Shimano ultralight reel recommendations

[Jaybert]

Looking to replace my ultralight reel.  Have been using an old shimano tx500f that is near 30 years old, it’s getting tired. I’d like newer with a better drag.   Going on an old favourite compre 5’6” UL rod.  
 

im thinking 500 or 750 size ?   What shimano or Daiwa models are everyone’s favourites in this size either JDM or domestic?   Would entertain any price range, I mostly run larger stradic spinning reels on my main set ups but open to lower or higher priced options 

[bulldog1935]

The only 500 Shimano is Vanford, and it's USM only.  

It's also not the worm drive series with Stradic and larger Vanford sizes, but is locomotive drive - it's Shimano Soare 500 wearing Vanford markings.  Two versions of Soare 500 are still sold in JDM.  

 

There is still one micron-frame spinning reel in production - Tica Cetus.  

A few of us here are fans.  

 

and btw, I just looked this up - '22 Soare BB looks like worm drive from this photo

So maybe Vanford 500 FA ('24) is also worm drive.  (Vanford 500F - '20 was definitely locomotive drive).  

@T2DM and yeah, maybe not worm drive - I translated the image above and it doesn't mention worm drive.  

[Jaybert]

8 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The only 500 Shimano is Vanford, and it's USM only.  

It's also not the worm drive series with Stradic and larger Vanford sizes, but is locomotive drive - it's Shimano Soare 500 wearing Vanford markings.  Two versions of Soare 500 are still sold in JDM.  

 

There is still one micron-frame spinning reel in production - Tica Cetus.  

A few of us here are fans.  

 

and btw, I just looked this up - '22 Soare BB is worm drive

So maybe Vanford 500 FA ('24) is also worm drive.  (Vanford 500F - '20 was definitely locomotive drive).  

Hey thank you for all the detailed info much appreciated.  I’ll have a closer look at Vanford and Soare for sure.   Also looking at Nasci & Sahara too.  These are less than I’d buy for my frequent use reels but for this lighter use combo those may be an option.  
 

that Tica is beautiful, I had never heard of them before.  Very interesting

[bulldog1935]

I bought a Cetus on a whim to match a first XUL Rockfish rod.  This reel fished 7 years in salt finesse.  4-lb Kamikaze copolymer and several hundred schoolie speckled trout with a bycatch of snook and redfish.  I was thinking throw away reel, and it turned out I bought a tiny beast.  Tica makes all Daiwa's low-end reels with optional A/R, along with the big Daiwa surf reels.    

 

I retired this reel when I made the switch to braid and Shimano worm drive, and @Eric 26 has this reel now.  A friend gave me the "pimped" Cetus - SLPW parts.  

[T2DM]

Looks like the '24 Vanford 500 FA is still locomotive drive.

 

VF500A – Shimano US Fish Shop

 

 

 

Check this dude out for anything ultralight tackle. He's like the 'Scooby' of spinning reels.

 

 

[Hulkster]

I've always used shimano 1000 size reels with 4 pound Sufix Siege mono or elite for my UL setups. 

 

The problem with the 500 or 750 sizes as noted above is that they usually lack key features of the models that the 1000 size and up has. 

 

 

[Eric 26]

I’ll chime in and say that the Tica Cetus @bulldog1935 gifted me has been an absolute joy to use, I have it paired with an older 5’-6” bps bionic blade ultralight and it’s a great pairing. I will also add if you’re not opposed to an off brand reel I have 2 Piscifun Carbon X 1000 sized reels that I absolutely love and have recommended on here. They also sell a 500 size version but truth be told I think it’s a 1000 sized body with a smaller spool but with that said the 1000 size is pretty small to start with.

[wvhunt]

The only Daiwa spinning reel I own is an older Exceller that I've owned for a number of years.  It's been great and given me zero issues.

 

I've got a couple Shimano Saharas that I've been happy with.  I picked up a clearance priced Sedona for $32 last week just because it was cheap, but haven't gotten to try it out yet.

[jejenkyns]

2 hours ago, T2DM said:

Looks like the '24 Vanford 500 FA is still locomotive drive.

 

VF500A – Shimano US Fish Shop

 

 

 

Check this dude out for anything ultralight tackle. He's like the 'Scooby' of spinning reels.

 

 

This is indeed the guy to check out

[F14A-B]

1 hour ago, Eric 26 said:

I’ll chime in and say that the Tica Cetus @bulldog1935 gifted me has been an absolute joy to use, I have it paired with an older 5’-6” bps bionic blade ultralight and it’s a great pairing. I will also add if you’re not opposed to an off brand reel I have 2 Piscifun Carbon X 1000 sized reels that I absolutely love and have recommended on here. They also sell a 500 size version but truth be told I think it’s a 1000 sized body with a smaller spool but with that said the 1000 size is pretty small to start with.

Very nice. Bulldog is a cool dude with a bunch of technical knowledge on reels/rods etc. This might be surprising, but back in maybe 91-92 I snagged a Shimano 500 off the rack at Walmart for $10.(on clearance) Put it on a 5’6” Light/fast Manns rod. With that I could sling 1/8 a country mile and caught hundreds of Crappies, big Redear and my second largest Indiana LMB on it. Bait was a 1/8 roadrunner she was on a bed , on a sandy beach. I threw over the bed and hopped it right into the bed. She inhaled it and if she hadn’t swam off the bed I’d likely never knew she had it. 7 or 8 minutes later I was holding her, 3 minutes later she swam away.. she was easy 7 pounds and full of eggs. I’ve never mounted a fish. I simply used the rod and guided her to me using pressure. Nothing even remotely like tournament fisherman do. Although lately with FFS and spinning there has been a resurgence in proper technique w a rod and reel. 
 

It’s probably the most fun fishing there is. Line was 4# stren. The other bait I threw on it was the tiny count down Rapala model.. those two baits were incredible fish catching lures for me on light/ultra light gear I’ve ever used. 
 

I tried BFS but it just doesn’t appeal to me really, I’d rather use spinning for that work. Truthfully, I really enjoy using eggbeaters 🤣

 

All fishing is fun but ultralight/light is very fun! 

[TLHSS]

I only fish ultralight. I’ve used a Vanford 500 for the last couple of years and been very pleased with it. 
 

A lot of my choice was based on weight and balance. I fish with a short fiberglass rod and I found this reel was the best fit. 

[Reel]

I have the exact same rod.  I have put a model 500 ( Symetre), a model 750 (Symetre) and a model 1000 Vanford on it and the one I like the most is the last one.  It's just the right size (spool) and it's the one that gets me the longest cast and the easiest line management with 4 pound line and casting 1/32 and 1/16 oz lures.

[Flyfish-mt]

I run a Shimano Sahara 500FJ on my old Loomis S661-IM6 UL .......

[MediumMouthBass]

18 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

The only 500 Shimano is Vanford, and it's USM only.  

 

Theres also the Sienna 500, Sahara 500, Nasci 500. Although you are probably only referring to higher end reels, but i thought id add these since the OP said hes open to low price-high price options.

8 hours ago, Hulkster said:

The problem with the 500 or 750 sizes as noted above is that they usually lack key features of the models that the 1000 size and up has. 

I think the OP's answer IMO is the 1000 sized Ultegra, its super super light. Probably will feel the same if not lighter than a 500 from 30 years ago, so the balance should be there. I picked up the 2500 model and it weighs 7.9oz, the same as my 1000 sized Sienna. I tried a 500 once, it wasnt for me, the 1000 just fits my hands better, holds more line, higher drag is also a plus since i catch many bass and trout on panfish baits and dont want to fight them for 10 minutes in the heat where they may perish from it.

 

Im a casting guy, not a spinning. So i always cheap out on spinning rods and reels, because to me they arent worth it. Well i was at the store and knew the Ultegras were being blown out for $75 but wasnt interested in buying one, i was curious though and asked the guy to grab me the 2500 only to check it out. In the first 10 seconds i knew i was buying it. The Vanford was around $125ish but looked terrible to me, it looks like something Kastking would make with those colors. The Ultegra is the nicest looking reel ive ever seen in person, i might have committed a sin in some of your eyes but i threw it on my $33 Daiwa Aird X as soon as it was spooled up. The colors match almost perfectly.

 

The last gen (21) models are being sold on Amazon JP and Asian Fishing Portal around $96 currently.

[MN Fisher]

3 hours ago, MediumMouthBass said:

I think the OP's answer IMO is the 1000 sized Ultegra, its super super light.

Either that or the 1000 Miravel which is a tad lighter....I have both the Ultegra and the Miravel and like both. The Nasci is a full ounce (17%) heavier.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Daiwa Airity 1000 is a sweet small reel said to be more 500 size. 

[Jaybert]

Thank you all for the great information here.  I think I’m going to shop Miravel & Ultegra 1000.  Local shop has Nasci 500 in stock that I could get a visual on too.  But for the very minimal weight difference I’m thinking 1000 size may be the route for all the advantages mentioned. 
 

[garroyo130]

I picked up the Complex XR last year and its a great reel. 

 

Its worth looking at all the Vanford derivatives since sometimes those go on steeper sales than the Vanford since they aren't as popular. 

[Jaybert]

Ended up with a new Nasci 1000 to match up with my compre ultralight.  Local small tackle shop had it in stock so I was able to take my rod in and try it on.   Being an older rod the slighter heavier Nasci balanced out nicely on it to me vs the super light reel options of today (7.2oz Nasci is still quite light compared to the 500 or 1000 reels from this rods vintage)  So for the price I figured it was worth a try.   I know it won’t fully measure up to my Stradics.  But I feel like I should try a modern mid-priced reel and this light use combo is a great place to try it !  My old FX 500 shimano didn’t cast well, tangled easy and didn’t have a great drag, but it got the ultralight job done for near 30 years. The  Nasci is night and day improvement from it, so I think it’s a good fit here.  

 

seriously impressed with the feel for the price point.  I did order a smooth drag carbon drag washer and a Gomexus line roller bearing kit to smooth things out a bit.  Should be a sweet little setup when done.  With the couple little upgrades it’s still about 50% price of another Stradic or Vanford here in CDN dollars. Appreciate all the opinions and info here.  

[mrpao]

I would stick with the original drag washers especially if its felt.

Too me, felt washers have a better drag release and consistency with light line.

I've swapped out some of my carbon fiber drag washers in my 1000 and 2000S with felt washers.

Watch some of I-fish 's videos on YouTube and he'll explain this theory.

[Jaybert]

1 hour ago, mrpao said:

I would stick with the original drag washers especially if its felt.

Too me, felt washers have a better drag release and consistency with light line.

I've swapped out some of my carbon fiber drag washers in my 1000 and 2000S with felt washers.

Watch some of I-fish 's videos on YouTube and he'll explain this theory.

Interesting stuff, I’ll have to check out the videos thanks!  Generally speaking there must be some logic behind shimano putting felt in these small reels.   Maybe that is it !

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

7 hours ago, mrpao said:

I would stick with the original drag washers especially if its felt.

Too me, felt washers have a better drag release and consistency with light line.

I've swapped out some of my carbon fiber drag washers in my 1000 and 2000S with felt washers.

Watch some of I-fish 's videos on YouTube and he'll explain this theory.

Same here. "Upgraded" to carbonex drag on Chronarch ci4 didn't like it at all put stock felt back in much smoother operation. 

[T2DM]

@QUAKEnSHAKE  Chronarch CI4???

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Yeah baitcaster chr ci4 I know this about spinning drags but felt vs carbon felt is smoother easier startup like mrpao mentioned

[Jaybert]

11 hours ago, mrpao said:

I would stick with the original drag washers especially if its felt.

Too me, felt washers have a better drag release and consistency with light line.

I've swapped out some of my carbon fiber drag washers in my 1000 and 2000S with felt washers.

Watch some of I-fish 's videos on YouTube and he'll explain this theory.

I watched i_fish’s video on this, good info he is certainly passionate about the subject lol