This review isn’t so much about the Vanford FA itself – we reviewed that back in the April edition, which you can read here. This piece is more about a new size in the world of fishing reels – the 500. The 500 is noticeably smaller than a 1000 and has been met with great enthusiasm among anglers. My first thought when I saw one was, “This will be awesome for trout in small streams,” and that’s exactly what I used it for during the test period.
Now, if you’re not a trout angler but like the idea of an ultra-small, lightweight reel, the 500 would also be ideal for garfish and ajing – the Japanese art of targeting slimies and yakkas with soft plastics (yes, that’s a thing). I probably wouldn’t use it for bream, as it’s a bit too small to suit most of my rods, but it pairs beautifully with several of my shorter trout rods.
At the same time I received the 500, I was also sent a range of ajing gear to review for a future issue this coming summer, which led me to start looking at ajing rods. I found a Shimano Soare S58UL-S 1–3lb at my local store, Compleat Angler Dandenong, and instantly fell in love with it. It’s super light and compact, yet extremely refined with a solid graphite tip. It’s not part of Shimano’s core Australian range – it’s a JDM product (the Soare range is specifically designed for ajing) – but Shimano did release a limited number of JDM products to select stores last year. While it’s technically an ajing rod, I could instantly see how well it would perform as a trout rod for the small streams I fish.
The larger river I mainly fish this time of year is the Goulburn, but recent heavy environmental outflows from Lake Eildon have rendered it almost unfishable since the season opened. So, my first trip for the new season was up some smaller backwaters. These rivers can get very skinny yet still hold big fish, and they’re surrounded by thick bush, meaning you’re wading through the water most of the time. You often find yourself climbing over large fallen trees or even commando-crawling under them. A short rod with a small, lightweight reel like the 500 is a huge advantage when trekking these rivers and casting among overhanging trees and dense scrub.
When I first started winding the 500 out of the box, it wasn’t what I expected. I own Vanford FAs in 1000, 2000, and 3000 sizes, and they’re all buttery smooth – the 500 isn’t. Due to its extremely compact size and the amount of engineering packed into such a small space, it feels noticeably stiffer than a 1000. I spooled it with 6lb Kairiki 8+ braid and set off for the river, half-expecting I might end up heading back to the car halfway through the day to put the 500 away and tell Shimano I just didn’t like it.
By my third cast of the morning, though, I’d stopped noticing the stiffer feel and started loving how short, light and compact the outfit felt. Navigating what’s essentially a boot-camp commando course to reach the upper river, the set-up was a dream to carry and fish with. Once under load, even with very light lures, the feel of the reel changed completely. I cast spinners and plastics all day, caught a heap of small browns and rainbows, and finished the session with a cracking 3lb brown at the base of the falls.
The 500’s CI4+ material makes it incredibly light and ultra-sensitive, transferring every vibration through the blank and into your hand, giving you excellent control of your presentation. I could feel when I was entering snaggy subsurface territory, detect the slightest bites, and set the hooks instantly. I could also easily jam the butt of the rod into my wading belt when changing lures, and the reel’s light weight made it almost unnoticeable to carry up and back down the river – a long trek over slippery rocks, fallen trees, and overgrown deer trails.
Its drag performance was excellent, but keep in mind it has a very wide drag curve – it takes a few cranks to fine-tune. Due to the small spool and washers, this is a set-and-forget drag system, not one you want to be adjusting mid-fight.
It’s a reel suited to a limited range of techniques – small-stream trout, ajing, and perhaps jungle perch would be its key strengths; basically any situation where short casting distances are required. While it can easily handle larger fish like the brown I caught, in bigger streams where you need to cast further, it could pose the risk of being spooled, as it holds only 185m of 0.6 line. The limited drag curve could also be a minor drawback. However, for stream trout and ajing, it’s perfect and offers significant advantages over a 1000. It’s also an excellent reel for hunters and hikers who want a small, lightweight outfit in their pack for a bit of stream fishing along the way.
