Photos: Savage Gear · supplied retailer imagery
Predator tackle · Spinning reels · Our take
Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 Reel
2500 FD
A light, properly specced predator reel with a sealed carbon drag, spare spool and enough grunt for everyday lure work.
- 2500 FD size with a 210 g body
- 5.2:1 gear ratio and 69 cm retrieve per crank
- Sealed carbon drag with a maximum setting of 12.5 kg
- Supplied with a spare aluminium spool
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 FD, with its 210 g body, 5.2:1 gearing and supplied spare aluminium spool.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A well-equipped, lightweight predator reel that earns its keep through balance, control and the spare spool.
- Product Quality9.1/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.8/10
- Ease of Use9.2/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Perch and chub lure anglers. The light body, manageable 2500 size and steady retrieve suit small hardbaits, jigs, spinners and soft plastics.
- Anglers wanting a flexible predator setup. The spare spool lets you keep different lines ready for changing waters, methods or conditions.
Maybe skip if
- Heavy pike lure anglers. For big rubber, oversized jerkbaits or serious weed-bashing, a larger reel with more capacity is the safer shout.
- Anglers shopping purely on the lowest price. You’re paying for the lighter construction, sealed drag, bearing count and spare spool rather than just basic line retrieval.
The lowdown
Introducing the Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 Reel
A light, properly specced predator reel with a sealed carbon drag, spare spool and enough grunt for everyday lure work.
- 2500 FD size with a 210 g body
- 5.2:1 gear ratio and 69 cm retrieve per crank
- Sealed carbon drag with a maximum setting of 12.5 kg
- Supplied with a spare aluminium spool
Quick verdict
A cracking little predator reel with proper all-round appeal
The SG8 Spin 2500 is a smart fit for light-to-medium lure fishing. It’s light in the hand, smooth on the retrieve and has a useful sealed carbon drag for those close-range hits and surprise lumps.
It isn’t the cheapest 2500-size reel around, but the spare spool, solid handle and sensible predator-focused build make it a convincing bit of kit for perch, chub, zander and lighter pike work.
A well-equipped, lightweight predator reel that earns its keep through balance, control and the spare spool.
- Product Quality
- 9.1/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.8/10
- Ease of Use
- 9.2/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
The CRC body, CNC handle, stainless-steel bearings and sealed carbon drag give it a properly considered build.
The 5.2:1 gearing, 69 cm retrieve and light weight suit a broad spread of lure presentations.
Smooth drag control, good balance and quick line pick-up can help you fish lures more accurately and stay in contact.
The compact format, EVA knob, T-shaped clip and spare spool keep everyday setup and switching pleasantly straightforward.
It costs more than basic reels, but the spare spool and predator-focused features add genuine practical value.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Savage Gear
Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 Reel (this one)
Shimano
Shimano Stradic FMTop scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 Reel
The Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 is the sort of reel that’ll appeal if your lure fishing covers a bit of everything. Perch one minute, chub the next, then perhaps a cheeky session after smaller pike. It’s compact, light and built around the kind of tidy features modern predator anglers actually use.
At 210 g, it won’t have you waving a brick around all day. That matters when you’re walking stretches, fan-casting a swim or working a lure through the margins for hours. Match it to a balanced light or medium-light rod and the whole outfit should feel properly lively in the hand.
The 5.2:1 gear ratio is a sensible middle ground. You’re not stuck with a painfully slow reel when a fish follows a lure back to your boots, but it’s not so rapid that every steady retrieve turns into a mad dash. The stated 69 cm per crank gives you decent line pick-up after a twitch, bump or screaming take.
That makes it a versatile choice for small crankbaits, spinners, jigs and soft plastics. For perch, you can work a lure steadily or keep tight contact with a jig. For chub, it’ll suit flicking small plugs tight to cover. On calmer pike days, it has enough general-purpose ability for lighter lure patterns too.
The sealed carbon drag is another strong point. A maximum of 12.5 kg is serious headroom for a 2500-size reel, although most of your fishing won’t need anything close to that. The real win is controlled pressure: set it sensibly and you’ve got a smoother buffer when a fish turns under the rod tip.
Inside, there are 10+1 stainless-steel ball bearings, while the body and rotor use Savage Gear’s Carbon Reinforced Composite. That keeps the weight down and helps explain why this reel feels aimed at active lure fishing rather than sitting motionless behind a ledger rod. It’s a tool for staying busy.
The screw-in CNC aluminium handle is a nice touch as well. There’s less of that vague, rattly feeling you can get from cheaper handles, and the EVA knob gives you a comfortable grip when your hands are cold or wet. The T-shaped line clip is handy when you’re fishing clipped distances or repeating a productive cast.
The supplied spare aluminium spool could be a proper session-saver. Keep one loaded with braid and the other with a different breaking strain or a more traditional line. It saves a fair bit of faff when the venue, lure choice or target species changes. Just remember to set the drag again after swapping spools.
Line capacity is sensible for this class: 150 m of 0.20 mm line, or 130 yards of 8 lb braid. That’s plenty for most perch and chub lure work, plus lighter predator fishing where you’re not launching enormous baits into the next county. For bigger water and heavy pike gear, look up the range.
Overall, the SG8 Spin 2500 looks like a proper all-rounder rather than a one-trick perch reel. It’s light, nicely equipped and aimed at anglers who want a smoother, more refined setup without stepping into silly-money territory. If your fishing is active and lure-led, it’s a bob-on option.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Size
- 2500 FD
- Weight
- 210 g
- Gear ratio
- 5.2:1
- Retrieve rate
- 69 cm per crank
- Drag
- Sealed carbon drag, maximum 12.5 kg
- Capacity
- 150 m of 0.20 mm line; 130 yd of 8 lb braid
Specs checked with Savage Gear, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Light enough for lure work, tough enough for proper fish
The big selling point here is balance. At 210 g, the SG8 Spin 2500 shouldn’t make a light lure rod feel tip-heavy, which matters when you’re casting and working lures for hours.
The 5.2:1 ratio and 69 cm retrieve sit nicely in the middle ground. You’ve got enough speed to pick up slack after a twitch or sharp take, without making slower presentations feel rushed. Add the spare aluminium spool and this becomes a dead handy two-line setup.
The reel itself
A lightweight setup with useful extras
The SG8 Spin 2500 is built around a Carbon Reinforced Composite body and rotor, keeping the reel down to 210 g. That’s a big plus for lure fishing, where you’re constantly casting, retrieving and repositioning. The 2500 FD format also gives you a useful balance of line capacity and compact handling.
Its 5.2:1 gearing retrieves 69 cm per crank, so it’s versatile rather than specialised. The 10+1 stainless-steel bearing setup, Savage Gear Dura Grease and screw-in CNC aluminium handle are all aimed at keeping the mechanics smooth and positive.
Worth knowing. The spare aluminium spool is more than a box-ticking extra. Load one with 8 lb braid for general lure work and the other with a different line for another venue or presentation. That’s less faff when conditions change.
On the bank
A strong match for active predator fishing
Perch anglers will get the most obvious benefit. The light weight suits small lure rods, while the retrieve speed works for everything from steady plugs to stop-start jigs. It’ll also make sense for chub fishing around cover, where accurate casts and quick line pick-up matter.
For pike, keep things sensible. The reel can handle lighter lure duties, but it isn’t the answer for huge rubbers, heavy jerkbaits or long-range fishing in thick weed. Use a proper bite trace and make sure the rest of the outfit matches the fish you’re targeting.
The sealed carbon drag gives you plenty of control when a fish bolts at close range. Don’t simply wind it fully tight because the headline maximum looks impressive. Set it to suit the line and hook hold, then let the rod do its bit.
Quick answers
The bits anglers usually want to know
Does the reel suit braid? Yes. The stated capacity is 130 yards of 8 lb braid, making it a natural choice for perch, chub and lighter predator lure work. Use suitable backing if needed and fill the spool neatly for clean casting.
Is the retrieve too fast for finesse fishing? No. At 69 cm per crank, it sits in a useful all-round zone. You can slow the handle down for a subtle presentation, then speed up when a fish follows or you need to clear slack.
What’s the main limitation? Capacity and overall size. This is a compact 2500 reel, so it’s best matched to light and medium-light lure work rather than heavy pike tackle or huge waters where you need loads of line.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Light 210 g build suits modern lure rods
- Sealed carbon drag gives smooth, controlled pressure
- Screw-in CNC aluminium handle feels positive and direct
- Spare aluminium spool makes switching lines dead handy
- 10+1 stainless-steel bearings should keep the retrieve feeling slick
Worth knowing
- The 12.5 kg maximum drag is more than most light lure anglers will ever need, so it’s not a reason to buy it on its own
- A 2500-size reel won’t offer the same line capacity as a larger pike or heavy predator model
- Premium features push it beyond the price of basic entry-level reels
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Is the Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 suitable for perch fishing?
Is the Savage Gear SG8 Spin 2500 suitable for perch fishing?
Yes, that’s one of its strongest jobs. Pair it with a light or medium-light lure rod, load the spare spool with suitable braid and it’ll handle jigs, small crankbaits, spinners and finesse plastics nicely.
02Can the SG8 Spin 2500 be used for pike?
Can the SG8 Spin 2500 be used for pike?
It can suit lighter pike lure work, especially with smaller hardbaits and soft plastics, but don’t confuse it with a heavy-duty pike reel. Use a proper wire or fluorocarbon bite trace and match the rod, braid and lure size sensibly.
03What line fits the supplied spool?
What line fits the supplied spool?
The stated capacity is 150 m of 0.20 mm line, or 130 yards of 8 lb braid. That gives you useful flexibility for coarse line, light braid and different predator approaches.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking little predator reel with proper all-round appeal. The strongest reasons to choose it are light 210 g build suits modern lure rods and sealed carbon drag gives smooth, controlled pressure; the main trade-off is the 12.5 kg maximum drag is more than most light lure anglers will ever need, so it’s not a reason to buy it on its own.
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Light 210 g build suits modern lure rods”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Perch and chub lure anglers: The light body, manageable 2500 size and steady retrieve suit small hardbaits, jigs, spinners and soft plastics.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The 12.5 kg maximum drag is more than most light lure anglers will ever need, so it’s not a reason to buy it on its own”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
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Owner reports
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