Spinning Reel Size Chart (How to Choose the Right Reel Size)

Confused about buying the right spinning reel? Don’t have an idea about the size of different spinning reels? Then this size chart will be a great help for you.

Here you’ll know about the sizes of different spinning reels and which size to choose for your fishing needs. Also, understand which reels you should choose according to the fish and water landscape.

Let’s get started.

What are the Different Sizes of Spinning Reels [Explained]

Getting the proper spinning reel size is as vital as having the right type. And the whole process of choosing the perfect size is not as difficult as it appears. Simply read this guide and review our spinning reel size chart to get the right size reel for your needs.

When you want to buy a spinning reel, there are a few sizes that you will find. The most common ones are the small size spinning reels, which are denoted by the following numbers:

• 1000 (10)
• 2000 (20)
• 2500 (25)
• 3000 (30)
• 3500 (35)

The four-digit number is used by some manufacturers, whereas others use the two-digit number.

The smaller and lighter the reel, the lower the number. Even larger spinning reel sizes are available, but these five are the most significant bass fishing alternatives.

After that, matching the reel to the rod is a big part of choosing a reel size. You won’t need to worry as much about matching a new reel to your rod when you have several rods for different fishing styles. If you only have one or two rods, you’ll want to ensure that the reel you purchase is compatible with those rods.

Spinning reel sizes explained

Since there are 3 distinct size classifications in use, spinning reel sizes might be perplexing. Some reel manufacturers number their spinning reels 10, 20, 30, and so on, while others label them 1000, 2000, 3000, etc.

However, there’s no need to be perplexed because the 2 systems are nearly identical. For instance, a reel size 10 is just another terminology for a reel size 1000, a reel size 25 to a reel size 2500, and so on.

In other words, you only need to focus on the first two numbers of the reel size. If you disregard the zeros and correlate this number among all brands and models you’re interested in, you will easily understand the size chart.

What Size Spinning Reel Do I Need?

The type of fishing you plan to conduct will decide the spinning reel size you should purchase. At first, ask the following points to yourself:

• Are you going to fish in freshwater or saltwater?
• What kind of fish do you intend to catch?
• What line weight do you intend to use?

Saltwater spinning reels must handle stronger lines and larger fish, and they are generally larger than freshwater spinning reels. Besides, strong saltwater species often make long ‘runs’ after being hooked, ripping the line from a small reel.

You’ll need a bigger spinning reel if you’re going after bigger fish. For example, when fishing for crappie and bluegill, a size 1000 spinning reel will suffice. On the other hand, capturing tuna requires a much larger reel, perhaps a size 10,000 spinning reel.

Looking at the spinning reel size chart below and seeing which one works best for you is the quickest method to figure out the proper size for your needs.

Spinning Reel Size Chart

When you look at spinning reel sizes, a few are in the market. So, we have divided the size chart into 3 separate categories. Below is a detailed description of them:

Small-sized spinning reels

Small-sized spinning reels are perfect if you are using lightweight rods. These rods are usually 6 to 7 feet in length. If you intend to target tiny species about 15 pounds in weight, these should be your go-to spinning reels.

They function better with 2-10lb monofilament or 4-14lb braid. Their most common uses are freshwater fishing, but they can also be utilized in protected coastal waters.

Reel Size	Suggested Mono Strength	Suggested Braid Strength	Common Application	Common Fish Type
1000 (10)	2-4lb	4-8lb	Ultralight freshwater, bays, estuaries, and harbor fishing	Luderick, Bream, Whiting, Flathead, Trout, Perch
2000 (20)	4-6lb	4-8lb	Ultralight freshwater, bays, estuaries, and harbor fishing	Crappie, Trout, Perch, Bluegill, Yellow, Bass
2500 (25)	5-8lb	5-12lb	Light freshwater, bays, estuaries, and harbor fishing	Northern Pike, Walleye, Bass
3000 (30)	6-10lb	6-14lb	Light freshwater, bays, estuaries, and harbor fishing	Northern Pike, Walleye, Catfish, Bass
3500 (35)	6-10lb	6-14lb	Light freshwater, bays, estuaries, and harbor fishing	Northern Pike, Walleye, Catfish, Bass

Medium-sized spinning reels

These spinning reels are suitable for rods with a length of 7-8 feet. They function better with 8-14lb monofilament or 10-25lb braid targeting mid-sized fish up to roughly 30 pounds. They’re frequently employed for freshwater applications or coastal saltwater fishing.

Reel Size	Suggested Mono Strength	Suggested Braid Strength	Common Application	Common Fish Type
4000 (40)	8-12lb	8-20lb	Medium inshore saltwater and freshwater fishing	Snapper, Redfish, Snook, Muskie, Catfish
4500 (45)	8-12lb	8-20lb	Medium inshore saltwater and freshwater fishing	Snapper, Redfish, Snook, Muskie, Catfish
5000 (50)	10-14lb	10-25lb	Medium inshore saltwater and freshwater fishing	Snapper, Redfish, Snook, Muskie, Catfish
5500 (55)	10-14lb	10-25lb	Medium inshore saltwater and freshwater fishing	Snapper, Redfish, Snook, Muskie, Catfish

Large-sized spinning reels

These spinning reels are designed for hefty rods. The hefty rods are more functional for surfcasting, rock fishing, or offshore boat fishing. They do well with 12-60lb monofilament or 24-100lb braid and are ideal for targeting huge fish up to roughly 150 pounds.

The larger variants are utilized to catch coastal species like sailfish, and they are excellent for heavy saltwater applications.

Reel Size	Suggested Mono Strength	Suggested Braid Strength	Common Application	Common Fish Type
6000 (60)	12-16lb	12-30lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Red Drum Redfish, Snook, Salmon, Striped Bass
6500 (65)	12-16lb	12-30lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Red Drum Redfish, Snook, Salmon, Striped Bass
7000 (70)	14-18lb	15-40lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Red Drum Redfish, Snook, Salmon, Striped Bass
7500 (75)	16-20lb	20-50lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Red Drum Redfish, Snook, Salmon, Striped Bass
8000 (80)	16-20lb	20-50lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Dorado, Amberjack, Barracuda, Roosterfish, Wahoo
8500 (85)	18-22lb	30-50lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Dorado, Amberjack, Barracuda, Roosterfish, Wahoo
9000 (90)	18-22lb	30-50lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Dorado, Amberjack, Barracuda, Roosterfish, Wahoo
9500 (95)	20-25lb	30-50lb	Medium inshore and offshore fishing	Dorado, Amberjack, Barracuda, Roosterfish, Wahoo
10000 (100)	20-25lb	30-60lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
10500 (105)	22-27lb	30-60lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
12000 (120)	28lb+	30-60lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
14000 (140)	28lb+	30-60lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
16000 (160)	32lb+/36lb+	40-70lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
18000 (180)	36lb+	40-70lb	Medium/heavy inshore and offshore fishing	Shark, Wahoo, Dorado, Tuna
20000 (200)	40lb+	50-80lb	Heavy offshore fishing	Large Tuna, Giant Trevally, Tarpon, Sailfish
25000 (250)	50lb+	50-80lb	Heavy offshore fishing	Large Tuna, Giant Trevally, Tarpon, Sailfish
30000 (30)	60lb+	80-100lb	Heavy offshore fishing	Large Tuna, Giant Trevally, Tarpon, Sailfish

Conclusion

Buying the perfectly suited spinning reel for fishing is the first step in your fishing prospect. It is an important part of the process. So, you need to understand the spinning reel size chart well enough to buy it from the market.

There are different sizes available for you to purchase. So, we categorized the sizes into 3 different types for better understanding. The most common ones that most people use are small-sized spinning reels. But you must make sure that the reel you buy matches the weight of the mono and braid.

We recommend that you get the mono and braid first following your need. If you are getting only a handful of them, make sure the weight matches the spinning reel you intend to buy. But if you have several different strengths of mono and braid, you can mix and match with varying sizes of spinning reels.

FAQ

How can you match a spinning reel with a rod?

If you’re getting your first spinning reel and rod, you might be unsure how to match them. The first step is to look for spinning rods, as they differ from baitcasting rods in terms of design, and a baitcasting rod cannot be used with a spinning reel and vice versa.

Should you choose a 3000 or 4000 spinning reel?

Due to its reduced weight, a 3000-size spinning reel is better for medium-sized fishes, but a 4000 is better for larger species or saltwater fishing. If you plan to throw lures frequently, the lightweight of a 3000 reel is extremely critical, as a heavier model soon becomes taxing.

A 4000-size reel also has a larger spool and line capacity, allowing for longer casting distances and improved performance with heavier lines. In general, never use a size larger than 3000 for freshwater fishing and a size 4000 for inshore saltwater fishing.

What size spinning reel should you use for bass fishing?

When it comes to bass fishing, a 1000-size reel is the smallest and lightest. A 1000s reel has the advantage of handling smaller freshwater fish.

What is the best size spinning reel for surf fishing?

We recommend a 4000 to 6000 size spinning reel for standard surf fishing. 90% of the popular saltwater species are likely to be caught with a setup in this range.

What size reel should you use for an ultralight rod?

For ultralight rods, a reel size of 1000 to 2500 is suitable. A 1000 reel has the benefit of being the lightest option, but it also has a substantially lower line capacity, which limits your casting distance.