Summertime has come with beautiful sunny weather, and children are off school. It’s time for families to spend holidays on outdoor activities.
Fishing is enjoyable this season, but choosing spinning reel sizes is always time-consuming. Therefore, newbies and experienced anglers find it difficult to estimate the proper size. In this article, we will assist you with the spinning reel sizes. Thus, you can make a wise buying decision.
3 Different Spinning Reel Sizes: Details & Tips
Spinning reels is not cheap. If you do not waste your money on an unsuitable one, please check out carefully the size chart of three types of spinning reels: small, medium, and large.
1. Small Spinning Reels (1000 – 3500)
The tiny spinning reels are suitable for fishing in lakes, rivers, bays, or harbours. They work well with species of fish weighing approximately 15 pounds. You can fish Beam, Trout, Bass, Perch, Luderick, Bluegill, Crappie, Pike, and Catfish with small spinning reels.
Freshwater or protected coastal water is where people often use small spinning reels because these areas have tiny species. Small spinning reels match the mono line with the 2-10lb in strength or 4-14lb braid line. The maximum length of a suitable fishing rod is 6-7ft.
Related Post: Best Ultralight Spinning Reels – Top 7 Best Spinning Reel
2. Medium Spinning Reels (4000- 5500)
Medium size spinning reels best suit 7-8ft in length, which can target fishes weighing up to 30 pounds. The match lines to pair up with medium size spinning reels are 8-14lb (mono) and 10-25lb (braid). The recommended application is heavier freshwater or inshore saltwater.
There are four models in the medium category. Medium spinning reels can be applied to catch more giant species: Snapper, Morwong, Mangrove, Mulloway, Cod, Drummer, and Muskie.
3. Large Spinning Reels (6000 to 30000)
The giant spinning reels encompass a size from 6000 to 30000. The 30000 spinning reel can pair with over 30kg mono and 80lb braid. It is tailored for serious fishers who hunt fish with a rating of 24- 37kg or even higher.
If you are an amateur and want a large-size reel, you had better start with a 6000 or 60 one, which suits 5-8ft fishing rods. With the 6000 model, you can even fish salmon, redfish, and bass. The sizes larger than 10000 greatly help you conquer the ocean with some precious species such as tuna, shark, barracuda, and wahoo.
With large spinning reels, you can fish inshore or offshore saltwater. Even in areas with rocks or curves, these big reels can grab all of the fish hidden there.
Most Purchased Models Of Spinning Reels
Amongst mentioned spinning reel sizes, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, and 6000 are the most popular models in the market. Therefore, we provide some value-added insights about these models for you.
| Model | Gear ratio | Weight (g) | Width x Height
( inches) |
Rotor Height
(inches) |
| 2000 or 20 | 5.01 | 201 | 4.2 x 3.9 | 3.2 |
| 3000 or 30 | 5.0:1 | 261 | 4.7 x 4.2 | 3.4 |
| 4000 or 40 | 5.0:1 | 270 | 4.8 x 4.2 | 3.4 |
| 5000 or 50 | 4.9:1 | 284 | 5.7 x 4.8 | 3.8 |
| 6000 or 60 | 4.9:1 | 385 | 6.2 x 5.5 | 4.3 |
Gear ratios determine the speed at which spinning reels pick up line. For instance, a spinning reel with a gear ratio of 7:1 means the spool rotates 7.1 times every 360-degree turnaround. The low gear ratio has a lower retrieve rate, so it is often used in deep water areas. Line pick-up rate measures how fast the reel retrieves. It is relevant to the size of the spool. Usually, larger spinning reels have a lower ratio and a more giant spool.
How To Choose The Right Spinning Reel Size: 3 Factors To Remember
Before heading to the shop, some elements help you choose the right size for the spinning reel.
The purpose of your fishing
The purpose determines the equipment you will bring with you on the trip. Do you go fishing as a hobby or go for serious boat fishing? If it is just a hangout on the weekend, short-medium spinning reels are enough.
The size of other equipment
Remember to check the size of the monofilament or braid lines and your fishing rod. Light mono or braid lines match with small spinning reels. On the other hand, long mono or braid lines pair up with large spinning reels. Unmatch spinning reels may break the lines.
Similarly, the length of fishing rods must be suitable for spinning reels size. Otherwise, anglers must have struggled when fishing and may not enjoy this leisure time.
In addition, you must ensure when matching the fishing rod and the spinning reel, you can hold it in your hand comfortably. If you are new to fishing, learn how to match the fishing rod to spinning reels
Location
Location is a critical element when choosing a spinning reel. Different locations align with different spinning reel sizes. Small to medium spinning reels work efficiently in freshwater, lakes, and rivers, while large spinning reels are saved for offshore saltwater areas or those near the rock.
People use large spinning reels for saltwater areas because of the higher number of significant species gathered in saltwater areas. The types of fish are also considerable in purchasing decisions.
Conclusion
By this article’s end, I hope you have grasped valuable knowledge and tips on choosing a spinning reel size that suits your fishing rod, lines, fish types, and purpose.
Note that catching big fish with small spinning reels will ruin your equipment. On the other hand, a big reel can catch small fish, yet, it does not deserve you to handle such a large rod and heavy lines. Even if you are new or experienced, these tips are always helpful.
