How Much Does a Fishing Reel Weigh? | Guide

To have a clear answer to this question, we will look into different types of reels and how much they weigh. Let’s have a look at them;

-Spinning Reels Weight

Spinning reels are by far the most common type of fishing reel. They weigh around 13 oz. These are used to target smaller fish. There are larger spinning reels that weigh up to 8 pounds, but they are mainly used for deep-sea fishing and catching bigger fish. The weight of spinning reels can also be determined by their size. The sizes include;

  • 1000 to 3500 (or 10 – 35). This is a class for small spinning reels, weighing between 14 to 18 oz. They are mainly used to target small and medium-sized fish. They are also used for ice fishing and surfcasting.
  • 2) 4000 to 5500 (or 40 – 55) class reels are medium-sized spinning reels weighing from 8 to 14 lbs. They are mainly used for larger fish species and deep-sea fishing, as well as to land heavy lines, lures, and nets.
  • 3) 6000 to 9500 (or 60 – 95) class reels are large spinning reels weighing from 20 to 30 oz. They are used in the same way as medium-sized spinning reels, but they are mainly used for bigger fish species and deep-sea fishing.

Baitcasting Reels Weight

These reels are designed specifically for baitcasting rods. These reels are reserved for seasoned anglers. Baitcasting reels weigh between 7 to 8 oz. They are difficult to handle and require a lot of experience.

-Trolling Reels Weight

These are for saltwater fishing, although you can use them in freshwaters, too. They weigh around 3 pounds. These are used with outriggers or downriggers.

A lot of people prefer using these when trolling because they have a slower retrieval speed. This allows the lure more time on the water so it has more chance to attract fish.

-Fly Reels Weight

These are for fly fishing, although you can use them in other types of fishing too. They weigh around 6 ounces. These are used with a fly rod, which is lighter compared to baitcasting rods. The weight of these reels is quite trivial, hence they are used mainly for trout fishing.

-Electric Reels Weight

Electric reels weigh around weigh only 10oz. These reels are reserved light (inshore) saltwater fishing. They cast and retrieve automatically, hence eliminating the need to use a manual. It makes it easier and safer to fish from a fast-moving boat like a yacht or speedboat.

To sum it up, the average weight of a fishing reel ranges between 11 and 12 oz. However, there are bigger and heavier reels that weigh around 20 ounces, but they are mainly used for deep-sea fishing and big game fishing.

They aren’t practical to use in smaller water bodies or rivers where you can only see a few feet ahead of you. The weight of these types of reels is quite high compared to the other types.

If, you are interested in knowing more about electric fishing reels. Click Here to Know More

How Much Does the Reel Body Weigh?

The bodyweight of a fishing reel ranges from only a few ounces to several pounds. The weight of the reel body can affect how easy it is to cast, hold drag pressure and fight fish.

To be precise, the body of a fishing reel is the outer housing, usually made from metal or graphite. It may range from 23 to 32 oz. The body is usually covered with a rubber outer layer called the handle which helps you to grip and position it properly.

The weight of a reel can be used as an indicator of its strength, durability, and power potential for big fish.

A lighter reel will have a stiffer spool allowing for better casting capabilities but little resistance when fighting a big fish.

A heavier reel will have a larger line capacity and allow the spool to be more flexible for those tough battles with large fish requiring fewer backlashes.

How Much Does the Reel Handle Weigh?

The handle of a fishing reel, also known as the bail is one of the most important parts of a fishing reel. It is what would allow you to retrieve the fish from the water.

The handle should be comfortable to hold and operate. A high-quality fishing reel’s handle is usually composed of two parts: the body and the rotor, with a circular plate in between them. Its weight will depend on its size, materials used, and the number of components it has. On average, a reel handle weighs between 1 and 3 ounces.

They can also weigh more than 4 ounces, especially when they are made of heavy metals such as steel or aluminum, but these types of reels usually require a lot of strength to operate, which means they should be heavier because the person operating it should also be strong.

How Much Does Reel Spool Weigh?

This question doesn’t have a simple answer. It can depend on the size of the spool and the type of materials being used, but for our purposes here we’ll use an example of a spool with approximately 100 ft (or 30 meters) of 20 lb test monofilament fishing line.

This spool has a volume capacity to hold approximately 20 kg (44 pounds) of 20 lb monofilament fishing line.

Close examination reveals that the spool has a rectangular cross-section and therefore its weight is primarily influenced by its length and width. According to our calculations, this reel spool weighs approximately 2.5 lbs/1.13 kg.

If we want to make a very conservative guess, we can estimate that a spool this size would weigh approximately 2 lbs/0.9 kg plus the weight of the plastic, which is also not insignificant at 0.35 lb/170 gm. This brings our total for this spool to an approximated 2.35 lbs/1 kg.

How Much Does the Motor Weigh in An Electric Fishing Reel?

The weight of an electric reel motor depends on the type of reel that it is being used in. Smaller reels may have motors that weigh around 600 grams. A larger reel may have a motor that weighs around 1.2 kg.

Is It Good to Buy a Heavy Fishing Reel?

This is a matter of choice. If you’re going to be fishing for smaller fish, then a heavy reel is probably best. While big fish can pull on the line with force, lighter reels make it easier to fight them without the agitating pull-backs from a tight line. But if you’re going out for bigger beasts, a heavy reel can pull them in more easily.

So, it’s a case of weighing up the pros and cons. It is good to buy a fishing reel that is suitable for your purposes.

Factors to Consider when Looking for A Fishing Reel

It’s important to remember that there is no one perfect fishing reel. It all depends on what kind of fish you’d like to catch and the type of water and conditions in which you’ll be using it. Here are the factors to consider when looking for a fishing reel;

-Weight. This is an important factor to consider because different reels have different weights. Lighter reels are made from less dense materials and as a result, they require more effort to cast the line as well as fight fish. Heavy ones do better when fighting big fish as the added weight makes it easier for the reel to draw in those fish.

A lighter reel will have a stiffer retrieve but this can be overcome by having one with a very powerful drag. The best of both worlds would be to use an 8-weight reel with a 7:1 retrieve ratio, which will give the advantage of the smoothness of lighter reels without sacrificing power.

-Number of bearings in a fishing reel? Fishing reels have ball bearings that support their rotors. The more bearings there are, the smoother it will cast and retrieve your line. Double-row bearings are better because they are stronger, but single-row ones are also good.

-A fishing reel with the anti-reverse feature is important too as this means that when the fish is pulling on the line, it can break free without you having to put in too much effort.

-Drag system of the fishing reel is important when catching fish that are bigger than average. This enables you to adjust the drag without affecting your cast or retrieve.

-Quality of a fishing reel. It’s worth spending a bit more on a quality reel because it will help to improve your catch rate.

-Examine the type of fishing reel that you want, including its capacity to hold line capacity, power, and retrieve. It’s also important to take into account whether it is suitable for the kind of fishing you’ll be doing. If you intend to use it in salt water, then you need one that is saltwater safe.

When you’re looking to buy a fishing reel, remember that it’s not just about looks. While the aesthetics are important in helping you enjoy your experience in fishing, they don’t help when it comes to catching fish.

And if you can use it with confidence, without worrying about its performance or breaking down, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t be enjoying your fishing trip.

Taking care of your fishing reel from corrosion and rain is also very important to enhance its durability.

Conclusion

When it comes to the weight of fishing reels, it all depends on the type of fishing that you’re doing. That being said, there is no one perfect type of fishing reel. It all depends on what kind of fish you’re going after and what your conditions are. A suitably heavy reel with an anti-reverse, for example, would be useful in catching bigger fish in saltwater because it can break free without damaging the line.

Sources:

Campermate

Fishwinch