What Size Spinning Reel Should I Get? A Guide For Beginners
Understanding the size of spinning reels is not that difficult. A smaller number means a smaller fishing reel and a bigger number means a bigger fishing reel.
Smaller reels are less expensive and designed for smaller fishes, and bigger reels are more expensive and designed for bigger fishes. To answer “what size spinning reel should I get” concisely:
You might already be familiar with sizes 1000, 2000, 10000, etc. but there is also another variant of sizes used by some manufacturers. They only use the first 2 digits like 10 for 1000 or 30 for 3000. But that variant is rarely used.
There is no standard or universal-sized spinning reel that can be used for all kinds of purposes.
Smaller reels have better casting comfort but can only catch a limited number of fish while bigger reels, although have more versatile applications, can cause strain on your hands and wrist.
The size eventually depends on personal preferences. Whether you will be fishing in freshwater or saltwater? What kind of fish are you going after? How big is the fish you want to catch? What line strength are you planning to use?
These are all the questions that will help you narrow down the choice and select the best spinning reel.
Beginners would want to go with an easier-to-use spinning reel that has enhanced casting comfort and can easily cast longer lines and retrieve them faster.
Seasoned anglers would be looking for more advanced reels that could help them get a big prize on their fishing day.
To help you understand these sizes better, we will be discussing them in detail below. Keep on reading to find out everything you need to know about spinning reel sizes and what size you should get.
What is the difference in spinning reel sizes?
Spinning reel sizes are determined by reel manufacturer, series, and model. The primary factors that contribute to size determination are spool capacity and the overall size of the reel.
Adding to this, the weight and maximum drag capacity of the reel also play a pivotal role in determining the size of the reel.
The reel sizes usually start from 1000 and go as high as 30,000. You might have noticed some manufacturers using the double-digit variant.
Also, some manufacturers have introduced size 500 spinning reels, but that is a rare model only used by a few beginners. Check How Do I Stop My Reel From Spinning Backwards?
The difference in spinning reel sizes is not always obvious. You might have seen that reel size 3000 of one brand might look like 4000 of the other.
They both might have the same size when it comes to outer appearances but the inside components are determining the difference in spinning reel size.
Size determining factors often include material, design, and technology used in the reel which directly affects the performance.
So, a reel size 4000 from one brand might be as compact as a reel size 3000 from the other brand, but the difference in performance will be significant.
Also, you will notice the difference in prices and sizes of the spinning reel. One brand might be selling you a size 3000 reel for 90 dollars while the other one is selling the same size for 290 dollars.
Here the difference lies in performance as well as technological features. The expensive reel will have more refinements and components crafted with much higher precision.
Despite all these factors, size is the primary determiner when selecting a spinning reel.
Let’s get into different sizes of spinning reels and what they actually mean. Check Do Spinning Reels Backlash?
What are the different sizes of spinning reels?
There is no standard size chart for spinning reels. As we discussed above, a size 3000 reel costing hardly 100 dollars cannot be compared to a 300 dollars spinning reel that also claims to have the same size.
Other intervening factors affect the performance of the spinning reel. Each series of spinning reels comes with its own size chart.
We have tried to create a standard size chart for spinning reels that will show you the basic aspects of size in a spinning reel.
If you are a beginner, the size chart below can help you understand the different sizes of spinning reels and pick the size you need for fishing. Check Can You Use Spinning Reel For Trolling?
The chart will also help seasoned and recreational anglers to rethink their fishing reels and their application.
To make it simpler for you to understand, we have divided the spinning reel sizes into three major categories; small, medium, and large spinning reels.
Small Spinning Reel Sizes (Size 500 – Size 3500)
Small spinning reels are designed for freshwater and inshore fishing. You can go after a wide range of fishing species. However, you can also use them to go after some of the saltwater species.
These spinning reels can be used in rivers, creeks, lakes, dams, harbors, and docks.
Here is a basic guide to the sizes and their application. These sizes are not absolute but can give you an idea about fish sizes you can go after with these specific reels. You may also like to check Why Does My Reel Keep Spinning?.
| Reel Size | Mono Line Strength | Braid Line Strength | Recommended Specie | Fish Size |
| 500 | 1 – 3 Lbs. | 2 – 5 Lbs. | Trout, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch | Up to 2 Lbs. |
| 1000 | 2 – 4 Lbs. | 4 – 8 Lbs. | Trout, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch | Up to 3 Lbs. |
| 2000 | 4 – 6 Lbs. | 4 – 8 Lbs. | Bass, Trout, Crappie, Bluegill, Yellow Perch | Up to 5 Lbs. |
| 2500 | 5 – 8 Lbs. | 5 – 12 Lbs. | Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike | 2 – 7 Lbs. |
| 3000 | 6 – 10 Lbs. | 6 – 14 Lbs. | Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Catfish, Red, Snook | 2 – 15 Lbs. |
| 3500 | 6 – 10 Lbs. | 6 – 14 Lbs. | Bass, Walleye, Northern Pike, Catfish, Red, Snook | 2 – 18 Lbs. |
You might have noticed in the above chart that size 3000 and 3500 spinning reels don’t have much difference. The difference in the 1000 range variant is more significant but not in the 500 variants. Because the main difference is only spool capacity.
Keeping that in mind, we will keep the following sizes limited to a difference of 1000.
Medium Size Spinning Reels (Size 4000 to Size 5000)
Medium-sized spinning reels are the most popular because they offer the most versatile fishing experience. You can fish for a wide range of freshwater and even some popular saltwater fishing species with these reels.
These reels work great in both freshwater and saltwater applications. Whether on land or afloat, these reels provide exemplary performance.
With a good medium-sized fishing reel, you can catch a decent-sized prize.
| Reel Size | Mono Line Strength | Braid Line Strength | Recommended Specie | Fish Size |
| 4000 | 8 – 12 Lbs. | 8 – 20 Lbs. | Catfish, Muskie, Snook, Redfish, Snapper | 10 – 20 Lbs. |
| 5000 | 10 – 15 Lbs. | 10 – 25 Lbs. | Catfish, Muskie, Snook, Redfish, Snapper, Bluefish, Stripers | 15 – 30+ Lbs. |
The size 4500 and 5500 spinning reels offer similar performance to size 4000 and size 5000 reels respectively. You just have a slightly larger spool and a slightly larger drag limit.
Large Size Spinning Reels (Size 6000 to Size 30,000)
With the large-size spinning reels, your real fishing experience starts that medium to heavy species both inshore and in saltwater offshore.
These fishing species range from a larger class of salmons and drums to marlin and Bluefin tuna in offshore fishing.
Sizes in this category are the most difficult to differentiate. Size 10,000 from one manufacturer might look exactly the same as size 14,000 from another.
As we discussed above, the difference here lies in inner components and performance.
Size 10,000 and higher are able to go after serious size game fish and even reel in sharks and GT.
These powerful spinning reels are capable of tackling a 1000-pound marlin, a max-sized dog tooth, and Bluefin. You can also target species that are heavier than 150+ pounds.
| Reel Size | Mono Line Strength | Braid Line Strength | Recommended Specie | Fish Size |
| 6000 | 12 – 18 Lbs. | 12 – 30 Lbs. | Striped Bass, Salmon, Snook, Redfish (Red Drum) | 10 – 35 Lbs. |
| 7000 | 14 – 20 Lbs. | 15 – 40 Lbs. | Striped Bass, Salmon, Snook, Redfish (Red Drum) | 10 – 40 Lbs. |
| 8000 | 15 – 25 Lbs. | 20 – 50 Lbs. | Wahoo, Roosterfish, Dorado, Barracuda, Amberjack | 15 – 45 Lbs. |
| 9000 | 20 – 25 Lbs. | 20 – 60 Lbs. | Wahoo, Roosterfish, Dorado, Barracuda, Amberjack | 20 – 45 Lbs. |
| 10000 | 20 – 30 Lbs. | 25 – 70 Lbs. | Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado, Shark | 20 – 45 Lbs. |
| 14000 | 40 Lbs. + | 30 – 80 Lbs. | Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado, Shark | 30 – 50+ Lbs. |
| 20000 | 50 Lbs. + | 60 Lbs. + | Sailfish, Tuna (large species), Tarpon, Giant Trevally | 30 – 60+ Lbs. |
| 30000 | 60 Lbs. + | 80 Lbs. + | Sailfish, Tuna (large species), Tarpon, Giant Trevally | 30 – 70+ Lbs. |
How to Select the Best Spinning Reel Size?
Three primary factors that can help you select an ideal fishing reel for your need are: what type of fish are you going after? Where are you going to be fishing? What is your budget?
While there are plenty of other preferences that also have an impact on your choice, you can determine the size of the reel based on these three factors.
If you are a beginner, then a size 3000 reel would be an ideal pick for you. The reel offers the most versatile fishing application and allows you to go after many of the freshwater and some of the inshore saltwater species.
For sports and finesses, you can decrease the size and practice new techniques. Bigger sizes are tougher on smaller hands.
Now, when going after the bigger species in big lakes or saltwater, a medium-powered reel from 4000 to 5000 size should suffice. But it will require both technique and experience.
Once you have become a seasoned angler, you can go after the biggest fish in saltwater and choose a bigger heavy-class reel.
However, at that point budget becomes a big issue. Heavy-class reels that are suited for larger fish are extremely expensive. Not to mention they will require a larger and more powerful rod too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrapping Up!
We hope you have learned a lot about spinning reel sizes and how they affect your fishing experience.
Our guide shares standardized information on different sizes of spinning reels. Although there is no universal size chart, you can still narrow down the size selection based on some influential factors.
Also, you select a good reel size mainly depends on the type of fish, the location of fishing, and your budget.
If you are a beginner, then we highly recommend that you go with a size 3000 spinning reel. It offers the most versatile fishing experience.
Got any questions? Drop them in the comment section below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.