Correction....Penn 209M vs 321GTI ???

Arima17Ryan · 04-02-2006, 09:40 AM

Does anybody know the internal differences between the two. I'm more interested in the strengh of the gears and drag. They both have the same line capacity and spool size, but the 321 is larger(I'm assuming because of the strengh needed for graphite vs stamped steel). I use my 321 for bottom fishing(including halibut) and was curious if I could also use my 209M as well. Since it's a smaller reel, it just seems wrong though...

Thanks in advance.

Oops, I must have been groggy this morning. I meant to type Penn 209M not 309M. Thanks for the feedback so far though. The number of drag washers is good to know. Also, after I typed this post this morning, I noticed that the 321 was on sale at Fishermans. So I just went and picked one up just to be safe. I guess I'll keep the 209M for Salmon trolling. I'd still like to hear about the differences just for my knowledge though. Thanks again.

Paddler · 04-02-2006, 11:40 AM

The 309 has a three washer drag system, vs five washers for the 321. So the drag should be better on the 321's. However, I'm getting 15# of drag out of my Squidders, which also have a three drag system, vs 21# out of my 320's. Alan Tani had a post either here or BATC in which he measured all the drag washer dimensions, so you could refer to that. I did a few posts over there on using bicycle grease for the HT 100 washers. It works very well.

Don't know about the gears, but maybe Alan will post up.

edsr · 04-02-2006, 12:44 PM

Paddler - What kind of bicycle grease are you using on the drags? Is this something like the Shimano drag grease? Have you magged your squidder? I got between 50 & 60 yds on the first few casts that I made with my new squidder w/o magnets. Haven't tried it yet with the magnets. There is website that shows how if you want - PM me and I'll pass it on, works for most of the Penn reels, 500, etc.

edsr

Paddler · 04-02-2006, 01:01 PM

edsr, go to the Bay Area Tuna Club site, all the info is there. I'm using a product called "Finish Line" teflon grease, which I bought at my local REI. It's $7.00 for 3.5 ounces, about 40% of the cost of Shimano's or Cal's, and easier for me to get.

I don't think I'll mag my Squidders, that just slows them down. It may reduce backlashes, but won't increase distance over thumbing the spool. Casting distance depends on a lot of factors. I get ~75-80 yards out of mine, using a 2 ounce weight, 20# Big Game mono, and either a Calstar WC 270C or GFGR 800L. They cast about the same as my Avet MXL. Mine are old, with the plastic spool, so should go further than the new aluminum. But the plastic spools are said to implode on tuna. We'll see.

Booja 1 · 04-02-2006, 03:54 PM

Your plastic spool should be fine on Albies, just have a little dacron or whatever for a little backing before you add whatever mono you use,,,,like you said, aluminum is stronger but heck sounds like you have gotten alot of mileage outta your squidder rig, that's great but if you should hook something a bit more substantial, that plastic spool might just explode.........then you'll have to go aluminum.............

Paddler · 04-02-2006, 06:19 PM

My trolling rigs are heavier. Let's hope something big hits them. I'll use the Squidders for casting fishtraps to albacore.

tomictime · 04-02-2006, 07:03 PM

Hey paddler, no hijack agenda ..BUT I picked up 330 LD today...sweeeeeet :smile: Here fishy..fishy..here !

JD

BiteFactory · 04-02-2006, 08:58 PM

I used to use my 209's for sturgeon. After a big oversized my fishing bud and I went to 320's. The 209 wasn't a match. It was fun for shakers up to keepers though. Don't know when the big one will come along though.

Also learned later that long playing oversized sturgeon can kill them or stop their egg laying that year, another good reason there.

Paddler · 04-02-2006, 09:39 PM

JD, I've never been concerned about hijacked threads. I do it all the time. And I'm not saying your post was a hijack. I figure that so long as it's fun and about fishing, who cares? So you like the 330LD? A friend gave me a gift certificate, maybe I should pick one up. How much was it?

Oh, to make this post on topic, I checked Alan's post on Penn drag washer dimensions, and the 209 uses #06-155 drag washers, which according to Alan are 17.92mm in diameter by .92mm thick. For comparison, the 320 washers are 29mm x .92mm, and the Squidders are 20.44mm x .92mm.

I did some quick calculations, and the surface area of the 209 washers are ~163 square mm, the Sqidders are ~239 sq mm, and the 320's are ~531 sq mm. I corrected for hole size. So, the 209 drag has only 1/3 the drag area, and only three instead of five washers as compared to the 320. Another weak point may be the gear sleeve, as these can round off. Alan has a source for SS sleeves, not sure if they're available for the 209. I'd contact him for more info. I'm not sure I'd risk the 209 on a large halibut or king salmon, but that's a personal decision. I'd certainly make sure the reel is in good working order with HT 100 washers first.

Arima17Ryan · 04-03-2006, 07:54 AM

Thanks. I bought another 321, so the 209M will get used only for salmon trolling and maybe some small bottom fish. I like the 321 for smaller halibut(inside the 40), but I'm currently shopping for a larger(chicken ranch) sized reel for the big ones...

Thanks for the replies.