TLD verses the Penn 330 LD

Tacklebuster · 12-30-2006, 09:51 AM

So here is the topic of discussion. Both are great reels and I have fished with both of them. I have never experienced an issue where a LD with a line guide ever caused a problem Tuna fishing. Both are around the same price and I am going to order two reels here next week. Just trying to get some opinions on which one people like better.

140 bucks is my limit on boat reels. I usually have people using my gear on my boat and let's face it, gear get's tore up, lost, somehow over board, etc. I just don't like it getting too expensive when it happens. Those cool reels with the fancy colors are nice but I'm just not the Starbucks kinda fisherman.

Thank goodness Zukie don't make those ugly black reels..... LOL! That was a joke Tag

Thanks

Grady252 · 12-30-2006, 10:22 AM

TB,
Love the Zukes comment..... that's classic. If you weren't behind them all the time you wouldn't know how ugly they are

.

I use the Penns and have for the past 8 years. I have 320's, 321's and a 340. They are great and I too have ever had a problem with the level wind hanging-up.

This year on the long range trip I spent some time talking with the captain, who used to fish tuna up here, and he said our way of fishing is wrong......the way we set the drag so loose. At least the way I do it. I learned 6 years ago to loosen up the drag and leave the clicker on..... :blush:

He said that charlie is attracted to other charlie's, so you should tighten up the drag to the strike zone, so they don't run away from your other lures, jigs, or clones. He claims there are more multiple hook-ups if you run tighter drags.... i am going to try it this year.

I say go for the Penn, of those two choices. Right now I am liking the Shimano though.... you could try a Shimano Torium 20 or 30. Get tehm off of E-bay for about $150.00. They have the same drag system as teh Trinidad, they are cast aluminum body rather than machined like the Trini. I bought the Cal's drive plate, and Carbontex drax kit and it will kick but on a penn. It also casts soooooo nice, and has a 6.2:1 ratio, so it is fast.......great live bait rig or all around.....

Mark Mc · 12-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Quote:

and he said our way of fishing is wrong......the way we set the drag so loose.

Huh? Now why would you tell him....that's the way people fish up here? You've been hanging out with the wrong crowd

a bunch of loosie-goosies no less.

Yes, early season fishing when they bite the feathers on a fast troll......fish heavier gear (50 lb & up) and have the drags tight. On an 80 lb & up you can lock the drags down all the way.

But late in the year when they don't bite that troll gear so well, Mr Southern California's technique wouldn't work too well up here, since you gotta troll slow & use lighter line....you can't lock down the drags with 30 lb line while trolling.

Tinman · 12-30-2006, 11:54 AM

Inexpensive star-drag reels work just fine for local tuna. We are talking 20 to 30 pound tuna here, which are relative midgets in the world of tuna. Lever drag reels seem like overkill to me.

I use Penn Senators for trolling, both the black (low-speed gears) and red (high-speed gears) models. The 4/0 is great for 40 pound line. The 6/0 will handle 50-80 pound mono. I also troll with Penn 500 "Jigmasters" filled with 25 or 30# line.

Penns are nearly indestructible, and are easy to rebuild. Some of mine are over 30 years old. Change the drag washers every season and enjoy. They are ideally suited for guest reels. A new Penn 4/0 red is around $100. You can get used ones much cheaper than that. A new jigmaster is only $50

Grady252 · 12-30-2006, 12:01 PM

"Now why would you tell hime that?"

Mark Mc,
You must have missed the disclaimer "at least the way I do it" that's why I would tell him that. :blush: I learned from some of the Depoe Bay charter crowd 6-7 years ago and that is what I was taught..... loose drags. I don't troll with lighter gear later in the year. I use the same gear with 65# braid all season, so I guess I could get away with tight drags all the time......

I was just sharing the info to potentially help any novices like me who run loose drags.

Sorry to hi-jack TB..... I know this has nothing to do with your question....

Bait O' Eggs · 12-30-2006, 12:07 PM

I recently sold about 8 penn senators I have been using for the last few years. They are a great reel, but the drags are a bit sticky

I had plans to upgrade to Avet LX's this winter, then my financial situation kinda changed and now I am sitting on only a couple reels I didnt sell and a budget that probably wont allow me to own those LX's

Kinda wish I didnt sell those reels now.

I kept a couple Senators and a TLD 25 that I really like.

I know I can get new senators for around $100, used ones for around $60, I see the TLD 25's for around $130 on ebay. I prefer the lever drag, there are to many guys on the boat that dont know which way to turn a star drag to tighten or loosen the drag

The lever drag is pretty straight forward.

I dont know what I will end up with, but I am leaning towards TLD reels, the shimano is smoother than the penns in both cranking and drag in my opinion

Wish I had anodized fancy reels, but I dont see it happening unless I fall into a pile of money.

Nordic Sun · 12-30-2006, 03:44 PM

During this years (Alan Tani style) rebuild, I removed the level wind gear and the pawl, and the guide, from all my Penn 320/321 reels. I left the worm gear and its components as necessary structure support. During the season last year on two or three occasions, the guide was out of sync with the spool and the toughline bound up.

The 320 series is a tough reel and I use all eight of them on every trip. I think they even will function better as a live bait reel now.

I am ready!!!! I am ready!!!! I am ready!!!

Paddler · 12-30-2006, 04:03 PM

Just get some 6/0 Senators. They're about $120, or $20 more than the 4/0's, but have larger drags and a lower gear ratio than the smaller reels. They may be overkill for local albacore, but with greased drags, they are smooth, powerful, and you can put the hammer down with confidence. I like they way they feel in my hands, very businesslike. The greased HT100 drags won't need to be replaced for a long time, and star drags are easy to get used to. You can buy the reels and spool them with 475 yards of 50# mono for less than your budget.

KeyWest · 12-30-2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ODIN

During this years (Alan Tani style) rebuild, I removed the level wind gear and the pawl, and the guide, from all my Penn 320/321 reels. I left the worm gear and its components as necessary structure support. During the season last year on two or three occasions, the guide was out of sync with the spool and the toughline bound up.

The 320 series is a tough reel and I use all eight of them on every trip. I think they even will function better as a live bait reel now.

I am ready!!!! I am ready!!!! I am ready!!!

I have a couple of 320's that I use as well - BUT with the level wind removed. Work really well - but only without the level wind as Bob suggests. With the level wind I think I lost like 5 fish in a row as the level wind could not keep up with the rate at which the line left the reel.

They work VERY well for live bait fishing - light weight, etc.

ron m · 12-31-2006, 10:22 AM

I think it partly depends on your attitude about catching fish. If it's mainly for sport, then the 4/0 or bigger may not be your best choice, if it's mainly for meat and you want to winch 'em in quickly whilst still trolling, then go with the bigger reel and heavier line. Maybe you can jusdge which by how much you value your fish count at the end of the day. Is the count the biggest thing or how much you enjoyed the day? There are those that don't figure they enjoyed the day without a high fish count or that the fish are what makes the trip worthwhile, especially when the cost is considered.
ron m

Tacklebuster · 12-31-2006, 12:53 PM

Actually...... The 330 LD is mainly in mind for Halibut. They also dub great as Tuna reels early in the season when we are trolling 8 MPH with feathers. I just hate buying 320's and then reeling up Halibut 500 plus feet with them.

We really only run the big gear Tuna fishing until we start hooking up pretty consistantly. Unlike some, I really only want to bring a dozen home so when we find the fish, I use Amb. Brutes on 15 to 50 rated Ramsey rods. The Brute is nothing more than a 7000 series amb reel and they are a freakin hoot to catch them tuner on. Plan on replacing drag washers every winter on them though. I still tighten the drags down fairly good on a 3.5 to 4 MPH troll or just casting and they work fine. Actually brings the sport back into it for me.

I have always fished Penn's and Amb. so I guess I will go with the Penn 330 LD. The level wind part has never been an issue for me and we have never lost any fish because of it so I will just keep them on.

Thanks guys....

Grady... the only way I would ever be behind an ugly black Zukie is just for the few seconds it takes me to get around them as I make my way to the Ranch LOL!

Paddler · 12-31-2006, 01:52 PM

I really like using the 6/0's, but can't explain why. It's not that I judge my success by how many fish I catch, as I've only been out three times, and the most I've caught in one day was five. I just like the way the Senators feel, and I know that they will do anything I ask of them. They are a great reel at that price point. I'm sure that albacore will take more line and take longer to land on lighter tackle, and I hope to catch some on swim baits this coming season. I'm not sure that I will enjoy catching them any more on lighter gear, as it's hard for me to imagine having more fun than I've already had. It's the most exciting fishing I've ever done, without question. As a rule, though, I've come to prefer playing with fish after they're in the boat.

As far as numbers go, I'd like to catch enough to be able to share more with friends and family, and maybe to give canned tuna out for Christmas.

Grady252 · 12-31-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tacklebuster

Grady... the only way I would ever be behind an ugly black Zukie is just for the few seconds it takes me to get around them as I make my way to the Ranch LOL!

That's awesome!!! Almost sounds like a challenge. See ya in May for the season opener on Halibut.....

Nordic Sun · 12-31-2006, 04:43 PM

[quote]
I have always fished Penn's and Amb. so I guess I will go with the Penn 330 LD. The level wind part has never been an issue for me and we have never lost any fish because of it so I will just keep them on. [quote]

Last year I had a young man using one of my 330's before I removed the levelwind. He managed to het his finger stuck when one of the larger butts made a run. OUCH! He mashed his finger pretty good and stripped the nylon levelwind drive gear. It works alot better without the levelwind.

Eventually you will remove the levelwind system.....it just takes some of us (me included) longer to figure it out.

There are no levelwinds on any of my reels now!

Bob