What Size Stradic Fj To Get

[John B.]

I live right near the Intracoastal Waterway in Fl. It will be used on a 7ft popping rod using anything from live shrimp for Seatrout and small Redfish to small cranks, little Rapalas, Sinkos, etc for Bass. Thanks

[iabass8]

the 2500 is the best all around size spinning reel they make. i have zero knowledge of any sort of sea fishing but 2500 for bass will handle really anything.

[MichiganFishing1997]

2500 is my vote

[kschultz76]

Can't weigh in on the saltwater needs. But I'll agree with everyone else, for bass and general freshwater use you can't beat a 2500. I can say its a beautiful, solid, and smooth reel.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A 2500 size spooled with braid will have the most versatility IMO. If you'll be needing mono or fluoro over 10# you might want to go up to a 4000.

[John B.]

  On 8/20/2013 at 11:31 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

A 2500 size spooled with braid will have the most versatility IMO. If you'll be needing mono or fluoro over 10# you might want to go up to a 4000.

Thanks for the quick replies!

Mike, Would you think the 3000 would be a good compromise between the 2500 and the 4000? Basically the same weight as a 2500 but with more line capacity but I think it's around an ounce lighter than the 4000? Not that any of these are heavy compared to the Penn 440SSG that I have been using.

[Darren.]

Heh, I think the 1000 size is fine for bass fishing, 2500 would be fine for what you want, but a 3000 will have a deeper spool (more line) for when you hook a larger salt water fish.

[flyfisher]

I  think the 2500 and 3000 are the same body size and the spools are interchangeable.  I could be talking out of my butt though and i am to lazy to look it up myself....

[kschultz76]

You're spot on flyfisher. You can go 3000 for the extra line capacity but the body of the reel and gearing are the same. The handle knobs are different though, 2500 is a flat barrel knob and the 3000 has a T paddle handle knob. I guess the 3000 knob is supposed to give you better grip and more leverage.

[WRB]

For most salt water fishing a larger diameter spool is an advantage for smoother drag when fast fish are taking line, more line capacity and higher line retrieval rate per reel handle revolution. The 4000 would be a good choice if the fish you target are over 5 lbs and fast strong swimmers, like redfish.

Tom

[Chris at Tech]

3000 with 10 or 15 lb braid

[kschultz76]

If you decide to go 4000 size you may want to consider a new Stradic CI4+. You'll have a reel that is just as smooth and all the same features as the FJ but weighs only 9 oz. and the CI4+ material is perfectly safe for salt water use. However I know many folks prefer aluminum bodies for saltwater. I have 2 FJs and the new CI4+, love the all but the light weight of the CI4+ just brings a new and incredible feeling to things.

[EvanT123]

  On 8/21/2013 at 12:31 AM, flyfisher said:

I think the 2500 and 3000 are the same body size and the spools are interchangeable. I could be talking out of my butt though and i am to lazy to look it up myself....

True. I'd get the 2500 and if you need more line capacity buy a 3000 size spool from shimano.

[skeletor6]

  On 8/20/2013 at 11:18 PM, iabass8 said:

the 2500 is the best all around size spinning reel they make. i have zero knowledge of any sort of sea fishing but 2500 for bass will handle really anything.

 

I agree

[John B.]

It's nice to find a forum where you get so many responses in such a short period of time. Thanks......It is appreciated.

I have read that a 2500 is great for Bass but the 3000 is about the same but with greater line capacity and the 3000 is what I was thinking about after reading the specs on Shimano's website.

I did not consider the 4000 until this Thread. It is true that you never know what you will hook up with in saltwater. I may just end up buying a 2500 for fresh and use the 4000 for salt water.

[SirSnookalot]

  On 8/21/2013 at 12:51 AM, Chris at Tech said:

3000 with 10 or 15 lb braid

Yep.............but I'd be looking elsewhere too.  Stradics have the reputation in saltwater use for the bearings going bad, I know from personal experience and have read it many times on the internet from other users.  The fj uses the identical bearings as the fi and have read reports for the same issues.  It's a great reel, but something always seems to go wrong with them, they just are not that durable and Shimano seems to be out of stock alot on many of their parts.  If Shimano is your choice take a look at spheros 3000 which I own as well.  Built very durable, 22 max drag compared to 15 and works just as well, in fairness the stradic is smoother.  Please do not get confused with a saltwater approved reel and real saltwater reel, there is a difference.  At least in my part of Florida you don't see to many stradics, you see spheros, Penn battles or spinfishers.  I recently bought a Quantum cabo 40 and just love it.  I have quite a few 4000 size reels, I do prefer that size.

Not saying don't buy the reel, but look at other options, Fin Nor has been getting some write ups, as well as the Daiwa lexa.

[Chris at Tech]

Hmmm...my two 2500 FH, two 4000 FI and one 5000 FI Stradics have all done fine in salt. I certainly don't fish it as often as you do, but no issues to report on those reels from me

[thehooligan]

I like the 1000 for bass fishing, but if your fishing saltwater id go with the 2500.

[.ghoti.]

If lonng casts are important, as I suspect they may be in your situation, consider this. The outside diameter of the reel spool should be no more than twice the inside diameter of the first guide up from the reel. Not saying too large a spool won't work; it just won't cast as far.

[Chris at Tech]

  On 8/21/2013 at 11:27 PM, .ghoti. said:

If lonng casts are important, as I suspect they may be in your situation, consider this. The outside diameter of the reel spool should be no more than twice the inside diameter of the first guide up from the reel. Not saying too large a spool won't work; it just won't cast as far.

Geez man - I come on this site to AVOID math!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

  On 8/20/2013 at 11:53 PM, John B. said:

Thanks for the quick replies!

Mike, Would you think the 3000 would be a good compromise between the 2500 and the 4000? Basically the same weight as a 2500 but with more line capacity but I think it's around an ounce lighter than the 4000? Not that any of these are heavy compared to the Penn 440SSG that I have been using.

For added line capacity, yes. For casting heavy line 4000 or other wide arbor reel.

[tomustang]

I use 3000's, holds a filler spool of 20lb power pro. The drag from the stradic is great and even is my lower symetre fj.

Also follow what Snook says, rust comes with owning a stradic, if you're going to use often then wash it regularly.

[SirSnookalot]

Two issues to address, first of all casting distance.  There are days when I'm on the jettie, could be 30 40 people, sometimes only 3 or 4.  I see people casting with rods of all lengths and sizes, different sized reels and spools, different lines and both spinning and convention.  Excluding the surf or 10-12' rods both conventional and spinning as they launch lures into orbit, I don't see more than a slight difference is casting distance.

 

The stradic issue, at least for my use I'd go with 3000.  The problem and this is well documented if an internet search is done, is the line roller bearing seizing up, part # rd 13269, Shimano seems to seldom have this part in bearing in stock.  A recent trip to Boca Bearing and Larry told me people are coming in often to buy that bearing, as I did. That identical Shimano bearing is in the fi's and fjs and my spheros too.  For some reason I've seen the problem only in stradics, 2 times on 1 reel and now it's happening on a second reel.  I have done my homework on this issue and this is my theory, the bearing doesn't get wet in any way, I think salt air and humidity are the culprits, but this only my theory.

I do like the stradic a lot, I think it's good enough in every category for me to say it's one of the better reels, and nothing IMO has a better line management.  I don't believe too many problems will arise for freshwater use and as a light inshore reel it's pretty darn good, but somewhere down the line I expect a problem or 2, most are fairly minor.  I do have a boat mate with a stradic 6000 for offshore, for that application it's not fairing too well, the sargosa I believe is better built for that use.

[jignfule]

  On 8/21/2013 at 12:27 AM, DarrenM said:

Heh, I think the 1000 size is fine for bass fishing, 2500 would be fine for what you want, but a 3000 will have a deeper spool (more line) for when you hook a larger salt water

For me the lighter 1000 was hard to balance with my bass rods.

[Darren.]

  On 8/22/2013 at 9:21 PM, jignfule said:

For me the lighter 1000 was hard to balance with my bass rods.

 

Sure, I can appreciate that. It's all about how the entire kit balances out to you. For me, I love the 1000 lightness, paired with a shorter 5'9", 6' or 6'3" spinning rod with a very light tip. That's how I roll. Others prefer heavy tips, longer rods, and so on.