{"product_id":"tsurinoya-merlin-ultralight-spinning-reel-165g-metal-9bb","title":"Tsurinoya MERLIN Ultralight Spinning Reel – 165g Metal Body | 9+1BB 5.2:1 | 1000 \/ C2000S \/ 2500M \/ 3000M","description":"\u003ch2\u003eTsurinoya MERLIN Ultralight Spinning Reel – 165g | 9+1BB | 5.2:1\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eTsurinoya MERLIN\u003c\/strong\u003e is a 165g ultralight spinning reel available in four sizes — \u003cstrong\u003e1000, C2000S, 2500M, and 3000M\u003c\/strong\u003e — designed for finesse and light game lure fishing applications targeting bream, estuary perch, whiting, bass, and light estuary trevally. The MERLIN is built around a metal body construction that provides rigidity and alignment precision between the rotor, spool, and body under load — critical for smooth drag performance and retrieve consistency when fighting fish on light drag settings with fine leaders — while keeping the reel weight at 165g to reduce fatigue on ultralight and light spin rods over long sessions. The 9+1 bearing system and 5.2:1 gear ratio cover the full range of ultralight finesse retrieves from slow, methodical soft plastic retrieves to moderate-pace surface and subsurface lure presentations. Ambidextrous handle. Max drag 4kg (1000\/C2000S) and 5kg (2500M\/3000M).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMetal body construction – rigidity and precision alignment\u003c\/strong\u003e — the MERLIN is built with a metal body rather than a graphite or composite frame; a metal body provides significantly greater rigidity under load, which maintains the precise alignment between the main gear, rotor shaft, and body that is required for a smooth, consistent retrieve and drag performance; under a graphite body, flex under load can introduce vibration and roughness into the retrieve as the gear mesh shifts slightly — the metal body of the MERLIN eliminates this flex and maintains gear mesh quality throughout the fight; metal construction also improves long-term durability against the corrosion, pressure, and wear of regular estuary and inshore saltwater use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e9+1 bearing system – smooth retrieve under load\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 9+1 bearing configuration places bearings at the critical load points throughout the reel — main shaft, rotor, handle, and line roller — to support the moving components and reduce metal-on-metal contact under load; the result is a smooth, consistent retrieve with minimal vibration and noise at all retrieve speeds; the line roller bearing is particularly important for ultralight fishing with thin braid and fluorocarbon leaders, as a poorly supported line roller generates friction and twist that degrades fine line performance over time; 9 bearings plus the anti-reverse bearing provides a smooth, play-free retrieve suited to the sensitivity demands of finesse estuary fishing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e5.2:1 gear ratio – versatile retrieve speed\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 5.2:1 gear ratio produces a moderate retrieve speed that suits the full range of ultralight and light game lure presentations: slow enough to fish a soft plastic on a light jig head with a natural, lifelike action on a steady wind retrieve, and fast enough to work surface lures, shallow-diving minnows, and micro poppers at an effective pace without having to wind excessively fast; the 5.2:1 ratio is the standard workhorse gear ratio for AU estuary finesse fishing and covers bream, estuary perch, bass, and whiting applications across all lure types without needing to switch reels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e165g body weight – ultralight balance and reduced fatigue\u003c\/strong\u003e — the MERLIN’s 165g weight makes it one of the lighter metal-body spinning reels in its size range; matching a 165g reel to a light 1–3kg rated lure rod of 80–120g produces a well-balanced outfit that sits at or near the balance point of the rod, reducing wrist fatigue during long sessions of repeated casting and retrieving; fatigue management is significant in estuary bream and perch fishing where a session can involve hundreds of casts over 3–5 hours\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e4–5kg max drag – adequate for light line applications\u003c\/strong\u003e — the 1000 and C2000S sizes provide 4kg max drag, and the 2500M and 3000M sizes provide 5kg max drag; these drag ratings are well-suited to the light leader strengths used in AU estuary finesse fishing — typically 4–8lb fluorocarbon leaders; running the drag at 30–40% of the max rating on light leader (approximately 0.8–1.5kg) produces a smooth, consistent drag pressure that protects fine leaders during the fight while still applying sufficient pressure to turn and control the fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAmbidextrous handle – left or right hand wind\u003c\/strong\u003e — the handle can be configured for left or right hand retrieve to suit the angler’s preference without requiring a separate left-hand model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSize Selection Guide\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e1000\u003c\/strong\u003e — $159.95 — 4kg drag — ultralight finesse; bream, estuary perch, whiting on 1–2kg rods with #0.6–0.8 braid; wacky rig, drop shot, micro lure presentations in clear, shallow estuary\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eC2000S\u003c\/strong\u003e — $161.95 — 4kg drag — ultralight to light estuary all-rounder; bream, estuary perch, and bass on 1–3kg rods; suits most AU estuary finesse applications; shallow spool suited to lighter braid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2500M\u003c\/strong\u003e — $162.95 — 5kg drag — light estuary and inshore; bream, flathead, trevally, and whiting on 2–4kg outfits; medium spool capacity for slightly heavier braid and longer casts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e3000M\u003c\/strong\u003e — $165.95 — 5kg drag — light to medium inshore; flathead, trevally, snapper, and larger bream on 3–5kg outfits; deeper spool for #1.0–1.5 braid with full line capacity for longer-range estuary and inshore presentations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tsurinoya\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e MERLIN\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eType:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ultralight Spinning Reel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody Material:\u003c\/strong\u003e Metal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 165g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBearings:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9+1 (9 ball bearings + 1 anti-reverse)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGear Ratio:\u003c\/strong\u003e 5.2:1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMax Drag:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4kg (1000, C2000S) \/ 5kg (2500M, 3000M)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ambidextrous\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSizes:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1000 \/ C2000S \/ 2500M \/ 3000M (select variant)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spinning \/ lure fishing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTarget Species:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bream, Estuary Perch, Whiting, Bass, Flathead, Light Trevally\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: All specifications are manually measured or manufacturer-stated — slight variations may occur. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water after each saltwater use.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Tsurinoya","offers":[{"title":"MERLIN  3000M","offer_id":49107365691566,"sku":"14:100013777#MERLIN  3000M","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MERLIN  2500M","offer_id":49107365724334,"sku":"14:865#MERLIN  2500M","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MERLIN  C2000S","offer_id":49107365757102,"sku":"14:200006151#MERLIN  C2000S","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"MERLIN 1000","offer_id":49107365789870,"sku":"14:350850#MERLIN 1000","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0754\/5592\/2350\/files\/S3af61859fb9d4deb9c9d6f1eabfe764fs.webp?v=1788114529","url":"https:\/\/castngo.com.au\/products\/tsurinoya-merlin-ultralight-spinning-reel-165g-metal-9bb","provider":"Cast N Go","version":"1.0","type":"link"}