Spinning Reel for Ultralight Fishing

[Skunky]

Ello

Been a long time lurker around these forums, they’re a great wealth of information but this is the first time I’ve found myself completely stumped. 

 

I’ve been looking for a spinning reel designed for ultralight fishing. Currently my rod is a Fenwick HMG 7’0 UL Moderate action weighing 4 pounds. My lures rarely weight above 1/8 oz but this rod can handle up to 1/4 oz. I prefer inline spinners if that helps. Currently I’m targeting trout but might advance to other small fish. 

 

I was using a Sahara 1000R (5.2:1) but find that my casts don’t get much distance, and I need to reel pretty quick to get the blade moving on my spinners (I tried multiple brands). 

 

Do do you think I need a reel with a higher gear ratio so I can reel slower, and a wider spool for distance (which I’m not even sure about because I use braid). Any recommended models?

 

Thanks for any information. 

[MN Fisher]

Question: What pound test braid are you using? Ever consider Mono? I'd never use braid for a UL rig, it's too thin for the pound test I set up on my UL rig...digs in to itself.

 

The 1000R retrieves at 27" per turn of the handle, that's fairly fast for smaller-spool spinning reels. Reels in the same price range as the Sahara with faster retrieves.

Mitchell 308 Pro - 30.5" per turn.

Pflueger President XT 30 - 31" per turn.

Abu Garcia Elite Max 20 - 31.3" per turn.

 

I'm a Pfluger/Mitchell/Abu fan from way back.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I use Pflueger President reels for my UL rods, one a 20 size and one a 25 size.

 

I have a 30 size Quantum Smoke that does 36" per handle turn.  I imagine that reel in a smaller size would not be that much per handle turn, but I bet its close to that.

[markedman]

I have a Pflueger President size 20 and a Pflueger Summit XT size 25 for my UL setups. The Summit XT is a BassPro/Cabelas only reel made for them by Pflueger.

[Skunky]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Question: What pound test braid are you using? Ever consider Mono? I'd never use braid for a UL rig, it's too thin for the pound test I set up on my UL rig...digs in to itself.

Yes, I forgot to mention I’m using 4-Pound Fireline braid.

 

Thank you for all your helpful replies. These President reels are quite nice for their price. 

[MN Fisher]

23 minutes ago, markedman said:

I have a Pflueger President size 20 and a Pflueger Summit XT size 25 for my UL setups. The Summit XT is a BassPro/Cabelas only reel made for them by Pflueger.

He was looking for something faster than the Sahara 1000. The President 20 is much slower at only 20.2 IPT and if the Summit compares to the other '25' spinning reels, it's not much faster at around 22 IPT. Need to hit the 30 or 35s from Pflueger to get faster than the 27 IPT of the Sahara.

[jimmyjoe]

   That Sahara should work just fine for that purpose. I personally use mono on UL setups, but I used several different superlines for about 5 years. I like mono because I can see to tie it. ??

   When you say your casts "don't get much distance", what exactly is the distance you're getting?

   As for the retrieve ratio, it's just fine. An UL is made to mimic small denizens of the water, and small denizens of the water don't race around madly.  jj  

[MickD]

If you are not getting good distance with 4 # braid, something is seriously wrong. Any reel, with a 7 foot rod and 4 # braid, should cast very well.   I just don't know what to propose to fix cast distance.

[Skunky]

Oh, my judgment is bad for measurement but I’d say close to 50-feet at most, usually it’s less.

 

With my spinners I’d spin slow with quick jumps in between, but the reel requires I return fairly fast to get keep the blade moving.

 

I wouldn’t put it past me to say my technique sucks and it’s my fault and not the reels. Hah

[Manly Studson]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

He was looking for something faster than the Sahara 1000. The President 20 is much slower at only 20.2 IPT and if the Summit compares to the other '25' spinning reels, it's not much faster at around 22 IPT. Need to hit the 30 or 35s from Pflueger to get faster than the 27 IPT of the Sahara.

I agree. And the President 20 wouldn’t balance so well with a 7’ rod. I use the size 20 on a 6’ St Croix Panfish rod, which is very light. The IPT is very low, but it works for me. If he were to purchase a larger reel, should he just load it with 150+ yards of 4 pound mono?

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Manly Studson said:

I agree. And the President 20 wouldn’t balance so well with a 7’ rod. I use the size 20 on a 6’ St Croix Panfish rod, which is very light. The IPT is very low, but it works for me. If he were to purchase a larger reel, should he just load it with 150+ yards of 4 pound mono?

I'm using a President 25 on a 6'6" rod myself...I'm so use to my old Pflueger 640 (which I retired and replaced with the President) that I have no problems getting an inline spinner to turn.

 

For the line - he could go that route or lay a backing on the spool...few turns of electrical tape maybe to give it a non-slip base.

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, Skunky said:

Oh, my judgment is bad for measurement but I’d say close to 50-feet at most, usually it’s less.

 

With my spinners I’d spin slow with quick jumps in between, but the reel requires I return fairly fast to get keep the blade moving.

   I don't know which spinners you have, but let's start out with a known quantity. Get a #2 Mepps Aglia, which is 1/6th ounce. Aglia spinners spin well on a slow retrieve. You should get good results. If you don't, return here and tell us. The reason I ask is that one time I got some cheap spinners that wouldn't spin worth a rat's patootie.

   One other thing; are you using a good ball-bearing swivel or snap swivel? That size spinner should use a #00 or #0 swivel. Don't use a crane swivel. Not using a swivel can cause line wrap (or twist) that can cut down on the distance you achieve.

   You said that your spinners are rarely above 1/8th ounce. Does that mean that you're using 1/12th and 1/16th ounce spinners? If so, remember that they're notorious for not casting a long ways.

   Please get back to us.      jj

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

Aglia spinners spin well on a slow retrieve. You should get good results.

Aglias and Comets are the main ones I use...got burned on another brand - blade kept pausing on retrieve. For inline spinner-baits, it's Mepps or nothing for me.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

..got burned on another brand - blade kept pausing on retrieve.

   cocka-doodle-doo?  ?    jj

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

You need a larger outer diameter spool size plain and simple even with light braid it makes a difference. A 20 size PFLU or 1000 size shimano wont cast as well as a 30 PFL or 2000 daiwa or 2500 shimano. Retrieve speed just look at IPT on what reel you like get it 29.5 plus. 

I have the 20 Pres and a 1000 stradic but much prefer 2000 Daiwa(RG-AB) for inline spinners and I use .005 braid/nanofil lines same as the 4# fireline you use.

[waymont]

I would recommend a Shimano Nasci 1000. It would balance nicely and is a very nice reel for the price.

[islandbass]

Get a decent size 20 reel. That is what I use on my 7' UL. The wider spool should aid in getting more distance for the same effort.  Not all size 20 reels weigh the same. Some are lighter than others. Size 20 is the smallest I go, even for a UL 6'6" or longer.

[GeekOutdoors]

I use Pflueger President size 20 on a Ralala Classic Trout light and President XT size 25 on a Fenwick HMX Light. I also use an older Sedona size 750 on a Fenwick Eagle. That are my actual setups for trout fishing. A size 1000 would do also

[NYWayfarer]

My suggestion is the Lew's Mach II Metal Speed Spin size 100 spinning reel. This is my second season with this reel and it is a workhorse. I use it for Trout fishing on a light action rod. I have caught everything from Trout, panfish, 14"+ Chain Pickerel and a Smallmouth Bass just shy of 4lbs on it.

 

Best of all it has an Aluminum body and Winn Grip knob.

 

One of my favorite things to throw on it is a Panther Martin inline Spinner. No issues getting the blade spinning with it's 6.2:1 gear ratio. 

 

 

[Skunky]

Thank you for all the replies. 

 

Went to the store to demo a few reels with bigger spool sizes and higher IPT advice in mind, and I really liked the Pflueger Supreme XT 30. Figured I’d splurge a bit from my tax return.

 

17 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

One other thing; are you using a good ball-bearing swivel or snap swivel? That size spinner should use a #00 or #0 swivel. Don't use a crane swivel. Not using a swivel can cause line wrap (or twist) that can cut down on the distance you achieve.

   You said that your spinners are rarely above 1/8th ounce. Does that mean that you're using 1/12th and 1/16th ounce spinners? If so, remember that they're notorious for not casting a long ways.

I never thought to use swivels on braid...Do I add some leader after the swivel to the spinner or can it be snapped directly without impeding function? My spinners do come in 1/16 sizes, correct. Some of my favourite brands have been Panthers, Mepps, Blue Fox. I’m on the fence with Rooster Tails but love them for sentimental reasons ?. 

[Boomstick]

I have a Daiwa Triforce 5'6" UL rod with a Daiwa Crossfire 1000 rod for ultralight. It's a cheaper trout/panfish setup, but quite smooth and you've never guess I only paid about $50 for both the rod and reel.

 

[greentrout]

own the shimano sienna fe 1000 .... great little reel ... off the rack at academy ... 29.99 ...

 

good fishing ...

[J Francho]

If you are looking for the fastest spinning reel, a Shimano Ultegra 1000 picks up 31' per turn.

[MN Fisher]

19 minutes ago, J Francho said:

If you are looking for the fastest spinning reel, a Shimano Ultegra 1000 picks up 31' per turn.

I posted these earlier - Ultegra isn't the only choice, J.

 

Pflueger President XT 30 - 31" per turn.

Abu Garcia Elite Max 20 - 31.3" per turn.

 

Couple more I found

Pflueger Supreme 30 - 31.8" per turn

Pflueger Supreme XT 30 - 31.8" per turn

Mitchell Mag Pro 3000 - 33" per turn

Abu Rexo-X 20 - 33" per turn

Abu Revo-S 20 - 33" per turn

and more

 

So quite a few even faster than the Ultegra.

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, Skunky said:

I never thought to use swivels on braid...Do I add some leader after the swivel to the spinner or can it be snapped directly without impeding function? My spinners do come in 1/16 sizes, correct. Some of my favourite brands have been Panthers, Mepps, Blue Fox. I’m on the fence with Rooster Tails but love them for sentimental reasons ?. 

   I do it two ways; I use a VMC #00 swivel, and attach about 1 foot of leader material, or else I just put a good snap swivel directly on braid.  The reason is that I'm experimenting to see whether there's any difference. I'll tell you next year.   ?    Good luck.    jj