release Date: | 11 March 2021 |
| Slotslike Rank: | Not yet ranked in the Top 100 (View Top 100) |
Slots with the Same Features
Fishin’ Reels earns its place in the Free Spins, Money Collect and Pick and Click Bonus lists on SlotsLike. Here are handpicked examples from each.
Another Pragmatic release with a cheerful theme and a tumbling cluster pays engine, for players who like the bright presentation here.
A Pragmatic hold and win style release that shares the money collect DNA behind the fish values in Reel It In.
Trades the ocean setting for a fantasy cave but keeps the same appetite for free spins retriggers and stacked symbols.
One of Pragmatic’s savannah themed classics, offering the same high volatility free spins feel in a safari setting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the free spins bonus work in Fishin’ Reels?
Landing three, four or five Golden Marlin scatters awards 10, 12 or 15 free spins and lets you pick between two modes. Reel It In has a Fisherman on reel 5 collecting visible fish money values, while The Big Catch triggers a separate mini-game where you reveal cash values from eight collectible fish. Some fish in either mode add extra spins instead of cash.
What is the RTP of Fishin’ Reels?
The default build sits at 96.50%, which is above the UK average. Pragmatic Play also publishes reduced 95.50% and 94.50% configurations that individual operators can select, so it is worth checking the in-game paytable if the exact figure matters to you.
What is the maximum win on Fishin’ Reels?
The top win is 1,200 times your total stake, confirmed consistently across multiple independent reviews of the game rather than a coin value that could be confused with a stake multiplier.
Is Fishin’ Reels high volatility?
Yes, it is rated high volatility by the majority of independent reviewers. Expect the base game to feel quiet between scatter triggers, with the bulk of the reward sitting inside whichever free spins mode you choose.
What are the best slots like Fishin’ Reels?
Fishin Frenzy is the closest relative in spirit, being the Blueprint Gaming title that the fishing genre grew from. For more Pragmatic output in the same vein, Big Bass Splash and Gold Fish both keep the underwater setting while running different bonus structures.
Can I play Fishin’ Reels for free?
Yes. A free demo is available through Pragmatic Play’s own game page and most licensed operators that carry the title, and it is the easiest way to try both bonus modes before deciding which one you prefer.
Who makes Fishin’ Reels?
Pragmatic Play, an independently owned studio headquartered in Gibraltar with licences from the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority among others. Fishin’ Reels released on 11 March 2021.
Our Verdict on Fishin’ Reels
Fishin’ Reels does not try to out-muscle the biggest names in the fishing genre on raw max win, and it does not need to. The choice between Reel It In and The Big Catch is a small but effective bit of design that gives the bonus round genuine replay value, and the presentation stays cheerful and clean throughout. High volatility means you should be prepared for quiet stretches in the base game, and the reduced RTP builds floating around are worth a quick check before you commit real stakes, but the core idea here holds up well against a crowded field of fishing themed slots.
SlotsLike rating: 7/10