hmmm, don't know where to start, but my first '18-Stella-derivative Shimano worm drive was Stradic 4000 FL to match with Legend Glass - heck of a squarebill combo.
Yumeha 1520 braid spool (PE#1.5, 200 m), MTCW dual-BB titanium line roller (Must for salt), Livre Union with my favorite EF30 knob (you can order any Livre handle/knob combo discounted from SquidMania, but you have to buy through a Japan broker)
Stradic 5000FL on TackleDirect Platinum Hook Kingfish rod got Yumeya 2020, MTCW line roller, and I used IOS adapter to fit SLPW 65-mm handle w/ Livre EP37 knob. These also have Livre long "balancer" with Squid-Mania exclusive Livre hook keeper.
Since I like having a spare spool for each frame size, and learned I prefer braid spools, my mid-frame Twin Power C3000SHG got the full treatment, favorite Livre Union, and a Yumeya 1215 spare, PE#1.2.
I've discovered anywhere you may be fishing finesse, a double or counter-balanced handle makes a difference. It offsets the rotor and bail weight trying to turn under gravity, and helps the reel not to keep pushing your hand when you stop wind.
My small-frame Shimanos got the full treatment, the MTCW line roller, and
MTCW TD finesse drag cap.
Vanquish C2000S and Stradic C2000SHG
My 1000S got a short Gomexus 72-mm carbon double handle modified with a Livre shaft base and Avail knobs, and Tsubaki rotating hook keeper with a matching carbon insert. Something to keep in mind, if you put a long handle on a low-geared reel, you may not be able to keep up with a charging fish.
I became a Tica fan with my first Takamiya salt finesse rockfish rod 14 years ago, matched with diminutive micron-frame Cetus 500.
While I retired this reel for my Stradic 1000S, It was still strong, I "pimped" it and gave it to a friend.
Also, when I was pimping some Ticas for another friend, he gave me a new Cetus 800, which I pimped to the max for me (below)
If you have a reel with old-style hex-shaft handle, IOS makes an adapter that lets you swap-in newer Daiwa threaded handles.
Here's that Cetus 800, IOS adapter, SLPW double handle, Avail knobs, and mixed colors on Hedgehog "reel stand"
A gang of pimped Ticas. Found a closeout steal on the orange Daiwa-Oz Color Project handles from a NZ vendor.
The "box-end" reel stand available with threaded stud for hex-shaft is made by Dress.
Who's Tica? - if you have a Daiwa spinning reel with optional A/R switch, your reel was built for Daiwa by Tica.
They were building blue water reels in Taiwan 10 years before Daiwa joined the game.
Another nice reel-stand/hook-keeper, Tsubaki President.
It has a rotating hook keeper, and the stack of o-rings grabs your line if you need to secure it somewhere in a hurry.
The beauty of these offset hook keepers - they prevent line wraps on your rod tip.
