Photos: Shimano · supplied retailer imagery
Predator reels · Big-pit casting · Our take
Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD
Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD
A big-capacity, long-cast Shimano reel with proper drag power, a spare spool and enough line capacity for serious predator work.
- 5500-size fixed-spool reel with a 5.3:1 gear ratio and 105 cm retrieve per crank.
- Maximum drag is 15 kg / 33 lb, giving plenty of control over powerful runs.
- Supplied with a spare cold-forged aluminium spool plus two 3500 and two 4500 spool reducers.
- Slow oscillation and Aero Wrap are designed to produce a tidy line lay for smoother long-distance casting.
Make sure it’s the right one. The Ultegra 5500 XTD is a long-cast fixed-spool reel aimed at anglers who need distance, capacity and a strong front drag. This review covers the ULT5500XTD model.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A capable, high-value big-water predator reel with a few extra grams being the main compromise.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.9/10
- Ease of Use8.6/10
- Value for Money9.2/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pike anglers fishing big reservoirs and gravel pits. The capacity, long-cast spool and strong drag suit heavy deadbaits and swims where distance matters.
- Predator anglers who change line setups. The spare spool and 3500/4500 reducers make it dead handy to swap between practical line diameters and presentations.
Maybe skip if
- Mobile lure anglers. The 490 g weight and larger frame can become a bit wearing when you’re constantly walking and casting.
- Anglers fishing tiny canals and small ponds. The capacity and casting package are more than you’ll generally need at short range.
The lowdown
Introducing the Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD
A big-capacity, long-cast Shimano reel with proper drag power, a spare spool and enough line capacity for serious predator work.
- 5500-size fixed-spool reel with a 5.3:1 gear ratio and 105 cm retrieve per crank.
- Maximum drag is 15 kg / 33 lb, giving plenty of control over powerful runs.
- Supplied with a spare cold-forged aluminium spool plus two 3500 and two 4500 spool reducers.
- Slow oscillation and Aero Wrap are designed to produce a tidy line lay for smoother long-distance casting.
Quick verdict
A cracking long-range predator reel
The Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD has the right mix of capacity, casting features and drag strength for serious predator fishing. It’s a substantial reel, but that’s the point: this is built for distance, big waters and plenty of line in reserve.
The spare spool and reducers add useful flexibility, although the 490 g body won’t suit anyone wanting a tiny, ultra-light outfit. For pike, zander and other hard-pulling predators, it looks a proper capable bit of kit.
A capable, high-value big-water predator reel with a few extra grams being the main compromise.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.9/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.6/10
- Value for Money
- 9.2/10
Cold-forged aluminium spools, a solid composite body and Shimano’s long-cast layout give it a reassuringly serious build.
The 5.3:1 ratio, 105 cm retrieve, slow oscillation and 15 kg drag cover demanding bait-fishing jobs well.
Long-range casting, generous capacity and controlled line handling can make distant predator presentations more reliable.
The spare spool and reducers are dead handy, although the reel’s size and weight won’t suit every angler.
The package offers strong capacity, a spare spool and useful reducers, giving you plenty of flexibility for the money bracket.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Shimano
Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD
The Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD is a proper big-water predator reel. Not a tiny perch-pester. Not a featherweight lure reel. This is the sort of fixed spool you reach for when there’s a big reservoir in front of you, a chunky deadbait on the business end and a long chuck needed to reach the money spot.
With a 5500-size body, 15 kg of maximum drag and loads of line capacity, it’s built around control. That matters when a pike powers off towards weed, a zander shakes its head at range or a hard-pulling fish decides the near margin is suddenly its new home. You’ve got plenty of reserve rather than a reel that feels stretched.
The 5.3:1 gear ratio gives it a useful middle ground. It isn’t an ultra-fast retrieve machine, but 105 cm of line comes back with each full turn of the handle. That’s handy when you’re bringing a deadbait back from distance, clearing slack before a strike or winding a rig away from a snaggy area.
The spool is where this reel really makes sense. Shimano pairs a cold-forged aluminium spool with slow oscillation and Aero Wrap, aiming for a neat, even line lay. In plain English, the line should sit tidily rather than building ugly ridges that can rob you of distance or create a bit of a bird’s nest at the worst possible moment.
That long-cast focus suits predator anglers fishing wide pits, reservoirs and slower rivers. If your bait has to travel a fair old way, a well-filled spool and smooth line release can make life much easier. You still need to load it properly, of course. Too little line and you’ll lose distance; too much and you invite tangles. Nice and level is the ticket.
Capacity is generous. Shimano lists room for 390 metres of 0.30 mm mono, 290 metres of 0.35 mm and 210 metres of 0.40 mm. That gives you flexibility for lighter or heavier predator setups, with plenty left in reserve if a fish takes you on a long run. The PE capacities also open the door to braid-based approaches where that fits your water and tactics.
The included spare spool is a big plus. You can keep one set up with mono and another with braid, or use different diameters for different venues. The four reducers — two 3500 and two 4500 — let you reduce the spool depth, so you’re not forced to fill the entire deep spool when fishing closer in or using thinner line. Less backing faff, basically.
The drag is the headline figure, with a maximum of 15 kg or 33 lb. Predator fishing isn’t about simply clamping down and hauling, mind. You still want the clutch set sensibly, especially with pike and lighter hookholds. The benefit here is having strong, dependable control available when a fish turns for weed, snags or a nasty marginal shelf.
There is one obvious trade-off: weight. At 490 g, the Ultegra 5500 XTD is a fairly hefty lump compared with compact lure reels. For a static deadbait session, that’s barely a drama. For a day spent marching the bank and firing lures every few minutes, your wrist may start giving you some proper grief. Pick the job, then pick the reel.
Overall, this is a cracking option for the predator angler who values range, capacity and control over minimal weight. It has the useful extras, the right spool design and enough drag muscle for serious work. If your fishing is mostly big-water bait fishing, it looks bob on. If you’re mainly hopping tiny lures along a canal, it’s a bit more reel than you need.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Model / SKU
- Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD / ULT5500XTD
- Reel size and ratio
- 5500 size; 5.3:1 gear ratio
- Weight and drag
- 490 g; maximum drag 15 kg / 33 lb
- Retrieve and bearings
- 105 cm per crank; 4+1 bearings
- Capacity
- 0.30 mm/390 m, 0.35 mm/290 m, 0.40 mm/210 m; PE3/370 m, PE4/280 m, PE5/220 m
- Construction and extras
- XT-7 graphite composite body, cold-forged aluminium main and spare spools, four reducers
Specs checked with Shimano, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Big water, big casts, proper control
This isn’t a dainty little predator reel for flicking lures all day. The 5500 size gives you serious line capacity, a strong 15 kg drag and a spool shape designed to help line leave cleanly on long casts.
That makes it a smart fit for heavy deadbait, ledgered baits, float work at distance and big reservoirs where you need to put a bait a long way out. The extra spool and reducers also mean you can set it up for different lines without buying another reel.
Big-water hardware
A reel built around distance and reserve
The Ultegra 5500 XTD is a substantial fixed-spool reel with an XT-7 graphite composite body, cold-forged aluminium spool and a strong front drag. Its 5.3:1 ratio and 105 cm retrieve give you useful speed without turning it into a specialist speed-retrieve model.
Slow oscillation and Aero Wrap are the important casting features. They’re intended to lay mono or braid evenly across the spool, helping line peel off cleanly when you’re casting heavy baits towards a far margin, island shelf or open-water feature.
Worth knowing. The deep spool holds a lot of line, but don’t automatically fill it with hundreds of metres if you’re fishing at modest range. Use the supplied reducers to create a better working line level and save yourself backing faff.
Predator tactics
A strong match for static and long-range work
This reel makes most sense for pike anglers using deadbaits, ledgered baits or floats at distance. It’ll also suit heavier zander work and other situations where a fish may take line quickly or head for cover. The 15 kg maximum drag gives you plenty of authority, though sensible drag settings still matter.
The spare spool is useful when your season moves between venues. Keep mono ready for a traditional deadbait outfit and braid on the second spool if that’s right for your setup and rules. The 3500 and 4500 reducers make lighter line loads easier to manage.
Worth knowing. For a mobile lure outfit, pair it with a rod that can comfortably balance a 490 g reel. Otherwise the combo may feel nose-heavy and turn a cracking day into a wrist workout.
Straight answers
What you need to know before buying
Is the 5500 size too big for pike? Not generally, especially on large waters or when casting deadbaits. It’s bigger than many compact predator reels, but the capacity and drag strength are useful rather than pointless extras in the right swim.
Can it handle braid? Yes, Shimano provides PE capacity figures and the spool design is intended to lay line neatly. Use suitable backing, check your knot and make sure the line is loaded firmly and evenly before heading to the bank.
Does it replace a smaller reel? Only if your fishing is mainly distance-based or bait-focused. On small canals, intimate rivers and lightweight lure work, a compact reel will usually feel more nimble and less tiring.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Excellent line capacity for big reservoirs, rivers and long-range deadbaiting.
- Strong 15 kg drag gives you proper control when a predator turns for snags or weed.
- Spare spool and four reducers make line changes much less of a faff.
- Cold-forged aluminium spools and Shimano’s slow-oscillation line lay feel suitably serious.
Worth knowing
- At 490 g, it’s a fairly hefty reel for mobile lure fishing or long days of constant casting.
- The 5500 body and deep capacity may be overkill on small waters or lighter predator outfits.
- Only 4+1 bearings, so it isn’t chasing the silky bearing count of more premium reels.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Is the Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD suitable for pike fishing?
Is the Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD suitable for pike fishing?
Yes. Its high line capacity, strong front drag and long-cast spool make it well suited to deadbaiting, ledgering and float fishing for pike. Match it with suitable wire traces and pike-safe terminal tackle.
02What line can the Ultegra 5500 XTD hold?
What line can the Ultegra 5500 XTD hold?
Shimano lists 0.30 mm mono to 390 m, 0.35 mm to 290 m and 0.40 mm to 210 m. PE capacities are PE3/370 m, PE4/280 m and PE5/220 m. The supplied reducers let you reduce the effective spool depth.
03Is it too heavy for lure fishing?
Is it too heavy for lure fishing?
It can be. At 490 g, it’s better suited to static or semi-static predator work than all-day roaming with a lure rod. For occasional heavier lure fishing it’ll do the job, but a lighter reel will be kinder on your wrist.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking long-range predator reel. The strongest reasons to choose it are excellent line capacity for big reservoirs, rivers and long-range deadbaiting. and strong 15 kg drag gives you proper control when a predator turns for snags or weed.; the main trade-off is at 490 g, it’s a fairly hefty reel for mobile lure fishing or long days of constant casting..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Excellent line capacity for big reservoirs, rivers and long-range deadbaiting.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike anglers fishing big reservoirs and gravel pits: The capacity, long-cast spool and strong drag suit heavy deadbaits and swims where distance matters.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “At 490 g, it’s a fairly hefty reel for mobile lure fishing or long days of constant casting.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD
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Owner reports
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Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Shimano Ultegra 5500 XTD. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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