Rod and reel match

[Largemouth21]

I am going to purchase a 7 foot medium light ugly stik elite for bluegill bait fishing and finesse bass fishing. What size reel should I put on it, I'm leaning towards a Pflueger president or trion. Thanks in advance

also probably about 6-8 lb line

[new2BC4bass]

Although I like smaller reels, I feel the next size up would be best in your situation.  I only use the smallest reels with 4# test mono or very light braid.  Some use larger reels than I would because the larger diameter arbors help with line twist.

[Angry John]

i have and enjoy 2000 series daiwa reels.  Most bass fishermen like 2500 but the reel weighs so much more.  Using fluorocarbon is what would drive me to a larger size but i use braid and a leader so i am just fine.

[fishnkamp]

Match it with a President model 6930. That will fit it fine and will work fine with any 6 - 10  pound line. I use one for fishing Ned rigs and unweighted plastics.  I have landed some large smallies ( up to 7 pounds ) on mine. I do not fish Ned rigs or finesse worms in heavy vegetation, but more on open structure. you certainly will be fine fishing one for river smallies.

[geo g]

Largemouth21 unless you live in one of those states with deep draw down reservoirs void of heavy vegetation, I would never buy a 7' rod medium light.  You never know when that big bass is going to pass by and take the bait.  If the lake has vegetation I would go with nothing lighter then a medium, and preferably for me, a medium heavy.  All my waters have thick weeds and pads everywhere.  Whatever the targeted species, you need to muscle them out of the thick stuff.

[Largemouth21]

On November 6, 2016 at 9:37 PM, fishnkamp said:

Match it with a President model 6930. That will fit it fine and will work fine with any 6 - 10  pound line. I use one for fishing Ned rigs and unweighted plastics.  I have landed some large smallies ( up to 7 pounds ) on mine. I do not fish Ned rigs or finesse worms in heavy vegetation, but more on open structure. you certainly will be fine fishing one for river smallies.

Thanks for the help, I changed my mind to a medium instead of a medium light, would a size 30 be ok or should I go 35. (Same length 7')

also 8lb mono (Berkeley trilene is the best)

[fishnkamp]

That is personal choice I fish with 25s.30s.35s. and a 40. I think the 30 is probably best overall. This also depends on which one balances the rod better and also what line you use. I have a system I use for all of my spinning reels. First I have a Berkley line station that allows me to have the bulk line spool kept under tension. I can easily wind the line on the reels spool smoothly and tightly. I always spool one half of the reel with 14 pound good quality mono like Berkley Trilene or Stren Clear Blue. I then fill it up with 14 pound test Berkley Original Fireline. That line has the same diameter of 6 pound mono. I like to use P Line Cxx 10 pound copolymer line for a 4 foot leader. That is my prefered method. That line lays nice on the reel, has almost no memory, and rarely causes line issues. For me I would get my rod and then try both reels to see which balances better. One nice thing about using the thin diameter braids is how much line a size 30 will hold.