2500 for UL ?

I’m liking my 2000 size reels on my UL’s , but most of them are compact reels with 1000 size frame and 2000 size shallow spools .

I’m looking at ordering a 2500 size reel to see if I can squeeze out a little more distance casting 1/64 and possibly lighter jigs using 2# Floroclear.
The reel I’m looking at only weighs 175g , so it would be less than some of my 2000 reels .
But of course it’s going to cost more .
This will be a special rig . May pair it up with my 6’ Iprimi XUL travel rod . Or maybe even a seven footer . Whatever casts best .

Anyone use 2500 size reels for light jig fishing .

I have a St Croix with a 2500 Shimano with 6lb mono on it. It is by far the best rig I have ever owned.

I've used my REVO MGX20 reels on longer ultralight rods and they cast a long way. Have one on a 7'6" Shimano Soare right now. A 7 footer would be a good choice if you want more distance. I really like the longer rods more than shorter ones.

How far is to far to cast UL gear? Does the farther you cast cause a delay by feeling the bite?

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Originally Posted by RJR

How far is to far to cast UL gear? Does the farther you cast cause a delay by feeling the bite?

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I don’t know , with a 1/32 jighead and Trout Magnet body I’ve been able to cast 75’ . I haven’t noticed any loss of feeling the lure .
I use 60’ as my guide for casting ultralight lures .
If I can put together a combo that will consistently cast a 1/80 jighead with a Bobby Garland Itty Bit Swim’r sixty feet I’ll be happy.
That’s my goal . But farther would be better .
The riprap around boat ramps , at full pool extends as far as the ramp does and holds fish .
The farther I can cast , the more fish I can reach .
Using a lighter jig makes it fall and look more natural . Glides over the rocks better too , keeping the jig from getting into the rocks and hung up .
I’ve tried using a float and I don’t get bit as much .

My thoughts on longer rods comes down to accuracy. I’m lots better with shorter rods for pickin pockets but I can’t argue with ya about longer rods for longer casts. If you’re casting to open water it would be the thing.

The 2500 reel is one I use in saltwater mostly but always on heavier rods. Point is I’m no help on the reel. Cool that you found a light one.

Skeet , I’ve been experimenting with different size reels and rod lengths.
I started casting different rods this morning with my 500 size reels and think I’ve discovered something.
I’m getting almost the same distance with the smaller reels that I was getting with my 2000 reels.
I think the difference is , the first guide on most of my UL rods is about the same diameter as a 500 reel spool .
When using a bigger reel , the larger line loops are jamming trying to be forced through the smaller guides .
I don’t think I’ll gain much distance with the larger reel unless I go to a long rod with bigger diameter guides .
More to come..

I have a 7’ Browning Airstream that has a very large, maybe a 24 or bigger stripper guide. It will cast a small rooster tail a long way and it’s rated UL. Let me see if I have some comparable line on it and I’ll try your test, I have a bunch of real small jigs that should tell the tale. Nice rod and not expensive, just hard to find. I’ll see what today brings.

For longer casts I use a 3/4" weighted float to get my tiny jigs out there and the advantage of having the float is it allows you to fish slower at precise depths. A 7' rod will get more distance plus it will move more line when you set the hook. I use a Stella C2000S with this set up and it's bigger than the 1000 series, have one of those too. This is a dream set up and have the NASCI on my other 7' SOARE that I will be testing soon.

Well chaser, here’s my findings. Sounds official, doesn’t it? I took the Airstream with a stripper guide that’s real close to an inch and an eighth and my latest build, both 6’6”. Took one of my 500 reels with 5 lb braid and strapped it onto each rod with a 1/80 jighead and an Itty Bitty slab slayer body on the end. Took them out in the yard and made the first cast to about 32’. I put a marker down and made 5 more casts, no wind today yet. No cast exceeded 34’, that was the Airstream with the big guide. The build had a size 20 stripper guide that measured about 5/8”, a full half inch difference. When I moved the reel and jig to the built rod, none of the 5 casts exceeded 33’. I did everything as equal as I could and net gain was about a foot. For my money, I’d look elsewhere for the extra distance. I’m out of aces for suggestions also. I think that the only consistent way to add distance is more weight or different line. The twitchmaster in 3 lb casts as good as anything I’ve ever tried but with braid having no memory I would think it would do better. Hope this helps you figure it out, and I weighed the mjighead at 1/79. As close as I can get.

And if you need I’ll send you the airstream and you can try it with your stuff just to be sure.