Thinking of maybe picking up a nice spinning reel since I'm using jerkbaits so frequently now.

 

With the 10% sale at TW these are about $5 apart. I dont know much about nice spinning reels so can someone school me on the differences and if one is truly better than the other?

The only major difference is the weight.  

Vanford is CI4+ composite body and lightened rotor.  Otherwise, the reels are identical throughout.  

 

Vanford also slightly shortens the stem length to improve the composite body stiffness.  

Some people have complained about grip space and interference with their fingers.  

 

OK, I noticed FA vs. FM - FA is based on '18 Stella, while FM is based on '22 Stella.  The only change is slightly increased spindle length and spool pitch.  

The older design is inherently stronger and '22 change indicates Shimano was happy enough with their older design, they increased the spindle length and pitch to push it a little harder.  

You might have a tougher time finding spare spools for the FA, and they're still available in Japan ('20 Vanford)  

I held both them at the store. Went with the Vanford because of the weight difference. I did have to change my grip on the rod due to the short stem. 

Thank you both. I have medium glove sized hands and in general am not a fan of long stem reels (lookin at you Lews) so not sure I'd hate the Vanford. For about $5 that weight savings is probably worth it. I really dont ever change spools, if I'm needing another line I'm respooling. 

To give you the e.g., my med-frame Twin Power has PE1215 spool loaded with PE#1.2 for inshore beast

 

and PE0815 spool topped with PE#0.6 working line for finesse - note that the same series Vanquish spool swaps-in.  

 

Does the long stroke spool make a difference for casting? I know shimano's normal design casts super far already. 

@Hulkster - that's the entire logic.  The pitch increase from '18 Stella series to '22 Stella series is about 10% - doesn't equate to that much cast difference.  (1 to 2%)

 

If you remember the 1990s, long spools and spool pitch combined with carbon drag came in like gangbusters.  

They didn't understand the bending moments created by long spindle on the gears and rotor, and these were the worst spinning reels ever made, self-destructing drive gears and rotor bushings.  

'18 Stella, '19 Stradic and Vanquish, '20 Vanford and Twin Power represent a landmark - the first truly over-designed spinning reel.  

its funny that until recently shimano hasn't really had the 'long stroke' spool design on most of their reels but Daiwa famously had it on the SS tournament reels. I feel like the last big improvement in casting distance for shimano was when they introduced the propulsion spool lip - this made a big difference in casting. 

funny, I was just going to edit-in Shimano in the '90s - caught my first snook.  

Belonged to a S. Padre guide, and the Shimano was the first long-spool reel I had ever seen - looked like a dixie cup.  

Maybe Shimano recognized the problem quickly and backed up.  

The reason '18 Stella stands out is the FEM analysis Shimano did to develop the reel.  

Tica was doing the same thing for Daiwa after the millenium, and Tica IOS is the best locomotive-drive reel I've ever beaten. 

When I was looking for a spinning reel I had several people suggest the JDM Stradic from Digitaka. You might give that one a look. I went with a Daiwa Kage, just because I found it on sale locally and I liked it.

 

I used my friend's Vanford prior to me making the spinning investment and it was nice!