Best Shimano Aldebaran Ultra Light Baitcasting Reel (MGL Low-Profile)

Shimano has been one of the leaders in the fishing reel industry for decades. Considering the advanced technology, mechanism, and performance, there’re very few brands out there that can actually stand aside Shimano today. If you are a baitcasting reel fan, it’s pretty hard to ignore Shimano nowadays!

That being said, one of the most popular yet excellent performing reels from Shimano is the Shimano Aldebaran MGL Low-profile Baitcast Reel. This one is one of the most compact and lightweight, heavy-duty performers in the market right now. If you are planning to get one, this piece will make it easier for you. We are going to break down every single feature of this reel that should impress any angler!

So without further ado, let’s get started! 

Shimano Aldebaran MGL Low-Profile Baitcaster

Here are some of the most useful features that the Shimano Aldebaran Ultra Light Baitcasting Reel comes with. Let’s find out if you are looking for these features!

Compact Design 

One of the distinct features of the Aldebaran MGL reel is its amazingly compact design. The size of it comes at a rating of 30/31, which gives you a clear idea about how shallow the spool is going to be. Compared to 50/51, this one is way more compact and easy to hold.

According to the capacity of the spool, the physical structure and size of the reel are also shrunk. This gives it a perfect shape to be held by one hand and operated without fatigue. Shimano has been decreasing the size of the spool at a constant rate from 100 to 30. However, this means the density of the spool is reducing. A 50/51 size reel comes with a spool of 9.3 Cubic Centimetre volume.

Whereas a 30/31 size reel features a spool of 6.3 Cubic Centimetre. Although the physical size of both the reels may look similar to the naked eye, the spool density is what differs. 

Lightweight Profile

It isn’t a wild guess to tell that the compact design will result in a lightweight profile. This is exactly the case here with the Shimano Aldebaran MGL baitcasting reel. Weighing at just 4.7 ounces, you get the picture of how lightweight and easy to carry this reel is. However, the compact design is not the only one to get the credit. In fact, compact design doesn’t always mean lightweight.

The prime reason for this reel to be such a lightweight one is the carbon composite material it is made from. It is specially and carefully crafted from the Hegane concept Carbon CI4+ material. This carbon material allows it to reduce excessive weight and still offers a rigid and tough structure. Moreover, the side plate and the frame of the reel are made from super magnesium. Together, these two materials play vital roles in giving the reel a pretty lightweight profile.

Now, you can take full advantage of the lightweight device by easily carrying it with you around. Plus, it also makes it pretty easy when you are casting the reel, causing less fatigue on your hands and shoulders.

Stable Spool Design

As for the spool of this reel, this one is also quite a heavy-duty one. It comes with an S3D design, commonly known as Stable Spool Design, for the best spooling support. What this offers is a complete and reliable balance when you are casting and dragging.

It provides a tighter balance and makes it really easy to control the cast, even if it requires pulling a heavyweight material. This way, the spool makes sure you are not losing your balance and control over the machine.

Plus, it also offers less vibration compared to the most common reels in the market. The stability of the spool limits the movement of the inner particles and hence lowers its vibration of it. That being said, you get to cast them at a longer distance with this spool, as well. The line capacity of it is 100 yards, giving you the chance to cast around 7 pounds of line on it.

Remember, the smaller the spool, the thinner the density of the line will be. So, you may not use a thick line on it. However, even if you can, it won’t give you enough distance coverage as you need.

Silent Tune Spool Bearing Stabilizer

The silent tune spool bearing stabilizer plays a key role in ensuring proper bearing movement inside the spool. Apart from making it easier for the tiny parts to roll and move, this small part does another important thing – silencing the spool.

It’s a common complaint from the anglers that the spool sound is totally annoying. Had it been more silent, it would be a great experience to fish with such a reel. That’s where Shimano made sure they are not compromising. The Aldebaran MGL reel comes with the silent tune stabilizer that limits the sound produced from the spool. This, eventually, makes it quite silent while in operation, making it very discrete while casting and dragging.

Infiniti Brake

Another cool part of the Aldebaran MGL baitcasting reel is its Infiniti brake system. This brake control is one of the simplest braking options you can find in any baitcasting reel. So, this allows you to be totally in control of the machine and dictate the speed of the line while casting and dragging.

More importantly, there’s an external dial on the side of the spool to make it even easier to control the speed. You can click and set the desired speed control variant and make it stop where you want.

As for the efficiency of the brake system, it’s absolutely buttery. You won’t feel much pressure and lose control over the reel and line.

X-Ship Gear

The Shimano Aldebaran MGL baitcasting reel comes with an improved gear system – the X-Ship gear. It offers better durability and performance for the gear, without having to spend a lot of bucks. This X-ship technology works by aiding the bearings with both end’s pinion gear. Both the drive and pinion gears are in precise alignment here. So, no matter how much load you put on, it will observe and consume it pretty effectively.

Further, the X-Ship gear reduces and mitigates the friction that takes place between the gear and the shaft of the spool. This improves the casting using light lures to reach further distances.

Gear Ratio: 7.4:1

Having a gear ratio of 7.4:1 is quite impressive. You can definitely rely on the performance of the reel as it can make it pretty easy to cast and drag, thanks to its smooth gear performance. Moreover, the 9+1ball bearings also make sure all the parts inside are moving and rotating smoothly. Together, you can enjoy a smooth casting every single time!

Shimano Aldebaran MGL Low-Profile Pros & Cons

Pros

• A very lightweight reel weighing just 4.7 ounces is extremely easy to carry
• Made from heavy-duty Hegane concept Carbon C14+ and super Magnesium material
• It features the Shimano Stable Spool Design (S3D) for a more balanced spool and less vibration
• Silent Tune spool bearing stabilization for a quiet and discrete casting experience
• SVS Infinity brake system for superior braking and control
• X-Ship gearing technology offers excellent gear performance and pressure-handling capacity
• 7.4:1 gear ratio for impressive gear movement
• 9+1 ARB ball bearing system confirms the smooth movement of the internal parts
• Cross-carbon drag offers up to 10 pounds of drag power.
• Works equally in both fresh and salty water

Cons

• It may take a while for larger-handed guys to get used to the compact design.

Final Words

So, that was all we had on the Shimano Aldebaran MGL Low-Profile Baitcast Reel. As we can see, this one is fully packed with useful features that ensure superior performance. Given the price it comes with, it’s a great deal not to miss!

However, the compact size may not be the best choice for large-handed anglers, but it’s definitely going to be a show-stopper for regular anglers!