I currently have a pair of St Croix Premiers (6ft UL and a 2 piece 6’6” L). The UL has a 1000 size Nasci FB and the L has a 2000 size Regal LT. Both reels have seen a good few years of use and I’m looking to upgrade to a pair of Miravels or Stradics. What reel do you think would work best on these rods? Both rods will likely have 6lb Suffix Copoly line on them. Maybe 4 on the UL. These are mainly rods for sand bass, crappie, panfish, and the occasional Ned rig on the light rod. Thanks!

Toss a coin - they're both good reels, so it depends on how much you want to spend.

JDM prices

Miravel 1000 - $94

Stradic 2000s (model doesn't have a 1000 size) - $142

 

Another option is the Ultegra 1000 at $103 - I have both a Miravel 1000 and an Ultegra 1000 - both very good reels.

 

Larger sizes

Miravel 2500 - $101

Stradic 2500 - $145

Ultegra 2500 - $108

Stradic 1000 all day long.   I love my Stradic FL 1000s on  my st croix panfish UL and panfish Light rods!

Just do this and be done with it

 

https://www.digitaka.com/items/5/283/1/23+STRADIC+(New)++-+30%+OFF

3 hours ago, MiceNReets said:

Stradic 1000 all day long.   I love my Stradic FL 1000s on  my st croix panfish UL and panfish Light rods!

Oh yeah!

 

3 minutes ago, T2DM said:

Oh yeah!

7 minutes ago, MiceNReets said:

Sweet!  but your handle is on the wrong side dude!😂

For light rods, I would go as light as possible with the reels as well. Vanford would be my choice, instead of the relatively heavy Stradics. Daiwa's LT reels are pretty light as well, as the name suggests, Light & Tough.

3 hours ago, T2DM said:

Sweet!  but your handle is on the wrong side dude!😂

LoL.   Spinning I just use them as they are. Right or left it don’t matter.     Baitcasting I can’t use a lefty to save my life.  LoL 

My favorite ultra-light reel is a Vanford 1000

I really like my Shimano complex xr 2000 on my ul steez grey ghost I have it spooled with .6 pe.   The drag is crazy smooth

Vanford or one of the JDM variants would be my choice for a reasonably priced light spinning reel.

Sounds like Stradics or Vanford 1000 sizes are the way to go. Thanks y’all. Gonna have matching combos lol

I just went out a few hours ago and used my Stradic 1000 and cannot recommend it enough 4 pound monofilament on a 7’-0” light powered St. Croix Avid panfish and it’s by far superior to my Miravel 2000 shallow spool fwiw imho.

Only an opinion ...

 

I only UL fish.  My main rod is e-glass, 5 foot 4 inches.  Weighs 2.9 oz.  I don't throw any lure over 1/8th oz.  I use a Vanford 500.  Everyday line is 4 pound copolymer (Leland's SOS).  I also carry a spare spool with 2 pound copolymer to throw very light lures (flies with a 3/16th oz bubble float).

 

The reduced weight of the Vanford balances well with the light, short rod.  This to me is an important factor to check when you look at the different model reels to purchase.  I think line management with the Vanford is better than any other spinning reel I've owned.  In the rarer times when I've hooked larger fish (for example, a surprise river pike last week), the drag allowed me to play the fish with the lighter line with no breakage.

 

The reel new is pricey (for me), but I was able to find a used one on ALF at a very reasonable price (and it was mint, unused).

 

To be fair, I have not fished the other reels listed in the posting.