Thread: Downsizing reels

2 hours of casting a Gotcha has made me realize I have to make some changes. Same thing the doctor told me years ago! Every reel I own is either a 5000 or 6000 series on 8' rods. I'm thinking about downsizing and moving back towards the skinny water to concentrate on trout, flounder, whiting etc. Is anyone using the 2500 series reels? Do they have the guts to last with occasional larger hookups or should I consider the 3000 series? Of course they will end up on 7' rods as well. Thanks for the advice before I order them up.

I use a 3000. I have a BG2500 that I mainly use in the kayak slinging jigs, Gulp, etc, fishing for trout and flounder and it’s handled some pretty heavy bycatch, so I don’t know why it wouldn’t work. I just prefer the 3000, about the same weight, a little more line capacity.

I like the 3000 because of the occasional big surprise you run into even while targeting lighter species. I once caught a legal cobia on my flounder jig.

We have several Penn Fierce II 3000 reels on 7' and 7'6" medium action rods. We love them, no complaints at all. I use 10 to 15 # braid on them for line capacity and casting distance. I have one 4000 series and absolutely love it, not much heavier than the 3000.

Good balanced rod & reel helps on fatigue after a little bit....love my stradic 4000 on the rod, can cast it all day, if the shoulder holds up. ..... other rods not so much, how they are balanced (made)

I just bought a Penn SSVI 3500 and a 7' medium action Star rod for the same reason. I spooled it with 20# KastKing braid (holds about 220 yards). I haven't had a chance to get down there and use it yet, but I look at it every day and dream about it. BTW, I got a flyer in the mail the other day that said Bass Pro/Cabelas has PowerPro 300 yard spools of braid for 50% off starting Friday 6/14 (line weight varies by locality), if anyone needs some braid ...

Originally Posted by ironman172

Good balanced rod & reel helps on fatigue after a little bit....love my stradic 4000 on the rod, can cast it all day, if the shoulder holds up. ..... other rods not so much, how they are balanced (made)

Put that on a E6 Loomis 8ft rod and u will have a super light combo to cast all day long , the 8ft heavy medium fast

Daddy always told me & bro when we was just kids "Use the RIGHT tool for the job."
Truer words were never spoken that apply to fishing as well!

Long hours spent chunking and grinding in the summer heat take their toll on tackle as well as the body.
And matching the equipment to the job at hand is not only more enduring, but much more entertaining.

1stTimer, if you're considering a move to the shallows a 2500 series reel is a good one.
Bro just got a Battle II 2500 with 6# mono and he says it is the best trout setup ever for him.
The rod is a 7 foot BPS MicroLite medium action, making for a very balanced combo.
It has the soft tip to cast a live shrimp 30 yards into a breeze, but the backbone to pressure a slot red away from the pilings.

IMHO a 3000 series is more of an 8# mono reel and should be paired with a 7' to 7'6" medium or medium heavy rod.
A setup like this can be used for specks, but is better suited to target redfish, flounder, sheepshead or larger spanish.

BTW, the 2000 Battle II is an excellent 4# outfit to target whiting or those 'finicky' specks when partnered with a 7' fast action medium light rod.

Hope this helps!

Unfortunately, the sharks took the fun away from playing Spanish, hardtails, blues, etc. on the really light stuff.