I will use a 1000 series for most of my fishing. It is a good sized reel for handling some bigger fish yet it still balances well with a 24-30 inch rod. If you are going to use a lighter and smaller rod for panfish you are going to want to get a 500. This is what most of the combos come with but getting a shimano stradic is a 1000 will ensure a good reel for the big fight and it also makes for a great reel when the ice thaws for a featherweight setup. I use this reel for ice fishing w/ a Clam Dave Genz split handle medium action rod for the ice and a Temple Fork FWS-601 the rest of the year. Send me a message if you want more info