Best Size Spinning Reel for ML spinning rod?

[Speedy Turtle]

Bought a medium light 7 foot 1 inch spinning rod and was wondering what size spinning reel everyone likes with their medium lights? Do you usually prefer a 1000 size or 2500 size reel for bass fishing?

[MN Fisher]

I prefer a 1000 size on my ML and under rods.

[A-Jay]

I have  some 7 ft ML spinning rigs and I prefer 2500's but will use a 3000 at times. 

The rest of my spinning rigs are 7 ft M and I do prefer 3000's on those.

ALL deep spools though.

If possible, I also replace the stock 2500 handles with the 3000 T-type handle knob. 

 

A-Jay

[MediumMouthBass]

My ML rods are split into light bass fishing-crappie/trout fishing its 50/50.

For this i put on a 2000 sized reel spooled with 8lb line, and if im going for panfish/trout i just tie a 6' leader of 4lb line. 2000 works great for this, my 1000 reels would be way to small for bass fishing on purpose, tho i have caught quite a few bass on them using panfish tubes. And the 2500 just makes it feel unbalanced.

[WRB]

Why is a 1000 size spinning too small for bass fishing?

I bought my son a Stradic 1000 spinning reel and Don Iovino signature split shot Phoenix rod when he was 10 years old.

Over 25 year period he caught hundreds of bass and a 26 lb channel catfish on this combo. I still use his rod and reel occasionally and it’s works perfectly.

Tom

PS, 5 lb UG mono line, no braid.

[Bankc]

14 minutes ago, WRB said:

Why is a 1000 size spinning too small for bass fishing?

I bought my son a Stradic 1000 spinning reel and Don Iovino signature split shot Phoenix rod when he was 10 years old.

Over 25 year period he caught hundreds of bass and a 26 lb channel catfish on this combo. I still use his rod and reel occasionally and it’s works perfectly.

Tom

PS, 5 lb UG mono line, no braid.

Probably due to the lower drag.  But you're right.  It can still be done.  You might not be able to horse a big one in with something like 7lbs of drag, but you could still land her if you're patient.  

[MediumMouthBass]

You can fish for bass on a 1000 reel, ive done it plenty of times while panfishing, but from that experience idk why anyone would want too. Lower drag, lighter line, longer fight = more chance you can loose the bass from it jumping and spitting the hook or line breaking.

Thats like putting a Toyota Corolla on a drag racing strip against a Hellcat, you can do it but why?

 

I could understand the need for it if you are doing ultra finesse fishing in water thats clear 20 feet down but for regular bass fishing why limit yourself like that?

 

Edit. Plus you never know when your next bass will be your PB, so might as well give yourself every advantage you can in your gear.

[DaubsNU1]

I like the 1000 size reels on pretty much all of my spinning rods. I do have a few 2000/2500 size reels. 

[F14A-B]

7 pounds of drag is plenty. 

[FishTank]

Either a 2000 or 2500 depending on the manufacturer.  

[Mobasser]

I'm a fan of size 2000 or 2500, both can work. I have used a 1000 size Diawa also. 

[Eric 26]

I recently purchased a (in transit) Shimano Miravel 2000 shallow spool for a 7’-1” 13 fishing medium light rod that I use for Ned rigs, it’s a 1000 size body with a slightly larger spool. I’m going to spool it with 8 lb braid. I feel like the 1000 size Stradic I have paired beautifully size wise with the 7’-1” rod but I’m not willing to move the Stradic from its current rod. 

[new2BC4bass]

31 minutes ago, alonerankin2 said:

7 pounds of drag is plenty. 

Drag is 3 pounds on Shimano Scorpion 4x4 SVS as measured by TT so 7#s should be fine.  Unfortunately I can't verify if 3#s is enough.  Purchased used and drag started sticking second time out with the reel.  Still haven't sent it out for a good cleaning.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Why is a 1000 size spinning too small for bass fishing?

Tom

 

Mostly because it seems so small in my hand, it feels like a toy to me.

A-Jay 

[WRB]

Get Smooth Drags for your reel no more sticking drags disk.

The max force a Medium power spinning rod can withstand fully loaded is 4 lbs, ML is 3 lbs.  1 pint plastic drinking water bottle weighs 1 pound. Put 3 bottles in a plastic grocery bag, attach your line to the bag handles and lift rod carefully (don’t high stick it) and adjust your drag until it starts to slip that is 3 pounds of drag force, maximum your rod can lift, don’t recommend 4 lbs for spinning rods.

Tom

 

[casts_by_fly]

I prefer smaller and lighter to a point.  The rod has to balance and there needs to be enough room to actually grab things comfortably.  I've got 1000 through 6000 sized spinning reels here in the house for different tools (not all bass).  The answer depends partly on the specific rod and reel you're talking about.  Case in point- I just bought a shorter zodias with a 1000 sized stradic.  Total weight was great and it felt great in the hand, except that the rear grip on that rod is so light (carbon monocoque) that it was still tip heavy.  I ended up with a 3000 sized reel to get good balance and it only weighs an extra ounce and a half.  All feels great now.  On my dad's 7' zodias he has a 4000 sized reel, but its a vanford which is even lighter than my 3000 size.

 

The only issue for me on the 1000 sized reels is that you have to be careful of your knuckles.  Every now and then if you leave your knuckle a little off the rod it gets rapped by the bail when it comes around.  Otherwise a 1000 size is fine for bass if you like it.  With braid, the smaller size and lower capacity spool is less of an issue and you can get plenty of drag on one.

[F14A-B]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I have  some 7 ft ML spinning rigs and I prefer 2500's but will use a 3000 at times. 

The rest of my spinning rigs are 7 ft M and I do prefer 3000's on those.

ALL deep spools though.

If possible, I also replace the stock 2500 handles with the 3000 T-type handle knob. 

 

A-Jay

I hear ya, I use 3000 and 4000 size reels on my freshwater rods as well. The 4000 is a Shimano CI4+ on a North Fork rod. I’ve always preferred a bigger spinning reel so did Guido Hibdon. I have several Saragosa spinning up to 8000 size for the GOM. I do enjoy a 1500 or 2000 for these small rivers here and throwing 1/4 oz pop r’s on a medium light avid ..

[JediAmoeba]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I have  some 7 ft ML spinning rigs and I prefer 2500's but will use a 3000 at times. 

The rest of my spinning rigs are 7 ft M and I do prefer 3000's on those.

ALL deep spools though.

If possible, I also replace the stock 2500 handles with the 3000 T-type handle knob. 

 

A-Jay

It's funny how all people have different preferences. I change all my t handles to the knobs!

[Brian11719]

2500...but one of the main things I look at for a lighter spinning reel is the weight and how much line it actually holds (and the drag) so I'd also take those into consideration before settling on something. In my case I like shimano spinning reels (ultegra and up). I also picked up a lew's hypermag when academy had a sale a while back and have been pretty impressed w/ that one as well.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

Get Smooth Drags for your reel no more sticking drags disk.

The max force a Medium power spinning rod can withstand fully loaded is 4 lbs, ML is 3 lbs.  1 pint plastic drinking water bottle weighs 1 pound. Put 3 bottles in a plastic grocery bag, attach your line to the bag handles and lift rod carefully (don’t high stick it) and adjust your drag until it starts to slip that is 3 pounds of drag force, maximum your rod can lift, don’t recommend 4 lbs for spinning rods.

Tom

 

There's a video of a guy trying to break an Inshore Mojo ML and it took like 12lbs to break it.  

I don't use more than 6lb of drag for bluefish much less FW bass.  My hangup with a 1k for a versatile bass outfit is its IPT, that's just preference.