Size considerations for selecting a President reel

[snake95]

I have been using spinning gear more frequently over the last 6 months, mostly after having some success with the Ned Rig, small plastic worms, and stickbaits.

I have also been using spinning gear with a moderate rod for small crankbaits.

Most of my reels are "35" or "40" size Pflueger Presidents.  

The rods I'm using are 6'-9" to 7' long med-lt to medium.

I use mostly 10 lb or 20 lb braid, and lately 6 lb - 8 lb mono and copoly.  I'm mostly bank fishing for 2 lb to (if I'm lucky) 4 lb bass.

Thinking about getting smaller, lighter reels, especially for 10-20 lb braid and light mono.

Are there any drawbacks to going with a small size 20 or 25 reel (or equivalent size)?

[MBB Nate]

I throw a 25 with 6 lb fluoro on a 7 ft med light xf and have no problems at all.  I used to run 8lb fluoro on a med fast with the same reel and it worked fine for that as well.

[iceintheveins]

I use the 6930 president, in fact I have five of them. If I'm fishing spinning gear for bass it's 6 or 8 pound test for mono or fluoro and nothing heavier than 20 pound braid. The 6930 holds 145 yards of 6 pound diameter line, about 120 of 8 pound, and 100 of ten pound. No need for anything bigger in a spinning reel. Any line 10 pound or heavier, I'm using casting gear.

[fishnkamp]

The 25 is okay but here is another option. First let me say after years and years of using other reels I have settled on Pflueger Presidents for my wife and I. We own around 7 or 8 of them and all function flawlessly. Some are almost new and some have at least 10 years of fishing time on them. We fish with 6925, 30. 35, and 40 models, so I can tell you from real life experience.  I recently picked up a new finesse spinning rod. It is a 6'6 medium power fast tipped,  rod similar to the St Croix Avid X 6'8' medium xf rod. I really wanted that one but sometimes the budget gets in the way, oh well!   Anyway, my friend Bryan has one of those St CRoix Avid Xs and he matched it up with an Okuma RTX 30. This reel has a composite body. It is super light, super smooth reel and has a larger IPT than my Pfluegers. Check it out.   I played with his, liked it and found one online for around $70. I like mine a lot. I set this rod combo up to do exactly what you want. I rely on my friend to field test his equipment for me. He fishes at least 4 times a week and catches really big bass, big stripers and big snakeheads. If it can last a year for him, it will last 10 years for us, LOL

[MIbassyaker]

I have presidents in size 25, 30 and 35. I like them all, but I think the 30 is the sweet spot.  think you gain too little compared to what you lose going down to the 25 or up to the 35, compared to the 30. That is, going down to the 25, I find the drop in line pick-up, drag and spool capacity not worth the weight reduction of one ounce. By contrast I don't think the gain in line pick up and spool capacity going up to the 35 is worth the weight increase of over an ounce and a half. Of course this is largely a matter of taste, and I wouldn't have known I had these preferences without trying the different sizes in the first place.

[Smallieseeker]

1 hour ago, MIbassyaker said:

I have presidents in size 25, 30 and 35. I like them all, but I think the 30 is the sweet spot.  think you gain too little compared to what you lose going down to the 25 or up to the 35, compared to the 30. That is, going down to the 25, I find the drop in line pick-up, drag and spool capacity not worth the weight reduction of one ounce. By contrast I don't think the gain in line pick up and spool capacity going up to the 35 is worth the weight increase of over an ounce and a half. Of course this is largely a matter of taste, and I wouldn't have known I had these preferences without trying the different sizes in the first place.

Well said! For years I used the 35 size thinking the 30 was just to small but for the past 2 years I have switched over to the 30s and couldn't be happier. They handle the bigger fish just as same as the larger size and I have never once found a situation where I wish I more line capacity. The only time I would recommend the 35 is to balance a rod like the older st croix mojo bass rods a bit better

[Bluebasser86]

All but one of my Presidents are the 30 size. 

[Goose52]

Common theme here.   I have Pfllueger spinning reels in 20, 25, 30, and 35 sizes. The most versatile for all around bass fishing - size 30. Having said that, what size do I catch the most fish on? The 25s - running with either 6lb YZ or 15lb braid. The only problem I have with the 25s (Supreme models) is that for some reason they just eat bail springs. Haven't replaced a bail spring on any of my other sizes, just the 25s...