9 Best Ultralight Spinning Reel Reviewed – Best of 2021

How well your ultralight fishing trip will go largely depends on whether you have picked the right ultralight spinning reel or not.

For a greater outcome, you need the right gear and, most importantly, the right skill.

However, skill is something that you will have to develop all by yourself. But what I can do here is to guide you through a list of the best ultralight spinning reels.

Reels that are worth the investment, and many people already have a good time with them.

Excited? Then have a quick look!

9 Best Ultralight Spinning Reel

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9 best Ultralight Spinning Reel- comparison

9 best Ultralight Spinning Reel- review

1.Pflueger Supreme Ultralight Spinning Reel

In the first place, we have the Pflueger Supreme Ultralight Spinning reel. It isn’t the lightest spinning reel on the list but still way too lightweight, weighs 0.7 pounds only. The reason why I kept it on the top is that it is a highly balanced spinning reel. Plus, this is one of the best ultralight reels under $100.

It is lightweight, and at the same time, it offers the needed power to land heavy fish with ease. And this reel is pretty durable as well. If cared well, it will last a lifetime.

Comes with nine corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearings that make the reel perform smoothly like water. There is an instant anti-reverse bearing included.

The rotor, side plate, and body is made of Magnesium, and it is what makes the reel so lightweight. It features a carbon inlay drag design that uses an oil-felt system to delivers consistent and constant stopping power.

Also features a braid-ready spool made of aluminum. The spool is ported, double anodized, and machined so that it can deliver optimum durability.

Comes with a solid aluminum bail wire. And a machined aluminum handle along with a soft knob which adds convenience. There is an anti-twist titanium line roller, which keeps the line mess-free.

2.Pflueger President Spinning Reel

Another one from the mighty Pflueger, presenting the president series spinning reel that promises to be highly beneficial in ultralight fishing. And according to users, this reel does live up to that promise.

It weighs around 0.39 lbs. that is considered pretty lightweight, still not the lightest. But there is an advantage of the reels that are not feather-light. You can land heavy hard fighting fish with them as well how this Pflueger President spinning reel does.

It is a highly smooth spinning reel. Comes with ten corrosion-resistant stainless steel ball bearings. This reel also comes with sealed drag washers which are constantly lubricated and smooth. Features slow oscillation gearing that enhances the line lay, preventing line twisting. 

The body and rotor of the reel are constructed with Graphite material, which makes the reel extremely lightweight and yet highly durable. The bail is made of aluminum.

For comfortable use, this reel also features an Aluminum handle along with a soft-touch knob. According to the users, casting with this spinning reel is super fun, and if you can care for this reel well, it will last for a very long time.

3.Okuma Helios Lightweight Spinning Fishing Reel

Have a look at this Okuma Helios Lightweight Spinning fishing reel if you need impressive strength in both freshwater and inshore saltwater. There is a bunch of unique other features that this same reel has to offer. 

This reel’s side plate, body, or rotor is constructed with Okuma’s long strand carbon fiber. This construction makes this reel highly durable a powerful. And lightweight at the same time.

Another thing that the users highly appreciate is the Torsion Control Armor. It is an innovative design, and it anchors the reel body on a wide yoke so that the reel wouldn’t twist or flex when in stressful conditions.

The rotor system of this reel is something that no fisher can turn down. Guarding the rotor against water intrusion is common. But what this same reel has come up with is just amazing. This reel comes with a Cyclonic Flow Rotor, which evacuates the water from the system and keeps the reel dry.

Apart from all those, this is a highly smooth spinning reel, comes with nine corrosion-resistant stainless steel bearings, including one roller bearing. Talking about smoothness, the machine-cut brass pinion gear also increases the smoothness of the reel.

The main gear of the reel is made from Aluminum so that it can deliver optimum strength while making the reel lightweight. To sum up, this Helios HSX series is one of the best Okuma spinning reel series.

4.SHIMANO Sahara Fi Spinning Fishing Reel

Presenting Shimano Sahara Fi spinning reel series. Here we are looking at the 1000 Fi, a pretty good spinning reel for both newbie and professional anglers. It is one of the good Shimano ultralight spinning reels.

This Shimano Ultralight reel delivers impressive power and durability, and the overall performance is pretty satisfying. The X-ship and Hegane (HGN) Gearing has been used to make this reel which improves durability and smoothness.

The X-ship technology prevents friction between the gear and the spool shaft, resulting in excellent casting performance. Anglers can do longer and accurate casts very quickly.

This reel is constructed with a G-free body that moves the center of the reel of gravity towards the rod. And it increases convenience when holding and also prevents fatigue.

5.Okuma RTX Light Weight Spinning Fishing Reel

Another top-notch spinning reel from the Okuma. Like the previous one, this Okuma RTX spinning reel is also constructed with C-40X carbon material. The rotor, side plate, and body are made of C-40X carbon. These make the reel highly durable and very lightweight; the reel weighs 0.51 lbs.

This Okuma Ultralight reel is the best choice for freshwater and inshore saltwater fishing. Offers a very smooth performance, thanks to the seven ball and one reverse stainless-steel bearing. Plus, it also features a Japanese oiled felt drag system. The spool of this reel is aluminum two-tone machined anodized and has an elliptical gearing system.

With this reel, you can do long, accurate castings, thanks to that gearing system since it creates very little friction.

The rotor equalizing system of this reel is computer balanced; this makes cranking very smooth and ensures the spool doesn’t wobble. One more satisfying thing, the reel features an Even Flow Roller system as well. This technology prevents line twisting.

And lastly, it features a Hydro Block technology that prevents water from entering inside and damage the reel.

6.SHIMANO Sedona Fi Spinning Fishing Reel

Check Price

This Shimano Sedona Fi Spinning Ultra Light fishing reel satisfies the angler on both wallet and water. The price isn’t high, and the performance is enough to put a smile on the face. What’s more, what do you need?

It features G free body that moves the center of gravity towards the rod, which makes holding the rod with reel attached comfortable. This allows the angler to fish for more extended periods with ease.

Also comes with a cold-forged Hegane gearing system which gives more flexibility to the angler. The gearing system keeps this reel one step ahead in the competition.

  In case you are interested Check Out some Under $100 Baitcasters  

Shimano always tries to impress the anglers with smoother and long-lasting line retrieval, which is no different. This reel comes with a new spool lip design. According to their research, this design is way too better than others for extended and accurate casting.

Plus, the design prevents wind knots and backlashes as well. Features double anodized machine cut spool that has better line capacity and is compatible with the oval oscillation gearing system.

7.KastKing Sharky III Spinning Fishing Reel

After massive success with Sharky I & II series, now Kastking has come up with the Sharky III series. So far, this Kastking Sharky III spinning reel is one of the most balanced spinning reels.

It is smooth, durable, lightweight, and powerful. It packs everything you need. This reel was designed to land challenging trophy fishes under any fishing condition.

Kastking has used a high percentage of fiber-reinforced graphite in constructing the rotor and the body of this reel. The materials are what make this reel both lightweight and durable.

This reel can deliver 39.5 lbs of reliable and smooth triple-disc carbon fiber dragging power. Not only that, it features an oversized stainless steel main shaft as well and a vital mesh manganese brass pinion gear. It has everything that an angler needs to land hard fighting heavy fishes with ease.

Kastking uses a K.I.S.S technology, a shield system that protects the rotor, body, and spool from water. This reel is pretty quiet, and the retrieve is super smooth. Requires no backing line since it the spool comes braid ready.

The reel comes with 11 ball bearings that make the reel super smooth. The handle is made of aluminum for greater durability. And lastly, the price of this reel is also pretty easy on the wallet. One of the affordable spinning reels on the market.

8.Cadence CS8 Ultralight Spinning Fishing Reel

Looking for an ultralight spinning reel that comes within a low budget? I got you! Presenting the Cadence CS8 spinning reel, one of the most lightweight spinning reels on the market right now. All thanks to the Carbon Magnesium Carbon (CMC) construction of this reel. The main body is constructed with Magnesium.

Compared to Aluminum, Magnesium is 34% more lightweight and 1.5 times stronger. With this reel, you don’t need to sacrifice durability for the weight or vice versa.

It comes with a machined aluminum spool where the line is less likely to slip. And also comes with a carbon fiber drag system that delivers constant and consistent pressure.

  Also Check:   Best Baitcasters under $100.

Let me tell you how smooth this reel is. This reel features ten stainless steel corrosion-resistant bearings, and these bearings make the reel perform highly smoothly under any condition. It includes an instant stop anti-reverse bearing as well.

Features an ergonomic EVA handle knob that adds more convenience. With this reel, you will get good drag power, enough to take down medium-size hard-fighting fishes. You can even adjust the drag power according to your need.

Plus, the price is also pretty reasonable. And a suitable unit for both newcomers and professional anglers.

9.KastKing Centron Ultralight Spinning Fishing Reel

Last but not least, have a look at the Kastking Centron Ultralight spinning reel. One of the Top-notch ultralight spinning reels under $50 you will find now in the market. This is the most affordable spinning reel on the list but still manages to impress the angler.

Compared to other spinning reels of this list, this is a little heavy. It weighs 0.63 lbs. Comes with a narrow graphite frame design and a computer balancing system, which makes the reel perform well.

It offers decent power on the water, can deliver 17.5 lbs stopping power. For the price, I think it is a win. Also features a hardened metal main shaft, mesh drive gear, and machined pinion gear so that the angler can go after medium-sized fighting fishes.

Comes with a total of 10 ball bearings, including one instant anti-reverse bearing. The reel performs pretty smoothly under any fishing condition. With the right skill, the angler can do longer and accurate casts with this reel as well.

Anatomy of a Spinning Reel

Now let’s know the different parts of a fishing reel. Understanding the elements will help a beginner to choose the right spinning reel. Spinning reels are easy for beginners to use and less prone to tangles than baitcasting reels.

Body: First of all, the actual body is the main component of a fishing reel. This houses the gear mechanisms, the bearings. It also has the arm attached to the reel body and the foot, which is then attached to your fishing rod. So that’s the reel body.

Handle: Then let’s move on to the handle. This is what you turn when you’re reeling in a fish, and this is either shaped like a T bar or like a ball. So there are two different kinds of reel handles.

Spool: From there, let’s move on to the spool. The spool holds the line on fishing reel, and the spools come in different line capacities that are usually marked right on the side of the reel, so always be sure to check that.

Drag Adjustment: Moving on from the spool, let’s know the drag adjustment. The drag adjustment usually looks like a dial or knob at the top of your reel. This can be turned to make the drag tighter, giving the fish less control and you more control, or it can be turned in the opposite direction to back off on that drag and give the fish more control and you less power.

However, the thing to remember is that the tighter that drag is, the more chances you have of breaking a fish off. So, you need to find the proper drag setting for the type of fish you’re targeting and the type of techniques you’re using.

Bail: The bail is just this wire arm on your fishing reel, so when the bail is open, it will allow the line to release off of your reel. When it is closed, it keeps the line contained on your reel.

Anti-reverse system: Last but certainly not least, we have the anti-reverse mechanism, and that’s just a knob at the bottom of the spool. It does not allow you to reel backward when it’s on. It does allow you to reel backward, which can be used in specific fishing techniques for lighter or smaller fish. However, you wouldn’t want that engaged if you’re fighting larger saltwater fish species, for example.

Why choose an ultralight spinning reel?

A lightweight fishing reel is essential for several reasons.

How to choose an ultralight spinning reel?

To help you decide which reel is best for your fishing needs, we have broken down the specifications and features of ultralight fishing reels. When choosing products, it is best to pay attention to the features that will be most important to you so that you know what you are getting when buying an ultralight fishing reel.

Construction

The construction material of the ultralight fishing reel is mainly aluminum alloy, which is light but also strong. Steel wire is wound around a plastic core, which makes it lightweight and durable. The reel’s handle is made of aluminum alloy, which has a lower weight and less durability than steel materials. The bearing housing is made of hard plastic, which is not good at high temperatures. The materials of your ultralight fishing reel are essential factors in determining its overall durability and performance.

Saltwater or Freshwater

When it comes to spinning fishing reels, the choice between freshwater or saltwater is a difficult one to make. Many of the same companies produce both types, and the essential operation of both reels is very similar.

The primary difference between the two lies in the way they are constructed. Saltwater reels are typically built from higher quality components, which translates into a more durable product overall. Pieces are more significant and sturdier so that they can stand up to the rigors of saltwater use and storage. They also feature rust-resistant finishes, ceramic bearing guides, and corrosion-resistant hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the smallest Shimano spinning reel?

Shimano Vanford Spinning Reel 1000 size is the smallest ultralight spinning reel and the lightest reel of Shimano.

Which is the Best UL Spinning Reel?

For those who are getting confused, UL stands for Ultralight. I cannot give you just one name but our top 3 picks are best according to us.

Which are the Best Abu Garcia ultra light spinning reels?

Abu Garcial Zenon is one of the best abu garcia ultra light spinning reels

Final words

If you are planning to get yourself the best ultralight spinning reel, plan to invest a good amount. Good reels will cost you good money, which is very obvious. Please do not see it as cost; see it as an investment.

A top-notch spinning reel will serve you for years, and if cared well, some even last a lifetime. So do not look for a low price if you are serious about ultralight fishing.

I have kept few spinning reels that come under $50; those are actually for beginners and occasional anglers who go fishing once or twice in six months.

However, I hope this list of 9 ultralight reel reviews helps you to get one for yourself. In case you are interested in other fishing items, make sure to roll your eyes below.

Also Read: Best fishing lines for trout