Will My New Reel Hold Up To Large Bass?

[jmed999]

I ordered a Shimano Spirex 1000 and planning to use 20# braid. I'm wondering if I should have stepped up to the 2500.

Will the 1000 hold up to say 10 pound bass? It says it only has a 7 lb drag.

Thanks for your help!

[philsoreel]

You'll be fine 95.314159265% of the time. I myself prefer a 2500, but 7 lbs. of drag is plenty for almost anything I can think of except punching, flipping/pitching heavy grass, etc.

[hookingem]

Yes it will hold up to this so called 10 pound bass! Learn to play a fish with your rod not horse them with your reel.

[jmed999]

If I had to bet I would say they're are some 12 pounders in the lake I live on but I seriously doubt there are anything bigger than that.

[jmed999]

You'll be fine 95.314159265% of the time. I myself prefer a 2500, but 7 lbs. of drag is plenty for almost anything I can think of except punching, flipping/pitching heavy grass, etc.

SO why do you prefer the 2500? I'm wondering if I should exchange my 1000 for the 2500.

Thanks for your help!

[hookingem]

What size/action rod will it be paired with?

[jmed999]

What size/action rod will it be paired with?

A 6'-6" Duckett MH

[hookingem]

In short. Return it for a 2500.

[jmed999]

In short. Return it for a 2500.

In an effort to learn something here...why should I return it for the 2500?

[hookingem]

On a longer note you would have a more versatile combo with a reel in the 2500 size. More line capactiy greater, pounds of drag ect. Basically if this is going to be your only combo you would be able to fish a wider aray of techniques.

[jmed999]

On a longer note you would have a more versatile combo with a reel in the 2500 size. More line capactiy greater, pounds of drag ect. Basically if this is going to be your only combo you would be able to fish a wider aray of techniques.

Thanks for your help!

[The Rooster]

I find that 2500 sized reels balance better on rods that are 6'6" and longer. Keeps the rod from being so tip heavy. I like a 1000 size for lighter presentations, finesse rigs, and such, and I have a very light and crisp rod for when I go with those, even if it is 6'6" with a 1000 on it (or similar sized reel from another brand, and on a side note...never again from another brand either).

[philsoreel]

Basically the same reasons Hookingem said, more versatile, line cap. I'm actually going on up to a 4000 or a Daiwa on my next reel to get a larger overall diameter spool so I can throw less manageble 8# fluorocarbons on my shakeyhead rod. On my Stradic CI4 2500 there's only a couple of fc lines I can throw and they still don't excel. Not saying the 1000 can't handle your 5,6+lb fish, but I think the 2500 will have a stronger, beefier feel when you get tied into a good one.

[SirSnookalot]

I only use a small reel if I'm fishing open water. The bass is not your problem, it's the vegetation. I'll assume you have a front drag model, not the rear, if I were to stay with the 1000 I would not set my drag to 1/3 of 20# braid which is at your full 7#, I'd use the mono diam spec.

I would however if planning on staying with the same line of reel go with 2500, twice the drag and personally I'd use 15# braid, but that's a personal choice, drag my come in handy pulling fish out of weeds.

Let me give you a tip on using your drag on any spinning gear. I set my drag only strong enough to set the hook. Some people find it awkward to adjust their drag while fighting a fish, not that it's hard, but either change your rod angle to increase the effective drag, or what I do is simply grab the spool. For me this is a daily practice whether I'm catching bass or any saltwater species.

[jmed999]

Thanks for all the help guys! I'm gonna go with a 2500.

[Sam]

Jmed, please note the reels' specifications especially the line test and the diameters if shown.

Then look at the line you want to use and compare its diameter and test with the reel's paramaters.

Stay within the guidelines and you should not have a problem.

Regarding the 2500 reel, this is a very attractive and popular spinning reel.

My main spinning reels are 2500s with some smaller ones for smaller fish; two heavy Baitrunners for catfish; and two old BPS spinning reels that I use for pond fishing.

Always look at the reel and rod specifications and as long as you stay within them you should not have problems.

[J Francho]

Will the 1000 hold up to say 10 pound bass? It says it only has a 7 lb drag.

It will be fine. The only reason to go to a 2500 is line capacity and bigger diameter spool for less coiling of rigid lines, like fluoro.

Let me put this into perspective. I caught this fish using a 1500 series Daiwa with 15# braid, 8# mono leader.

If it works for these, It'll be fine with bass.

Oh wait, it does :

Exact same reel, but this time with a fluoro leader.

If the rod balances nicely, and you're using braid, I see no issue. It also isn't going to be a problem if you want to switch to the bigger reel.

[jmed999]

Wow....nice fish! Thanks for your input! Very helpful!

[tracker01]

I have a couple Shimano 1000 size reels and love them. I have them on less than 6'6" rods. They are just a fun reel. Now the dark side "for me". I also have a couple of the 2500 size for when I need to speed up my presentation and do not want to reel in the lure like a crazy man. If you look close at a Daiwa 1500 reel it is just about the same size as a Shimano 2500, but the spool is samller. The Diawa 2000 I believe has a larger spool, same size reel. The best advice on this thread so far was to look at the rod and reel spec's and go from there. I like to fish 8 & 10 pound line so my rod and reel should be rated for that size line. Figure out your needs first, then go shopping.

[WdyCrankbait]

J Francho, I AM COMING FISHING WITH YOU!! LOL, great fish there!

That Duckett rod you should love! (dont have one, but they feel great!)

I know Hookingem and Sam, and while we usually question each others intelligence out fishing together I side with them. But, it's your call Jmed999 (and welcome to the forum as well), I doubt you're going to go wrong. Post pictures of what you catch with the combo.

[jmed999]

So for example I should think about what size line I need for the fish I could catch in my pond and go from there? I know there are some 10#'ers and if one decides to bite, I don't want to lose it. So I'm guessing I should use a 10# test.

Now that I know what test to use I should look here...

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/spinning/Spirex.html

I see the 10 pound test shown for the 2500 and the 4000. So either one of those would be more optimum for my application, right?

Is my logic above correct? Is this what you guys are talking about?

Thanks for all the help!

[jignfule]

I have a stradic 1000 and a stradic 2500 I HATE the 1000 for bass. Main reason for me is casting. I get far better results with the 2500. I use my 1000 on a ultra light set up for trout.

[WdyCrankbait]

So for example I should think about what size line I need for the fish I could catch in my pond and go from there? I know there are some 10#'ers and if one decides to bite, I don't want to lose it. So I'm guessing I should use a 10# test.

Now that I know what test to use I should look here...

http://fish.shimano.com/publish/content/global_fish/en/us/index/products/reels/spinning/Spirex.html

I see the 10 pound test shown for the 2500 and the 4000. So either one of those would be more optimum for my application, right?

Is my logic above correct? Is this what you guys are talking about?

Thanks for all the help!

I think is a question of feel for the reel on the rod that comes into play. Your logic is sound, but you dont really need to have 10#line to catch a 10# bass. The math works out, but knowing how to fight a bigger fish is essential. That comes with trial and error, everyone loses big bass. There are lines out there that are stronger then there rating. For example Yo-Zuri lines (see link below, I might be off on this and I am sure someone else will make the correction for me), but the 8# line has an average break strength of 12#. (I dont understand it, but I have used the line and it is VERY strong!) As J Francho showed in his pictures, it is possible to catch big fish on light tackle. My game plan when fishing lighter lines for big fish is have the drag on the reel set kind of tight (judgement will tell you that) and when I hook a big fish, I immediately loosen the drag about a 1/4-1/2 turn. That way I still have good pressure on him, but he can run and not break off. Another thing, this will probably be personal preference, if I got a big fish on with light line and he makes a run I lower the rod to about 10 o'clock. That way the fish is pulling against the resistance of the drag and not rod and drag put together (say rod positioned at 11 oclock). (But, everyone is different on how they fight a fish.)

Here is the Yo-Zuri link, (Hydrid line)

http://www.yo-zuri.com/

Make this fun, see what feels good on the rod, trust your judgement and catch some fish. Wdy

[SirSnookalot]

I wouldn't worry about line strength unless you have to pry a fish out of heavy cover. How much line do you think a 10# bass is going to take, well the tightness of your drag has a lot to do with it, but bass do not make long runs.