1/2 oz. spinnerbaits w/ stradic ci4+2500

[jimmyjoe]

    Good evening, gentlemen. I have come here (newbie) to find an answer based on your experience. I have a Shimano Stradic ci4+ 2500 FA reel. I also have a St. Croix Avid 6 1/2 ft rod, med/fast, rated 3/16ths to 5/8 oz. lures. I would like to put this reel on this rod, particularly for using spinnerbaits. I have several 1/2 oz spinnerbaits, and I shorecast along the banks of the Mississippi river. Naturally, I cast hard; I pivot cast and step into the pivot. This rod is a fairly stiff tipped rod, and several of my friends tell me that this reel won't take that kind of load. However, none of them have one. I think they're judging by appearances. Have any of you used this reel with a stiff-tipped rod to throw a 1/2 oz. load? All my searches on the web, by the way, describe the ci4+2500 as a "finesse reel", and that's certainly not how I'm going to use it. I target SMB and LMB, and occasionally a pike saunters over to have a conversation. I do not, however, deliberately fish for pike. I just want to get my lure back. My line is 12 lb. Nanofil.    Thank you for your consideration.     Jimmyjoe

[Fishin' Fool]

Could you use it? Yes. Is it ideal? No. You'd be better off with a casting rod and reel for this type of fishing.

[jimmyjoe]

    I apologize for not filling in some background. I used casting gear for 40 years ..... then I got arthritis. It's only in my thumbs, but that's the worst possible place for a baitcaster. So I've gone to spinning equipment. Not only that, but lightweight spinning equipment. Yes, it really makes a difference. That's why I wanted to get an idea about the 2500 on that particular rod.   Jimmyjoe

[Klebs01]

The reel can absolutely handle the load. Bass fishing isn't hard work for that reel. I've used them salt water fishing and the held up just fine with heavier lures and much bigger fish. The baits might be pushing it on that rod though. Most 1/2 oz spinnerbaits are really closer to 9/10 oz with the wire and blades. I've thrown spinnerbaits on my 6.5 avid mf rod, but really don't feel comfortable with it unless it's like 1/8 oz. The mhf avids are a much better rod for the weight and resistance. 

[jimmyjoe]

    Thank you, Klebs01. That's the info I needed.  Jj

[d-camarena]

I do it everyday. Those reels can even handle punching. I do it all the time 

[DaveT63]

I was throwing spinnerbaits on a MHF spinning rod with my Stradic 2500 CI4.  I liked the feel of the combo, but felt like I was overworking the feel a bit.  I switched it out with a Stradic 2500FJ and it feels much better.  But I love the CI4 for just about any other application.

[buzzed bait]

13 hours ago, Klebs01 said:

The reel can absolutely handle the load. Bass fishing isn't hard work for that reel. I've used them salt water fishing and the held up just fine with heavier lures and much bigger fish. The baits might be pushing it on that rod though. Most 1/2 oz spinnerbaits are really closer to 9/10 oz with the wire and blades. I've thrown spinnerbaits on my 6.5 avid mf rod, but really don't feel comfortable with it unless it's like 1/8 oz. The mhf avids are a much better rod for the weight and resistance. 

agree with this....  i have a kitchen scale that i use to weigh some lures from time to time and you'd be surprised the difference in advertised weight and actual.  often times they are just giving you the weight of the head, maybe with the hook, but not the whole lure (wire and blades).  if you have access to something like a kitchen scale, try a few of your spinnerbaits and see which ones actually fall in line with the lure ratings.  

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, jimmyjoe!

I think you have your answer: yes you can, 
but a heavier rod may be more ideal, though
yours is do-able, at the heavy end.

The reel is fine.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

There is no load on the reel during casting. There's no problem there. If your spinner has Colorado blades the extra drag thru the water may feel like you're working hard. My bigger concern would be the Rod. Overloading a Rod with moving baits can also make the retrieve feel labored. I think you can get by but not ideal. 

[jimmyjoe]

   Thank you, everyone!This site was recommended by a friend of mine, and now I see why. I surfed several other fishing forums, and they seemed to be 90% hot air and misinformation and 10% infighting. I'm glad I registered here. If you all don't mind, I think I'll stay here and ask a question from time to time. Again .... thank you.    Jj

[J Francho]

It's ideal if you don't know how to fish a baitcaster!  Bait is in range, reel can handle just about anything reasonable, so I think it'll be just fine.

My preference echoes what everyone said: I'd use a M/F casting rig, simply because I like to use heavy copoly line for spinnerbaits, like 12-15# P-Line CXX, which will not work on a 2500 spinning reel.

Keep asking, and checking threads!

[faygo1979]

I would say 1/4-3/8 spinner-baits would be more ideal for that rod.  1/2 would be a little heavy and I actually prefer a mh power rod for most of my spinner-baits.  Frankly a 2500 size reel should work for anything short of large swim-baits. 

[J Francho]

Remember, St. Croix are heavier than their stated power....Any M/F blank I've used from them (SCII through SCIV) can toss a 1/2 oz. bait with ease.

[jimmyjoe]

    Yes, I'm getting that idea. I used to think that there are stiff-tip rods and soft-tip rods, and that's it. But it's more complex than that. I didn't realize the power of my M/F Avid until I lit into a large wiper (hybrid bass). All I had on at the time was 10-lb. Sufix 832, and I hooked him on a Worden's roostertail, which is a spinner that is relatively easy to shake off. So here  am pulling like all get-out ... and the rod actually takes a classic "fast" load curve. Textbook. So yes, I describe it as a stiff-tip rod. And it is, for the way I use it. But I realize that it has plenty of reserve, too.  Jj

[Onvacation]

I have a 3000 Stradic which is essentially the same frame size.  I bought it so I would have a reel to use for bass and for catching 20-30 pound bull reds when I head to Florida each November.  The reel will handle anything you toss at it. I've caught flounder, trout, reds, stingray....the list goes on and all are bigger than any bass you or I will pull from the river.    I throw 1/4 to 3/8oz spinner baits on a M/F 7 foot all the time.  1/2 is certainly doable but I'd rather have a MH. 

[Capt.Bob]

First off I have the 3000 FJ and 2 2500 Ci4+,,, not Ci4's, I wouldn't own one even when they were new and the FI was the current model. But the new Ci4+ is a better reel than the FJ, better drag as smooth with lighter body, and same gears and plenty stout enough for 3/4 spinnerbaits. I use one on a Legend Elite 6'6" MF, it works but for spinnerbaits I would rather use a 7' MHF,,, that is the rod I use for em with a baitcaster, Avid 7' MHF

The Ci4+ is pretty close to the Sustain FG, i can't tell any difference in the two except the Ci4+ is a little lighter in the hand! You have a very nice setup and very versatile!