Spinning reel advice

[musicisum]

Hey there wondering if anyone can advise me on spinning reel size. Fairly new to spinning and as i now live in london after moving from the coast in scotland i fancy a spinning outfit for general saltwater purposes on trips to the south coast (would love to catch a bass). Am a bit unsure about reel size to go with the shimano 10ft travel spinning rod i fancy buying (people in another thread have spoken well of the shimano stc exage rods, any further advice on this before i splash the cash would be grand!).

Here are the spool capacities (lb/yds) of the various models of a daiwa spinning reel ive been looking at:

2000 4/155, 6/100, 8/80
2500 6/210, 8/170, 10/140
3000 8/240, 10/200, 12/170
3500 10/240, 12/210, 14/170
4000 10/300, 12/260, 14/210

I want to know what lb of mono people advise using for general saltwater spinning etc to cover most bases(a friend back home says 6, is this not a wee bit light?). If anyone can advise me on which reel size might be best and with what lb of mono would be much appreciated. Cheers, David.

[maxwilliam]

I'm sure there's a lot of personal thought on line strenth but I wouldn't go less than the 12lb in maybe Maxima or Berkley Big Game. I think you'd also want the largest of those reels you mention at the least.
If you're close enough to the Thames you also want to try spinning in there, some of the best spinning in the country for free. Cracking perch, chub and pike almost all the way into central London and the odd Salmon and a run of sea trout.
The Shimano Exage is great and when you buy it try on a few reels to see how it balances and feels. Best of luck and if you fish the River might be best to wait 'till it gets warmer at the start of the season next June.

[lucky]

If you're close enough to the Thames you also want to try spinning in there, some of the best spinning in the country for free. Cracking perch, chub and pike almost all the way into central London and the odd Salmon and a run of sea trout.

Hi mw - can you recommend any good spots for spinning on the Thames?

[vaughan]

No need for anything more than 10lb on a spinning rod and you shouldn't need any more than 200 yards of line so the 3000 size reel should be fine.

Remember spinning rods should be light enough to carry and walk with all day and should have a reel to match.

If you are concerned about crack offs when casting just use a length of 20lb clear mono as shockleader.

I met one of the most famous bass pluggers/spinners in the country and he only ever uses 10lb mono straight through on a pretty small reel. He has caught many double figure bass!!!

For clean beaches I only use 12lb line on my abu multipliers! I think many people go over kill on line strength and this ruins the fun of playing the fish, there ain't no skill in just dragging a fish in without needing the drag on the reel.

When you catch a 5lb pollack on a lure and your reel screems and smokes for 15 seconds while you try and stop it hitting the snags you will know what I mean.

[richard lawrence]

I agree 10lb line is fine with about 200m capacity.

I've been using Berkley Trilene the last year or so and have been very impressed. Casts like a dream.

The only problem I've encountered is that the 10lb line isn't usually enough to straighten the hooks when snagged. Heavier braid should sort this although I've made a lure retriever for use from my kayak.

[musicisum]

Thanks for the advice there guys my gut feeling was the 3000 size and i guess i could go with maybe 8 or 10lb on one spool and possibly 12 or 14lb on the spare for when the going gets tough?

Spinning in the Thames id never have thought it would yield more than some rotting condoms or a shopping trolley but im glad to have found that out thanks for the tip maxwilliam i will def look to try it out later in the year.

Does anyone else think that now is the time to buy reels from America on ebay? I reckon i can get a Daiwa Tierra 3000 sent across here for under £60 (with the seller marking the value on the box to $10 to avoid import duty!). Which is half the price of the TDR match reel (exact same reel with a different name) across here!

Anyone else been up to this kinda shenanigans with any success?

[maxwilliam]

Hello Dave,
maybe in ideal locations you could drop below 12lb, maybe on a sandy beach, but if you're fishing by moving from spot to spot and trying to check fish taking depths, then you will snag up and will appreciate the extra bit of confidence a stronger line will give. It also helps in steering those bigger ones away from those kelpy rocks.

Hello Lucky,
my favourite stretches of the Thames would be the tidal stretch between say, Kew and Teddington. From opening season in June to about Oct/Nov a red Mepps Flying 'C' of 15g is very hard to beat. Fish anywhere you've got a bit of access, pontoons are good early mornings before you get kicked off.
Moored boats are great fish holding areas and along the edge but they can be anywhere.

[lucky]

Thanks mw - I'll get onto Multimap and have a look for some likely spots along that stretch of river. Just one thing though, being that the Thames is still tidal on that stretch why would any seasonal fishing restrictions apply or were you just refering to the best time of year to use the Mepps?

[maxwilliam]

Hi Lucky,
it might be tidal but the EA license is needed. The start point on the Thames for a license is much further downstream but am not sure exactly where.

Try just going to Richmond and wander the banks and just fish either bank from the several sets of steps going in an upstream direction. Good luck, Max.

[lucky]

Thanks Max - I'll get a licence at the start of April and head down on the tube to Richmond to check it out.