Best Ultralight Spinning Reel – Top 10 Expert Reviews

A good spinning reel is the basic equipment you require while fishing after a fishing rod. However, some fishing reels are much heavier to handle and you end up getting your hands hurt. Therefore, we are here to help you with the list of top 10 best ultralight spinning reels of 2023. Lightweight spinning reels make fishing more fun and easier compared to a heavy reel which can’t be held for more than an hour. 

In this article we have featured the top ultralight spinning reels after testing them precisely in saltwater as well as freshwater lakes and ponds. Moreover, we even contacted professionals for their choice of reels. We have featured those reels at the end of this article so do read this article till last. However, if you are still confused about the reel size you would require, check out the spinning reel sizes before moving further. 

Best Ultralight Spinning Reel 2023

1. SHIMANO Stella FJ Spinning Reel– Best Ultralight Spinning Reel 2023

When it comes to the best ultralight spinning reels, always go for Shimano as the first choice because they offer the lightest weighing reel yet powerful enough to fight big saltwater fishes. The Stella FJ weighs only 6 ounces but still can handle fishes weighing 15-20 pounds easily. Moreover, the 13 stainless steel ball bearings offer easy and smooth working during heavy fishing.

Other than that, the reel is very expensive with the price range of $700-$1000 but as said by the professional anglers all around the globe, it’s worth every penny you will pay. Also, the line management system offers a long casting distance and no tangles as compared to other ultralight spinning reels.

Brand	SHIMANO
Material	Aluminium
Color	Silver
Handle material	Aluminium
Product weight (in Ounces)	6 Ounces
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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2. SHIMANO Sahara FI Spinning Fishing Reel– best ultralight spinning reel for money

Want a spinning reel for bass fishing? If yes, you are at the right place this Shimano Sahara FI is perfect for bass fishing for its overall smooth and powerful performance. The 4 stainless steel ball bearings and 1 roller bearing provides an amazingly strong drag with a max drag force of 20 lbs. Moreover, the 4000 size is more than enough for bass fishing as well as other saltwater fishes. Also, you can get Sahara between the sizes of 1000-5000. 

Additionally, the ultralight spinning reel reviews also recommend that Sahara has a great line capacity even after weighing only 0.8 pounds. However, you should know that it doesn’t include an anti-reverse and auto bail system which may be important for some anglers.

Brand	SHIMANO
Material	Aluminium
Color	Gold, Black
Handle material	Aluminium
Product weight (in Pounds)	0.8 Pounds
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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3. KastKing Sharky III Fishing Reel– top ultralight spinning reel 

KastKing is a well-known brand amongst anglers for its stunning performance even while fighting big fishes at a lesser price. The Sharky III is one such ultralight spinning reel weighing only 15 ounces yet capable of exerting a drag force of 40 lbs which is too much for a spinning reel at this price point. Moreover, the hand orientation can be changed anytime you require. 

Also, the aluminium spool has a sealing which makes it water resistant and a nice companion for boat fishing. We also call it the best ultralight spinning reel of 2023  because of the easy and smooth reeling experience it provided during the testings at different locations and water bodies.

Brand	KastKing
Material	Graphite
Color	Red/Black
Handle material	Aluminium
Product weight (in Ounces)	15 Ounces
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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4. Penn CFTII7000LC Conflict II Long Cast Spinning Reel

As already marketed by the manufacturer PENN, the Conflict II is the lightest spinning reel they have ever made. Like many of their heavy spinning reels this ultralight Conflict II also includes the same features except the material used. The HT-100 carbon drag washers and the 7 stainless steel ball bearings let us use the spinning reel smoothly and with no friction. 

Moreover, we also realized that the anti-reverse feature is worth the price as it stops suddenly after clicking the button with no spool rotations ahead. You can use Conflict II during your saltwater fishing trips with no worries as it has a corrosion resistant body. Lastly, you should know that the bail needs to be manually flipped as some people assume that it’s broken.

Brand	PENN Fishing
Material	Stainless Steel, Aluminium
Color	Black
Handle material	Stainless Steel
Product weight (in Ounces)	14.4 Ounces
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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5. Abu Garcia Revo Premier Spinning Reel– best ultralight spinning reel

One of the best lightweight spinning reel with a durable body, this Revo Premier by Abu Garcia can work with you for a longer period because of its C6 carbon body. Moreover, the C6 material also helps the spinning reel to be much lighter than many other spinning reels with the same features. Also, we experienced a super smooth reeling performance during trials due to its 12 stainless steel ball bearings. 

As the size is only 2000, you can use it for light saltwater fishing and freshwater too, obviously. However, the construction is up to the mark and as promised by the brand. As it’s a best micro spinning reel by Abu Garcia, it’s a bit overpriced so you can have it if it comes under your budget.

Brand	Abu Garcia
Material	Aluminium, Carbon
Color	Silver and gold
Handle material	Stainless Steel
Product weight (in kg)	0.32 kg
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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6. SHIMANO Stradic FL Spinning Fishing Reel– best light tackle spinning reel

The Stradic FL ultralight spinning reel by Shimano is perfect in all aspects and can be really helpful during your beginner phase. However, professionals use it too sometimes. The full metal body with a durable build will stay strong during reeling and won’t break like other small sized reels. Also, you can handle it for hours as it weighs only 0.7 pounds. 

However, the size is limited up to 5000 so if you need even bigger sizes you can check out the top 10 best spinning reels of 2023. Besides that, it doesn’t include an anti-reverse feature so if you don’t like that, this reel is the best option for you. Lastly, you can use it wherever you want, including saltwater.

Brand	SHIMANO
Material	synthetic
Color	Silver
Handle material	metal
Product weight (in Pounds)	0.7 Pounds
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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7. Okuma Helios Lightweight Spinning Reel– best ultralight spinning reel for trout

One of the best lightweight spinning reel with a size 2000 and 4000, the Okuma Helios is perfect for bay fishing as well as boat fishing in freshwater. Many ultralight spinning reel reviews including us will recommend this ultralight spinning reel for its incredibly lightweight. Besides that, the reel offers a great drag force while inshore fishing and fighting salmon and bass with its multi disc drag system.

Moreover, during testings, the Helios performed well for bass fishing due to its powerful anti-reverse system and smooth performance. However, there are minimal problems that can be ignored such as the bail sometimes hits fingers. Otherwise, it’s a good deal at such a low price range.

Brand	OKUMA
Material	Aluminium, Stainless Steel
Color	Multi
Handle material	Aluminium
Product weight (in Pounds)	0.7 Pounds
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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8. Okuma RTX Light Weight Spinning Reel– best micro spinning reel 

If you have a budget under $150, the Okuma RTX will be the perfect choice for you. Many professional anglers use the RTX while casting light lures and for small sized fishes. Depending on the construction, we would recommend you to use it only during freshwater fishing because there are no water resistant coatings on the spool. Otherwise, you can use the spinning reel all day long. 

Moreover, what makes it the best light tackle spinning reel is its smooth performance and a powerful drag system. Other than that it offers a good line capacity at a less weight. Therefore, it’s a good lightweight spinning reel under a good budget, you can take it under consideration if you love freshwater fishing.

Brand	OKUMA
Material	Synthetic
Color
Handle material	Stainless Steel
Product weight (in Pounds)	0.59 Pounds
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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9. Pflueger President Spinning Fishing Reel– best ultralight spinning reel for trout

At such a low price range the pflueger has offered us something a good brand would offer to their customers. This reel is a small sized reel with an ultralight weight of only 0.46 pounds. The president can be a brilliant companion during freshwater fishing for trout, bass and many similar fishes easily. Also, the 7 ball bearings offer a great and frictionless fishing experience. 

Moreover, the sizes are available up to 4000 which makes it an excellent choice for medium-sized fishes. It’s the lightest spinning reel in this list, thanks to its graphite construction of body and rotor. However, the use of graphite has led to a fragile construction which may break if you overload the line.

Brand	Pflueger
Material	Aluminium
Color	Blue
Handle material	Stainless Steel
Product weight (in Pounds)	0.46 Pounds
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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10. PENN 1338215 Battle II 1000 – top ultralight spinning reel 

The Battle II manufactured by PENN is a great small sized spinning reel usually used during bass fishing and similar types. It has a sturdy metal body and a high quality Aluminum bail for a good durability. Moreover, the 5 stainless steel ball bearings and a single roller bearing make the overall performance of the reel better. 

Anyone with a budget under $100 can afford this Battle II with no hassle. As it is an ultralight spinning reel, you won’t be getting a big line capacity or the capacity to handle a big fish. Even though it has a good build, we would recommend you to use it only during freshwater fishing as its size is 1000, lowest of all. 

Brand	PENN Fishing
Material	Stainless steel
Color	Gold, multicolour
Handle material	Stainless steel
Product weight (in Ounces)
Hand orientation	Ambidextrous

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How to Choose Best Ultralight Spinning Reel (Buying Guide)

It is important to get the best ultralight spinning reel but how to get one? Nevermind, we will help you out. There are many lightweight spinning reels ranging from mere $25 to a huge amount of $1000 but not every time expensive means good. There are many cheap spinning reels with good quality features, some of them are given in this article. In this article we will discuss some factors you should consider while buying an ultralight spinning reel. 

Size of the reel 

Depending on your fishing preferences, the reel size differs. However, the reel size is the principal thing to see while buying a spinning reel because a wrong reel size won’t do any good to you while fishing for a specific target. There are mainly 4 reel sizes namely small size, medium size, large size and extra large size you can get one according to your targets. For example, if you want to target small fishes such as bass, as you should get a small sized reel. Check out spinning reel sizes for more information. 

Price of the reel 

Price is the second most important factor to look for while choosing a spinning reel. As said earlier, expensive doesn’t mean good therefore, you should always check for reels of all price points instead of a filtered search. Many best ultralight spinning reels have a price range starting from mere $25 and can end up to $1000. Depending on your budget, you can get one. 

Weight of the reel 

If you are specifically searching for an ultralight spinning reel, always go for one with weighing less than 0.8 pounds, as anyone can handle such a small amount of weight for a longer time. On the other hand, avoid heavy spinning reels weighing more than 1 pound as you won’t be able to handle it after an hour or two.

Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ’s)

Conclusion

While getting a reel always go for the one with lighter weight as you can handle it for a longer time.  Here we have featured the top 10 best ultralight spinning reels with a variety of sizes and prices to choose from. Also, we tested them for their performance in saltwater as well as freshwater for months before coming to a conclusion to make sure you get the right product in your hand.

Out of these our top pics are

• SHIMANO Sahara FI Spinning Fishing Reel

• Abu Garcia Revo Premier Spinning Reel 

We hope that you have enjoyed and selected one of these ultralight spinning reels for your next fishing adventure. You can also check out our article on top 10 best spinning reels of 2023 for more options but they might be heavier.