We\u2019ll also talk about a few important specs like line capacity, weight (obviously), and durability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve tested these spinning reels on many types of fish<\/strong>, including trout, bass, redfish, walleye, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on to find the best ultralight spinning reel for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want the lightest yet smoothest spinning reel, the Daiwa Tatula LT<\/a> is hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Made of high-density carbon strain material, this spinning reel only weighs 5.8 ounces <\/strong>so you can cast all day without getting weary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Daiwa Tatula also has a very smooth drag<\/strong> thanks to its 5+1 corrosion-resistant ball bearings. It has a quick drag start-up inertia from the first bend to catch even the smallest fish. It will let you fish almost everything from panfish to bass and walleyes, and it\u2019s by far the best ultralight spinning reel for trout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what I like most about this reel is its durability. I\u2019ve been using it for over 5 years now and it\u2019s still as smooth as when I first bought it<\/strong>. I\u2019d say this makes it a great value spinning reel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only con is that it\u2019d be nice if the bail made more noise when opening and closing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the Daiwa Tatula remains the best ultralight spinning reel I\u2019ve ever tried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019d like to get the Daiwa Tatula but you\u2019re on a tight budget, the Penn Battle III<\/a> is a solid alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019d expect at this price point, the Penn Battle is made of aluminum <\/strong>instead of carbon fiber. This means it weighs more than the Daiwa at 7.8 ounces<\/strong>. This will still be light enough for most people, but it\u2019s true that I\u2019m a little bit weary at the end of the day compared to the Daiwa LT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The good news is that this ultralight spinning reel is still pretty smooth<\/strong>, thanks to its 5+1 ball bearings. You\u2019ll be able to handle fish from 1-9pounds without any issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to durability<\/strong>, I\u2019ve found the Penn Battle to be as good as the Daiwa LT. This is mainly due to its full-meta body, stainless steel ball bearings, and corrosion resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, the Penn Battle III is a pretty decent ultralight spinning reel and a good choice if you can\u2019t afford a premium reel like the Daiwa Tatula LT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shimano FI 1000<\/a> is an even better budget option than the Penn Battle III, but only for smaller fish. Indeed, it has a slightly more limited 7 lb drag capacity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like the Penn Battle, this spinning reel is made of aluminum and weighs a reasonable 7.6 ounces<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It only has 3+1 ball bearings, but I\u2019ve still found it to be pretty smooth when catching panfish and trout<\/strong>. That said, I wouldn\u2019t recommend it for bass and stripers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shimano FI is pretty durable thanks to its HAGANE gear and full-metal body<\/strong>, but it does \u201cfeel\u201d like plastic. It has lasted me a long time as it\u2019s not actually made of plastic or anything, but that might be a bit disappointing when you see it for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, this ultralight spinning reel is pretty good for its intended use, which is catching small fish<\/strong> without getting weary at the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want an ultralight spinning reel that can handle anything you throw at it<\/strong>, the Penn Clash II<\/a> is a great option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We all know Penn makes some seriously durable reels for larger models, but I can tell you that this is also true for the 1000 version of the Penn Clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a max drag of 9 lb, this spinning reel will be perfect for catching redfish, snook, flounder, and bass<\/strong>. The 8+1 ball bearings make it ridiculously smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While this spinning reel weighs a respectable 7 ounces<\/strong>, I must admit that it does feel larger than the other reels I\u2019ve talked about. It feels more like a size 2000 than a size 1000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Overall, if you want to fight bigger fish without ever feeling like your reel is going to break, the Penn Clash II is a good option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Best Ultralight Spinning Reel Overall – Daiwa Tatula LT 1000 D-XH<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Daiwa](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Daiwa-Tatula-LT-1000.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
2. Best Budget Ultralight Spinning Reel – Penn Battle III 1000<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Penn](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Penn-Battle-III-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
3. Cheap Ultralight Spinning Reel for Small Fish – Shimano FI 1000<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Shimano](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Shimano-FI-III-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
4. Most Durable Ultralight Spinning Reel – Penn Clash II<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Penn](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Penn-Clash-II-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n
5. Cheapest Ultralight Spinning Reel – Cadence CS6 1000<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cadence](\"https:\/\/www.happinesswithout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Cadence-CS6-300x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n