Saltwater Fishing Reel

[alhv23]

I am looking for advice on a good all purpose saltwater reel for salmon trolling in the Seattle area waters. Also what pound test do you recommend?
...Allan

[Adeline]

I've long had a Penn 320 GTI that's been great . Several years ago I picked up a Shimano TR200 on the advice of a friend here. It's my favorite now. I use one of the super-fine "Spectra-Fiber" type lines. The small diameter offers much less drag than mono. Especially important when downrigging or jigging for bottomfish. I ALWAYS tie on a 20' "shock leader" of 20# Maxima Ultragreen. It resists abrasion better. A "Uni-Knot" works well for this.

[Orangewhip]

I also like Penn. I bought a Penn 550ssg a few years back and love it. I paired it with an Ugly Stick lite Salmon rod. I fish the fall run in Downtown Chicago each fall and also take it to the FL. Panhandle.

I also recommend Spiderwire Stealth. Once you try it, you won't use anything else.

[CW]

I like Power Pro braided line for the mainline (80 lb. test -- same diameter as 15 lb. mono from a few years ago) or the original Tuffline (black and white, not the newer XP) and use Ande 40 lb. monofilament for leader. Granted this is overkill for most salmon (those under 30 lbs.) but if and when I hook a larger one, I want to know I'm ready. Leader size also depends on how "spooky' or line shy fish are. They aren't in the Columbia, so I go big and abrasion resistant. I am against the Fluorocarbon line.... too many fish have been lost on it. 60 lb braided and 30 lb. leader is tolerable too.

Reels? I have and use my Penns, but prefer the Shimanos and Avets. Daiwa makes some nice ones too. Like anything, the more you spend, the beefier and more reliable it is (over $300 for a Shimano Calcutta 400).... but I've caught a lot of big fish on a $39 Penn 209 levelwind and do not lack confidence in it. I am not too thrilled with my Abu Garcias any more - those of recent manufacture are not as good or sturdy as those made in the 70s or earlier. Some reels double as casting reels, some do not. Consider your needs; I rarely cast anymore but mainly back-bounce or troll. Okumas? They feel nice and are beefy, but I saw three fail one day and won't ever buy one. C.W.

[rogerbum]

I've had a number of reels for saltwater fishing. The Penn 325GTI's are pretty good all around reels and last a long time. However, they are fairly large and heavy. My favorite reel is the Shimano Tekota line counter reel. It's got a better drag than the Penns and the line counter is great. It makes it very easy to put the line out a fixed distance prior to attaching to the down rigger. It's also very useful for jigging and the line counter lets you know how far out the fish is when reeling it in. The Penn's go for about $125 the Tekota for about $169. I think it's worth the extra $44 for the Tekota. Plus the Tekota is lighter.

Roger

[marvin4239]

I've been a long time user of Penn reels and always found them to be the best at holding up to the elements especially salt water. In the past their parts were fairly easily obtainable. A couple years ago Penn was bought out and a lot of their products are no longer made in the USA. I hope this move doesn't erode thier quality. I'll probably give Shimano a good look with my next purchase.

[RJD Wannabe]

I'm a huge Shimano fan, switched from Penn a few years ago. But prefer lever drags. A TLD 15 is awesome, as are many others. Ifyou want lever drag with level wind, the Charter Specials are impressive, great deals. Depends on your preferences

[Gene Morris]

I like the Penn reels also. They have a fair drag system. However, my favorite reel for salmon, bottom fish and tuna is the Avet. They are light and durable. Avet has a great drag system and the bearings allow you to cast them as good as any reel I've had. They cost a little more than the Penn's but the service at Avet is super. Every couple of years I send the reels to Avet for service. For $25.00 they are returned within one week and are as good as new. Look at this site http://www.charkbait.com/cs/csrAvet.htm and see the reels made for 20# line. The best rod that I have for salmon trolling with downriggers is an 8ft Loomis hotshot rod rated at 17-20 lb line. If you don't use a downrigger, try a 7ft Lamiglass 20-30 lb rod. Good luck on your fishing.

Gene

[CW]

For a smoooth drag, I love my big Avet. But it is too heavy for regular salmon use on salmon sized rods ( I got it for halibut, tuna and oversize sturgeon, but often take it for salmon -- just because it is fun to use). Right now I'm looking at getting either another Avet two sizes smaller (MJX 5.8::1 $185) see http://www.avetreels.com/reels/avet_mxj_4.html or going with the Shimano Tekota with line counter ($165). The biggest Calcutta 400 is nice (nearly twice as much money) yet I rarely fish salt water for salmon. The Avets are NOT levelwinds -- and there is something refreshing about this simplicity (like a Ruger Single Action revolver - which I have two of) but, as a friend said, "But what about all of those people who you take out fishing? How will they adjust to working that line back and forth by hand and the lever drag?" At first I said, "They'll use the Penns" but realistically, they'll use whatever I hand them, which could be my "nice rod". Star drags are harder to accidently mess up for the novice. At a glance though, I can see if my lever drag is set appropriately.

I'm leaning towards getting the Tekota with line counter ( a feature which would be nice in replicating lure placement while backbouncing the deep water while anchored in the river).

Service on Penns is EASY. They are still American made and I just had two of mine serviced in Seattle at the factory authorized repair center for a reasonable price (slightly under the price of a new Penn). A quick search on the Penn website provided the address. Ollie Damon's in Portland, OR also works on these as well as every other kind of reel.

I have some older Shimanos from the 1970s. One (model # 500) is "done//retired" and the other (#100) works great (caught a 36 lb. chinook three years ago after 2.5 hours on light rod and 15 lb. line). There are no parts for either, anywhere in the country and honestly, the drag on the big one is rather "screechy" (all or none) and unpredictable.

The newer reels' drags are SO much better than the old style. If an Avet reel drag's smoothness and predictability (different from reliability) is a "10" I'd put Shimanos at an "8.7" and Penns around "4". That doesn't mean they don't work well... it is like anything else -- a Ford F150 will do most of the jobs most people need a truck to do most of the time, but it isn't a diesel Dodge Duelly. Is the price difference justifiable to you? Because I use and maintain about 6-8 salmon rods - I have a few Penns and some cheaper rods (like North X Northwest 8.5 ft. or my Rapala or Shakespeare Ugly Stik -great economical rods). But if I fished by myself primarily and weren't taking out 2-4 people most every salmon trip, I'd have nothing but a G. Loomis rod and a Shimano Calcutta reel.

The line, hooks and swivels? Now that IS important and not something to compromise on, ever.

Most any gear can handle a 6 lb. coho/silver. And if you lose one... there'll be another along soon. That is not the point. You have to ask yourself "If and when a 40 - 60 lb. Chinook hits your lure or bait.... what do you want to have in your hands to fight that fish of a lifetime with?" or "How many monster fish must you lose before you start using the right gear?"

The big fish are out there. Be ready for them.

C.W.

[gljjr]

[Wandering Sagebrush]

I am a fan of the Shimano Calcutta's. Very smooth drag, a thumb release for the spool, so it's an easy one handed operation, and very resistant to salt.

If you're just trolling for salmon, you might consider a mooching reel (Canadian style). They're like a big single action fly reel, and are usually used on long relatively soft action rods. They are also called knuckle busters.

Steve

[B~C]

I have some reel experience.....change seems to be the buz word now days and if you want to keep some in your pocket, as mentioned, those Penn 209 are a solid reel. All of the reels mentioned are dandy though. Lever drag is handy but for the $$$ the old 209 is hard to beat......when the pro angler from the east coast drops the whole shootin match overboard, cost is a factor.....there's a story behind that

gljjr- I picked up a Diawa mooching reel and a Shimano Convergence rod a few weeks back. Those rods are a smoking value but a person should act quick as I've heard they're discontinuing them. I'm going to give it a try on some shaker sturgeon this winter & maybe take a pair of the combos up north next summer to offer the guest a little different experience. I aint going to let the pro fisherman use um though

[T.R. Bauer]

They are great. That is all I have to say about that.....