Looking for a light 2500 reel $150-$300

[imabassguy]

Hi everyone,

 

I currently own a Tatula LT 2500 and a Certate LT 3000 and I need another light spinning reel for my Megabass Whipsnake and wanted to try something new.

 

I do enjoy the Certate but it is a tad bit heavy. I’m so used to the Tatula LT so I’m leaning towards a reel that’s around the Tatula LT’s weight which is 6.2 oz to compliment the light weight Whipsnake.

 

Preferably Daiwa or Shimano, what do you guys suggest?

 

thank you 

[bulldog1935]

In Shimano, light is '20 Vanford.  

In Daiwa, Light is '20 Luvias LT.  

Both reels have composite frames and rotors. 

 

Asian Portal has models of both in stock with free Fed-Ex express.  

[imabassguy]

12 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

In Shimano, light is '20 Vanford.  

In Daiwa, Light is '20 Luvias LT.  

Both reels have composite frames and rotors. 

 

Asian Portal has models of both in stock with free Fed-Ex express.  

thanks for your help.

have you ordered from Asian Portal before? What are duty fees coming in to the US? Also what would shipping cost for a reel?

 

thanks

[jbsoonerfan]

I have ordered probably 20 or more reels from Asian Portal and they have been GREAT every time! I have never had to pay a fee for a reel from them. It has been a while, so something may have changed, but I can tell you those have been my experiences.

[bulldog1935]

@imabassguy

I've bought a Vanquish, 2 Stradics, Steez and Zillion, Valleyhill rod, half-a-dozen $100 carts to get free shipping on tuning parts and lines, 

Asian Portal communication is not the best, but they are 100% reliable.  

 

no duty - Fed-Ex express shipping is free - here's tracking on a 54-hour delivery:  

 

[Boomstick]

How about another Tatula LT?

Picked one up earlier this year, great reel.

[WRB]

Shimano Vanford 2500 is their new state of the spinning reel in your price range, 6.3 oz. state of the art drag is extremely important with spinning reels, the Vanford Shimano’s top drag system.

Very quite reel, well made. I have been a Stradic user for decades and really like the new Vanford 2500.

Tom

 

[imabassguy]

4 hours ago, Boomstick said:

How about another Tatula LT?

Picked one up earlier this year, great reel.

Really nice real, especially at it’s priced point. Just wanted to try something new. Always like the idea of mixing up different models to get some experience with them.

 

thanks 

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Shimano Vanford 2500 is their new state of the spinning reel in your price range, 6.3 oz. state of the art drag is extremely important with spinning reels, the Vanford Shimano’s top drag system.

Very quite reel, well made. I have been a Stradic user for decades and really like the new Vanford 2500.

Tom

 

Appreciate your feedback. I’ll definitely be considering either the Vanford or Luvias.  
 

For the Vanford, do you recommend a 2500 or 3000. I believe the 2500HGF and 3000XGF are 6.3 oz.

 

do the letters mean high gear and extra high gear? What would I need for strictly drop shots on this light set up?

 

thanks!

 

Also thank you so much for your help @jbsoonerfan and @bulldog1935

[WRB]

Both are 6:1 gear ratio the IPT is 35 for the 2500 and 37 for the 3000 larger spool. Both weigh the same 6.3 oz.

Tom

 

[bulldog1935]

19 hours ago, imabassguy said:

...

For the Vanford, do you recommend a 2500 or 3000. I believe the 2500HGF and 3000XGF are 6.3 oz.

 

do the letters mean high gear and extra high gear? What would I need for strictly drop shots on this light set up?

 

thanks!

 

Also thank you so much for your help @jbsoonerfan and @bulldog1935

 

If you're planning to fish braid, go for smaller capacity shallow spool to have better line lay result.  Deep spools are for mono/fluoro

Some of the tuning parts I've bought are shallow braid-specific spools for my larger inshore size reels.  

This PE1520 spool is 200 m of PE#1.5

 

 

as well as deeper spool for (5-lb) fluoro on my L/UL Vanquish C2000

F6 spool is for 6-lb fluoro

 

 

As far as gear ratio goes, I vote for the lowest gear ratio with the stock-length handle.  High gear ratio, I prefer longer handles both for lure finesse and fish leverage (with lower gearing, both are in the gears).  This is my near-offshore 5000XG with a 65-mm-pitch handle.  

 

Here's all the skinny on Vanford sizes, spools and gear ratios

They import 5 different capacities to USM, all high-speed gears, while JDM offers 14 different models with wide-ranging capacities and gear ratios.  

 

Here's the line diameter chart comparing silk thread PE#

 

Big difference between Daiwa and Shimano is all the current mid-grade (Stradic) and up Shimano reels are derived from the '18 Stella, and parts interchange on common reel bodies of different models across the lines.  Daiwa models have less rhyme and reason with varying design and stroke.  Below mid-grade with locomotive (v. worm-gear) drive, Daiwa are built stronger than equivalent Shimano.  Daiwa also has a better line roller across the board.  All that said, I too am tempted by Luvias (stroke and spools), but all my Shimano spools swap between my reels.  

[imabassguy]

5 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

 

If you're planning to fish braid, go for smaller capacity shallow spool to have better line lay result.  Deep spools are for mono/fluoro

Some of the tuning parts I've bought are shallow braid-specific spools for my larger inshore size reels.  

This PE1520 spool is 200 m of PE#1.5

 

 

as well as deeper spool for (5-lb) fluoro on my L/UL Vanquish C2000

F6 spool is for 6-lb fluoro

 

 

As far as gear ratio goes, I vote for the lowest gear ratio with the stock-length handle.  High gear ratio, I prefer longer handles both for lure finesse and fish leverage (with lower gearing, both are in the gears).  This is my near-offshore 5000XG with a 65-mm pitch handle.  

 

Here's all the skinny on Vanford sizes, spools and gear ratios

They import 5 different capacities to USM, all high-speed gears, while JDM offers 14 different models with wide-ranging capacities and gear ratios.  

 

Here's the line diameter chart comparing silk thread PE#

 

Big difference between Daiwa and Shimano is all the current mid-grade (Stradic) and up Shimano reels are derived from the '18 Stella, and parts interchange on common reel bodies of different models across the lines.  Daiwa models have less rhyme and reason with varying design and stroke.  Below mid-grade with locomotive (v. worm-gear) drive, Daiwa are built stronger than equivalent Shimano.  Daiwa also has a better line roller across the board.  All that said, I too am tempted by Luvias (stroke and spools), but all my Shimano spools swap between my reels.  

wow thank you.

A lot of great info here. 
I always use either 15 or 20lb braid with a 6 or 8 lb fluoro leader so I’ll go with the smaller spool. 

When I’m dropshotting I don’t cast too far so I don’t need as much line on the spool because I’m constantly using my livescope.

 

thank you so much for all the help!

[JS8588]

This https://tackletrap.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=15360

[JWall14]

It’s the vanford or luvias and I am a Daiwa guy so…

[imabassguy]

Ordered the Vanford 2500.

Great review on the tackle tour site and they gave it 8.5.

 

Appreciate all the help everyone!

[imabassguy]

Ordered the Vanford 2500.

Great review on the tackle tour site and they gave it 8.5.

 

Appreciate all the help everyone!

 

 

 

UPDATE: would of loved to give a review but after visiting bass pro to buy some power pro v2 super slick, they had zero stock and the employee told me the next best thing is Berkley Fireline so I got some 20lb braid to try.

 

After being out on the water I made my first cast and said to myself what in the else is this? The diameter was so thick it was like rope. It casted terribly and now I have to remove it and I’m waiting for my PP v2 order. 
 

Have any of you used Fireline? Is this normal?

[bulldog1935]

The only USM braid I'll mess with is Sufix 832 - 20-lb on baitcasters, and 15-lb and below on spinning tackle.  This braid is very-well-behaved, coated, smooth and Round.  

 

For higher breaking strength, I go straight to Japan X-braids, Duel and YGK, and have a spool of Yamatoyo Resin Shell in transit (with a parts order) for a first try.  

The X-braids double the strength of 832 at the same diameter.  

 

 

On your Vanford, you can always back up on the spool, use the less-desirable braid for backing, and top with higher-quality working braid.  

[imabassguy]

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

The only USM braid I'll mess with is Sufix 832 - 20-lb on baitcasters, and 15-lb and below on spinning tackle.  This braid is very-well-behaved, coated, smooth and Round.  

 

For higher breaking strength, I go straight to Japan X-braids, Duel and YGK, and have a spool of Yamatoyo Resin Shell in transit (with a parts order) for a first try.  

The X-braids double the strength of 832 at the same diameter.  

 

 

On your Vanford, you can always back up on the spool, use the less-desirable braid for backing, and top with higher-quality working braid.  

I dunno, I never had an issue with pp v2 super slick. I have Daiwa j braid on some other reels and still prefer the pp for some reason.

 

But this Fireline is way too thick, the 20lb feels like it’s 80lb test. It’s terrible.

[J Francho]

A Vanford is an obvious, but good choice.  A lower priced option is the Okuma ITX Carbon.  For Daiwa, there is the Ballistic MQ LT.

[FishTank]

I picked up a 3000 Vanquish at Asian Fishing Portal.  Its super light and a pleasure to fish towards the end of the day when my hands get tired.   The drag is super smooth but if I need to tighten down, I think it would bring in a good sized grouper.  Amazing reel.  

[KP Duty]

2 hours ago, FishTank said:

I picked up a 3000 Vanquish at Asian Fishing Portal.  Its super light and a pleasure to fish towards the end of the day when my hands get tired.   The drag is super smooth but if I need to tighten down, I think it would bring in a good sized grouper.  Amazing reel.  

Is the vanquish frame magnesium or ci4?

[S Hovanec]

My Vanquish 2500SHG weighs 5.93oz with line installed.

[bulldog1935]

1 hour ago, KP Duty said:

Is the vanquish frame magnesium or ci4?

Vanquish is magnesium frame and spool with CI4+ rotor.  

It's also $150 more than Vanford at Asian Portal prices.    

Vanquish is the lowest-inertia reel ever made - no effort to start or stop.  You can't tell the difference with Stradic, though, until you have them side by side - when you stop reeling with Vanquish, the drive through the handle doesn't try to keep moving your hand - it just stops.  

What you really gain with Vanquish is Japan bench parts-matching vs. Malaysia assembly line.  

  

[thunderblack]

Check into the new Daiwa Ballistic MQ. Just ordered one to try something different. 

[imabassguy]

I looked at the Vanquish but didnt want to spend as much on my 4th spinning reel. For me, the differences between the higher end spinning reels in the $500 range and the reels in the $200 aren’t that far off.

 

Of course they’re built better with better parts and are smoother but when I’m drop shotting, it’s not like it makes such a big impact for me personally.

 

I didnt find myself reaching for my Certate over my Tatula LT this past summer. 
 

This is of course, how I feel about spinning reels in those price ranges.

 

With baitcasters it’s more of a difference for me to really notice.

[bulldog1935]

Where the Vanquish matters for me is light-touch fishing - small lures, and big fish that are in and out often quicker than you can respond.