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I use the 500. It holds a full 50yd spool of 8lb ice braid with ease. Siennas are heavy, I wouldn't use the 1000. I use the 1000's for open water fishing quite a bit.
Heavy?500 is 6.3oz1000 is 7.2 oz.
Dead stick the 1000 and jig with the 500
I'd take a 1000 size rear drag over a 500 size top drag ANY day. The weight is negligible to me and the convenience of the much more accessible rear drag is more important than the lighter weight of the 500.The 1000 is also better for the gigantic Walleye and Pike I have the luxury of hooking up on.
6.3oz is heavy for an ice reel IMO. I have plenty of them and do use them on the ice, I don't prefer them at all. Much prefer the 5oz range. The 1000 series felt like holding bricks, tried it one day and said never again.
Thanks for all the recommendations! I don't know if it makes a difference, but the Sienna 500 I have is the FD, and the 1000 is the FE (front drag).Same specs for drag and line cap?
Well the 1000 specs aren't as high as you claim, and are actually 8.5 oz weight and 95 yards of 10lb power pro.I just don't find the reel to be uncomfortably heavy at all on my 30" M and MH rods. Most micro ice reels I find to be too small. Smallest fish I'll catch is a perch and I never fish for them. I have a few Abu Silver Max and Black Max 500 size reels that are okay, but most other ones I'm finding are too small now.I also don't hold my rod with my hand like I'm painting watercolors at an easel or whatever that panfishing rod hold technique is called. I would think a 1000 size reel could cause some fatigue with your hand and wrist in that position.
I'm just an idiot when it comes to ice fishing as of yet, but working on that.