Just got a xst1263 wrapped up and am looking for advice on a good float reel for steel. I am leaning towards a pflueger arbor due to the spool size and retrieve speed. Any advice? Not against shimano just want something with a smaller profile and high retrieve speed.

Spin or bait caster?

Spin.

I have a pflueger supreme xt and I love it.

That's what I've got on my st croix float rod and I do like it too but am looking for a smaller profile with fast line pick up. I think the arbor will have to be it

Love my 2500 Sedona have 4 of them or 2500 symetra

Stradic, either 2500 or 3000........bought 4 of them 5+ years ago, when you could get a deal on EBAY.....no deals anymore.

Stradic CI4.....one heck of a reel but big bucks.....for sure no deals on these.....

Pfluegers are the smoothest reel out of the box on the market. IMHO, the duration of their smoothness has a far shorter life than other reels on the market. Shimano spinning reels tend to have a faster retrieve than Diawas. I have has the best success with Shimano. To each their own.

Stradic 2500 +1
But the best float reel is always going to be a center pin reel

I'd rather put a Barbie on my new rainshadow blank

Ya I'll enjoy it. Not my first rx8. Got two 1025's for silvers, 1141 and now the 1263

I got pflueger arbor, stradic, symetre, sedona, sonora, and centerpin reels. I prefer the stradic and symetre. The arbor is nice but just seems a bit more clunky to me. But I've switched completely to centerpinning and casting reels for float fishing. The Diawa tatula is really good for float fishing and the 7:3:1 gear ratio is awesome. I don't notice a difference in retrieve speed with my arbor vs my shimano spinning reels but I do notice a significant difference with the tatula. The retrieve speed with my centerpin is awful but you can't beat the drag free drift it provides and it's fun to fight fish 1:1.

I use a Zebco Cardinal 4X, vintage 1970's. The best spinning reel ever made. I have a dozen or so. Nothing better, if you can find one.

Have always been a fan of Penn Sargus spinning reels. Don't think they make the Sargus model anymore, though the Battle is just as good/if not better...