Do you know that there are different spots for Bass fishing in almost every state? You have Lake Fork in Texas, Clearlake in California, Lake Erie in New York, and so much more. The reason why Bass fishing is probably the most famous fishing sport, at least in the United States, is first of all; the presence of different species of Bass in different regions.
Second of all is the nature of Bass as a fish, in general. They’re pretty feisty and a tough catch, so they provide so much entertainment, plus a prize that you’d be proud of at the end of the day.
Contents
A Little Bit About Bass
Before we get into all of the technicalities, terms, and numbers, let’s get to know the Bass fish a little bit better. You see, the Bass has around nine subspecies, the first of them being the Black Bass, which originated in southeastern Canada, and northern Mexico, in addition to eastern and central United States.
The other species of Bass include Largemouth, Smallmouth, and Spotted, and by the way, these three are the most common and most famous species of Bass.
Nonetheless, we still have Guadalupe Bass, Choctaw Bass, and Temperate Bass, which splits into White Bass, Yellow Bass, Striped Bass, and White Perch Bass. On average, a Largemouth Bass can weigh around 5.5 kg, which all depends on how long it’s and the sub-specie.
Optimal Reel Sizes for Fishing Bass
We’d just like to stress on something before we talk about the sizes that you can use. Any reel that you’re comfortable with can catch any type of fish. It all depends on what you’re used to, your experience, and your fishing style in general.
The numbers we’re going to give you provide better chances and ease of use, specifically for beginners trying to create a style for themselves. We’ll also add the preferred rod size and the preferred lines, monofilament, and braided, with every reel. That way, you’ll get the whole picture right there in front of you, and then you can go and search for it yourself.
3000
The optimal size for Bass fishing is the 3000 or the 30, depends on how the manufacturer likes to express sizes. Why? Because the 3000 is big enough to catch a more prominent Bass species such as Largemouth Bass and the smaller Bass species such as the White Perch. The 3000 reel doesn’t put a strain on your hands, wrists, forearms, shoulders, or back.
They’re easy to manage and transport, and you can just whip them out anywhere and start fishing. This size allows you a lot of freedom to cast further and cover more extensive areas per cast, thanks to their much larger spool that is mostly braid-ready. So, everything here is heavy-duty without exhausting the angler.
Best Rod Size
- 6-7.5 inches rod
Best Lines
- 6-14 braided line
- 6-10 monofilament line
3500
As we’ve mentioned before, some Bass species are much larger than the others. These are the species that mostly keep to larger waterfronts, and that’s why some anglers prefer to go with the 3500 reels rather than the 3000 because it allows them to focus on the bigger catches.
Furthermore, this expands their interest in looking for other large species; this means that they’ll be getting so much more bang for their buck. To be completely honest, we don’t believe that you should buy a reel, a rod, or even a line to chase after one single species; there’s too many fish in the sea to do that, and that’s where the 3500 reels come in quite handy.
Just make sure that you’re entirely comfortable with the reel, as you’ll be faced with a bigger spool and a bigger handle. Also, ensure that it’s not putting way too much pressure on your joints and muscles, as fishing trips tend to extend for quite some time.
Best Rod Size
- 7-10 inches rod
Best Lines
- 6-14 braided line
- 6-10 monofilament line
2500
Now, we’re stepping down. When it comes to the size 2500, logically, this one is a little bit smaller than the 3000, so it allows you to focus on species that are a bit smaller. Although you’ll be dealing with a smaller spool here, you needn’t worry about tangles or birds’ nests.
As a matter of fact, the 2500 is the most famous reel size for various anglers, as it’s highly versatile and can be used to chase all types of species. It’s not too big, and it’s not so small, Goldilocks style, just perfect.
Best Rod Size
- 6-7.5 inches rod
Best Lines
- 5-12 braided line
- 4-8 monofilament line
2000
We’re still on our stepping down journey, and now we’re at the 2000 reel. Although this size is quite popular, it’s not as popular as the 2500 or the 3000 rees as it’s considered quite small, which is perfect if you have small hands or if you are introducing your teenage children to the sport of Bass fishing and you want to go easy on them.
However, keep in mind that using a 2000 reel will not allow you to cast as wide as you’d like to or to retrieve your line with the speed that you’re used to. Hence, the entire process of Bass fishing will be slowed down considerably.
Best Rod Size
- 6-7.5 inches rod
Best Lines
- 5-10 braided line
- 4-6 monofilament line
1000
Now, we’re down to the smallest reel that we can use to fish for Bass. The thing is, with the 1000 reel, you’ll be dealing with a significantly limited spool. Subsequently, the line lay can be troublesome, and you should expect to be faced with some tangles and knots.
Of course, you won’t be able to cast too far or too wide; you’ll have to stick to the area in front of you. Nevertheless, keep in mind that there are some manufacturer differences. So, a 1000 reel can actually look like a 2000 reel for another manufacturer.
Don’t hesitate to go out there and hold the reel for yourself. Take a good look at it, and see how comfortable you’re swinging it around. Still, don’t forget that there are some Bass species that are significantly smaller than their cousins, such as the Yellow Bass. So, if that’s what you’re after, maybe a 1000 reel would be the one to do the trick for you.
Best Rod Size
- 6-7 inches rod
Best Lines
- 4-8 braided line
- 2-4 monofilament line
What Happens if You Size Up Way Too Much?
If you’ve checked Amazon or any other place that sells reels, you’ll have seen that one model can have up to 10 sizes from 1000 all the way to 10,000. Some think that the best way to go about things is to go with the highest and biggest reel size so that you’ll be able to catch everything.
We’d like to tell them that no, this isn’t true. First of all, you’re risking bodily harm to yourself if you keep holding a 9000 or 10,000 reel for the same span of time that you’ve been holding a 1000 reel.
You’ll definitely feel the effects of that at the end of the day, and it’ll start from your fingers all the way throughout your arm to your back and neck, causing you severe problems if this behavior continues.
The most important bit is that you don’t need such sizes for Bass fishing. When you’re talking reel sizes such as 9000 or 10,000, you’re talking about tuna fish, swordfish, or maybe even small sharks.
What Happens if You Size Down Way Too Much?
So, what about sizing down? Such as trying to chase a Largemouth Bass with a 1000 reel. Although a lot of veteran anglers can make that happen. It’s tiresome to do that; you’re simply pressuring yourself for no reason.
Also, if the reel is too small for you, it’ll become unstable in your hand, and you won’t be able to cast or retrieve correctly. That isn’t to mention the limitation that you’ll be put under in terms of casting distance and having to deal with constant knotting in your line as it struggles to be freed from your spool.
Recap
Let’s summarize. There are nine species of Bass, different sizes and weights; the optimal reel size that you should go with is the 3000 reel, as that is the one thing that can catch the smallest Bass, which is the Yellow Bass, and the Largemouth bass, which is the biggest Bass, and, of course, everything between including other species as well.
Nevertheless, we’d advise you not to over or under-do things when it comes to fishing. Make sure to prioritize your health and not cause any type of injury to yourself during such a harmless activity.