STELLA 1000 FA,SUSTAIN 1000FD and STRADIC 1000. The increased line capacity of these reels compared to the tiny ultralights make a big difference,less line twist.I have all these reels and love them all. If you are serious about ultralights find the best you can afford and spend another $20-$50. You'll be glad you did and the guilt will wear off in a little while..

I'll stick my nose in , or my neck out, and give a little input. I've fished U/L for a looong time and worn out a few tiny reels. The diawa mini mite that I first had was about the best there was. But of the newer reels there are lots of choices. I have my manufacturer preference, but that has been shown up by good offering by others. Don't get in a hurry, handle all you can get your hands on, and don't be too price conscious. Buy one with as many ball bearings as you can afford. If you buy a good reel you'll have it for a very long time, and probably get more like it. The one thing I haven't seen addressed here is care after the buy. Small reels have small drag discs(front drags are better) and it doesn't take much mis care to ruin them. Don't crank em down too tight in the first place and loosen them before you put them away. I have cheap reels that have a good drag system in them that are over 6 yrs old and still smooth. I bought a 6 BB spinning U/L reel for a friend and the second time out with me I went to adjust the drag and it went from dead tight to super loose in about 1/2 turn. Drag discs have been crushed from being left under pressure. The bigger spool thing has merit, and the taller spool reels I have don't cast as well as the shorter ones. As you shop, you'll see what I mean. Happy shopping, you've got a lot of it to do.

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Prisoner of the White Lines on the Freeway
Fishin my life away.

Mitchell Advocate.Great reel.

But,My old vintage Mitchell 308 is the best.Still working after 30 years and still looks like new and works like it too.6 lb. test.

The Mitchell 408 was a great little ultra light. Shimanos for me now!

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"Jack"

I've been using the Shimano Symetre 750 for 3 seasons now and I love it. Very smooth drag with almost no mechanical feeling to it when you're reeling in. Handles only 2# test XL and has done a fine job. I have it matched with a B n' M "Sams Super Sensitive" in 7' length. Have taken a ton or more of crappie, brook trout, large perch and sunfish with this rig. Works for me.

Warning! I have a Daiwa 500 UL (Gold series) that I paid $50.+ for several years ago. I would NOT recommend this reel - period! Very poor (sticky) drag system and the lack of "instant anti-reverse locking" causes problems. This last feature is paramount in selecting a quality UL reel, in my opinion. One other thing with this reel - and a lot of UL reels - is that the line spool is too short. Stacks line when re-filling. Not evenly laying line over the short spool length. Again....I dislike this reel immensely.

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"A voyage in search of knowledge need never abandon the spirit of adventure."

try a pinnacle deadbolt dul20 ultralight. they are great little reels. very smooth and great drags. i have caught several big spotted bass 3 to4 lbers and big drum and catfish when fishing for shad. i have had 4 of these reels for a few years now. i am not saying that they are better than all other reels. just that i have had just as good of service out of them as any other. they cost $19.99 at academy sports and outdoors. i dont think you will be disappointed in them.

Have been fishing ultralights and microlights since they invented them. I am using an Okuma Avion 10 right now. A smoother reel and drag doesn't exist under a 150.00.

I paid 60.00 each for all six of mine. Worth every penny. For ice fishing stick your reel in the freezer for a couple hours. Take it out and see how it works then. My Okumas work just like they did when I put them in.

Matter of fact a bunch of guys on an ice fishing site turned me on to them.

old mitchell 300 shallow spool and the mitchell 308 are real hard to beat. I fish from two to 12 lb test with absolutely no trouble. Those reels are over 35 years old. You can still find they on ebay.

I bought a quantum optix 10 a few years back and it has been an excellent reel.It is a 4BB spinning reel and was under $30.00.The drag is very smooth and the reel has never give me the first problem.I have it mounted on a shimano ultralight rod.I also have a garcia mitchel 300 reel mounted on the original mitchel rod.I bought it new in '78 at kmart.I still use it sometimes and dont remember it ever giving me any problems either.The rod is rated for 2#-8# line and it will bend like an uglystik.