Choice for a spinning reel

[airborne_angler]

I almost ALWAYS use a baitcasting outfit,except when I throw dropshots,which I do on Ultra light gear.

I am wanting to try throwing Senko style baits and also want to try #3 Mepps inline spinners for Bass this year.

That being said,what size reel would be ideal for these situations?

I have a Shimano 3000 series,but that reel just feels HUGE. I may just keep that for a Catfishing outfit.

I want something that will be light enough not to cause fatigue while im fishing,and also rugged enough to be able to handle the fish should I latch onto something of size.

I dont have a specific brand in mind,just need to know what a good size(series) reel would be for the application ive mentioned..

[burleytog]

Shimano 2500, which should have the same body as the reel you reference (although you didn't mention model) but with a smaller spool.

If a 3000 feels huge to you, you must have tiny hands.  :-X

[BassThumb]

Shimano 2500, and yes, 3000s are huge.

[SirSnookalot]

Fatigue on a Shimano 3000, what model? Shimano c-14 2500 7.0 oz or Pflueger supreme 8030 7.4 oz, both do a good job.

[Sam]

Shimano 2500 Stradic's. 

[Grey Wolf]

2500 stradic c14.

[RandySBreth]

3000 huge? Hmm. I use 4000 size spinners all the time. Less line twist longer casts, etc. 2500 size reels aren't bad, but they aren't really anydifferent than 3000.

Maybe you need a lighter reel instead of size being the issue? Steez, or maybe something easier on the wallet like the Pflueger Supreme?

[BigMoneyGrip]

I just got a Saros F 2500 which is my first spinning reel and it feels great to me. I wouldn't know the difference between a good one and a bad one, though.

[Redhed]

shimano hands down... goes for both BC's and spins

[zero limit]

Shimano 2500, which should have the same body as the reel you reference (although you didn't mention model) but with a smaller spool.

If a 3000 feels huge to you, you must have tiny hands. :-X

I've got a 3000 symetre, same size as the 2500 series and according to ***'s site the 3000 is lighter than the 2500. great LITTLE reel

[ChiCityBasser]

I'd say any 2000-2500 series real in the $100 and up range from Shimano, Quantum, Abu-Garcia,Pflueger would be a good choice of spinning reel.

[Grey Wolf]

Shimano 2500, and yes, 3000s are huge.

How do you figure that ?

[airborne_angler]

OK OK I stand corrected,I tried to edit my post last night but the forum was locked down due to maintenance.

The reel I currently have is a Shimano FX 300(Not 3000)Must have some age to it.

Still,the reel to me feels VERY large.

[Raul]

Daiwa Exceler 2000/2500 + 6 lbs Yo-zuri Hybrid/6 lb P-Line CXX = match made in heaven.

Yeah, a member of the Shimano posse recomending a Daiwa  , well, I love my Shimanos, yup, I 've got Shimano spinning reels too but Daiwas are much better than Shimanos when it comes to budget spinning reels.

[SirSnookalot]

Just bought my first Daiwa in 40 years, a tierra and I'm very impressed.  Time will tell on durabilty, but at $50 less than the stradic, it's a good buy, with solid performance, smooth and an excellent drag.

[burleytog]

Just bought my first Daiwa in 40 years, a tierra and I'm very impressed. Time will tell on durabilty, but at $50 less than the stradic, it's a good buy, with solid performance, smooth and an excellent drag.

But made in China.   :-/

[SirSnookalot]

Just bought my first Daiwa in 40 years, a tierra and I'm very impressed.  Time will tell on durabilty, but at $50 less than the stradic, it's a good buy, with solid performance, smooth and an excellent drag.

But made in China.   :-/

Are the Malaysians making  Shimano's stradic fi any better at machining and and assembly?

Have yet to have any problem with any Chinese spinning reel I own, btw my stradic fi came with a sticky bail, hardly the epitome of quality control.

[ArcticCat500]

just remember there's alot of followers in here and people tend to get little to carried away, if someone says Shimano then all must hail, while if someone bad mouths a Shim then the post gets locked up like fort Knox. 

If your a weekender and just enjoy fishing then don't get caught up in the hype, and just take someones word for it, get out and look at all your options, find out what you'd like spend on the reel, pick up a few, put it on a rod that you'll be using...all this matters to YOU, your the guy fishing with it.

Sure I could easily say Daiwa, Shimano, Abu and so on, but ultimately its your, not ours.

[repper]

I've had better luck over the years with Daiwa spinning reels than Shimano. and if you can afford it, then go with a Sol, or even a Fuego, but for the money the Exceler does a nice job. it's the reel i let my children(adults now) fish with when they go with me, and it has been a workhorse reel so far.

[Raul]

But made in China. :-/

What 's your point ?

[airborne_angler]

At this point the brand isnt important to me. Im pretty serious about my fishing but am in no way a Tounament angler. I fish out of a 10' jon boat.

To me right now the size of the reel and comfort when using the reel is more important.

I obviously dont want a Ultralight(have one) Nor do I want a Trout Reel(Have one of those too)

I want a reel in a size just a step up from a trout reel. Maybe a reel with a 6,8,and 10 lb capacity.

[Raul]

For 6-8 lbs a Daiwa 2000 size is fine

For 10 lbs a Daiwa or Shimano 2500 size is fine

Even though 2000 and 2500 Daiwas are the same body size the spool is different, the 2000 size has a shallower spool so when you spool in heavier than 8 lbs the line capacity isn 't that much, plus, the line coils badly for being spooled on a smaller surface,

None of them are "trout" reels as you call them .... I still don 't understand the trout reel designation, trout in my neck of the woods grow quite large, as large as the largest LMBs and require larger reels and lines, but they are not stream trout, they are lake trout ( not the species ).

[I.rar]

as long as the companies QC standards are met , what does it matter where its from?

:-?

[LAO162]

Daiwa Exceler 2000/2500 + 6 lbs Yo-zuri Hybrid/6 lb P-Line CXX = match made in heaven.

Yeah, a member of the Shimano posse recomending a Daiwa , well, I love my Shimanos, yup, I 've got Shimano spinning reels too but Daiwas are much better than Shimanos when it comes to budget spinning reels.

I sold my older Stradic FH because it was gathering dust due to better performance of the Exceler. The Exceler has a couple quirks - the bail occasionally closes on the cast. The Stradic did also, but not as often. Also, the bail can be tough to close by cranking the handle - but we shouldn't be doing that anyhow The upgraded Daiwa Tierra is super smooth and doesn't have these quirks.

Today I've been considering the Cabela's Tournament ZX that is essentially an Exceler with one more bearing. On sale for $49.99 with free shipping.

[SirSnookalot]

Also, the bail can be tough to close by cranking the handle - but we shouldn't be doing that anyhow   The upgraded Daiwa Tierra is super smooth and doesn't have these quirks.

As a rule I hand close but not always, the problem is the first turn of the handle , not how it's closed, the line must be tight before winding.  I just about always pause a sec just after the lure has hit the water before starting my retrieve.

Regarding a tierra, I bought a wide spool reel and cast after cast resulted in wind knots for a solid week.  Returned reel in favor of the tierra and in a week of fishing heavy wind not one single wind knot.  I'm nearly convinced you must have the right reel for the right rod to elimante those problems