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Smallmouth Bass checklist · Reel

Pflueger President 30 spinning reel for Tennessee Smallmouth Bass Fishing

Smooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.

Check price on Amazon →The full smallmouth bass checklist

Why it is on the list

Why the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel is on the smallmouth bass checklist

Smooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.

ReelPflueger President 30 spinning reelSmooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list

These are affiliate links. Buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you, and it is how the site stays free.

How it is used here

Using a reel like this on Tennessee water

The reel’s job is drag and line capacity. A smooth drag is what keeps a 4 lb line from breaking on a stocked trout or a big smallmouth on the Holston, and enough capacity is what gets a striper back from the current below Pickwick. Match the reel size to the rod: 1000 and 2000 sizes for ultralight and light rods, 2500 and 3000 for medium, 4000 and up for the heavy catfish and striper outfits.

Spinning reels are the default on this site because they handle light line, wind and cold hands. A baitcaster earns its place on the bass kits where accuracy around docks and timber matters. Either way, set the drag before the first cast, not after the first fish.

Where to use it

Tennessee water for the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel

Where to use itBarren ForkPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork.See the spots →Where to use itBarren Fork RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Barren Fork River.See the spots →Where to use itBoone LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Boone Lake.See the spots →Where to use itBuffalo RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Buffalo River.See the spots →Where to use itCalf Killer RiverPublic access, limits and what else swims in Calf Killer River.See the spots →Where to use itCenter Hill LakePublic access, limits and what else swims in Center Hill Lake.See the spots →

The Pflueger President 30 spinning reel is on the smallmouth bass checklist because it works on Tennessee water.

Goes with

What the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel pairs with on the smallmouth bass list

The rest of the smallmouth bass checklist, each with its own page.

RodSt. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rodLight enough for a Ned rig, with enough backbone for a 5 lb fish in current.Why it is on the list →LinePowerPro braid 10 lb with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader 8 lbBraid for feel, a fluoro leader so the bait is not tied to a visible line.Why it is on the list →FinesseZ-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheadsThe single most reliable smallmouth bait on Tennessee rock. Drag it slowly.Why it is on the list →TubeStrike King Coffee Tube, 3.5 inA tube on a 1/4 oz head for gravel bars and bluff ends.Why it is on the list →JerkbaitRapala X-Rap 10Cold water, 45 to 55 degrees. Long pauses between twitches.Why it is on the list →SwimbaitKeitech Swing Impact FAT 3.8 inOn a 1/4 oz head around shad schools in fall.Why it is on the list →
All 10 items

Same job, other fishing

Other reels on the Tennessee checklists

ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Why it is on the list →ReelPflueger Trion 25 spinning reelSmall, smooth, and cheap enough to own two.Why it is on the list →ReelAbu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3Line capacity for a big blue in current, with a clicker for bait fishing.Why it is on the list →ReelPenn Battle III 5000 spinning reelSealed drag, big spool, no excuses.Why it is on the list →ReelShimano Sedona 2500 spinning reelDependable and smooth for the price.Why it is on the list →ReelPflueger President 20 spinning reelSmall, smooth drag for light line.Why it is on the list →

Common questions

Pflueger President 30 spinning reel questions

What is the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel for?

Smooth drag at a fair price. Fill it with braid and a leader. It is the reel on the smallmouth bass checklist on this site, and it earns its place because it works on Tennessee water, not because it is new.

Which fish is the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel good for in Tennessee?

The smallmouth bass checklist covers smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rock bass. The reel’s job is drag and line capacity.

Where would I use the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel?

On the Tennessee water that holds smallmouth bass: Barren Fork, Barren Fork River, Boone Lake, Buffalo River among others. Each water page on this site lists the public access points and what swims there.

What goes with the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel?

The rest of the smallmouth bass checklist, starting with St. Croix Bass X 7 ft medium spinning rod, PowerPro braid 10 lb with a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader 8 lb, Z-Man Finesse TRD and Ned rig jigheads. The checklist page has all 10 items.

Is there a different reel for other fishing?

Yes: Abu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reel on the largemouth bass list; Pflueger Trion 25 spinning reel on the crappie list; Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 6500 C3 on the catfish list.

How much does the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel cost?

The Amazon link on this page shows today’s price. The checklist items are standard tackle rather than premium gear, and the bait shops on the county pages carry most of them.

Can I buy the Pflueger President 30 spinning reel in Tennessee instead?

Yes. Every county page on this site lists the bait shops, marinas and big box stores that carry tackle, with phone numbers and directions.

Is this an affiliate link?

Yes. The link goes to Amazon with this site’s tag and pays a small commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on the list was chosen for commission.

Do I need a licence to use it?

Anyone 13 or older needs a Tennessee fishing licence, plus the trout privilege for trout. The licence page on this site has prices and limits.

Keep going

More Tennessee water, and who fishes it

Every guide and charter on this site is listed by the water they run, so you can call the captain direct. Licences, limits and the state record list are one click away too.

Guides by waterLicence and limits