Reel sizes?

Can someone explain reel sizes and how they affect fishing? I read posts that mention 1000 or 2000. What does this reference? Does one company relate to another? Previously I fished with 6-6.5 medium or medium light rods equipped with Pflueger President 30s and six pound line. Since starting crappie and brim fishing I have gone to 6-6.5 ultra lights with President 25s and 4 pound test, for no other reason than it felt better. How does the reel affect the experience and what do you recommend for casting jigs?

The numbers are references to the size of the reel. To the best of my knowledge there is a vague similarity between brands with these numbers. Many manufacturers use the same reel between sizes with just a subtle difference i.e., a 2000 size reel from one brand is just a 1000 with a slightly larger diameter spool, but a 2500 model of the same reel will actually be a bit larger reel in general. The only constant is that smaller numbers mean smaller reels, perhaps with the exception of Mitchell, their reels get smaller as the number gets bigger, I think, I may be wrong though. All of that to say, use the reel you like on the rod you like. You will learn what balances well and feels right in your hand, and you will see a pattern form in the size reels you buy for different types of fishing.

I pay more attention to the weight of the reel than the number designation. I want the reel to balance the length/weight of the rod, if I'm going to be holding it in hand & casting with it. I put the reel on & then lay the outfit on my outstretched finger at the front end of the rod handle. If it balances or slowly dips on the handle end, I consider that as "balanced". If it dips slowly towards the rod tip, I consider that as "usable". But if it falls quickly towards the rod tip, the reel is too light and the outfit will wear on your wrist/forearm over any length of time usage. If it falls quickly towards the handle, the reel is too heavy, but still usable ... it's just going to feel heavy in your hand, which may or may not be a factor in how often you use it. :twocents

As said above balance is key to fishing all day without your arm being fatigued. I have a vintage telescopic metal rod. It is heavy as the dickens. Not only does it give you a forearm workout to fish it. It is also hard to set the hook on a fish. It is very tip heavy. It will certainly make you appreciate using a balanced combo. They seem to become an extension on ones arm

Thanks for the responses. So, I need to try a prospective reel with the intended rod to get the balance. Makes sense. How about spool size, diameter, does larger make for easier casting?

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Originally Posted by LazyKB

Thanks for the responses. So, I need to try a prospective reel with the intended rod to get the balance. Makes sense. How about spool size, diameter, does larger make for easier casting?

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Yes, generally speaking if the reel has a larger diameter spool or what some brands call a "long cast" spool, it will cast farther vs a standard spool reel. But, there again, you have to consider weight of the reel ... so as to have a balanced outfit.

And yes, it is preferable (when possible) to put a reel on the rod (in store) in order to find a balanced combo.

I have two BnM 8' Float/Fly rods. They have removable metal rings on the butt end of the handle, so you can more easily balance the outfit. I have two different reels on these rods, and one rod has one of the metal rings removed to accomplish that balance.

Tennessee style handles allow the reel to be positioned anywhere on the handle to help balance the outfit

I have just about every spinning reel made it seems and they there is no standard size. Like stated the common denominator is the smaller the number the smaller the reel. A 500 series Shimano reel is smaller than a size 15 Okuma reel for example. Matching them with the intended rod is the only way to go IMHO. For crappie I like a 1000 size reel with a medium light rod. I find this to be just about perfect for crappie and white bass. I drop down to a 500 size reel and ultralight rod when fishing for bluegill.

Personally, for casting to crappie, I've always liked the medium sized spinning reels over the full sized versions. I just feel like they're better balanced on crappie spinning rods. As far as reels for my long poles I like a smaller reel but I do have full sized bait casters on most rods.

Perfect!

Boy I really haven't a clue how to guage reel size to numbers. I think I read the bigger the number the bigger the reel. But some reels only have two numbers, some three and some four! I like to actually look at the reel and pick it up and figure from there. It does make shopping for a reel more fun to pick them all up!

In general the smaller the number the smaller the reel. Most companies use one of two different standards for reel sizes.

Size 500 Ultra light
1000 Light
2000 Medium
3000 Medium Heavy
4000 Heavy

Size 10 Ultra light
20 Light/Medium
30 Medium Heavy
40 Heavy

Thanks!

I have a bass pro shops Carbon light 2.0 spinning reel in the 75 size light weight and i love that reel. Other ones are Lews Mr Crappie or Lews orange crush 75 size. They all work great for any applications i need them to do

I don't get those numbers very well either! But I do think the size of the reel on a rod definatelly effect's balance and better balanced rod and reels feel better to me also. All my UL rods are 6'6" or less with very small reels. Smallest rod and reel is an Okuma reel on a 5' rod and boy it is nice to use. Use 2# line in it. If the reel has a number I don't know what it is but a lot smaller than my other UL reels!

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Originally Posted by DonF

I don't get those numbers very well either! But I do think the size of the reel on a rod definatelly effect's balance and better balanced rod and reels feel better to me also. All my UL rods are 6'6" or less with very small reels. Smallest rod and reel is an Okuma reel on a 5' rod and boy it is nice to use. Use 2# line in it. If the reel has a number I don't know what it is but a lot smaller than my other UL reels!

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Yeah, Don ... some Okuma reels have a "size number", but others just have a "name".

My smallest UL outfit is a 5' Quantum rod with a Shakespeare Alpha XT 1000 UL reel. Started out using it to cast jigs for Crappie, then for Dock Shooting. Prior to that I used it a couple trips to Tenn for casting jighead/minnow on 4# line for Smallmouth (back when they had no size limit). Tough little outfit.

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Originally Posted by DonF

I don't get those numbers very well either! But I do think the size of the reel on a rod definatelly effect's balance and better balanced rod and reels feel better to me also. All my UL rods are 6'6" or less with very small reels. Smallest rod and reel is an Okuma reel on a 5' rod and boy it is nice to use. Use 2# line in it. If the reel has a number I don't know what it is but a lot smaller than my other UL reels!

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Okuma smallest reel is a 500 series which I consider ultralight. I have four Okuma 1000 series reel and they are all light to medium light reels in my book.

I have one the above said 500 size reel, however impractical I find it due to line management or lack there off. I believe the spool too narrow to be an effective Ultralight application. Anyway Quantum smallest reel start with 05 following model names like Energy or Kinetic like this example. Hope this help!
Attachment 443210
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Last picture is referenced to your typical Shimano 1000 size reel.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

That picture tells the story. I consider the 500 series reel as a ultralight and the 1000 series as a light action reel. Some would consider the 1000 as a ultralight but not me. 500 series reels are designed to cast real far due to their narrow spools.

The auction house is pretty good about having some different brands of reels in the 40/4000 size for around $10. I've bought them as low as $7.

very good tip