4000 reel too large for 15 lb braided line?

[e2m]

Hi!

 

Would a 4000-series reel be too large for a 15 lb braided line?  According to specs, a 2500-series reel should be more appropriate, but are there any benefits or downsides to using a larger reel?

 

Specific reel in question is Okuma Ceymar A, although I'm considering Daiwa Exceler LT as well.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[e2m]

No

[WRB]

Do you need over 500 yards of 15 lb braid? The line cost are more then the $50 reel!

Tom

[PaulVE64]

Line pickup on the 4000 should be higher.

[e2m]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Do you need over 500 yards of 15 lb braid? The line cost are more then the $50 reel!

Tom

I do not.  Good point.

[Jig Man]

I use 15# braid on a 2500 and 3000 reels.  The 3000 is overkill for me.

[e2m]

57 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Line pickup on the 4000 should be higher.

On the Ceymar A, yes.  But interestingly on the Exceler LT, it's the 2500 that has a higher line pickup compared to their 4000.

[e2m]

13 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I use 15# braid on a 2500 and 3000 reels.  The 3000 is overkill for me.

Thanks.  Do you use a leader with that braid?

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I use 15# braid on a 2500 and 3000 reels.  The 3000 is overkill for me.

Heck, I'm running 15# and 20# braid on 2500 reels...no issues with either of them...I don't even use my one 3000 reel.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Not at all.  No reason to fill a 4k with braid.  Fill it with #10 cheap mono and only use the last 100 yds of capacity for the #15 braid.

[Jig Man]

1 hour ago, e2m said:

Thanks.  Do you use a leader with that braid?

Yes.  I use a 10# fluorocarbon leader.

[bulldog1935]

Braid that diameter is the purpose of a shallow braid spool, which Shimano Yumeya offers for 4000 worm-drive (Stradic to Stella).  

The reel and braid is a great match on St. Croix Legend Glass

  

[e2m]

On 7/9/2024 at 10:41 PM, bulldog1935 said:

Braid that diameter is the purpose of a shallow braid spool,

 

Thanks for this.  Looks like KastKing Zephyr 1000 SFS could be another shallow spool option...

 

https://kastking.com/products/kastking-zephyr-1000-sfs-spinning-reel

 

[e2m]

Another shallow spool reel I came across:  Daiwa Legalis LT 2000S-XH:

https://reelcatalog.com/brands/daiwa/17-legalis-lt/17-legalis-lt-2000sxh

 

Line capacity: Nylon (MM/M): 0.23/100 | Braid (MM/M): 0.10/200

 

I'm guessing it would roughly be big enough to fit about 100 yards of 15 lb braid.

 

 

[garroyo130]

Why are you set on 4000? Surf fishing? 

[e2m]

1 hour ago, garroyo130 said:

Why are you set on 4000? Surf fishing? 

I'm not really set on 4000.  I bought one without considering all the pros and cons.  I've read somewhere that larger reels cast further.  I'm still within a return period, so I'll send it back if it's not the right fit.

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A 4000 size reel is overkill for bass fishing unless you dislike casting gear and need something for heavier (10-12#) mono/fluoro. 

[e2m]

Just realized there are models of Daiwa Legalis with shallow spools:  LT2000S-XH and LT2500S-XH.

 

Thinking the 2500 one might be the one to get...

 

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, e2m said:

I'm not really set on 4000.  I bought one without considering all the pros and cons.  I've read somewhere that larger reels cast further.  I'm still within a return period, so I'll send it back if it's not the right fit.

Use the 4000 if you like. It will allow for farther casts because spool-lip friction as line is paid out is less of a factor with a larger diameter spool. And don't worry about a shallow or deep spool either. If it's a deep spool or a shallow spool, use backing plus about 200-225 feet of mainline braid.

 

Measure out the braid mainline, wind it onto the reel's spool. Tie some cheap mono to the braid with a connection knot, then wind that on to fill the spool. Reverse all of that off the spool onto a spare filler spool, then again onto another spool which leaves the mono backing's tag end at the top. A bolt, nut, some washers, and a drill gun makes this fast and easy. Tie the backing onto the reel's spool and wind it all on. Now you have permanent backing on your spool for 200 feet or whatever footage you prefer of braid mainline. I do this on my shallow spools as well as my deep spools as to not waste braid mainline. Even a shallow spool will gobble up way too much thin braid that'll never be paid out even on the longest cast, so why waste it? 

[bulldog1935]

capacity calculator for stacking lines on spools - it's quite good:  

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

 

What's not good is the typical result stacking threadline braid on deep spinning spools.  

The hour-glass or cone line lay result is what causes wind knots - multiple loops of line dragging each other off the spool simultaneously.   (The reason I didn't fish braid for 2 decades, until the quality of both reels and braid caught up).  

Hour-glass and cone line lay is caused by the reel's line lay error adding up as you stack more line deeper.  (basically, any reel stacks mono fine - the error shows up in threadline).  

 

This is the line lay result you get with a good reel and shallow spool:  

 

Stradic is the entry-level Shimano worm-drive - probably should consider it the entry-level braid reel.  $140 w/ free express shipping from Japan

 

Back to Legalis - either of these will do nicely

On Japan silk-thread scale, your target is PE#1 to #1.2 (go by diameter - lb-test is a USM absurdity).  

[MickD]

There is no functional reason why a 4000 size is inappropriate for any kind of fishing unless you find its size/balance/weight unpleasant.  I use two Stradic 4000's for bass fishing all the time.  By using them regularly I know they will be OK to take to salt for my annual trip, and they fish just fine for everything I do.  

[e2m]

3 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Stradic is the entry-level Shimano worm-drive - probably should consider it the entry-level braid reel.  $140 w/ free express shipping from Japan

 

Thanks. That's a bit more than what I was hoping to spend.  Sahara won't do?

 

[bulldog1935]

budget understood - sent you a pm

[Boomstick]

Some people like the larger spool because you can pick up line faster and get a better hookset.

 

That said I would use a 2000 or 2500 siE reel for 15# braid myself.