Hi Tank3544. I have a Penn 320GT2 and really like it. Like you said though, it is for big fish and I target big flats. I agree, it is heavy and bulky, weighs 19.5 ounces without line. Weight does not matter to me, after I cast it, the rod and reel sit in a rodholder. It holds 320 yards of 20 pound mono but I use 100lb. Power Pro with an 80lb. mono leader on an Extra Heavy action rod. I turn the brake off as much as I can and use big bait and big sinkers. It casts a good ways but is rough on the thumb without using its brake. When you catch a flat 20 lbs. and under it feels small and you can bring him right to the bank on top the water if you want. The 320GT2 is built like a tank (no pun intended). Keep up the posts on your reels, they have lots of good information to help others get an idea of a reel before they go buy a huge or small reel when another reel would be better suited for their type of fishing. Abu
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You two are more manly man than I am :0a1:
The 310Gti is the largest reel I could ever imagine using for anything not in the deep ocean hahah...
But then again I am a little guy, with even smaller hands. I think the squidder is a large reel
The 310Gti is the largest reel I could ever imagine using for anything not in the deep ocean hahah...
But then again I am a little guy, with even smaller hands. I think the squidder is a large reel
A reel capable of bringing in a 100lb fish? Like this 137lb tuna cought on my favorite little toy of a reel, or these 70lb sturgen
Attachments
if that's not a plug for a product i dont know what is
Actually, its not a plug at all.. its a point.. the tackle doesnt land the fish, the experience of the fisherman does. The commercial tuna fishermen of yester year landed tuna well in excess of 100lbs with a pole and rope and no reel at all... today most fishermen need a reel that weighs as much as the bloody fish they are trying to catch, with two speeds and a gear box that looks like it was taken off a rock crawler.... basically a manual truck wench on a rod
More 100+lb fish have been caught on the little $60 squidder than anyone can count, and fewer fishermen have ever caught a 100lbs fish than ever will admit to it.
More 100+lb fish have been caught on the little $60 squidder than anyone can count, and fewer fishermen have ever caught a 100lbs fish than ever will admit to it.
Crucial... Flathead fishing in alot of the snag infested waters I fish in is a different world than the ocean. If you don't win the first few seconds of the battle with a huge flathead trying to wrap you around a big ol' snag you have lost the whole fight. I need to turn their heads my way and in a hurry, experience doesn't help in my type of situations. If I am fishing open water a 100lb. fish on 10lb. test would be more fun than a barrel o' monkeys.
Abu
Abu
Hey Abu,
I'm not even referring to ocean fishing in any way. You'd need that 320 full of 10 lb test line to land a 100lbs tuna and it would still spool ya Besides, mono has stretch and weight... even a small fish would snap a 10lb line if it was allowed to run much beyond 300yds. So thats not even a realistic analogy, or expectation.
Out of the 30-sum+ years i've been fishing only about 3 have been ocean fishing, so Im no expert on the ocean... but this isnt an ocean forum so we ok
Expierence means far more in the conditions you've just outlined than they do in the ocean anyway. You dont want a fish to run right? So why would you need 300-400yds of line? I've only known of a hand full of people that can cast 100yds (in average fishing conditions with bait) let alone 300.... so what is the need for a reel with that kind of capacity? If the cat runs, its going into a deep hole or rats nest of logs and what ever cover it can find so your not getting it out anyway...
My point is, a reel like your favorite Ambassadeurs (6500-7000), matched with a good stiff rod and a quality line will actually due just fine, if not better in getting that fish turned around and headed your way in a quick second. The size of the reel dosent make it a good tackle item, the functionality and practicality does.
For what it's worth, a lower gear ratio would be ideal for your specific situation And not all ocean fishing is out in the blue yonder...in fact the majority of the common fish are found in deep sharp rock jettys, natural rock coral formations and in dense kelp bed.. ocean fish like cover just like freshwater fish do.
I'm not even referring to ocean fishing in any way. You'd need that 320 full of 10 lb test line to land a 100lbs tuna and it would still spool ya
Besides, mono has stretch and weight... even a small fish would snap a 10lb line if it was allowed to run much beyond 300yds. So thats not even a realistic analogy, or expectation.Out of the 30-sum+ years i've been fishing only about 3 have been ocean fishing, so Im no expert on the ocean... but this isnt an ocean forum so we ok
Expierence means far more in the conditions you've just outlined than they do in the ocean anyway. You dont want a fish to run right? So why would you need 300-400yds of line? I've only known of a hand full of people that can cast 100yds (in average fishing conditions with bait) let alone 300.... so what is the need for a reel with that kind of capacity? If the cat runs, its going into a deep hole or rats nest of logs and what ever cover it can find so your not getting it out anyway...
My point is, a reel like your favorite Ambassadeurs (6500-7000), matched with a good stiff rod and a quality line will actually due just fine, if not better in getting that fish turned around and headed your way in a quick second. The size of the reel dosent make it a good tackle item, the functionality and practicality does.
For what it's worth, a lower gear ratio would be ideal for your specific situation
And not all ocean fishing is out in the blue yonder...in fact the majority of the common fish are found in deep sharp rock jettys, natural rock coral formations and in dense kelp bed.. ocean fish like cover just like freshwater fish do.Its slower than the abu's for sure, but for down rigger reel (which is what that reel is intended for not bait casting) its a little on the high side. The point was ANY lower gear ratio reel would suit that purpose as well if not better than big ole 320, the Squidder and Jigmaster are the first two that come to mind for "bullet proof" (as some one here put it) reels that are half the size and weight, with nearly the same line capacity and will actually cast nearly trouble free because thats what they were meant to do.Abu said:
Thats very true, the Abu's have always been criticized for being underpowered on the drag. But again, this is a case of people trying to use a reel for something it wasnt meant for. Simply put, if the drag is your concern get any reel with a lever drag system. The star drag is not a strong mechanism designed for maximum drag applications. Thats why the lever drag has been used for BIG fish for Decades (salt and fresh water alike).Abu said:
And no one said your wrong for doing what works for you. So why the defensive disposition?Abu said:
Well Im glad we got that clear, so I'll appreciate it if you dont make references to my experience as if the only thing I've ever done is let 100lb fish run the great blue with 10lb test line. I've been fishing cats on Kentucky Lake, lake Barkley, the Ohio River, Lake Cumberland and the such since I was too young to remember. I dont know what the reference for "fancy over priced reels" was about because I use the same reels as you do with a few exceptionsAbu said:
But like you, I'll use what I know works, and what will give me the most benefit and use for my money. There are no better reels on the market for the same price point than Penn, Abu, and Avet.. and frankly all of those reels are in the same price point when your looking at the stronger, larger reels. Humm.... actually in case you havent heard people do jugline, limbline and trot line and flats are generally the primary target for just such techniques.Abu said:
And this place does have a forum where any other fishing can be discussed, in fact I've been reading over a nice discussion on surf fishing with fancy over priced reels
There is no need to get defensive when I simply agree with the criticisms that you've pointed out in that reel. Will it "work" ? Sure it will work, so will an international or 2speed accurate with twin drag but are there better options? Yes there are.
If you like the reel thats great, its actually a damn good reel.... but if you say "I need a hell-for-strong" drag and I say "why dont you get a lever" dont go making personal assumptions that all I know is salt water and surf fishing because I recommend something that your apparently not experienced with. It has nothing to do with salt water or surf fishing or fancy over priced reels.. its just a suggestion for the best (or at least a better) tool for the job.
I'll do my best to refrain from bragging about or recomending my little over priced fancy reels since this is a cat fishing forum. I guess some one needs to email the guy on the avet website holding his trophy cat cought with an SX that fancy over priced reels arent meant for catfish.
:0a33:
Hey no harm no foul man
I wish I could head to the Ohio :crying:
I need to get the bloody H.e.-double-L out of Cali
Hey no harm no foul man
I wish I could head to the Ohio :crying:
I need to get the bloody H.e.-double-L out of Cali
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