Spinning Reel Sizes

[bkohlman]

What do they mean? For example a 1500 or 2000.

Thanks

[iabass8]

It's a size designation made with companies. Shimano uses 500 ,750, 1000, 2500, 3000 and so on /w the 500 being the smallest. other companies like pflueger use 20 25 35 etc /w the 20 being the smallest.  smaller sizes have the obvious lesser line capacities and sometimes a slower gear ratio. 

[LMB ANGLER]

its just the reel size but all you need for freshwater is a 1000 to 4000 depending on application.

 

1000-2500 = pan fish, peacock bass, calico bass and bass

 

3000-4000 = big bass, salmon, muskies, pikes and inshore

[bigbill]

Good question. I asked this many times to one of my discount places to explain it because the sizes do vary with the similair model number from different manufacturers. The #30 isn't the same size across the board. I find the number #30 to be smaller in size than it once was."example" but true. I own many #30 reels from different manufacturers and the spool sizes vary, some Look like a #20 or #25 size wise.

I use the #20, #25, #30 reels on my 5'6" med, 6', 6'6" to 7' rods.

I use the 500/ #15 on my 5' & 5'6" ultra-lite rods.

(smaller spools lighter line)

The 4000 to 6000 are on my inshore & saltwater 7' , 8', 9'+ rods.

(Larger spools heavier line)

One overlooked factor is the weight of the reel. When throwing lures for hours a heavier reel could get tiring. Unless you want to combine a fishing trip with a trip to the gym at the sametime. So not only does the size of the reel matter the weight matters too.

[kickerfish1]

Look at the line capacity more than anything. Also factor in the weight of the reel (affects rod balance) and max drag. I only use spinning reels for lighter applications 99% of the time. The biggest spinning reel I would need is a 3000 sized shimano though a favorite among most bass anglers are the 2500 sized reels.

Realy boils down to intended use and amount of cover present in the body of water(s) you fish.

[bigbill]

I just purchased the US Reel Super Caster Spinning Reels. There a 2500/3000 body sized reel with a 5000/6000 sized spool so the line flows off the spool much easier and faster allowing it to cast farther. There on sale right now. I hear rumors the company is up for sale. I purchased more than two of every model super caster they offer in the spinning and bait caster reels they offer. These were not cheap reels at there normal list price. I'm a shore fisherman were a longer cast in the open water or closer out to the Lilly pads I just can't reach with a standard size spooled reel. You don't need every rod setup with this super caster you just need one setup and another reel as backup. My thoughts are I can use a heavier test line with the larger super caster spool and cast just as far as a standard sized spool reel. The US reel 180 model is ultra lite, the 230 & 240 models appear the same but the 240 model holds about 175yards more line over the 230 model. I'm surprised this super caster spool design never caught on or why no one copied it. I see the guy on river monsters using a spinning reel with a larger spool too. Another point is these super caster spinning reels are lighter weight wise over the standard reels too.

I haven't had time to actually compare and test them against each other yet. It's hard for me to get out right now. Bigbill

[SirSnookalot]

I agree with line capacity being the main criteria for reel size.  Both the weight of the reel and the max drags can vary quite a bit from manufacturer to manufacturer for reels of comparable size.  An extreme example is an older Quantum cabo 30 I own, line capacity being 160/8lb which is about the size of many 2000 reels, yet max drag is 23lbs and weighs about 13 or 14 oz. which are attributes more associated with a 4000 series reel.

[bigbill]

Awesome go fishing site in the UK lots of info.

I noticed on the US Reel super caster spinning reels there tilted towards the larger lower eye on the rod. More over than the other reels. This gives the line a maximum flow off the spool into the eye.

Just some reel facts;

Other than my new US reels I been happy with the Globe, the Viva, the Finor and the Okuma spinning reels so far.

A few years back I purchased a new #15 Viva and a #15 Okuma spinning reel and found both brands to be exactly the same reel. I purchased the larger spinning reels and they were different. Maybe viva looked to okuma for there smaller reel. The older #15 reel was a little workhorse.

[Marty]

What do they mean? For example a 1500 or 2000.

Thanks

 

All it means for sure is that the 2000 is bigger than the 1500. As has been stated, there is no standard. I've mainly used Daiwa spinning in their 2500 size. This year I bought a Pflueger President #6935 which seems very similar in size to the Daiwa 2500s. So there's a 25 and a 35 about equal if my observations are correct.

[LMB ANGLER]

a smaller reel like a 2000 to 3000 will not have enough drag as a 4000 to 5000 reel. the drag is also important. if you fish with a 2500 size reel and you have alot of line but no drag then you will get spooled.

[kickerfish1]

a smaller reel like a 2000 to 3000 will not have enough drag as a 4000 to 5000 reel. the drag is also important. if you fish with a 2500 size reel and you have alot of line but no drag then you will get spooled.

If you fish for Marlin. We are talking freshwater bass here. Show me a freshwater bass "spooling" a 2500 series reel where the reel has been filled with appropriate amount of line and the drag has been set properly.

[LMB ANGLER]

If you fish for Marlin. We are talking freshwater bass here. Show me a freshwater bass "spooling" a 2500 series reel where the reel has been filled with appropriate amount of line and the drag has been set properly.

the thread is about the difference on sizes, 1000- 2500 is good for bass, but iv seen people use a 2500 for snook and got completely spooled lol.

[kickerfish1]

I am with ya on the notion of in some cases increased max drag and larger line capacity can be of benefit to the angler especially for large freshwater fish like cats, sturgeon, muskie, large carp etc... or saltwater fishing.

In several other threads the OP was asking for dropshot advice, so I am 99% he will be targeting freshwater bass in non heavy cover. Piecing this together, I am guessing he is trying to gather info on a reel he can use for said technique while keeping an open mind to different manufacturers.

In majority of the the cases where freshwater bass are targeted in various regions of the US, a 1000-3000 shimano reel or other manufacturer equivalent will suffice.

[SirSnookalot]

Many use braided lines on their 2000-3000 reels which on average will hold some where in the area of 140 yds of 20# braid, that's a lot of line.  Most species that one would use a reel that size do not have the ability to run 400 feet, pace it off and see how far that really is.  Of course it can happen but those incidents are rare, a fresh water tarpon can be hooked while bass fishing that can easily strip off that kind of line.  Inshore fishing most of what we catch will not run that far, again it does happen but it's not all that common.  For the most part a pretty hefty fish can be caught on reels of that size.  In the event your target species does have the ability to strip out lots of line with a tight drag, you should have been using a bigger reel in the first place.

[LMB ANGLER]

Many use braided lines on their 2000-3000 reels which on average will hold some where in the area of 140 yds of 20# braid, that's a lot of line.  Most species that one would use a reel that size do not have the ability to run 400 feet, pace it off and see how far that really is.  Of course it can happen but those incidents are rare, a fresh water tarpon can be hooked while bass fishing that can easily strip off that kind of line.  Inshore fishing most of what we catch will not run that far, again it does happen but it's not all that common.  For the most part a pretty hefty fish can be caught on reels of that size.  In the event your target species does have the ability to strip out lots of line with a tight drag, you should have been using a bigger reel in the first place.

yep. i have a cabo 40, with 30 pound braid of 300 yards, the reels also has 30 pounds of drag. I use this reel for big LMB, snook, tarpon and reds. the crazy part or it all is that the combo is extremely light, i have it with a g loomis rod. people might say this is over kill but in fact its actually perfect. im confident getting a 10+ bass out of heavy cover as well as a 50+ tarpon with the 30 pounds of drag. IMO its versatile for everything i fish for in my location. 

[SirSnookalot]

I have the new cabo 40 as well, mine is on an 8' okuma cedros inshore med hvy rod. Excellent performing combo

[Jaheff]

I have the new cabo 40 as well, mine is on an 8' okuma cedros inshore med hvy rod. Excellent performing combo

Those Cedros rods are nice!!

[SirSnookalot]

Those Cedros rods are nice!!

I did not buy the rod sight unseen, a friend had one and I used it.  For an 8' rod the distance is a little disappointing, but it goes far enough, lol.  What sold me on the rod was the aluminum reel seat and tightening rings, they are really nice and solid.

[Deleted account]

a smaller reel like a 2000 to 3000 will not have enough drag as a 4000 to 5000 reel. the drag is also important. if you fish with a 2500 size reel and you have alot of line but no drag then you will get spooled.

Yeah, guys with LMB in their name can't talk about drag. I started fishing LMB in Upstate NY where we used light spinning gear with 6 and 8 lb mono, and caught plenty of big bass, with only the biggest making a few short runs. A 3000 size reel spooled with 20 lb braid will handle most things in the salt inshore. Until very recently, the guys fishing spinning reels offshore, just ended up with little pieces flying everywhere. They've come a long way.

[Jaheff]

I did not buy the rod sight unseen, a friend had one and I used it.  For an 8' rod the distance is a little disappointing, but it goes far enough, lol.  What sold me on the rod was the aluminum reel seat and tightening rings, they are really nice and solid.

I added a couple Terez rods to my collection this year.One wax wing version in MHXF, and a 30# stick in MHXF. I really love

the feel of the 30# on the few fish ive caught. Not enough time on the wax wing yet.

[J Francho]

 

a smaller reel like a 2000 to 3000 will not have enough drag as a 4000 to 5000 reel.

 

Shimano and Daiwa use EXACTLY the same drag stack in their 2000 to 5000 size reels.

[Frank White]

My first set up was an Ugly stick 6'6 med action(2014) two piece. Great @#$_&$# Pole! With a Pfluger President 35! Just recently I learned about reel and pole sizes! After some research and my already personal experience with my set up. Both company are very high quality reliable choices. The 35 they say it's heavy but it's ounces here not pounds! I would say my 35 be better on 7'0ft for sure more zip on the whip! Ugly stick elite is my next pole 7'0 gonna get another Pfluger 35 with that.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

@bkohlman: This could be long and windy, but I was in a similar situation to yours when looking for a new spinning reel for fishing unweighted flukes, worms, dropshot, and wacky rigs. I narrowed my choices to the Shimano Nasci and Daiwa BG and finally decided to try a Daiwa BG (although I have hated Daiwa since the late 70’s). Anyway I planned to put the reel on a 6’8” M/L rod.  Here’s what I learned about this manufacturer’s reels in three sizes. (All are 5.6:1 retrieve.)

 

2000 - weight:  8.5 oz. - line capacity: 110 yd. / 8 lb. test

2500 - weight:  9.3 oz. - line capacity: 170 yd. / 8 lb. test

3000 - weight: 10.8oz. - line capacity: 240 yd. / 8 lb. test

 

I chose the 2500 for a couple of reasons. First, I may go to 10 lb. test, but I’ve never needed even 100 yards of anything so the 3000 is insane, not to mention it’s an ounce and a half heavier. Second, the spool of the 2500 has a wide diameter. In my mind that means the coils of line are not as small as the other choices. It may be a purely psychological thing, but I think anything that helps reduce line memory issues is of benefit.

 

So - after all that, I bought the reel and it is fantastic for my needs. Built like a tank, tight, good drag, and the distance between the spool and the rod is perfect for feathering my casts with my forefinger. I love this reel. Not going to go for Daiwa baitcasters, but will say good things about their spinning reels!

 

if you’re still awake, I hope this helps. It requires doing your homework, but at least in my case, it paid off.

 

[HookRz]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe in the Shimano line the only difference between the 2500 and 3000 is the depth of the spool. The reels are the same size.