I think next year i will split the Budget, Mid-Range and High-End into separate videos because i wanted to add more detail but the video was too long (original video was 1 hour but i cut to 35 m). Also i believe budget anglers have no interest in high end tackle and vice versa
Love your videos like this every year, and yeah i usually do tune out once you get over 100. I would also love if you had a sub 50 dollar pick because that would be even great for people who are just getting into fishing
I agree with the split up. I will not spend over $100 on a reel, but i will watch you discuss the high end because i want to know why they cost more. I also think many of us will watch an hour on each price point. You are an excellent teacher and i appreciate you sharing your experience.
Victor, you say this video is too long? but I see all the positive comments you have received. I’ve only watched it 4 times.myself. This type of in depth u/l fishing information is exactly what I need to pull the trigger on my next reel purchase I tank you for your concise review & observations.🍻🇦🇺
It makes me happy to hear your review on the new airity. I love how you're not afraid to say the things you dislike about high end reels. When I bought my Stella fk2500s, I watched a ton of videos on UA-cam. All they did was praise the reel and say the only bad thing was the price. I then ran into your channel. The amount of detail you put into your reviews always amazes me. I love how you go into detail how it feels, rotation, smoothness, and resistance. I'll be awaiting your review and thanks for the guide! Amazing video!
Thanks for another great video. There is a lot of concrete and useful information here that saves time and money. I could listen to you for 2 hours without any problem. Thanks and keep up the great work :)
Great video! Long videos are fine and even a must when it comes to detailed reviews and comparisons, at least in my point of view and liking. Don't hesitate to bring more details and value - we will watch even, if it is an hour and a half😅. This is not a TV commercial and the point is to present all the important factors for somebody to make a choice.
Excellent video Victor! No one even comes close in terms of detail/expertise to these videos. Definitely super excited about your thoughts on the brand new Airity. Really makes me wish I hadn't bought the 23 Airity a month ago..... but it will be a good beater reel! As always, keep up the great work :)
Victor, you did it again another video I’m rewatching! Thanks for going over the different price points. That Daiwa ST is an unboxing and review I’m looking forward from you.
For anyone cross-shopping. The 22 Miravel can be found priced at around the same "street" price as the 23 legalis. And the vanford can be found around the $150 range. Thanks for the reel buyer's guide, i_fish.
@@onamissionfishin hah : ) First time i hear bad thing about miravel. U can fix the drag clicker - watch my video How to tune Shimano drag clickers. I didn't understand what stiff bail means though..
@G3Steve the prices goes up and down. Currently, best price I've found is around $165 from "north one jp." I have ordered 3 at $148, but that's a few weeks ago from Amazon japan. Also the new sahara at around $65 shipped and is pretty lightweight.
I think a lot of the info in this video carries over to more than just the ultra light segment for spinning reels. I refuse to buy anything but Shimano regardless of segment or price. Just picked up the 23 Vanquish and it's absolutely fantastic!
Okuma is interesting, because they actually have their own factory now. They do make a couple other brands but they have their own factory in China. However the technology is well below japan still. The feel of Okuma reels is VERY different from a Legalis. There is nothing wrong with them, they are reliable, and very cheap.. but don't feel as nice
I have the Stratus Vi size 10. I like it for very UL fishing. It is small and very light weight. I bought 6 of them when Dick's SG had them on sale for $25 each in the summer of 2023.
Very useful. Thank you. Great appreciation for all time and research you do for all these useful and educational videos. Hopefully Daiwa and Shimano deserve it, again, HOPEFULLY.
You deserve at least 500K subscribers just based on this video. You make other dedicated (and bigger) ultralight fishing channels look like a complete joke.
So many people rave about the Shimano Stradic. I purchased one and returned it. It had a very heavy start up inertia feel to it. Got a Vanford instead which I feel is a much better reel.
I never bought that reel, but never heart that about it. Thank you - good info. I am not surprised i never got that feedback about that reel - most people just dont care about such things..
That’s because the stradic is in Shimanos power lineup of reels and the vanford is in their finesse lineup. The difference between the two lines is that the finesse reels like the Miravel, vanford and exsence all have ci4+ frames and MGL rotors. This ultimately gives the reel way less startup inertia and friction. If you search up tacticalbassins spinning reel buyers guide they go pretty in-depth into what I was saying.
@@aidenroy4298 just watched a couple of buyer's guide videos from Tacticalbassin and that info was so important between Shimano's finesse and power line reels. They shared how Daiwa separates their finesse from power by reel size (under 2500 size is finesse, 2500 and up are power with one exception of I remember correctly).
Nice video, very well explained.The new Airity ST Super Finesse version, is the way to go for a proper ultralight reel. I‘ll want to see the review so much! I Can’t wait to see it. All the best!
Research from the Pro or some sport writers? I rather have a person that is NOT biased or sponsorship from the product. I want an honest opinion about the reel comparison. This is his opinion about the reel
I miss the channel "tackle advisors"😢 he would tear the reel down and show why this design or that design was better. I'm more of a mechanical guy, not so much a " I feel like this is better" kind of guy.
I think the Shimano 22 Soare BB reel is certainly there with the Ultegra. It's roughly the same price but comes in a C2000SSPG model. I've been using one for a year and love it. I did have to replace the carbon drag with felt.
Yes, it is, very similar reel, and if u are buying a soare XR rod it will match better... I am just upset that the Soare name is used, to take advantage of the expensive soare..
I got my Sahara via Amazon yesterday. Beautiful. The spool is pretty shallow and has a tab on it…..I guess that is paper wrapped around it o protect it and I take that off? The handle and knob prove it’s the 2022. I’m pretty excited /////goes on the new Sensalite. How hard should I try to get the Press rod. I need one for 6-12;lb line just for light-moderate fishing. What other rods under $100 or $125 should I look at????
I have a 200 price point in the video. All reels i recommended in that price point are great for trout, pick the one that will look the best with ur rod
I have a few of the fuegos , and I love them for the sealing. And I can service them as needed, haven't had to yet. I fish eastern north Carolina and I encounter alot of tannic and brackish water . Our swamp water is gritty at times. I do love my kage 1000 and 2000s
thanks buddy. Hey... i want ONE high end reel from you this year for review! Keep me in touch on what you buying... I know u gona get something that i will not... I can't keep buying this much, i want to retire one day. : )..
@@ifishcatfishwill do, it's funny that at this point is not about the fish anymore .... haha 🤣Although the thing is i'm more interest into baitcasting reel more than spinning reel; i only have five high-end spinning reels, but for my casting reels i lost count; i have from bfs to conventional baitcasting reel ... 🤣😂 I mostly do trout fishing (using bfs gears) and bass fishing, i occasionally do panfishing for consumption from time to time. I know i'm a topical fisherman, i just happens to love using high-end gears that's all; nothing special. so the reel i'm interested/anticipate for this year is the new Shimano Metanium 70 DC and the Shimano Calcutta Conquest SE
Vic….I want ya to know a few things. 1, I just ordered a daiwa legalis LT 1000s…just because of you! 😂 True story….and 2, I greatly appreciate all your vids! Thank you. Getting back to this reel….I hope this spool will be fine with trilene 4lb mono. I ordered the jdm model 23 model with the gold handle. Diameter of that line is 0.008”
I have 5 year old Shimano stratic 1000,love it still.It has a maintenance port that requires a thin oil from Shimano.I lubricate each line refill.Couple drops in port,one on each bearing handle.And one on spool shaft.No problems never been opened.But new ones don’t have the port,Was I just lucky or thee port was a cost cutter?Do you do take Shimano s apart to grease gears?Enjoy your depth.
yes.. to put grease on the gears u have to remove the side plate. There is a port behind the oscillation worm, but you can't reach the gears from there, u would be dropping oil in the body
Your comment about the inconsistency of the Vanford family quality is 100% spot on. It's infuriating! Had 2 Complex XRs - one absolutely amazing and one incredibly rough and scratchy. Disassembled that damned thing so many times and finally pinpointed the problem to an extra washer under the pinion. Currently going through the same headaches with a Cardiff XR. Beautiful looking reel, but the quality makes me want to pull my hair out. I have improved the feel of it slightly, but it's still not satisfactory. I can't figure out the problem with it. My Exsence XR is just incredible though. Really lucked out with that one.
Ive had 6 Vanfords now, and im 3 and 3. Sold 2 of the 3 bad ones on ebay, but i still have 1 bad one that i can't fix. But the other 3... if someone touches them will pay me $300 for a used reel! : ). My analysis shows imperfect main shaft, and there is nothing you can do about that, but sell. Or fish the SHIT out of it, to wear it out where its scratching
As an avid angler and working in the fishing industry for years, it should be hard to ignore the amount of development that Okuma is putting into reel development. The ceymar HD, ITX and Inspira compete with these. Sadly in our saltwater environment we push the budget shimano and daiwa spin reels hard and they don't last, but okuma are well worth considering. CEYMAR HD pure bang for buck is almost unbeatable.
I don't push anything, i am not a part of the industry and I don't make money doing any of this. Every slide in this video had the word ULTRALIGHT with underscored, to highlight the fact that I am only talking about ultralight fishing reels. I have never fished saltwater and have never pretended to know anything about that. But as far as Freshwater Ultralight fishing goes, Okuma is not even close to Daiwa and Shimano, neither in terms of quality and performance and finesse, nor in value. Even if you are on a budget, i recommend the Legalis LT as a better value than any okuma. Completely different feel in hand, even the 2017 Legalis feels better than any Okuma on the market, regardless or price. That i guarantee. I challenge anyone to give me the name of Okuma model that feels even remotely similar to the Legalis
@ifishcatfish here in Australia we fish UL in the salt too for species like bream, flathead and pinky snapper (most of my reels are 1000 reels). I'm mainly a Shimano guy, I fish mainly off a kayak or a paddleboard in salt almost strictly and I've abused even the cheap Shimano Sienna and it's lasted me over 4 years of abuse. I bought a Daiwa Exceler LT 2000D and got some Saltwater on it, died by the time I got home. I have since bought a 14000 BG MQ and now waiting on a 3000 Caldia LT as I'm willing to give them another go. My finding is that Daiwa feel smooth out of the box but deteriorate MUCH faster than Shimano. Now I reserve my daiwa reels for either freshwater or land based fishing where salt spray is less likely. Okuma maybe not as smooth but maybe last longer than Daiwa
Thanks for another detailed video. Watched your rod video at least 5 times absorbing all the details. Besides ultega, what is your other recommendation for fresh and saltwater fishing.
Okuma Ceymar HD 1000 Very strong and Daiwa smooth at under $80. I remove the rubber seal that is intended to stop water from entering between the spool and reel body. Improved gearing and superb drive train support. Worth a look.
i don't mind people leaving different opinions as it makes the chat more interesting. but there is no reel from Okuma, at any price, that can compare with the $60 Sahara in terms of smoothness, finesse and resistance. Okuma was competitive 10 years ago, as i remember my Epixor long time ago was comparable to my daiwa reels, but daiwa reels today feels totally different, and Okuma still feels the same. They need to buy some new machines or something
While you may or may not be correct (I own both Ceymar HD and 23 Legalis LT with your ball bearing upgrade) your view that only 2 companies can make top quality reels is like only 2 car companies make great cars. Cars head and shoulders above the rest. That other reel companies do not/cannot have the financial ability, superb engineers, state of art manufacturing facilities, access to latest greatest material etc that rival Shimano and Daiwa? No current "lesser" or even a new company cannot step up and compete, ever? The Ceymar HD is an excellent reel. Well built, smooth with many quality manufacturing features. After fishing with both, they both are superb at around the same list price. I appreciate your in depth reports and views. I have purchased several products on your recommendations and will continue to faithfully follow you and your videos..
As a point where can you purchase the Daiwa Airty ST from JDM dealers here in the US and do you know how much it is going to cost? Let me say that I appreciate the time and depth of the information that you are putting out to fellow UL fishermen. Thank you for all your hard work, your research and expertise on the on UL reels and rods.
Price will be almost the same as Vanquish and will compete against Vanquish. But NO, i don't think you will be able to buy it from US, since the US distributor of Daiwa is American idiot who only cares about bass reels in High gear ratios and doesn't even know what resistance or start up inertia is
A quantum exo suited KVD for many years, they make excellent ultralight spinning and baitcasting reels, I have quite a few, they are supposedly the lightest available reels, based on a metal where it matters principle
For a cheeper stuff like the Lew's Xfinity size 10 is nice for $50 I haven't complained about nothing yet. I'll pay the money for ceramic bearing is harder to rust problem I'm happy with them.
Do you not like the ABU Zenon? I have one in the ultra light size and ❤ it!! I also have a Ballistic, several Luvias reels and think the Zenon pays out line far better than my Daiwa reels. Thanks for your expertise!!
So you are talking about the drag? If you talk about the drag.. i can grant that.. i have seen many reels, even very cheap, with enjoyable drag. If you are talking about drive train and retrieve feel, no, i don't think it compares to Luvias or even Legalis LT, to be honest. That special daiwa feeling is just not there
Great video Victor …you mentioned with some praise the soare xr ……what would be your choice in the budget category…between the 23 Legalis or soare BB…..would the Legalis be preferable in your world….many thanks….this is for a soare 7.6 rod.
@@bluesky5587 Similar quality and feel, and similar weight even. Soare BB costs a little more but looks better with the Soare rods and in the long run the soare gears will outlast Legalis. But i don't care for long run, i would get it for the nicer looks
Thinking of getting ultegra as legalis lt is out of stock for me. What size do you recommend for the jdm models? Also are all the reels based on the jdm models or US version? I know the QC is different and spool size…
Any plans to do a proper maintenance/disassemble video on daiwa reels? I’m always confused by the multiple types of grease and oil recommended and I have a 14 presso that is loud even though I have done the normal main shaft oil/bail greasing/handle and knob greasing/etc. I have never taken this reel fully apart though and am wondering if there is something I can do to get the sound to go away.
No, there is nothing u can do. In general there is not much u can do about daiwas. I sell the tool for removing the side plate. U can use that to unscrew the side plate, dab a little grease on the main gear and pinion, put it back and call it a day. Putting grease on the main shaft increases resistance.
@@ifishcatfish I used daiwa oil not sure what kinda it is just called the daiwa oiler. The grease I have seems to be their marine grease now that I see it it’s blue. I only put oil on the main shaft. Good to know about the side plate key thank you!
I use a tiny Okuma reel with an equally diminutive Shimano spinning rod, for casting lures and spinners of just a few grams, into a small and overgrown stream. The water contains some hard-fighting wild brown trout, and the gear makes it seems like battling blue fin tuna.
I watched the whole video and The Daiwa Luvias was not mentioned. Wonder what i_fish thinks about that reel, as it only costs about $240 usd? Debating between the shimano complex XR and the daiwa luvias.
i'm pretty sure i mentioned Luvias family, which consists of Luvias and Presso. If we are talking about ultralight reels, size 1000, go Vanford or Presso
I own the older Shimano Cardiff 18, the 1000 and the 3000. Both work like I just got them yesterday. Can't go wrong with the cork handles or decking them out with Yumeya parts. Really interested in the vanquish and new Cardiff
Thank you for the great breakdown and video! Wish there was a comparison between the 23 Airity ST and Airity ST SF. Both seem great, just not sure if the difference on it is SF is significant.
@ifishcatfish I've also heard that until the luvias, the MQ reels all use zinc main gear instead of brass or aluminum...is this true? Even the Ballistic MQ and Kage MQ
@@jpap967 i believe the difference is mostly in the frame. I doubt they have the Legalis gears. If they have the legalis gears the reel would be cheaper. As a matter of fact, it woulbe no absolutely no better than a legalis
@ifishcatfish my buddy that opens and works on all of his reels swears that they in fact use zinc gears even at that price point until you get up to the Luvias, which is crazy honestly. The Saltist MQ according to tackle direct uses machined zinc alloy main gear. I think it's the same for Ballistic/Kage/Tatula MQ reels. The legalis uses cast zinc fwiw
I've been using Shimano spinning reels since 1984; maybe earlier. But I would not hesitate using other reels if they are excellent. I bought a KastKing Centron 500 and it's equal to reels made in the 1990's.
It's now near the end of October 2024 and I am unable to find any 2023 Daiwa Legalis LT 1000 D reels. I did find one guy on Amazon trying to sell them for $105 but that seems like a crazy price. Are the 2024 Legalis LT 1000 D reels still as good as the 2023 models because those are only $66. I hate the 2024 blue color though, the black and gold of the 2023 would match my rods better. Thanks for your time.
@@andriikudarenko5443 I see the one that you are talking about. The $64 one is actually LT2000S-P. The LT1000S is $83.80 and there are only 2 in stock.
@@ifishcatfish ST actually has an SF version too, so there's 4 Airities now haha, the standard Airity, the SF, the ST, and the STSF... 😂 You'll notice the smaller sizes of ST on that page have SF in front of the sizing "SF2000SSP" for example right? The STSF is 1000 to 2500, and the standard ST is just 2000 and 2500. If you scroll down there's actually an Airity special page that you can click on and explains it all much better than me! Hopefully this thing lives up to expectations 🤞
Many thanks for that video. I wonder if you could do Light reels comparison. I am looking into trout reel for 10-12 lb rod. I've got on my list Daiwa Theory 2506H, Vanquish 12 2500SHG and Luvias LT 2500XH. Which one would be a better performer? Just to add I might use Aglia 3 spinners and 6-7 minnows and small SDR lures from time to time. Thanks!
whatever u buy, don't buy a reel with H or X in the model. Those reels are horrible, kill the entire feel. Otherwise they are all great reels. Vanquish is obviously best, but its more expensive, so not really a better deal. I don't think people need Vanquish for throwing big heavy stuff. You can use vanford for that. The new Vanford is shallow spool and low gear ratio would be my choice above anything u listed above
Thanks for the guide. I agree with you on most things. I do recognise, that 23 Vanquish has a bit lighter rotation but... it's not that simple. A reel is a complex device and can't be judged by on parameter only. I saw your review of 23 vanquish 1000 size and have decided to get on. Couldn't find it locally and... started to get some reports from fellow anglers about line management problems with very thin braids on difficult retrieves. Thant got me thinking, do I really need some backlashes on very expensive lines I fish with? Then I put my hands on C2500 size and... was disappointing. You were right, the lightness of rotation is still there, but everything else... design, feel in the hand... I have decided to stick with my Luvias Airity 2000. Yes, rotation is a bit heavier but everything else was better. Now, looking at SF modes of 130 grams without magseal and light oil instead of grease... well, with still amazing design and full metal body ... what can I say, I'm taking it too.
Well, i am talking about Ultralight fishing reels. Every slide in this presentation has the word ULTRALIGHT underscored, if you bother to go back and check. If you keep that in mind, lightness of rotation becomes the #1 metrics that separates the high end reels. ALL HIGH END REELS ARE SMOOTH. What is DIFFICULT to achieve, is low resistance and intertia. Dawa hasn't done it for 5 years and we still don't know if the new reel will match the Vanquish. The reports about Vanquish 'line management' are complete SHIT. I can guarantee that as far as ultralight fishing goes, such SHIT does not exist! I have videos on my channel landing 5 lb largemouth bass, 17 lb buffalo, and 14 lb flathead catfish on the 1000 size and 0.107mm line. The Vanquish has the best line management in FISHING HISTORY. For the idiots who use the reel for bass fishing and set the hook with the drag sinched up and then the line sinks in the spool - well they can all go f#ck themselves, i have no sympathy for them. GO BUY THE FKN SAHARA, not the best FINESSE ULTRALIGHT REEL in the world!
@@ifishcatfishI understand your point. And even support it to a high degree. I've been a big fan of Vanquish since 2013. And it's been a great experience. I'm from area where there's no bass. People use Vanquishes for perch and trout mainly. They use 0.1-0.2 PE. Adequate people(the ones I talked about)))). They had some trouble with Stella too for trout fishing. I'm not saying the problem is huge, it's not, but now it's there. Maybe it's different with esters or something but.... Bigger sizes I saw on youtube had problems with squid fishing, they really jerk like hell. Anyway, 2500 size isn't for fineness application already, it should be used for that sort of thing. I believe, new Shimano line management is more demanding. And I don't like it. Magseal was always a problem for me. It created complications with servicing Daiwas, and, as you understand, it creates a problem with lightness of rotation. Unfortunately, the only thing I like about new Vanquish is it's rotation. Everything else I much prefer in Daiwa. Now, if new Daiwa has rotation as Vanquish, that's gonna a big winner. And I hope it's going to be the case. Without Magseal I see no reason why it should be otherwise. But... we gonna have to see. No handson experience yet.
@@i.o.3563 Super Slow oscillation is the best thing that has happened to spinning reels in 20 years. We used to have it in Surf Casting reels and Big Pit carp baitrunner reels, if you are familiar with those, because Super Slow Oscillation is the only way to long casting distance. The real line management issues come from Daiwa reels, because the line is wrapped in X and WILL NOT HOLD to the spool. If you have strong wind or u fish with Ester lines, the Daiwa line management is OBVIOUSLY inferior. To call Super Slow Oscillation a line management problem is just idiotic. The coils are perfectly parallel and support each other and still have no resistance on the way out! ITs a fkn miracle! These SMEARS have been floated by daiwa because daiwa can NEVER have proper line management with their locomotive oscillation. They would need to admit they were WRONG, and shimano was RIGHT, and that is too humiliating. So the only thing they can do is sponsor and encourage a few useful idiots to make absurd claims like that, and call the black white. It is PRECISELY the Super Slow Oscillation of Shimano that makes OBVIOUS the line management problems of daiwas X-line lay. If you really have people that have told you that, they are all fools. If you find a single person that would like to debate me on this, email me! I just have have condition - i need him to have engineering expertise, or a youtube channel bigger than mine. I don't want to waste my time with some heckler.
Very curious about the new Airity as well since I mainly use the 23 Vanquish now. Kind of odd they would release this new Airity when its in the same ultra finesse space as the Exist SF they put out last year. I wonder how it stacks up against the Exist sensitive tune (had a Japanese youtuber tell me that reel isn't as light turning as the 19 Vanquish). Not a fan of the short spool on the Exist SF anyway.
Exist SF isn't as light turning as Vanquish, i got same information. But Exist isn't targeted to people like me. I think this Luvias ST is Exist SF with more grease and oil removed. That's what i hope. : )
Hello ifish, I mostly do saltwater ajing fishing targeting aji and similar sized as well as pelagics for a good fight. Im currently using the Soare BB C2000SSPG and would like to upgrade to the vanquish. I mostly use jigheads from 0.8g-3grams and metal micro jigs from 3g-7grams which size would be the better choice? I have thought getting the 1000ssspg and just getting another spool for ester and PE but any thoughts?
I have been fishing for over 50yrs most of those years I did alot of bass fishing but now that I'm older crappie fishing just lights my fire. I love light and ultralight spinning reels and I own piles of them of all brands from high end to low. It doesnt take much reel to bring in a large crappie. Most of the reels you reviewed are what I would say are mid to upper range priced reels, not everyone can afford or want to afford an ultralight reel of that price range. For the lower priced ultralight reels you Cannot beat the Shimano Sienna FG500 with the red spool, I own a Shimano Sedona which is a beautiful reel and cost twice what the Sienna does but it does not cast as smooth or as far as the lowly old Sienna. I think Shimano has perfected the spool on the Sienna, use a premium monofilament in 2 or 4lb line and it will cast a country mile. I had 2 Sienna FG1000s but I like the 500s better so I sold the 1000s. I do normally change out the one plastic bushing in the FG500 to a ball bearing. Another UL reel that will cast like a banshee is the SS800 Tica Cetus or the SB800 basically the same reel but they are not as smooth as the Shimano nor do they lay down the line like the Shimano. I overfill mine a little with monofilament and its unbelievable how far it will cast. Get you a lowly ole Shimano Sienna FG500, spool it with some SOS 4Llb or 2lb and cast ALL day long without any problems, no twisting, no wind knots no nothing. If you are only going to own 1 UL reel then spend some big money on one but if you want lots of them experiment till you find one you really like but we all want a trouble free reel right? One other inexpensive reel to consider is the Piscifun Viper X 500 a super light weight reel with lots of bearings and pleasant to look at, casts good too. Sorry to get long winded and totally JMO.
I have tried Sienna and it feels amazingly nice for that price. I understand why so many people love these Siennas. Buying a Siena for $30 is definitely a solid choice, no doubt! That said, if you can afford it, and my wife is a cashier making $14 per hour at Kroger and even she can save extra $30, If you can save another 30 bucks, the difference with the Legalis will shock you. THis is what i recommended in the video. Siena is solid, if $30 is all you have, but it is made of solid steel and it is heavy as a piece of iron, it has only two bearings in the whole reel, the gears are riding in the frame, and what you said about the spool and casting is just not true. It has a small spool and locomotive line lay and has below average casting distance.. All of this is just FINE for $30, but i am saying, if u can save another 30 bucks, u will be fishing with elite tackle, and that is even more amazing
you sound offended.. i was just pointing some facts because your comment was misleading and i don't want my readers to get the idea that Sienna is something that it is not. It is a great $30 reel, and if you leave it at that, i will agree with you. When you start to explain to me how it is casting smoother (this doesn't make sense) and how its better than Sedona.. that can mislead people..
man.. if i ever talk to Shimano i will tell them to send you a few new Sienas : ). You are the biggest fan of the 2-bearing Siena i know : ) These brand really value fans like you..
Do you know the difference in the new Revros and Legalis lt? The specifications look very similar. I’m looking for an ultralight in probably a 1000 size for trout fishing.
I just order the presso thanks to your review! I am considering getting the Daiwa Tatula MQ Lt 1000 would you recommend it ? Is it any good or should I stay away?
Can you do a video on what some of these reels model numbers mean? Like for example Daiwa has 2000S, 2000SS-P, 1000S-P, 2500S-XH-QD and Shimano has 1000 SSSPG, C2000S. What is S, SS, SSSPG and all these lettering mean behind the model numbers?!
Hello happy fishing Sunday my friend I'm a budget kind of guy I'm a big fan of Abu Garcia spinning and bait caster reel and bands and a big fan of penn pursuit 3 fishing reels spinning and bait casters and brands I have a Abu Garcia max Z 40 spinning reel for my ligh rod and I also have a 3000 series sizes the Daiwa Laguna LT for my ugly stick medium action spinning rod
@@ifishcatfish I like the spinning reels that you shown on the video there nice but I wouldn't buy new fishing gear right know with fishing gear and fishing luers and baits being very expensive right know it's sad to see fishing stuff being so expensive these days I'm thankful and happy I bought all my fishing gear and fishing supplies when they were on clearance and on sale happy fishing Sunday my friend 👍🎣
What size Sahara do you recommend? And what is Daiwa monocoque about? Is it just for saltwater? I do. Like the Procyon series……al lt,lt and mq……in part because they all look sharp as well as smooth. I got the Procyon LT 2500 on eBay for $80 including shipping before reading one of your entries from way back where you say that eBay reels often are a crap shoot……..but I saw the reel at Phoenix Fishing and it is so light and smooth, I loved it. I also loved the new Shimano Sedona FJ, but if Sedona or Ultegra are much better, I can spend up to $200 for something I will enjoy better. I am at a complete loss about rods, though. I got the Shakespeare and sensillite……I like what yoy say about the Presso and Okuma SST……..and very expensive rods scare me a little, because rods are so easy to break….especially one piece.which seem most sensitive and solid, but are harder to handle. There are some big fish in AZ….especially below the Hoover Dam….striped bass and big rainbow trout…….so. I’d also like to have a go at some bigger fish and have some heavier reels…….that’s where I am looking at the Ultegra and Procyon AL LT. I can see fishing braid on that one. I appreciate your reviews and just watching you have a good time fishing and appreciating the gear, which is part of it.
How do you feel about the new Soare BB? I primarily fish saltwater, I know the Soare XR has more bearings but the bushings on the BB might be better for the salt
@@ifishcatfish I mean it's pretty lightweight, less than 180g. Anyways, I would appreciate your help in the following.. I use saltwater with an 83 lenght rod, cw 3-15 that can handle braid of pe 0.2-0.8. I want to fish mostly softbaits with jigheads 3-7g. Should I go to a 2000 or a 2500 reel? Also would you use pe0.4 or pe 0.5? Thanks in advance!
@@gregmarg9682 actually for saltwater it would be perfect. Also i don't think that is ultralight fishing. My jigheads are 0.5-2.5 grams. And i myself would use 2500 size reel for that
Mr victor I what to thanks for this really helpful video specially for a new fishermen I m thinking on buying the DAIWA LT will you recommend the 1000 or 2000 ? Thanks hope you respond
I bought a Poseidon Evergreen superior rod. Color of the 23 airity suits its better than vanquish. Not sure what to do.. I tried vanquish,but never tried airity. Whats your advice? Is airity good enough?
![Choosing An ULTRALIGHT REEL [What I Look For]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/X0iIDJlsKYA/mqdefault.jpg)
I think next year i will split the Budget, Mid-Range and High-End into separate videos because i wanted to add more detail but the video was too long (original video was 1 hour but i cut to 35 m).
Also i believe budget anglers have no interest in high end tackle and vice versa
Love your videos like this every year, and yeah i usually do tune out once you get over 100. I would also love if you had a sub 50 dollar pick because that would be even great for people who are just getting into fishing
I'll watch a deep dive 2 hour seminar about reels, rods, or baits 😂
I agree with the split up. I will not spend over $100 on a reel, but i will watch you discuss the high end because i want to know why they cost more. I also think many of us will watch an hour on each price point. You are an excellent teacher and i appreciate you sharing your experience.
@@huskergator9479 thank you sir, very kind
Any update when there will be a restock on bg hooks im out
Victor, your channel is YT Treasure! You've been ahead of the curve for a long time. The folks at Diawa & Shimano are obviously paying attention.
Thanks Gary!
Victor, you say this video is too long? but I see all the positive comments you have received. I’ve only watched it 4 times.myself. This type of in depth u/l fishing information is exactly what I need to pull the trigger on my next reel purchase I tank you for your concise review & observations.🍻🇦🇺
I think we have competition in watching it😂
It makes me happy to hear your review on the new airity. I love how you're not afraid to say the things you dislike about high end reels. When I bought my Stella fk2500s, I watched a ton of videos on UA-cam. All they did was praise the reel and say the only bad thing was the price. I then ran into your channel. The amount of detail you put into your reviews always amazes me. I love how you go into detail how it feels, rotation, smoothness, and resistance. I'll be awaiting your review and thanks for the guide! Amazing video!
thank you sir, well articulated post on your side too. Maybe takes one to appreciate one, thats why i have so few subscribers, lol : )
Another great video! The best UA-camr on on Ultralight equipment hands down 🎣. Thank you sir for your dedication!
Thank you too, i dont know why so few make rhe effort to drop a comment ! I appreaciate those who do!
Thanks for another great video. There is a lot of concrete and useful information here that saves time and money. I could listen to you for 2 hours without any problem. Thanks and keep up the great work :)
thank you sir, i appreciate that!
Great video! Long videos are fine and even a must when it comes to detailed reviews and comparisons, at least in my point of view and liking. Don't hesitate to bring more details and value - we will watch even, if it is an hour and a half😅. This is not a TV commercial and the point is to present all the important factors for somebody to make a choice.
Thank u, i appreciate that!
Very comprehensive to me. I really appreciate your knowledge and more importantly your willingness to share it so freely. Thank you Sir.
Excellent video Victor! No one even comes close in terms of detail/expertise to these videos.
Definitely super excited about your thoughts on the brand new Airity.
Really makes me wish I hadn't bought the 23 Airity a month ago..... but it will be a good beater reel!
As always, keep up the great work :)
make it your go-to reel for everything! It will break in faster.. They do lossen with time..
Victor, you did it again another video I’m rewatching! Thanks for going over the different price points. That Daiwa ST is an unboxing and review I’m looking forward from you.
Thsnks D!
Hey Victor, great video mate! Thanks for your feedback on these reels it was very interesting & helpful
I always enjoy your in-depth and thorough comparisons, you get into a meeting and potatoes of quality and the deep differences between products! Jim
thanks Jim!
For anyone cross-shopping. The 22 Miravel can be found priced at around the same "street" price as the 23 legalis. And the vanford can be found around the $150 range. Thanks for the reel buyer's guide, i_fish.
Ive been seeing similar sights myself.. but its safer to make the videos off msrp..
I absolutely hate my miravel, would not recommend! The bail is so stiff, it feels like seaweed on retrieval and drag is so quiet
@@onamissionfishin hah : ) First time i hear bad thing about miravel. U can fix the drag clicker - watch my video How to tune Shimano drag clickers. I didn't understand what stiff bail means though..
@tvang464 where have you found the Vanford for $150? Thanks
@G3Steve the prices goes up and down. Currently, best price I've found is around $165 from "north one jp." I have ordered 3 at $148, but that's a few weeks ago from Amazon japan. Also the new sahara at around $65 shipped and is pretty lightweight.
I think a lot of the info in this video carries over to more than just the ultra light segment for spinning reels. I refuse to buy anything but Shimano regardless of segment or price. Just picked up the 23 Vanquish and it's absolutely fantastic!
Shimano is amazing in the high end but still lack in budget offerings
Okuma made leaps in quality past 10 years , well impressed by their value for money
Okuma is interesting, because they actually have their own factory now. They do make a couple other brands but they have their own factory in China. However the technology is well below japan still. The feel of Okuma reels is VERY different from a Legalis. There is nothing wrong with them, they are reliable, and very cheap.. but don't feel as nice
@@ifishcatfish nail on the head. They are good on making stuff to a price point
I have the Stratus Vi size 10. I like it for very UL fishing. It is small and very light weight. I bought 6 of them when Dick's SG had them on sale for $25 each in the summer of 2023.
Very useful. Thank you. Great appreciation for all time and research you do for all these useful and educational videos. Hopefully Daiwa and Shimano deserve it, again, HOPEFULLY.
thank you
You deserve at least 500K subscribers just based on this video. You make other dedicated (and bigger) ultralight fishing channels look like a complete joke.
I wish i had at least 50k :)
I was just checking your channel this morning to see if you posted one of these. 😂
Sunday is my favorite day. My videos do best Sunday morning. The kind of folks who watch my videos seem to have free time then : )
The best buying guide out there.
I'm trying to be more independent and knowledgable about fishing, this has helped me alot!
Hi from Scotland, bought my Exceler from your recommendation and love it. I now mainly use a 2500 reel size on my rods.
greetings mate!
So many people rave about the Shimano Stradic. I purchased one and returned it. It had a very heavy start up inertia feel to it. Got a Vanford instead which I feel is a much better reel.
I never bought that reel, but never heart that about it. Thank you - good info. I am not surprised i never got that feedback about that reel - most people just dont care about such things..
That’s because the stradic is in Shimanos power lineup of reels and the vanford is in their finesse lineup. The difference between the two lines is that the finesse reels like the Miravel, vanford and exsence all have ci4+ frames and MGL rotors. This ultimately gives the reel way less startup inertia and friction. If you search up tacticalbassins spinning reel buyers guide they go pretty in-depth into what I was saying.
Can't tell the difference when fishing
@@aidenroy4298 just watched a couple of buyer's guide videos from Tacticalbassin and that info was so important between Shimano's finesse and power line reels. They shared how Daiwa separates their finesse from power by reel size (under 2500 size is finesse, 2500 and up are power with one exception of I remember correctly).
@@philipmelo1786 yeah it’s got something to do with the drag too on Daiwa’s
Nice video, very well explained.The new Airity ST Super Finesse version, is the way to go for a proper ultralight reel. I‘ll want to see the review so much! I Can’t wait to see it. All the best!
Coming in stores in march, it says, if no delays
Don’t apologize, this was awesome. A Vanquish to complement my Twin Power FE it is. Thank you 🙏
I was looking for an ultra light reel for my ultra light pole when I am just messing around . That was helpful. Thumbs up.
Some research paper I read is not as serious as your reel review.
Ha! I've seen a few poor research papers myself! Thanks brother ! : )
Research from the Pro or some sport writers?
I rather have a person that is NOT biased or sponsorship from the product.
I want an honest opinion about the reel comparison. This is his opinion about the reel
I miss the channel "tackle advisors"😢
he would tear the reel down and show why this design or that design was better. I'm more of a mechanical guy, not so much a " I feel like this is better" kind of guy.
I digress, just watched a legalis tear down and comparison👍🏻👍🏻
Subbed‼️
What do you think about Abu Garcia Zenon its also very light 150 grams
meeh... its OK because its cheaper, but doesn't feel like daiwa and shimano. Feels like a high quality Korean reel. Which it is
@@ifishcatfish it id china, but i know what you want to say. merc vs honda
Victor. The length of the video is needed because of the in depth coverage you supply. It is appreciated. Thank you.
Thank you sir!
I think the Shimano 22 Soare BB reel is certainly there with the Ultegra. It's roughly the same price but comes in a C2000SSPG model. I've been using one for a year and love it. I did have to replace the carbon drag with felt.
Yes, it is, very similar reel, and if u are buying a soare XR rod it will match better... I am just upset that the Soare name is used, to take advantage of the expensive soare..
Great video, Victor! I look forward to your Airity ST review
me too! : )
I got my Sahara via Amazon yesterday. Beautiful. The spool is pretty shallow and has a tab on it…..I guess that is paper wrapped around it o protect it and I take that off? The handle and knob prove it’s the 2022. I’m pretty excited /////goes on the new Sensalite. How hard should I try to get the Press rod. I need one for 6-12;lb line just for light-moderate fishing. What other rods under $100 or $125 should I look at????
Thanks for the review 👍 have you any idea which reel is the best for light fishing like trout up to 200$?
I have a 200 price point in the video. All reels i recommended in that price point are great for trout, pick the one that will look the best with ur rod
I have a few of the fuegos , and I love them for the sealing. And I can service them as needed, haven't had to yet. I fish eastern north Carolina and I encounter alot of tannic and brackish water . Our swamp water is gritty at times. I do love my kage 1000 and 2000s
Victor the video is very lengthy, but it is also very informative, so thank you as always
thanks buddy. Hey... i want ONE high end reel from you this year for review! Keep me in touch on what you buying... I know u gona get something that i will not... I can't keep buying this much, i want to retire one day. : )..
@@ifishcatfishwill do, it's funny that at this point is not about the fish anymore .... haha 🤣Although the thing is i'm more interest into baitcasting reel more than spinning reel; i only have five high-end spinning reels, but for my casting reels i lost count; i have from bfs to conventional baitcasting reel ... 🤣😂
I mostly do trout fishing (using bfs gears) and bass fishing, i occasionally do panfishing for consumption from time to time. I know i'm a topical fisherman, i just happens to love using high-end gears that's all; nothing special. so the reel i'm interested/anticipate for this year is the new Shimano Metanium 70 DC and the Shimano Calcutta Conquest SE
Vic….I want ya to know a few things. 1, I just ordered a daiwa legalis LT 1000s…just because of you! 😂 True story….and 2, I greatly appreciate all your vids! Thank you. Getting back to this reel….I hope this spool will be fine with trilene 4lb mono. I ordered the jdm model 23 model with the gold handle. Diameter of that line is 0.008”
well.. the spool was made for 4 lb mono.. so i find your expectations of positive outcome completely reasonable .. : )
@ifishcatfish Thanks again for putting out excellent content!
I have 5 year old Shimano stratic 1000,love it still.It has a maintenance port that requires a thin oil from Shimano.I lubricate each line refill.Couple drops in port,one on each bearing handle.And one on spool shaft.No problems never been opened.But new ones don’t have the port,Was I just lucky or thee port was a cost cutter?Do you do take Shimano s apart to grease gears?Enjoy your depth.
yes.. to put grease on the gears u have to remove the side plate. There is a port behind the oscillation worm, but you can't reach the gears from there, u would be dropping oil in the body
Your comment about the inconsistency of the Vanford family quality is 100% spot on. It's infuriating! Had 2 Complex XRs - one absolutely amazing and one incredibly rough and scratchy. Disassembled that damned thing so many times and finally pinpointed the problem to an extra washer under the pinion. Currently going through the same headaches with a Cardiff XR. Beautiful looking reel, but the quality makes me want to pull my hair out. I have improved the feel of it slightly, but it's still not satisfactory. I can't figure out the problem with it. My Exsence XR is just incredible though. Really lucked out with that one.
Ive had 6 Vanfords now, and im 3 and 3. Sold 2 of the 3 bad ones on ebay, but i still have 1 bad one that i can't fix. But the other 3... if someone touches them will pay me $300 for a used reel! : ).
My analysis shows imperfect main shaft, and there is nothing you can do about that, but sell. Or fish the SHIT out of it, to wear it out where its scratching
Thank you for your reviews, Victor, I always look forward to the way you break down the reels.
thanks Dennis!
Mannn... You make very good video and very great explanation... Keep it up👍👍👌👌👌
i will try : )
Long, but very valuable. Thank you.
great vid thanks for the deep dive ! got the 23 vanquish time to pre order the Airity SF find out for myself what's "better"
enjoy!
As an avid angler and working in the fishing industry for years, it should be hard to ignore the amount of development that Okuma is putting into reel development. The ceymar HD, ITX and Inspira compete with these. Sadly in our saltwater environment we push the budget shimano and daiwa spin reels hard and they don't last, but okuma are well worth considering. CEYMAR HD pure bang for buck is almost unbeatable.
I don't push anything, i am not a part of the industry and I don't make money doing any of this. Every slide in this video had the word ULTRALIGHT with underscored, to highlight the fact that I am only talking about ultralight fishing reels. I have never fished saltwater and have never pretended to know anything about that. But as far as Freshwater Ultralight fishing goes, Okuma is not even close to Daiwa and Shimano, neither in terms of quality and performance and finesse, nor in value. Even if you are on a budget, i recommend the Legalis LT as a better value than any okuma. Completely different feel in hand, even the 2017 Legalis feels better than any Okuma on the market, regardless or price. That i guarantee. I challenge anyone to give me the name of Okuma model that feels even remotely similar to the Legalis
@ifishcatfish here in Australia we fish UL in the salt too for species like bream, flathead and pinky snapper (most of my reels are 1000 reels). I'm mainly a Shimano guy, I fish mainly off a kayak or a paddleboard in salt almost strictly and I've abused even the cheap Shimano Sienna and it's lasted me over 4 years of abuse.
I bought a Daiwa Exceler LT 2000D and got some Saltwater on it, died by the time I got home.
I have since bought a 14000 BG MQ and now waiting on a 3000 Caldia LT as I'm willing to give them another go.
My finding is that Daiwa feel smooth out of the box but deteriorate MUCH faster than Shimano.
Now I reserve my daiwa reels for either freshwater or land based fishing where salt spray is less likely.
Okuma maybe not as smooth but maybe last longer than Daiwa
Thanks for another detailed video. Watched your rod video at least 5 times absorbing all the details. Besides ultega, what is your other recommendation for fresh and saltwater fishing.
Vanford, Luvias in size 2500..
Thanks Vic.
Okuma Ceymar HD 1000 Very strong and Daiwa smooth at under $80. I remove the rubber seal that is intended to stop water from entering between the spool and reel body. Improved gearing and superb drive train support. Worth a look.
i don't mind people leaving different opinions as it makes the chat more interesting. but there is no reel from Okuma, at any price, that can compare with the $60 Sahara in terms of smoothness, finesse and resistance. Okuma was competitive 10 years ago, as i remember my Epixor long time ago was comparable to my daiwa reels, but daiwa reels today feels totally different, and Okuma still feels the same. They need to buy some new machines or something
While you may or may not be correct (I own both Ceymar HD and 23 Legalis LT with your ball bearing upgrade) your view that only 2 companies can make top quality reels is like only 2 car companies make great cars. Cars head and shoulders above the rest. That other reel companies do not/cannot have the financial ability, superb engineers, state of art manufacturing facilities, access to latest greatest material etc that rival Shimano and Daiwa? No current "lesser" or even a new company cannot step up and compete, ever? The Ceymar HD is an excellent reel. Well built, smooth with many quality manufacturing features. After fishing with both, they both are superb at around the same list price. I appreciate your in depth reports and views. I have purchased several products on your recommendations and will continue to faithfully follow you and your videos..
Thank you Victor
Just a question
I have three ultra lites
Shimano size 1000. Which size reel do you recommend
Thank you Victor
1000 and 2000 is really the same size. Buy whichever is on sale or available. But 2500 is usually too big for ultralight..
Thank you Victor
As a point where can you purchase the Daiwa Airty ST from JDM dealers here in the US and do you know how much it is going to cost? Let me say that I appreciate the time and depth of the information that you are putting out to fellow UL fishermen. Thank you for all your hard work, your research and expertise on the on UL reels and rods.
Price will be almost the same as Vanquish and will compete against Vanquish. But NO, i don't think you will be able to buy it from US, since the US distributor of Daiwa is American idiot who only cares about bass reels in High gear ratios and doesn't even know what resistance or start up inertia is
A quantum exo suited KVD for many years, they make excellent ultralight spinning and baitcasting reels, I have quite a few, they are supposedly the lightest available reels, based on a metal where it matters principle
korean reels are not bad, it's just that... japanese are even better..
Airity ST 😂 super finesse sensitive tune. They got it. Thanks for your detailed comments as usual.
I enjoy your long videos. Glad you at least mentioned the Ballistic. It's an awesome saltwater ultralight.
thank you sir
thank you for the well detailed guide. Keep up the content
thank you too!
Love my miravel. Got a 2000shg for 84 bucks on amazon. Couldn’t pass it up.
I saw that but hg model was a mistake. Stay away from hg or xg
Thanks I needed this in my life ❤️❤️❤️😊
Thank you for your attention to detail and comparing the mfg/models.
For a cheeper stuff like the Lew's Xfinity size 10 is nice for $50 I haven't complained about nothing yet. I'll pay the money for ceramic bearing is harder to rust problem I'm happy with them.
Do you not like the ABU Zenon? I have one in the ultra light size and ❤ it!! I also have a Ballistic, several Luvias reels and think the Zenon pays out line far better than my Daiwa reels. Thanks for your expertise!!
So you are talking about the drag? If you talk about the drag.. i can grant that.. i have seen many reels, even very cheap, with enjoyable drag. If you are talking about drive train and retrieve feel, no, i don't think it compares to Luvias or even Legalis LT, to be honest. That special daiwa feeling is just not there
Great video Victor …you mentioned with some praise the soare xr ……what would be your choice in the budget category…between the 23 Legalis or soare BB…..would the Legalis be preferable in your world….many thanks….this is for a soare 7.6 rod.
@@bluesky5587 Similar quality and feel, and similar weight even. Soare BB costs a little more but looks better with the Soare rods and in the long run the soare gears will outlast Legalis. But i don't care for long run, i would get it for the nicer looks
Thinking of getting ultegra as legalis lt is out of stock for me. What size do you recommend for the jdm models?
Also are all the reels based on the jdm models or US version? I know the QC is different and spool size…
i recommend 1000 or 2000 size, whichever comes in lower gear ratio
Miravel is light and smooth, but hard to pull the trigger on it for $129, with so much more out there for more or less.
whats the safest store to buy soare bb to ship to the U.S.? or ebay
If you have a limited budget, the Pflueger President is a good buy. I have an Ultra light size. Its tiny. Good reel.
Got 2 President XTs and love it. It’s smooth and taken a beating
I have one President. I find Daiwa reels in the same price range to be much smoother.
I would love to hear your comments on the Daiwa Freams LT
New Legalis better, and yet much cheaper. I dont know how the new freams will be
hi!
for an abu garcia eon 1-7 gr rod, what reel would you recommend? a model and size! thank you!
Low buget !
my recommendations in every segment are in this video. The rod makes no difference..
@@ifishcatfish legalis 2000?
Any plans to do a proper maintenance/disassemble video on daiwa reels? I’m always confused by the multiple types of grease and oil recommended and I have a 14 presso that is loud even though I have done the normal main shaft oil/bail greasing/handle and knob greasing/etc. I have never taken this reel fully apart though and am wondering if there is something I can do to get the sound to go away.
No, there is nothing u can do. In general there is not much u can do about daiwas. I sell the tool for removing the side plate. U can use that to unscrew the side plate, dab a little grease on the main gear and pinion, put it back and call it a day. Putting grease on the main shaft increases resistance.
@@ifishcatfish I used daiwa oil not sure what kinda it is just called the daiwa oiler. The grease I have seems to be their marine grease now that I see it it’s blue. I only put oil on the main shaft. Good to know about the side plate key thank you!
My favorites combo is the Shimano Ulterga with ml TFO trout panfish rod for all around panfish trout and small bass
Colors dont match but otherwise both good.
I use a tiny Okuma reel with an equally diminutive Shimano spinning rod, for casting lures and spinners of just a few grams, into a small and overgrown stream. The water contains some hard-fighting wild brown trout, and the gear makes it seems like battling blue fin tuna.
thats the spirit of ultralight fishing!
I watched the whole video and The Daiwa Luvias was not mentioned. Wonder what i_fish thinks about that reel, as it only costs about $240 usd? Debating between the shimano complex XR and the daiwa luvias.
i'm pretty sure i mentioned Luvias family, which consists of Luvias and Presso. If we are talking about ultralight reels, size 1000, go Vanford or Presso
I own the older Shimano Cardiff 18, the 1000 and the 3000. Both work like I just got them yesterday. Can't go wrong with the cork handles or decking them out with Yumeya parts. Really interested in the vanquish and new Cardiff
Thank you for the great breakdown and video!
Wish there was a comparison between the 23 Airity ST and Airity ST SF. Both seem great, just not sure if the difference on it is SF is significant.
I do have a review of the st sf
When talking the Tatula family, does this take the MQ versions into consideration?
The good MQ models are in the Luvias family. The thick heavy graphite models are now left for Tatula
@ifishcatfish I've also heard that until the luvias, the MQ reels all use zinc main gear instead of brass or aluminum...is this true? Even the Ballistic MQ and Kage MQ
@@jpap967 i believe the difference is mostly in the frame. I doubt they have the Legalis gears. If they have the legalis gears the reel would be cheaper. As a matter of fact, it woulbe no absolutely no better than a legalis
@ifishcatfish my buddy that opens and works on all of his reels swears that they in fact use zinc gears even at that price point until you get up to the Luvias, which is crazy honestly. The Saltist MQ according to tackle direct uses machined zinc alloy main gear. I think it's the same for Ballistic/Kage/Tatula MQ reels. The legalis uses cast zinc fwiw
@@jpap967 if its machined, its aluminum. The zinc alloy is used only for casting. The old Tatula definitely had aluminum gears
I've been using Shimano spinning reels since 1984; maybe earlier. But I would not hesitate using other reels if they are excellent. I bought a KastKing Centron 500 and it's equal to reels made in the 1990's.
: )
Great info! What’s your opinion on the Daiwa Caldia fc lt 1000s? Truly enjoy your channel. Thank you
I reviewed that reel. Same quality and weight as legalis but double price.. And legalis is easier to open and service
It's now near the end of October 2024 and I am unable to find any 2023 Daiwa Legalis LT 1000 D reels. I did find one guy on Amazon trying to sell them for $105 but that seems like a crazy price. Are the 2024 Legalis LT 1000 D reels still as good as the 2023 models because those are only $66. I hate the 2024 blue color though, the black and gold of the 2023 would match my rods better. Thanks for your time.
@@lucasjedwards u r off by a generation. The blue one is 2020-2022. The black and gold is 2023. There is no 2024.
There is no 1000 D reel size for 2023 Legalis, 1000 S only. $64 at Amazon now
@@andriikudarenko5443 I see the one that you are talking about. The $64 one is actually LT2000S-P. The LT1000S is $83.80 and there are only 2 in stock.
Hopefully you get your hands on the ST, the SF varients will be insane
ST seems to be the best one. SF was much heavier and seems to be based on the old Airity, no? While the ST is based on the Exist SF
@@ifishcatfish ST actually has an SF version too, so there's 4 Airities now haha, the standard Airity, the SF, the ST, and the STSF... 😂 You'll notice the smaller sizes of ST on that page have SF in front of the sizing "SF2000SSP" for example right? The STSF is 1000 to 2500, and the standard ST is just 2000 and 2500. If you scroll down there's actually an Airity special page that you can click on and explains it all much better than me! Hopefully this thing lives up to expectations 🤞
Many thanks for that video. I wonder if you could do Light reels comparison. I am looking into trout reel for 10-12 lb rod. I've got on my list Daiwa Theory 2506H, Vanquish 12 2500SHG and Luvias LT 2500XH. Which one would be a better performer? Just to add I might use Aglia 3 spinners and 6-7 minnows and small SDR lures from time to time. Thanks!
whatever u buy, don't buy a reel with H or X in the model. Those reels are horrible, kill the entire feel. Otherwise they are all great reels. Vanquish is obviously best, but its more expensive, so not really a better deal. I don't think people need Vanquish for throwing big heavy stuff. You can use vanford for that. The new Vanford is shallow spool and low gear ratio would be my choice above anything u listed above
Thank you so much for this!!!
i appreciate the kind comment!
Thanks for the iinfo. I visited about 8 online retailers, and none of them had the Legalis LT with gold handle for sale. Any ideas?
U will probably have to buy from japanese online shop that ships here..
Well thought-out video Victor. Im curious about the ST now.
Thsnk you sir!
Daiwa LT1000S Spinning Reel 23 Regalis, is this the correct one you mentioned?
it is Legalis, but the browser does not translate it to english correctly
Thanks for the guide.
I agree with you on most things. I do recognise, that 23 Vanquish has a bit lighter rotation but... it's not that simple. A reel is a complex device and can't be judged by on parameter only.
I saw your review of 23 vanquish 1000 size and have decided to get on. Couldn't find it locally and... started to get some reports from fellow anglers about line management problems with very thin braids on difficult retrieves. Thant got me thinking, do I really need some backlashes on very expensive lines I fish with? Then I put my hands on C2500 size and... was disappointing. You were right, the lightness of rotation is still there, but everything else... design, feel in the hand... I have decided to stick with my Luvias Airity 2000. Yes, rotation is a bit heavier but everything else was better.
Now, looking at SF modes of 130 grams without magseal and light oil instead of grease... well, with still amazing design and full metal body ... what can I say, I'm taking it too.
Well, i am talking about Ultralight fishing reels. Every slide in this presentation has the word ULTRALIGHT underscored, if you bother to go back and check. If you keep that in mind, lightness of rotation becomes the #1 metrics that separates the high end reels. ALL HIGH END REELS ARE SMOOTH. What is DIFFICULT to achieve, is low resistance and intertia. Dawa hasn't done it for 5 years and we still don't know if the new reel will match the Vanquish.
The reports about Vanquish 'line management' are complete SHIT. I can guarantee that as far as ultralight fishing goes, such SHIT does not exist! I have videos on my channel landing 5 lb largemouth bass, 17 lb buffalo, and 14 lb flathead catfish on the 1000 size and 0.107mm line. The Vanquish has the best line management in FISHING HISTORY. For the idiots who use the reel for bass fishing and set the hook with the drag sinched up and then the line sinks in the spool - well they can all go f#ck themselves, i have no sympathy for them. GO BUY THE FKN SAHARA, not the best FINESSE ULTRALIGHT REEL in the world!
@@ifishcatfishI understand your point. And even support it to a high degree. I've been a big fan of Vanquish since 2013. And it's been a great experience. I'm from area where there's no bass. People use Vanquishes for perch and trout mainly. They use 0.1-0.2 PE. Adequate people(the ones I talked about)))). They had some trouble with Stella too for trout fishing. I'm not saying the problem is huge, it's not, but now it's there. Maybe it's different with esters or something but.... Bigger sizes I saw on youtube had problems with squid fishing, they really jerk like hell. Anyway, 2500 size isn't for fineness application already, it should be used for that sort of thing.
I believe, new Shimano line management is more demanding. And I don't like it. Magseal was always a problem for me. It created complications with servicing Daiwas, and, as you understand, it creates a problem with lightness of rotation. Unfortunately, the only thing I like about new Vanquish is it's rotation. Everything else I much prefer in Daiwa. Now, if new Daiwa has rotation as Vanquish, that's gonna a big winner. And I hope it's going to be the case. Without Magseal I see no reason why it should be otherwise. But... we gonna have to see. No handson experience yet.
@@i.o.3563 Super Slow oscillation is the best thing that has happened to spinning reels in 20 years. We used to have it in Surf Casting reels and Big Pit carp baitrunner reels, if you are familiar with those, because Super Slow Oscillation is the only way to long casting distance. The real line management issues come from Daiwa reels, because the line is wrapped in X and WILL NOT HOLD to the spool. If you have strong wind or u fish with Ester lines, the Daiwa line management is OBVIOUSLY inferior. To call Super Slow Oscillation a line management problem is just idiotic. The coils are perfectly parallel and support each other and still have no resistance on the way out! ITs a fkn miracle! These SMEARS have been floated by daiwa because daiwa can NEVER have proper line management with their locomotive oscillation. They would need to admit they were WRONG, and shimano was RIGHT, and that is too humiliating. So the only thing they can do is sponsor and encourage a few useful idiots to make absurd claims like that, and call the black white. It is PRECISELY the Super Slow Oscillation of Shimano that makes OBVIOUS the line management problems of daiwas X-line lay. If you really have people that have told you that, they are all fools. If you find a single person that would like to debate me on this, email me! I just have have condition - i need him to have engineering expertise, or a youtube channel bigger than mine. I don't want to waste my time with some heckler.
Newly subscribed. Excellent content and presentation. Bravo....!
Thank you sir
I truly need an opinion on daiwa ST AIRTY. I appreciate your time and effort into getting us this information Victor
it will be in stores in Marc-April. I will buy it then
Very curious about the new Airity as well since I mainly use the 23 Vanquish now. Kind of odd they would release this new Airity when its in the same ultra finesse space as the Exist SF they put out last year. I wonder how it stacks up against the Exist sensitive tune (had a Japanese youtuber tell me that reel isn't as light turning as the 19 Vanquish). Not a fan of the short spool on the Exist SF anyway.
Exist SF isn't as light turning as Vanquish, i got same information. But Exist isn't targeted to people like me. I think this Luvias ST is Exist SF with more grease and oil removed. That's what i hope. : )
Now I feel like I made a bad purchase on my Exist SF 1000S-P...
You can’t get a Shimano Cardiff in U.S?
you can buy it from japan... they will ship here. But local dealers dont carry it
Penn is a good reel too. I'm using Penn Spinfisher and Daiwa Revros LT.
Hmm that new Airity ST has my attention. The reels features sounds very interesting since the 2023 Airity felt underwhelming
Yes all previous airities have been meh
Excellent review and overview on reels!
thank you
Hello ifish, I mostly do saltwater ajing fishing targeting aji and similar sized as well as pelagics for a good fight. Im currently using the Soare BB C2000SSPG and would like to upgrade to the vanquish. I mostly use jigheads from 0.8g-3grams and metal micro jigs from 3g-7grams which size would be the better choice?
I have thought getting the 1000ssspg and just getting another spool for ester and PE but any thoughts?
i love the 1000 ssspg size, but for more than 3 gram metal jigs u need a 2500 size reel. I recommend two different reels .
I have been fishing for over 50yrs most of those years I did alot of bass fishing but now that I'm older crappie fishing just lights my fire. I love light and ultralight spinning reels and I own piles of them of all brands from high end to low. It doesnt take much reel to bring in a large crappie. Most of the reels you reviewed are what I would say are mid to upper range priced reels, not everyone can afford or want to afford an ultralight reel of that price range. For the
lower priced ultralight reels you Cannot beat the Shimano Sienna FG500 with the red spool, I own a Shimano Sedona which is a beautiful reel and cost twice what the Sienna does but it does not cast as smooth or as far as the lowly old Sienna. I think Shimano has perfected the spool on the Sienna, use a premium monofilament in 2 or 4lb line and it will cast a country mile. I had 2 Sienna FG1000s but I like the 500s better so I sold the 1000s. I do normally change out the one plastic bushing in the FG500 to a ball bearing. Another UL reel that will cast like a banshee is the SS800 Tica Cetus or the SB800 basically the same reel but they are not as smooth as the Shimano nor do they lay down the line like the Shimano.
I overfill mine a little with monofilament and its unbelievable how far it will cast.
Get you a lowly ole Shimano Sienna FG500, spool it with some SOS 4Llb or 2lb and cast ALL day long without any problems, no twisting, no wind knots no nothing. If you are only going to own 1 UL reel then spend some big money on one but if you want lots of them experiment till you find one you really like but we all want a trouble free reel right? One other
inexpensive reel to consider is the Piscifun Viper X 500 a super light weight reel with lots of
bearings and pleasant to look at, casts good too. Sorry to get long winded and totally JMO.
I have tried Sienna and it feels amazingly nice for that price. I understand why so many people love these Siennas. Buying a Siena for $30 is definitely a solid choice, no doubt!
That said, if you can afford it, and my wife is a cashier making $14 per hour at Kroger and even she can save extra $30, If you can save another 30 bucks, the difference with the Legalis will shock you. THis is what i recommended in the video. Siena is solid, if $30 is all you have, but it is made of solid steel and it is heavy as a piece of iron, it has only two bearings in the whole reel, the gears are riding in the frame, and what you said about the spool and casting is just not true. It has a small spool and locomotive line lay and has below average casting distance.. All of this is just FINE for $30, but i am saying, if u can save another 30 bucks, u will be fishing with elite tackle, and that is even more amazing
@@ifishcatfish I have a Legalis and it is a nice reel, the Sienna weighs all of 6oz you must be a weakling.
you sound offended.. i was just pointing some facts because your comment was misleading and i don't want my readers to get the idea that Sienna is something that it is not. It is a great $30 reel, and if you leave it at that, i will agree with you. When you start to explain to me how it is casting smoother (this doesn't make sense) and how its better than Sedona.. that can mislead people..
@@ifishcatfish I suggest your readers try an old cheap Sienna for themselves to see if what I stated is misleading.
man.. if i ever talk to Shimano i will tell them to send you a few new Sienas : ). You are the biggest fan of the 2-bearing Siena i know : ) These brand really value fans like you..
Do you know the difference in the new Revros and Legalis lt? The specifications look very similar. I’m looking for an ultralight in probably a 1000 size for trout fishing.
the previous generation they were the same reel. But in the new generation i dont know.
I just order the presso thanks to your review! I am considering getting the Daiwa Tatula MQ Lt 1000 would you recommend it ? Is it any good or should I stay away?
its fine but heavier than the Luvias reels. I prefer Luvias or Presso, if u must have a daiwa
Can you do a video on what some of these reels model numbers mean? Like for example Daiwa has 2000S, 2000SS-P, 1000S-P, 2500S-XH-QD and Shimano has 1000 SSSPG, C2000S. What is S, SS, SSSPG and all these lettering mean behind the model numbers?!
I can butnit already says that on daiwa and shimanos website. If u go to the japanese website. Thats where everybody reads it
@@ifishcatfish i see. thank you i’ll have to look harder then.
I could get nasci at 2/3 price of the legalis, which one I should get?
both
@@ifishcatfish nasci first then
Hello happy fishing Sunday my friend I'm a budget kind of guy I'm a big fan of Abu Garcia spinning and bait caster reel and bands and a big fan of penn pursuit 3 fishing reels spinning and bait casters and brands I have a Abu Garcia max Z 40 spinning reel for my ligh rod and I also have a 3000 series sizes the Daiwa Laguna LT for my ugly stick medium action spinning rod
good !
@@ifishcatfish I like the spinning reels that you shown on the video there nice but I wouldn't buy new fishing gear right know with fishing gear and fishing luers and baits being very expensive right know it's sad to see fishing stuff being so expensive these days I'm thankful and happy I bought all my fishing gear and fishing supplies when they were on clearance and on sale happy fishing Sunday my friend 👍🎣
Just asking, since the revros is in the legalis family, does it have the same smoothness as legalis?
kind of, but is missing one support bearing on the pinion
What size Sahara do you recommend? And what is Daiwa monocoque about? Is it just for saltwater? I do. Like the Procyon series……al lt,lt and mq……in part because they all look sharp as well as smooth. I got the Procyon LT 2500 on eBay for $80 including shipping before reading one of your entries from way back where you say that eBay reels often are a crap shoot……..but I saw the reel at Phoenix Fishing and it is so light and smooth, I loved it. I also loved the new Shimano Sedona FJ, but if Sedona or Ultegra are much better, I can spend up to $200 for something I will enjoy better. I am at a complete loss about rods, though. I got the Shakespeare and sensillite……I like what yoy say about the Presso and Okuma SST……..and very expensive rods scare me a little, because rods are so easy to break….especially one piece.which seem most sensitive and solid, but are harder to handle. There are some big fish in AZ….especially below the Hoover Dam….striped bass and big rainbow trout…….so. I’d also like to have a go at some bigger fish and have some heavier reels…….that’s where I am looking at the Ultegra and Procyon AL LT. I can see fishing braid on that one. I appreciate your reviews and just watching you have a good time fishing and appreciating the gear, which is part of it.
How do you feel about the new Soare BB? I primarily fish saltwater, I know the Soare XR has more bearings but the bushings on the BB might be better for the salt
the difference is not in the bearings. The Soare BB is Ultegra. The Soare XR is a Vanford. Forget about the bearings - different reels.
You for UL and Alan Hawk for bigger reels. Two ultimate reel authorities for me.
Thanks but Alan Hawk is in his own world. I do not have even 10% of his patience or attention to detail. Hes the godfather of spinning reels.
@@ifishcatfish he is one of a kind but you are doing videos and much more content. I think you both add similar amount of value. At least for me.
Nicely said
How about the certate lt 24
this is Ultralight reel guide... i don't review metal frame reels. I'm sure its a great reel though, but too heavy for ultralight fishing
@@ifishcatfish I mean it's pretty lightweight, less than 180g. Anyways, I would appreciate your help in the following.. I use saltwater with an 83 lenght rod, cw 3-15 that can handle braid of pe 0.2-0.8. I want to fish mostly softbaits with jigheads 3-7g. Should I go to a 2000 or a 2500 reel? Also would you use pe0.4 or pe 0.5? Thanks in advance!
@@gregmarg9682 actually for saltwater it would be perfect. Also i don't think that is ultralight fishing. My jigheads are 0.5-2.5 grams. And i myself would use 2500 size reel for that
Mr victor I what to thanks for this really helpful video specially for a new fishermen I m thinking on buying the DAIWA LT will you recommend the 1000 or 2000 ? Thanks hope you respond
1000 and 2000 is the same reel.. only spool is 1 mm larger.. doesnt matter, u will never notice difference
Excuse me just checkd this legalis 2023 reel but the seller has 2 diferet sizes number 2000s-o& 2000s-xh do you know what those letters mean?
Do not buy reels that have X or H in the model number. Remember that. No H no X. All other letters are OK
@ thanks for your advice
S means Shallow Spool
HG is high gear
XG is extra high gear
@ifishcatfish could you educate me on why not?
@ thank you for explaining that
I bought a Poseidon Evergreen superior rod. Color of the 23 airity suits its better than vanquish. Not sure what to do.. I tried vanquish,but never tried airity. Whats your advice? Is airity good enough?
How could i know if its not even out yet :)
@@ifishcatfish asking about 23 airity. With gold details. Not the new one 😄
@@redriverlures oh. If u ise it for swimbaits its fine. I just dont like it for teotching and jigging.