Choosing a spinning reel size.

[Hook2Jaw]

As a kayak guy, I only take two spinning rods with me, but I've got a spare Tatula XT 7' Medium Fast that is currently without a reel.

 

My other two spinning reels do the brunt of my finesse work, primarily slower presentations: weightless plastics, shakyheads, Neko rigs on my Medium stick, and drop shot and Ned rig on my Medium light.

 

I was thinking of purposing the extra spinning rod for windy day jerkbaits, smaller cranks, and generally lighter versions of my hard bait or wire bait repertoire.

 

Is there any benefit to stepping up or down from my standard 2500 sized spinning reels for those techniques on rough weather days?

[Scott F]

As far as I’m concerned, the 2500 size should be good. If, you are going to be using a heavier mono or fluoro line, the extra line capacity of a larger reel might be a reason to go bigger. 

[NHBull]

I have a 1000 size ci4 for dropshoting and it is great because it is light, but does limit it uses to DS and Ned. 

I think 2500 is the most universal size

[Mobasser]

Mine are 2500 size Shimanos. It seems like the 1000 size reels are getting more popular now. They are lighter by 3oz or so, and should still hold plenty of line for bass fishing.

[Michigander]

I like the 3000, I find the kayak fishing generates more line knots for me on smaller size spinning reels.

[dodgeguy]

kvd uses 4000 size reels.the bigger spool gives far less line issues. 

[Mobasser]

I'm thinking next time I need one, I might go with a 1000 size. The 1000 size Shimanos are nice. Light powerful reels that will.land a good size bass too

I especially like the idea of less weight, even by 3 oz.

[Michigander]

11 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

kvd uses 4000 size reels.the bigger spool gives far less line issues. 

I use a 4000 as well for that same reason but not for the application that OP mentioned.

[Mobasser]

It's true you may get more line twist with the smaller reel, but a 1000 size will.still handle a good fish. I think Shimanos 1000 size is rated for 110yds of 6lb mono. I could still spool it with 8lb line, and have plenty of line capacity for bass. I have a 1000 size Sienna, and it feels like nothing when it's mounted on a med spinnning rod. If you like braid as your main line, that may help with line twist. I still like mono

With the way modern spinning reels are made now days, most any size can work. Some guys look.at a 4000 size reel for saltwater fishing. I guess it just depends on what line your using and what baits you like to use with your spinning gear.

[Mobasser]

Around Christmas time, I bought a 2500 Sahara. It's nice. An older friend that I fish with bought a 1000 size Nasci. He has some trouble with his forearm and is always looking for the lightest rod/ reel setup he can use. That 1000 size Nasci is sweet!

[browne762]

I have a dozen or so spinning rigs I use off and on. Sienna, Sahara, Ultegra, Stradic and Stella reels. All are 1000s expect for one Sahara 2500.  The 2500 almost always stays home too. I prefer the smaller size and lighter weigh. 

 

I only use 10lb braid mainline and don't feel like I have line issues or lack of line capacity for how/where I fish.

[Jig Man]

I have 1000s, 2000s, and 2500s.  They all have their place.

[MN Fisher]

My jerkbait spinning reel is a Trion-30...pretty close to a 2500 size, last year it was also my smaller crank-rig and light T-Rig setup. I think a 2500 size will be fine for those.

[Mobasser]

Even though I've mostly used Shimano, I would also look at Okuma, Lews, and Phlueger. They all make some nice reels these days.

[roadwarrior]

My 1000 is saddled to a dedicated trout/ crappie rig. Three other spinning reels are all 2500.

 

[JediAmoeba]

After getting the Tatula 3000 cxh I can't imagine another size.  It's lighter than most 2000 and 2500 size reels and has a huge spool to keep line twist to a minimum and casts really far.

[Tywithay]

For bass fishing, there's no real need for bigger than a 1000 unless you're using straight fluorocarbon. 

[DitchPanda]

I use 2500 size daiwas and 30 size pfluegers. 

[dodgeguy]

You want light get a magnesium frame Pflueger.You can get a 4000 that's light and reduce your line issues.

[Hook2Jaw]

I was seriously hoping someone would say going up in spinning reel size might get more casting distance.  It looks like I'm sticking with 2500 size reels.  Thanks, guys!

[Tizi]

I have Fuego LTs in 2500 and 3000.  I like the 3000 model slightly better.  It is a little bigger and I believe the line lays better on it. I have the 3000 on the exact same rod - Tatula XT MF.

52 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I was seriously hoping someone would say going up in spinning reel size might get more casting distance.  It looks like I'm sticking with 2500 size reels.  Thanks, guys!

What reel you looking at?

[JediAmoeba]

1 hour ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I was seriously hoping someone would say going up in spinning reel size might get more casting distance.  It looks like I'm sticking with 2500 size reels.  Thanks, guys!

On my Tatula LT 3000 I get about 10-20 feet more than people throwing 2000 sized reels with a ned rig.

[JustJames]

Most of the reels these days, shimano and Daiwa, the 2500 and 3000 size are about the same, same body, weight, gear and drag capacity, only different is spool (about 2mm bigger on 3000) and maybe rotor (Daiwa)
A lot of shimano reel would have higher gear ratio on 3000 size.

Daiwa if you shop around you can find either gear on both 2500 and 3000 size.

Yes casting distance would improve with bigger spool along with line management especially if you plan to use mono/FC. These day a lot have converted to light braid, so distance is not so much an issue but gear ratio. For finesse fishing I like faster gear ratio since a lot have to do with reel to set hook. If everything else is the same I would pick 3000 size for even more IPT.

 

Anyway my main setup is ci4 2500 but I like more and more Tatula 1000lt. It balance my finesse rod better.

[soflabasser]

For over 20 years I have used size 4000 spinning reels for bass. These reels allow me to cast far when needed, are more than strong enough for the techniques I use, and have enough line capacity to land fish far more powerful than any black bass (snook, tarpon, redfish, etc). 

9 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Mine are 2500 size Shimanos. It seems like the 1000 size reels are getting more popular now. They are lighter by 3oz or so, and should still hold plenty of line for bass fishing.

Most bass fishermen that use spinning reels like to use size 2000-3000 spinning reels. I have a couple size 1000 spinning reels that I use for some light tackle fishing but mostly use size 4000 spinning reels.

9 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Some guys look at a 4000 size reel for saltwater fishing. I guess it just depends on what line your using and what baits you like to use with your spinning gear.

I cast spinnerbaits, swimbaits, crankbaits, hollow belly frogs and other lures on my size 4000 spinning reels. Have caught lots of nice bass that way.

[soflabasser]

9 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

kvd uses 4000 size reels.the bigger spool gives far less line issues. 

Most of the time a bigger spool on size 4000 reels allows a further cast than a size 1000-3000 reel. You can also use heavier pound test on a size 4000 reel versus a size 1000-3000 reel and still have enough line capacity to land a muskie or other big fish.