In case it's useful for someone, I thought I'd share a recent discovery that the Shimano Exsence spool fits the Stella. In this case it's a 3000 Exsence spool on a 2500 Stella.
reels
Abu Garcia Revo Premier
Released last year, Abu Garcia's Revo Premier spinning reel caught my attention because of the ultra shallow spool. Read more
Shimano Twin Power 1000FC

New toy alert! The new LRF season is nearly upon us, so I'm busy preparing for the return of our saltwater mini species. Obviously I needed a new reel - not - but I fell for the charms of this tiny little spinning reel - a mint Shimano Twin Power 1000FC. Read more
Best Size Reel for LRF

I noticed that a few people were searching for advice on the best size reels for LRF, so I thought I'd offer my opinions:Read more
Shimano Sustain & Vanquish Spinning Reels
Shimano only ever has a small selection of its tackle at the trade show but these two spinning reels were stand out for me - the £400+ Shimano Vanquish and the £250+ Shimano Sustain. I actually prefer the look of the Sustain - that black colour scheme is pretty sick - but when you take a close look at the Vanquish you can see the extra quality the higher price tag gets you. The machining on the handle is very nice, as is the full metal rear housing. Black bail adds to the look. The Vanquish also features Shimano's new Light Weight Concept, using carefully selected materials to lighten the weight of the reel without sacrificing durability. Wish they'd had smaller sizes on show.
2 LRF Setups from 2011
2 LRF setups after action. Dan's trusty Solpara by Major Craft with a 2500 Certate and a Sonik SK4 Travel Rod on test with my 2500 Stella FD