Spinning reel sizes (guide and chart to choose the right size) (2023)

If you're an angler who's ever started a conversation with someone about their fishing gear, they've probably asked you what size reel you use.

But have you ever wondered why different coil sizes are used in the first place?

The coil size you choose depends on a few considerations.

What are you fishing?

How heavy is the line you are going to use?

How does it fit your rod,

And finally, most importantly, how does it fit in your hand?

We'll summarize all of these considerations for you, helping you decide which reel size is best for you.

What reel size is best for me?

When you choose a reel, it's like choosing a car or a truck.

You wouldn't want to use a Honda Civic to pull a 40-foot gooseneck trailer, but you also wouldn't want to travel 60 miles a day driving a Dodge 3500.

Choosing the best reel depends entirely on the size of your hands, the type of rod you select, and the type of fish you are chasing.

A small reel can bring in big fish, but it can also destroy drag, break line, and ruin your day on the water.

A large reel can catch small fish, but the large rod and heavy line that comes with a large reel are not easy to handle.

Like Goldilocks, don't go too small, don't go too big, find what fits you.

What are the different sizes of spinning coils explained?

The spinning reels are ranked by numbers, the lowest starting at 1,000 and the highest up to 14,000. Some manufacturers, such as Pflueger, size their coils in the middle, i.e. 1500 or 4500.

If you look at the product number of a spinning reel you can find the size stamped on the first two digits, it could be 10 for 1,000, 45 for 4,500, or 90 for a large 9,000 series stick.

Spinning bobs are categorized in a similar style to men's clothing: small, medium, large, and extra-large or large.

Small spinning coils

The small spinning reels have numbers in size from 1000 to 3500. The difference between the numbers is gradual, increasing slightly with each increasing number.

The 1,000 is the smallest on the market. It is designed for two to four pound monofilament (mono) line to four to eight pound braided line.

A 1000 size reel is perfect for pot fishing, trout fishing, or water work for crappie or perch. They are an ideal reel on lakes, streams, small slow flowing rivers and bay backwaters.

The 2000 series allows for slightly heavier line, four to six pound mono or five to 10 braids. Many anglers consider this reel size to be the best for working with a light 2-2 meter rod.

The rod's light touch is enhanced by the light but strong reel, making it a good choice for soft hitting species like walleye.

The 2500 is a reel used by many float and kayak anglers. It works well with trout in rivers and lakes.

The five to eight pound mono and 5 to 12 pound braid rating make it a formidable rod when fishing unexpectedly big fish.

The 3000 series reels are the smallest reels recommended for use with rods up to 10 feet in length.

The 6- to 10-pound mono rating, along with up to 15-pound braided line, makes it a favorite with anglers who enjoy light surf fishing.

With the heavier line, bass, catfish, and smaller saltwater species make ideal targets.

The 3500 is almost identical to the 3000 but has a slightly larger spool that allows for more line. If you like long range casting with a lighter line, this is the reel to try.

Medium Size Spinning Reels

Just one step above the larger small reel is the 4000 series. This size reel will hold 8-12lbs mono and 8-20lbs of braided line.

The heavier braided type is often the primary target for larger fish.

Ideal with an eight foot pole, the 4000 series can handle large catfish, walleye or the larger ones.aggressive largemouth bass.

It is a versatile reel, adaptable to rod lengths from 1.8 to 3 meters, while still offering excellent performance. The 5000 series reel brings a lot of power to the water.

Handling up to 15lbs of mono or 25lbs of braided line, the mid-range spinning reel performs well on large rivers, is ideal for fishing on large lakes, and is a favorite on docks and docks in saltwater.

The reel works well with 12 foot surfcasting rods and the large spool makes it easy to cast heavy lures or lures far from shore.

If you're a rock angler, the 6000 is a reel that can handle the challenges of catching big, heavy fish in the challenging underwater terrain of a rocky outcrop.

Suggested mono sizes from 12 to 18 pounds make this a solid rod for working with the heaviest line most recreational anglers will ever use.

The suggested upper limit of 30 pound braid will work on the largest freshwater fish you are likely to deal with and will handle most species of saltwater fish.

This reel is one of the favorites for river salmon fishing due to its power and adaptability.

large spinning rollers

You're on the brink of freshwater fishing, plus maybe Great Lakes fishing when you hit 7,000 series.

This is a large reel ideal for heavy wave fishing. It can also be used outside of rocks.

The power of this size combined with 20lb mono tipped or 40lb braided line allows you to ride none other than deep sea species.

When used with a 12-foot surf rod, casting distance, spin speed, and touch don't improve much for beach fishing.

The 8000 series reels can handle a 50lb test braided line with ease. This reel is a favorite among fishing guides who run a boat full of novice anglers eager to catch salmon.

The reel works with rods from eight to 12 feet. Its great line capacity allows long casts. Or better yet, long battles with big fish as they run with the drag on this reel singing the happiest song an angler can hear.

A 60 pound test is a heavyweight line. The 9000 can handle that braided-style line rating.

The recreational angler will rarely hook a fish that exceeds this reel's 60 pound test rating, but if they do, the heavier reel, with stronger drag, can still attract that monster.

Extra Large Spinning Reels

The largest series of coils starts with the 10,000 series. If you're a novice or can't handle the constant weight of a heavy reel combined with a big rod, these monsters are best left to someone else.

The 10,000 is rated for 20 to 30 pound mono line and 25 to 70 pound powerful braided line. Guides working offshore with tourists often prefer this reel for its line variability.

This is a sport fishing reel. You will find many of them off the coast of Florida or Texas with saltwater sport fishing. They are difficult to handle and the weight of this reel with a heavy rod can tire some anglers quickly.

It is considered the best reel for recreational sport anglers who are not trying to hook a record blue marlin or tarpon.

When you have a reel where the lightest recommended line is 30lb mono line or 25lb braided line, you have power in your hands.

This rod is generally reserved for guided or professional fishing. It still works well for rock or surf applications, but it's hard to control on that setting.

Mackerel anglers appreciate this size, as do tuna and snapper anglers. A 12,000 series reel can bring in heavier sharks, billfish, swordfish, and other large species. This reel is too big for any rod under 10 feet.

The largest coil on the market is the 14,000 coil. It's heavy, powerful and not for beginners. You do have to have some strength to use this reel effectively. Rod lengths of 18 feet are common with this reel.

It has the heaviest weight line available on the market. Deep sea offshore game fishing is a perfect application for this reel.

Large Tuna, King Mackerel, Sharks up to six feet, along with Kingfish and Snapper are target species for this size.

The 20,000 and 30,000 reels are the exclusive range for intense saltwater fishing.

If you're after the world's biggest gamefish, this is the reel you'll be holding onto a heavy, stiff rod that can withstand the hours of fighting you're likely to encounter with a big tuna or sailfish.

You can read more about our top pick for spinning reels.here.

Spinning Coil Size Chart

Little

Average

Grande

Extra big

What is the best reel size for bass fishing?

Bass anglers prefer reels in the 2000 to 4000 size range. Reel size depends on the size of largemouth, smallmouth, or freshwater stripers you can expect in a body of water.

The best action always comes with a lighter rod and reel, which is why many choose a 2000 reel with a flexible rod for great action.

It also has the added benefit of allowing you to feel the beat more, although this is rarely a problem with always-aggressive bass.

The size of your hands, the versatility of the reel, whether you can change the handle to a left-handed model, and the capacity of the line are all things to consider when selecting an ideal reel for bass fishing.

How do you combine a spinning reel with a rod?

You'll get another automotive analogy; a huge engine in a small car is ridiculous, just like a small engine in a one ton truck. The relationship between rod and reel is similar.

When combining a spinning reel with a rod, you need to select a reel that works with the action and length of the rod.

Smaller reels in the 1000 to 2500 range work very well with ultralight rods.

Heavy surfcasting rods require larger reels, mostly in the 5000 to 7000 range.

The style of fishing, the rod-mounted reel you choose, the action of the rod, and even the location of the line guides are all things to consider when buying the right size reel.

frequent questions