How to Choose the Best Ultralight Spinning Reel for You – Few Tips to Consider

It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or an avid fisherman wanting to do some bluegill fishing. You need the traditional spinning reel to help you take on these fish and many others.

Ultralight spinning wheels are a great starter for any inexperienced fishermen. They fit a thinner fishing line that holds 15 pounds or less. Regardless of your reasoning behind wanting an ultralight reel, you should choose one that you know if going to last.

We created this guide to help you choose the best ultralight spinning reel for you.

1. Water Type

The very first factor to consider is the type of water you’ll be fishing in. There’s a big difference between fishing in freshwater and fishing in saltwater. Saltwater is tougher and choppier than freshwater. This means you need a tougher and more durable ultralight spinning reel.

Not only does the material need to be strong but the ball bearings do as well. The metal should be rust-resistant, too. Saltwater is harsher and will rust any reel or rod quicker than freshwater.

2. Construction/Material

When you’re looking for a high-quality ultra-light spinning real, the material is very important. Really durable spinning reels are made from all metal or aluminum. The stronger the metal, the better the spinning reel. Sometimes, manufacturers use alloy to make the reels lightweight and easier to maneuver.

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Graphite works well but graphite spinning reels aren’t as strong. So, they don’t work well for heavy fish. That said, they’re more lightweight than aluminum reels and they’re corrosion-resistant.

3. Bearings

The ball bearings in a spinning reel are what stop vibration and provide stability. If your spinning reel causes your fishing rod to shake and vibrate, your ball bearings are, quite frankly, crap.

The more ball bearings the reel has, the smoother it runs. The better your ball bearings are, the less of them you need. High-quality ball bearings are sealed and made out of different material than other ball bearings. They’re usually made from a combination of different alloys. Rust-resistant ball bearings are made from chromium and stainless steel.

Lower quality spinning reels use bushings instead of bearings since they’re cheaper. So, they won’t last nearly as long.

4. Gear Ratio (Speed Vs. Power)

The gear ratio of a reel decides the speed you use to retrieve your fishing line and the power you have to crank. It’s speed versus power.

The first number in the gear ratio is how many times the bail rotates around the spool on the spinning reel. 6:1 and above have fast retrieval. Anything below that is on the slower side.

Your fishing style determines the ratio you need for your spinning reel. If you’re up for some fast fishing, a smaller gear ratio should suit you.

5. Drag

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The drag of a spinning reel is what helps you reel in a hooked fish. It applies pressure on the fish if you have it on your line and lets line out when you’re trying to reel the fish in. If a spinning reel has a superior drag, you don’t have to worry about your line breaking during a struggle.

A front adjustment drag has the drag controls in the front. A front drag has several large drag washers that a rear drag doesn’t have. The increased amount of drag washers ensures stability and durability so you can catch those bigger, tougher fish.

But front drag controls are harder to get to and manage. A rear adjustment drag is a lot easier to access and control but they can’t withstand the pressure of struggling with a larger fish.

When checking out the drag on a spinning reel, you need to know how much pressure it can take. Because if your reel can’t take the pressure of a fish, it doesn’t matter if the drag can.

6. Spool

Below the drag knob is the spool that holds your fishing line. The spool determines your casting distance as well as how smooth your cast is.

Deeper spools are based on a longer distance between the spool lip and arbor. These let you cast farther distances but fishing line twists more with a deeper spool. On the other hand, wide spools are simply wider and help to hold the line longer and twist less. Wide spools aren’t great for a long casting distance.

7. Handle

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People often overlook the handle of a spinning reel or even the handle of a fishing rod. But handles are an important feature. The handles are what we deal with when we’re reeling in a fish. You want to protect your hands.

If it’s possible, test out the spinning reel handle. Make sure it’s comfortable for you to grip. What’s makes a comfortable grip is different for everyone.

You should make sure that your spinning reel has a large enough handle. It should be large enough that you can grab it on a whim with a tight grip.

Higher quality ultralight spinning reels also have an anti-reverse component to the handle. The anti-reverse stops the handle from spinning backward when you’re reeling in a fish. You want that drag and resistance between you and the fish.

Everyone should buy a reel with an anti-reverse handle, no matter if you’re an amateur or a pro.

Conclusion

The right ultralight spinning reel is important for any fisherman. When you fish with a low-quality reel, you’re open to line breakage and failure to catch any type of fish. So, go through these top factors before you buy any spinning reels to be sure you make the right decision for you.

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