Reel Size for Open Water

Is a “500 series” reel too small for open water panfishing (i.e. will I have problems casting)?

The 500 size Sedona is really nice but you do lose a bit of distance while casting. I’ve got a 1000 symetry that works well for casting the 2″ gulp minnow grub and a 1/16 jig.

I only use the 500’s for light trout fishing.

1000’s are so much nicer because if you do end up hooking into a bigger fish the line capacity will be more and the reel I think is more comfortable.

Just my .02 cents.

The smaller the spool the easier casting it is. The line has to come off in less of a turn so more line comes off with less force. But you won’t have as much line capacity so be careful not to hook into any carp!

I use a couple of my ice reels on open water rods for fishing micro plastics for bluegills in the spring. I use my 3# ice line and a 1/80 jig head with a ratso body. I can cast it about 30 feet with no wind.

500 size reels are the perfect size for Panfish. The only time I use 1000 series reels is when I know I have the possibility for fighting bigger fish (Slab Crappies, Walleyes, Pike, and Bass). The line will come off the smaller spool much easier than a bigger spool because it has a smaller diameter.

Favorite panfish reels that I have stumbled across are the 500 series Sedona, 1000 series Saros (Last years model), and the 1000 series Stradic Ci4