I was using my oldest Shimano Stella at the weekend for wrasse fishing and it was as trouble free as ever.
LRF Spinning Reels
For LRF and Japanese Light Game fishing styles most anglers opt for a spinning reel sized between 500 and 2000 (including 2500 and C3000). A small spinning reel filled with thin braid, fluorocarbon or ester line offers the light lure angler the easiest option to cast lightweight lures down to 0.5g. Look for a reel in your price range that isn’t too heavy and one with a smooth drag to protect light line from the power of large fish. The spinning reels listed here I have either owned, fished, or handled at various tackle shows.
HTO Aikido 1000 Spinning Reel
I just spooled up a new HTO Aikido 1000 spinning reel with 0.2PE to give it a go at some Perch and LRF duties. It’s the first truly budget fixed spool reel (£45) that I haven’t immediately recoiled from. It’s a nice looking reel. The body has a Zaion-type vibe to it. The weight isn’t outrageous and I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth line-lay when spooling it up. Line capacity is 200m of 0.165mm (3lb mono). Here’s some more detailed images I took >
Shimano Stella 3000 FE
My Shimano Stella 3000 FE has seen quite a few years of action. It’s been absolutely solid. In addition to its durability, the stand-out feature is its drag. Really, really smooth with very little start-up time and therefore perfect for light line applications.
Daiwa Reel & Spool Size Guide
Like other Japanese fishing tackle manufacturers, Daiwa is renowned for producing reels designed for a specific purpose, species or angling method. Here, we focus on how to interpret the many different spool size options Daiwa has available for its vast range of spinning reels, past and present, so you can best determine the right size model for the desired application.
Daiwa Ignis Type-R SOM Custom
Replacing the fluorocarbon-only spool of the Daiwa Ignis Type-R with this red, No Limits custom shallow spool from Studio Ocean Mark. Tuned further with SOM’s amazing looking Rail Arm handle and knob to complete the look.
Daiwa Ignis Type-R
This Daiwa Ignis Type-R 2505 was a souvenir from my first trip to Japan in 2014. It was a JDM only reel at the time and of all the shiny new reels I stared at in the tackle shop’s big, glass display cabinet, it was the one that felt most ‘Japanese’.
Abu Garcia Revo Premier Spin 10 Review
As I write this, my Revo Premier Spin 10 by Abu Garcia is sat collecting dust on the shelf. The reason it hasn’t had an outing for a while is that the anti-reverse bearing has failed. It’s only a problem in the cold, but the result is a sudden slip into reverse wind when the rotor is under tension, resulting in sore knuckles or worse, a lost fish. But don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a negative review at all. Far from it.
Shimano Soare CI4+ 500S
When I travelled to Osaka, Japan in 2018 I wanted a ‘souvenir’ that reminded me of the trip. This is it – the super small Shimano Soare CI4+ 500S!