Ultralight Spinning Reels Compared

What Are Ultralight Spinning Reels Best For?

Spinning reels, also called open-face reels, are great for the beginning angler due to their ease of use. An ultralight reel design is less likely to get tangled, making it less of a headache than most baitcasting reels.

Due to the lightweight line and lure that typically goes with it, this reel is great for catching smaller fish. You can easily perform light-line applications and finesse techniques with the ultralight spinning reel.

Buying Guide: Choosing Your Ultralight Reel

Type of Fish & Fishing Style

Ultralight reels are best used for catching small baitfish. Some of these fish would include crappie, bass, trout, perch, sunfish, bluegill, and panfish.

It can be challenging to catch these kinds of fish with heavier lure. Ultralight reels are great for spin fishing, where a spinning lure is used to entice the fish to bite. Ice Fishing is another fishing style that uses ultralight reels as well.

Reel Features/Materials

The reel bodies, or housing, can be made of graphite, aluminum, or a combination of both. Because of aluminum's corrosive quality, it is better to use for freshwater, and graphite is a better saltwater choice.

The size of the reel you buy should depend on what size line you are planning to use. The lighter the line, the smaller the reel you need.

When shopping for a reel, check the line capacity. Keep in mind the amount given is usually the middle line capacity. For example, “6 lbs/90 yards” would be suitable for  4, 6, and 8-pound line.

Drag System

Not having a reel with a smooth, high-quality drag increases the chance of having broken lines and missing a catch. A line should pull out steadily with no constriction.

Front-drag systems usually are more durable and perform better due to their large drag washers. On the flip side, rear-drag controls are easier to access but don’t battle well with big fish that like to fight.

Also, consider purchasing a reel that is waterproof and sealed to ensure a smoother and long-lasting operating reel.

Ball Bearings & Bail

The ball bearings in a spinning reel provide smoothness, support, and stability. Usually, the more bearings a reel contains, the more smoothly it will work.

Sealed stainless steel bearings tend to be preferable over bushings because they are more durable and easier to control. We recommend at least 4 ball bearings, or even more if you can afford it.

A powerful cast, especially made by saltwater anglers, can sometimes cause the bail to close suddenly. This then causes the line to snap. One of the best ways to combat this is to avoid buying a reel with a swinging bail arm.

Spool Style & Capacity

Spools, whether internal or skirted, hold the line. They affect casting distance and smoothness. Internal spools are much less common these days because they get tangled within the housing. Skirted spools overcame this problem and are now much more widespread.

The "long cast" spool is a variation of the skirted spool. It allows for less line friction, which will enable you to cast your line even farther. This is a great benefit for clear water or sight-fishing.

Anti-Reverse Handles

This anti-reverse switch prevents your handle from spinning backward and engages the drag. This makes the hook sets powerful and accurate. The switch allows you to back-reel, or reel in reverse, instead of relying on your drag system or tension in your line.

And, when it comes to handles, make sure you buy one with a substantial handle and knob. This is so you can quickly grab onto the handle, and you will have less chance of slippage due to sweaty hands or wet weather.

Gear Ratio

When it comes to spinning reels, gear ratio refers to the number of times the bail rotates around the spool as the handle turns one rotation.

Low Gear Ratio/Slow (5.1:1 thru 5.4:1): Provides more torque for reeling in bigger fish. Good for casting deep crankbaits, big swimbaits, and deep water spinnerbaits to keep in front of the fish as long as possible. 

Medium Gear Ratio/Medium (6.1:1 thru 6.4:1): We recommend using them for squarebill crankbaits, medium depth crankbaits, shallow spinnerbaits, and shallow castable umbrella rigs.

High Gear Ratio/Fast (7.1:1 thru 8.1:1): Good for bass-anglers who want to quickly retrieve drop shot rigs or tube baits in deep water. Try it out for jigs and big worms, shaky heads, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, topwaters, jerkbaits, and lipless crankbaits.

Price & Warranty

Prices for ultralight spinning reels range anywhere to $30 to $300. Think about how much use the reel will get and factor that into how much you want to spend. If you have the money and you will put it to good use, the reel is worth a higher price.

However, it is important to note that there are many quality reels listed here under $100. Most reel manufacturers include a warranty. All of the ones listed offer a 1-year warranty but inquire about the details when you make your purchase.

1. Shimano Stradic STCI44000XGFB

2. Penn 1338215 Battle II 1000

If we are talking value for your money, the Penn Battle II is the best ultralight spinning reel under $100. It functions at the level of a higher-end reel. Not only that, but it will also last you for years due to its durability. It has a full metal body, side plate, and rotor, plus the bail wire is made of heavy-duty aluminum. This reel feels solid in your hand, but light and comfortable enough to hold for hours.

The Penn ultralight spinning reel boasts an HT 100 carbon fiber drag system. This creates a powerful drag by leveraging both sides of each drag washer, while still maintaining its smoothness. The drag washers are treated with a proprietary grease that allows them great longevity.

The 5 sealed stainless steel ball bearings allow for smooth cranking while the instant anti-reverse bearing will enable you to reel without interruption by eliminating pullback. Be aware that the anti-reverse bearing may come apart when you take the reel apart to clean it. Try to be extra careful with anti-reverse spring, as it may be difficult to put back together.

The Penn Battle II ultralight spinning reel is great for freshwater fishing, inshore, and reef fishing in saltwater. We recommend the Penn Battle II as the best ultralight spinning reel for crappie. Because it is a smaller reel, it can handle lighter lines and lures required for these smaller fish.

You can use this reel with Berkley or Spiderwire Superline. A rubber gasket helps prevent Superline from slipping, so you can use a braided line that doesn’t have monofilament backing. The line capacity rings are marked at ⅓, ⅔, and full capacity, which makes it easy to tell at a glance how much line you have remaining.

3. Cadence CS5-3000

4. KastKing Summer 500

5. Daiwa QR750

6. Pflueger President PRESSP20X5

How to Setup & Use Ultralight Spinning Reels

How to connect the spinning reel to the rod

How To Spool a spinning reel:

How to string the rod

If you follow these guidelines, learning how to cast a spinning reel will become much more natural over time!

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Which is the lightest option reviewed above?

Are expensive spinning reels worth it?

This answer depends on what you want. Ask yourself if you fish enough to make it a worthwhile expense. There are many quality reels we have listed here that won’t break the bank and are good for a recreational angler. But we feel that expensive spinning reels are worth it if you go fishing a lot or enter fishing tournaments. And the expensive ones tend to last much longer if you take care of them.

Can bass be caught with ultralight reels?

You can catch bass with ultralight reels, especially if you use light and small lures.

What types of lures and baits should I use with my ultralight spinning reel?

Lures can include crankbaits, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, plastics, and even spoons baited with your favorite little grubs and worms.

Who makes the best ultralight spinning reels?

What is the best line to use for ultralight spinning reels?

Where can I buy these ultralight spinning reels?

All of these ultralight spinning reels can be purchased on Amazon; simply click on the link under each product name.

Conclusion