Muirlands

Best Ultralight Spinning Reel

By Muirlands · February 18, 2022

An ultralight spinning reel is the best choice for anglers who are targeting smaller catch like Bluegill, Crappie, Trout, and other like-sized species. It is also for those who wants to enjoy fishing all day long without suffering from muscle fatigue, stiffness, and worse, pain. This is not to say that you can’t target bigger fish on an ultralight gear. You just need to be more careful if you want a bigger target.

If you’re looking for the best ultralight spinning reel to suit you, you’ve got a lot of options to choose from. We reviewed some of the best ultralight spinning reels that’s generating a lot of buzz from anglers online. We’ve taken our pick from amongst the best to give you the top 5 products out in the market today. Take note that these are not in any order and of necessity, subjective.

Our Top 5 Ultralight Spinning Reels

  1. Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000FL HG
  2. Okuma Ceymar C-10 Spinning Reel
  3. Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Fishing Reel
  4. KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reels
  5. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel

Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000FL HG – The Rolls Royce of Ultralight Spinning Reels

Shimano began manufacturing bicycle components in 1921, then launched their DUX series of spinning fishing reels in 1971. Today, they bring their history of innovation in metal processing with their HAGANE gear and HAGANE body present in the Shimano Stradic Ci4+.

Much has been said about their HAGANE technology and for good reason. It’s not machine cut, but is instead formed by cold-forging technology down to the last micron. This gives their spinning reels that fine performance that is lauded by anglers worldwide. Our review of the Shimano Stradic Ci4+ gave a high-class casting performance. It delivered great control and easy catch-retrieval. Weighing in at 5.65 oz (160 grams), it is one of the lightest spinning reels out in the market today, but that’s not to say that it can’t handle bigger fish. It held up to the challenge when faced with a 20+ lbs. Mutton Snapper, which it effortlessly handled.

Pros:
  • It’s ultralight (really) at just 5.65 ounces
  • Geared for ambidextrous use. As someone left-handed who constantly has to adjust or search high and low for equipment, this is a bonus.
  • Well-balanced
  • The Cross Carbon Drag system performs well even when faced with a fierce fight
  • Its 6.0:1 gear ratio makes it one of the faster reels in the market
  • Its good looks belong to Hollywood
  • It casts so smoothly, you can butter your bread with it.
  • The X-Protect water repellent coating makes it durable, and performs well even after being submerged in water
Cons:
  • No Anti-reverse switch, which is surprising for the price
  • The price may be on the high side for budget anglers or beginners who are just testing the waters for the gear best suited to them

Okuma Ceymar C-10 Spinning Reel

Okuma Fishing is a brand based in Taiwan and has been manufacturing quality fishing gear since 1986. The brand prides itself in producing affordable but high-quality equipment for anglers.

The Okuma Ceymar C-10 Spinning Reel is a great reel for beginners who do not want to splurge on higher-end products. It provides bang for your buck without sacrificing quality and performance. It’s lightweight but gives a solid performance.

Pros:
  • Great value for people who are looking for spinning reels under $50
  • Ambidextrous orientation
  • The multi-disc, oiled felt drag system provided a controllable drag
  • Perfect for anglers looking to catch medium to small species of fish
  • Features the precision elliptical gearing system present in Okuma’s higher-end fishing reels
  • The machined aluminum spool can handle both braided and monofilament fishing lines
  • The surprisingly small body provides a lightweight fishing experience, you almost think the reel is not there
  • The corrosion-resistant Blade Body Design can handle different types of challenging situations - from sandy beaches to salty water, a bit of general maintenance will make it last
Cons:
  • The 5.0:1 gear ratio is slow, which can be tiring especially when trying to retrieve more than 50 yards of line
  • Noticeable flex on the reel foot when handling bigger catch
  • The 1000 sizing is deceiving if you’re used to other brand’s sizing standards
  • Did not perform as smoothly as other brands

Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Fishing Reel REVO2X20

Abu Garcia was first founded in Sweden as AB Urfabriken which manufactured watches and taxi meters. Its present name came about after ABU merged with Garcia, a US-based distributor in 1984. The company has many fans from among the fishing community because of the high quality and innovation that they impart in their products, including that of the Revo line. Abu Garcia is now a brand under Pure Fishing.

The Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Fishing Reel gives you great value for its price range. It provides effortless casting and good retrieval, along with the consistently smooth operation that you can expect from a product made by this company. It can handle the job with ease, providing you with enough power and torque to pull in medium to smaller species.

Pros:
  • The 6.2:1 gear ratio means you can quickly retrieve your catch efficiently without a lot of cranking
  • Ambidextrous hand orientation
  • The Rocket Line Management System enables you to accurately cast long distances with this Revo X
  • High-quality reel for a mid-point price range
  • Can handle not just braid and monofilament, can also handle the notoriously difficult fluorocarbon fishing line
  • Its combination of stainless steel shaft and components, aluminum spool, PVC knobs, carbon fiber drag, and graphite rotor makes it rugged even for saltwater fishing
Cons:
  • The reel can stick when fighting with bigger fish
  • The reel backlashes badly if you fill the spool all the way up

KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reel Size 500

KastKing is a young company, having been in existence only since 2011. Despite that, it has already bagged the 2015 ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) Best of Show Award. And amongst all the manufacturers we featured, only KastKing has prominent assurance about sustainability, with their biodegradable BioSpool embodying their statements.

The KastKing Summer and Centron Spinning Reel gives you the best value for money! You’d be surprised at how smoothly this reel operated given the budget-friendly price. It’s packed full of features comparable to more expensive reels and at the same time, it can hold more line than other brands. It works like a champ!

Pros:
  • Performs great vis-à-vis reels with a higher price range
  • Its graphite frame is well-balanced and suited for all skill-levels
  • The 9 + 1 ball bearings provides seamless casting and retrieval
  • The price point is perfect for beginners and those who don’t want to spend more than what is necessary
  • The reels’ Superior Drag System gives any angler a stable and smooth stopping power of up to 17.5 lbs.
  • If Shimano looks like a Hollywood star, KastKing Summer/Centron looks like an art deco installation, it looks good without trying hard
Cons:
  • The drag knob looks frail, as if it could break off at any moment
  • Even though it holds more line than higher-priced brands, you can’t fill up the spool all the way, otherwise, it will result in a horrific bird’s nest
  • The crank handle is on the small side and not suitable for big hands
  • You need to give it a bit of maintenance if you don’t want the reel to suffer from corrosion

Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel PRESSP20B

The Pflueger brand started in 1880 when Ernest A Pflueger started the Enterprise Manufacturing Company in Ohio. It was then acquired by Shakespeare, which was then merged with Pure Fishing. Pure Fishing, with its diversified portfolio of fishing brands, aims to become the world’s best fishing company.

That mindset is embodied in their Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel, a dependable, high-quality ultralight reel that consistently appears in best-selling reels lists. It features corrosion-resistant parts and Sealed Drag System that makes it great for saltwater fishing. Its lightweight construction makes it ideal for all-day fishing and requires little to no maintenance. It can sometimes be overlooked in favor of other brands, but this performs beautifully and makes fighting fish fun!

Pros:
  • The 7 bearing system gives it great casting and smooth as butter retrieval
  • The graphite body and rotor is lightweight but gives off a solid feel
  • The Sealed Drag System has great drag range for its lightweight size
  • The braid-ready spool allows you to tie a braid fishing line directly to the spool
Cons:
  • The gear ratio of 5.2:1 is slow compared to its competitors, but gives you better control when fighting fish
  • It doesn’t hold as much line as other brands

Choosing the Right Ultralight Spinning Reel

Choosing the best ultralight spinning reel depends primarily on your budget and what you want from your fishing gear. Of course, we all want to get that smooth performance coupled with durability, along with a price range that we won’t balk at. Take a look at your desired price range and then you can decide from among our list which one suits you best. However, If you want the best that money can buy, go for a Shimano Stradic Ci4+ 1000FL HG.

Recent posts
Categories