I'm looking for an ultralight spinning reel,mostly for panfish. What is everyone using out there? Any input would be really helpfull. My price range is anywhere from $30-100.
Fishing Equipment
Best ultralight spinning reel
In under $30 and $100 there is multiple ultralight spinning reels available in different stores that you can choose. However, in my opinion okuma ceymar and cadence cs8 are the best ultralight spinning reels. okuma ceymar comes in under $40 price range which is affordable. The main feature of this reel is it is ideal for inshore saltwater fishing and also it has Multi-disc, oiled felt drag system which is very useful for fines fishing. Also cadence cs8 light reel comes in under $100 price and the main features of this reel it is constructed from materials that bring strength without the weight, the Cadence CS8 series reel offers premium performance at a very modest cost.
Tica Cetus SB500 or SE500.
Getting harder to find. Ebay has them from 53.00 to 60.00.
I've tried Shimano and Pflueger. I settled on my first Cetus 10 years ago. Now I have 6 of them and the first one is still as smooth as the others.........
The best panfish spinning reels I ever owned and still use today are the Shakespeare 2200 sigma 025 or 030. Unfortunately I think they quit making them in the seventies. If you can ever find one snap it up.
The number off bearings in the spinning reel will be determined by the diameter of the oscillating rod that passes through the bearings or the diameter of the bearings themselves. The amount of bearings makes no difference as long as they fill the entire circumference of the inner and outer race of a self contained unit.
I don't think you can beat a Shimano, personally. I think that in the price point you are looking you find that the Shimano reels are smooth, durable and have very reliable drag systems. Don't get sucked into the "bearings race". I personally think the Symmetre is the way to go, but I have been putting Sedona's on the wife and kids' rods and they are great as well. I use the 500's on my ice rods and short ultra-lites, but like to step up to the 100's on rods 6 feet or longer.
Dont know who is the best. I do use the shimano sedona 1500's. I pair them up with 7 ft light action im7 graphite guide series rods from g' mountain with 4 lb berkley trilene xl. All that lets me cast a mini mite with a bb size split shot a good distance and i still can play the occasional bass the bites.
Chop chop, my comments were broader than an ultralight, as I am sure yours were. You brought up a 10 ball bearing reel to the price point of $600 bucks not me. I simply stated go compare one to the other or side by side and look at prices too. Personally I wouldn't pay $600 for an ultralite, you might but I won't. Okuma has several very smooth ultralights with 6+1 ball bearings, go check them out you will be surprised.
Chop chop, Best lies in the eyes of the beholder. Go to the store and compare side by side a 10 ball bearing Shimano and a 10 ball bearing Okuma. Besides comparing the reels functionality and smoothness, compare the prices as well. Not saying Shimano's are bad, just compare them, you will be surprised.
Best lies in the eyes of the beholder. Okuma has some very nice reels that are small and very smooth. For example they have an Avenger in in a size AV-10 or AV-25. Both run $39.99 and have 6+1 ball bearings.
If you want to spend a litte more money, they have a Ceymar size C-10, again 6+1 ball bearings and runs $49.99