Corpusfishing.com

[Bilinnna]

I need a new spinning reel https://under-the-open-sky.com/best-ultralight-spinning-reel/ for pond fishing. Small bass and big bream. I plan to use ~6 lb mono or thinner-but-heavier braid. I don't want a micro-sized spool. Drag with smooth start-up is essential. Light weight is preferable. I'm not looking to cheap out but damn at the prices of reels now! They don't mind asking for 2 or 3 hundred+ dollars for a spinning reel! What's a good moderately priced reel?

[bulldog1935]

Since the Tica SS500 Cetus is out for micro spool, try the Tica SS800 - $40 shipping included, direct from Tica.
https://www.amazon.com/Tica-SS800-Cetus-Trout-Fishing/dp/B00EBCCPE2 - London? - maybe check amazon/uk
I've fished the smaller SS500 for salt XUL for 8+ years and it's landed big specs.
Many of the reels you might be looking at were made by Tica and badged for somebody else.
http://www.ticaamerica.com/fishing-reel-cetus-ss/

I'm still fishing a 30-y-o Penn 4200SS - not sure what is the current smallest Penn spinfisher, but you can still find near-mint 420SS and 4200SS on ebay.
Mine has landed many slot reds on 10-lb copolymer.

[Salt On the Brain]

I was thinking the same thing bulldog said.
I bought the Tica 500 on his recommendation and could not be happier with it and have been considering buying the 800 size, also.
I also have a 28 year old Penn 4300 ss that has caught everything imaginable that can be caught on 6lb line, including kingfish and bonitos.
My 450ss is 34 years old and has even caught blackfin tuna and tarpon.
I do not think you can go wrong with either brand.
The Daiwa BG series is excellent, also.
LF
_________________
Take it outside!

[bulldog1935]

I've also been really impressed with my Tica Libra SX3000 for inshore, just about 200 yds 12-lb fluoro.
The SX1500 is a pretty nice reel, with Tica's version of long-spool oscillation using their improved eccentric gear design.
Either size, a very nice $100 reel.

[SeanHHH]

Shimano Sedona maybe?

[Salt On the Brain]

SeanHHH,
Academy just started carrying the Sedona in size 500.
I had to get one.
The Cetus 500s holds an entire 125 yard spool of 4lb braid.
The Sedona 500 holds an entire 125 yard spool of 6lb braid.

I am pleased with both, but the larger Sedona seems to cast a little better.
I will post about durability in a few years.
LF
_________________
Take it outside!

[SeanHHH]

That is awesome! Bet that drum was a sporty fight.

My daughter has been using a Sedona for years for drift fishing the ULM. Cannot remember the model number but it works great with 10 lb. mono, which she prefers over braid.

[Donnie]

For what I think you want, something to go after specs, etc. a Penn Spinfisher, 4500 VI - - , its sealed, solid, time tested drag, will make your day. i just picked up another one for 114 bucks off of amazon. Edited to add - never mind - i thought this was something for salt water light tackle type of thing. my suggestion is over kill for a pond, or lake.
_________________
Don - permanent prescription of salt water therapy.

[bulldog1935]

Dock nite-lite fishing and I go way back.
Rockport and Flour Bluff trips as a teenager, fishing all night was the whole goal for many trips (other times, fall jetties, or spring and summer Redfish Bay sloughs from a 14' semi-vee).

All my life, any bay trips from South Padre all the way up the coast, with boat docks or easy drive to Fulton Beach or Flour Bluff piers, always included some night dock/pier fishing.
Raised two girls with a dock kidfish ritual, and we always caught double-digit nursery trout.


Arryo trips have evolved from dock-also-fishing to being the primary reason for the trip.
The 10 years I've been using the Japanese XUL rockfish rods, my skills and vision have been widened in what it takes to turn hook-wary specs.

After the success of the last two dock-fishing trips, decided to add another rig, and up the ante a bit with a slightly faster 8' rod. Still a $100 rod, this one from Korea, but I went all-out on the reel.
(The Japanese offer many $500-700 rods in this niche, and lengths out to 9'4")

The Vanquish (Japan market only) is the Stella re-made with beautifully anodized magnesium frame and spool (v. Stella's titanium), lightened rotor, forged titanium bail, and plasma-coated Al-alloy wear parts in place of stainless steel, same labyrinth seals - all the internal parts interchange with the Stella. It has the lowest inertia of any reel made (least moving mass between you and the line).
Got a good price from Japan at 20% below list and gratis EMS shipping - more than most would want to spend on an UL reel.
Whether it's an edge detecting light strikes, will find out next time.
This is the C2000S, with 27" line pick-up /rev (I wanted this intermediate gearing), and holds 150-yds 6-lb braid. It also has felt drag washer instead of carbon, but probably more reliable at 1.5-lb drag setting (set on a spring scale).


The 8' UL rod is also a bit stouter from end to end, and faster than the 1-6-lb and 2-8-lb. versions I've dock-fished with kids and friends for 10 years.
It has a softer solid tip bracketed by the orange wraps (less stiffness than tubular, it's an MOI thing)

The rod butt has a weave graphite reinforcement layer.

It's rated for .004" to .006" braid, so it safely protects minimum 6-lb test, and is good to 12-lb. Except for the softer tip, it's not notably slower than a bay rod.
The lure weight rating is still 1/64th to 3/16th oz, and it may have some use in the bay on light lures. It definitely has more backbone than the XUL rod I've shown before.


The line rating on the rod is in Japan "Gou" units - https://www.jpfishingtacklenews.com/news/japanese-line-size/

My buddy Lou has been fishing a new ('19) Stradic FL1000 on his XUL rod, and it's very nice.
I have the Stradic FL4000 for inshore.
The new Stradic is also the re-made '18 Stella, parts would interchange, same labyrinth seals, with bushings in place of just a few ball-bearings (worm gear following pawl and doesn't have a 2nd handle BB),
and with aluminum frame and spool.
Shimano only imports the high-speed reels to the US market.

[bulldog1935]