Opinions On What Spinning Reel Size For Best Balance 2025
GoCougs14 reply :
I have a 6'10" ML/XF fenwick elite tech spinning rod, and was pretty much decided on a shimano rareneium ci4+ 1000s, but im starting to wonder if that light of a reel might not balance well on a 6'10" rod. I did quite a bit of reading on this site regarding reel sizes and thought that the 1000 was going to be perfect but should I maybe scale up to a 2000s for a better balance?
John G reply :
I have the Rareneium CI4+1000S and it doesn't even balance with my 6' Shimano Clarus UL.
Fishes in trees reply :
Balance is a subjective thing. Some guys like the vast majority of the weight right in their hand. Other guys don't mind a little tip heavy. Me, I'm not as concerned about " balance " as I am about overall feel. My main question is , "Does this reel feel right with this rod?" For me, these days, the smallest, lightest one that will do the trick is the one I choose, with a few exceptions. I crank a lot with spinning gear. I have an old Diawa 2600 (a large, fairly heavy reel) that I absolutely love for cranking. I'd think that the 1000 size Shimano will work great on the rod you've got.
Raul reply :
Any particular reason why you want a reel that small ?
GoCougs14 reply :
how noticeable is it?On 10/30/2015 at 4:20 PM, John G said:I have the Rareneium CI4+1000S and it doesn't even balance with my 6' Shimano Clarus UL.
jbw252 reply :
Bring your rod to the tackle store & try them out together. I would prefer a slightly larger reel for that setup, but as Fishes in trees stated - "Balance is a subjective thing."
bigbill reply :
I balance all my spinning setups. By changing reels till they balance. I haven't had to add washers and a screw in the end of the rod handle yet. I'm working on my spinning setups now the casters are next.
Darren. reply :
When you say "balance" are you holding your
finger above the reel seat and want the rod to
be level?
If that's the case, I can tell you that my Stradic
1000FI reels balance perfectly with my 2 MF
Carbonlites at 6'6".
I also hold my spinning reels with the reel seat
between my pinky and ring finger, and my index
finger reaches up to touch the blank.
Absolutely love the 1000 size for bass fishing.
John G reply :
On 10/30/2015 at 11:51 PM, GoCougs14 said:how noticeable is it?
It is not uncomfortable at all because the overall combo is light but if you want total balance, I would buy a larger reel. This is also the only spinning combo that I have used in years so when I talk about balance, I am using the area just in front of the reel or the locking nut on a casting rod.
bigfruits reply :
i hold spinning rods above the reel seat, my index finger on the blank with most rods. i feel like this give me more lure control, makes most rods balance better with light reels and i dont have the reel seat between any fingers. might want to try it out especially if youre new to spinning (not saying you are).
i dont have a 1000 but i have a 2500 Stradic CI4+ and it balances on most of my spinning bass rods, ML-MH. GLX 853s, not so much, but still use it instead of my aluminum 2500 stradic.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Rod material, guides, grip configuration, and how you grip the Rod are all variables that affect Joe the setup feels in hand. Trial and error on your part is the only way to achieve the desired feel.
Stingray23 reply :
Thats a small reel for that rod. Need a 2500 or 3000
iabass8 reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 1:07 AM, Stingray23 said:Thats a small reel for that rod. Need a 2500 or 3000
1000 size reels are more than adequte for bass fishing.
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 1:58 AM, iabass8 said:1000 size reels are more than adequte for bass fishing.
Yup, I sure have caught plenty to 9 Lbs. in Florida & around hydrilla. Now for a new revelation.. I also used mono... Go figure.
Stingray23 reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 1:58 AM, iabass8 said:1000 size reels are more than adequte for bass fishing.
Of course you can use it for bass fishing. Thats not the point. He is asking about balance. A 1000 series reel that is already light weight will not balance well on that rod.
S Hovanec reply :
A 2500 CI4 isn't enough weight to balance any of my 6'10" rods, so no way will a 1000 even be close. You have to step up to a metal bodied reel to achieve what you want.
k3bass reply :
I'll never understand why anyone would want to use a 1000 size reel for bass fishing. They usually don't balance well compared to a 2500 and you get a slower retrieve rate, less cranking power,less drag, shorter casting distance with the smaller diameter spool, and less line capacity. What's the point?
DogBone_384 reply :
I'll go with the consensus that spinning reel size is subjective. I use a Pflueger XX20 on my L, XX25s on my ML & M rods, and XX30s on my MH spinning rods.
k3bass reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 7:11 AM, DogBone_384 said:I'll go with the consensus that spinning reel size is subjective. I use a Pflueger XX20 on my L, XX25s on my ML & M rods, and XX30s on my MH spinning rods.
I use the Pfleuger 35 size for ml and m rods.
What are the advantages of using a small spinning reel?
DogBone_384 reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 7:14 AM, k3bass said:I use the Pfleuger 35 size for ml and m rods.
What are the advantages of using a small spinning reel?
No reel ( 
) technical reason... To me, the smaller, lighter reels just feel good. I primarily fish with bait casters and am used to light setups. I suppose that just transfers over to my spinning rigs.
GoCougs14 reply :
Just gonna go with a 1000 reel. A 6 oz reel plus a 3.3 oz rod is going to feel really light anyway. Even if it doesent balance perfectly (which i understand is not going to happen)
stk44 reply :
On 11/1/2015 at 7:26 AM, GoCougs14 said:Just gonna go with a 1000 reel. A 6 oz reel plus a 3.3 oz rod is going to feel really light anyway. Even if it doesent balance perfectly (which i understand is not going to happen)
Can you message me and let me know how you like it and whether YOU feel it is a match?
GoCougs14 reply :
sure manOn 11/3/2015 at 12:19 AM, smkralik said:Can you message me and let me know how you like it and whether YOU feel it is a match?
blckshirt98 reply :
Also keep in mind what you're going to by tying on the end of the line when talking about balance. You might have a 2500 reel with 20lb braid perfectly balanced on a rod, but tie on a decent sized swimbait or 10" worm and suddenly it's off.
J Francho reply :
On 10/31/2015 at 10:36 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Rod material, guides, grip configuration, and how you grip the Rod are all variables that affect Joe the setup feels in hand. Trial and error on your part is the only way to achieve the desired feel.
Add to that, "balanced" is often subjective. Balalanced how? Where?
Take your rod in and put a bunch of reels on it, and see how it feelds with each.
k3bass reply :
On 11/3/2015 at 2:25 AM, blckshirt98 said:Also keep in mind what you're going to by tying on the end of the line when talking about balance. You might have a 2500 reel with 20lb braid perfectly balanced on a rod, but tie on a decent sized swimbait or 10" worm and suddenly it's off.
Who cares if a rod is balanced holding it with a bait tied on? That has nothing to do with a rod being balanced.
Choporoz reply :
I do.
k3bass reply :
How can you balance a rod with a big bait tied on it?
J Francho reply :
You guys really fish with bait hanging off the end of your rod? My baits are usually in the water, and they usually are buoyant or resting on the bottm, so I don't need to offset that mass.
Choporoz reply :
I suppose I should have been clearer in my support of earlier comment. I wasn't considering 'balance' in the Physics 101 sense so much as in the sense of balanced in proportion and feel. Handling a rod and reel with appropriately weighted lure makes perfectly good sense. I am unlikely to be casting a spinning rod very much without something tied to the line.
Unless you're drop-shotting, the rod is also important for putting that lure where you want it. The feel with a lure isn't unimportant to me.
k3bass reply :
It doesn't make any sense to me. Any rod with a bait hanging off it is going to feel tip heavy.
J Francho reply :
On 11/3/2015 at 5:09 AM, Choporoz said:I suppose I should have been clearer in my support of earlier comment. I wasn't considering 'balance' in the Physics 101 sense so much as in the sense of balanced in proportion and feel. Handling a rod and reel with appropriately weighted lure makes perfectly good sense. I am unlikely to be casting a spinning rod very much without something tied to the line.
Unless you're drop-shotting, the rod is also important for putting that lure where you want it. The feel with a lure isn't unimportant to me.
So, you're talking more about taper (action) and power, along with the ergonomics (long/short handle, etc)? Because it seems like this more about the actual balance point on a rod. Maybe I'm wrong...
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