Great topic Liquid im debating on a new reel also..

i have a shimano Symnerty 4000... and new Pfluegar.... for my new 10 1/2 noodle but i'm thinking its almost too big...... for what i want...

i use to only fish with any shimano 1000 size...im debating weather to buy another reel and mabey thinking of a 2500 series or Pfluegar???

I have always been a shimao guy for 20+ years... but I love my 4000 President. but again mabey too big.... but thats for lake erie....

decesions ,decesions...

 

I use the 2500 series size. I like the bigger spool size.

Joel

 

I like the 2500 series also. not too big not too small.

 

if you don't want to spend big bucks and want a reel with plenty of line capacity,not too big and should hold up well,check out the newer mitchell 300 models.in my opinion they are smooth,reliable reels.i'm no steelheader,but know about their ability/penchant for long screaming runs,but believe the mitchell to be up to the task.the drag is very smooth,infinite anti-reverse,etc.
i've been a shimano fan for many years,but love those mitchells.the big plus for steel,over the smaller shimanos is the 240/8lb. yard line capacity.try one and i think you'll be surprized.

 

Spool size is more important than capacity - but the 2 are normally directly related. There is one manufacturer I know that just changes the inside diameter of the spool for different sized reels.

Joel

 

if you don't want to spend big bucks and want a reel with plenty of line capacity,not too big and should hold up well,check out the newer mitchell 300 models.in my opinion they are smooth,reliable reels.i'm no steelheader,but know about their ability/penchant for long screaming runs,but believe the mitchell to be up to the task.the drag is very smooth,infinite anti-reverse,etc.
i've been a shimano fan for many years,but love those mitchells.the big plus for steel,over the smaller shimanos is the 240/8lb. yard line capacity.try one and i think you'll be surprized.

Misfit I used a mitchell 300 about half of last year and really liked it I lost it though, I used it for bass this year too. I have used almost all my spinning reels at one point or another for steelhead.
It went from pflueger, to quantum, to mitchell, to diawa, to shimano. I think I found the one I like.
I am not to worried about getting spooled either, thats what I have waders for!

 

The bigger spool normally allows you to cast further. I believe a bigger spool also helps minimize coiling of your line. Seems like coiling is worse when it's colder. Also normally gives you more line if a steelie does try to spool you.

But, if you're happy with what you have, stick with it.

Joel

 

The bigger spool normally allows you to cast further. I believe a bigger spool also helps minimize coiling of your line. Seems like coiling is worse when it's colder. Also normally gives you more line if a steelie does try to spool you.

But, if you're happy with what you have, stick with it.

Joel

The casting distance is not a factor with my reel, I can cast my drennan float where it needs to be on any hole I fish. If I was casting from a break wall or something then it might be different. I would say the only problem is as you said line twist, but since my change in line to Suffix I do not seem to have that problem.

 

2500 is ideal.

 

A 2500 will minimize twist plus give you a more consistent drag.

 

I've been using a shimano sedona 2000 for a few years, holds 120 yds. of 8 lb test. I also bought a shakespeare dimension 5030 last year that I really like also, it holds 100 yds. of 8 lb test. I use these reels for the breakwalls, the rivers and actually TROLL with them for the steelhead. Use 6 lb test for all but sometimes go up or down a line size depending on the circumstances. The 6 lb test seems to be the best overall line with those reels especially for trolling. The reel has to have a silky smooth drag or you'll just be wasting your time. Use them for trolling more than anything till the ice starts to come around. This size reel seems to fit any style of steelheading, at least over the years they have for me. With the 6lb test you have ample line and I've NEVER been spooled yet. By the way I usually troll with my 10 1/2 foot noodle rods, what a blast, now if the weather would just cooperate I would really like to get the boat out again.
TRIPLE-J

 

Symetre 2500 is my reel of choice. Been using them for several years.( a few years with the 2500 and before they made those it was the 2000) I started with the 1000 but found it was too small and didn't balance with my noodle rod. I use the 4000 on my 8 1/2' rod for casting hardware.

 

I am not to worried about getting spooled either, thats what I have waders for!

well you're much younger and more agile than me too
i can't chase them any more so need all the help i can get

 

I've used the 20 and 30 series Okuma Aveon. They both perform flawlessly and can take all the abuse you can throw at them. The 20 only holds 90 yards of 6#, so I went to the 30 for that reason alone.