Lumpy the Lurker Has Asked Me....

Flatfish · 10-30-2003, 01:04 PM

Lumpy the lurker has asked me to start a thread on favorite halibut reels.

He started with the Diawa 50-H. Not enough line in really deep water. Enough line to hit the bottom, but if it got snagged, or a big fish was running into the wind( away from a drifting boat), he thinks they are too close to the spool to chance it.

So now he has the "Boat Winch". It is a Diawa sealine ( Old metal frame. Not graphite), that is huge. And the handle is not much from a boat winch either! A 600-H( do they even make one??). To be honest, I am not totally sure of it's designation. But it is big.

He wants to know what all you experts are using.

So....Waddaya all got?

Lumpy via Mark and the dog.

10-30-2003, 01:29 PM

Penn 349

Miss B Haven · 10-30-2003, 01:40 PM

Hmmm... I use the 50H for Sturg/Bottom/Tuna. I'm not a Halibut guy (not here anyway), but I can't believe a 50H won't hold the line. I put 300yds of 65 tuff over a whole bunch of dacron backing. All tuff you could get 600 yards of 80 lb on I'd think.
He must be using big mono if he can't get enough line on. Tuff line is just MADE for deep water bottom fishing. If he's not using it he should. Resistance on the drift is so much less!

Bait O' Eggs · 10-30-2003, 01:43 PM

penn 4/0 Senator, spooled it up with 720 yards of 80lb toughline (no backing), If that doesnt get me there I guess I dont deserve to have a hook in that county while I am in another

The line cost more than the reel

Phil Layer · 10-30-2003, 01:55 PM

After watching a friend blow out her elbow at the Chicken Ranch (she's still having problems with it), I put a Miya Epoch 350 electric on my halibut rod. Now, I press the red button when the drift is over. It has a great drag, too so I don't lose much when it is time to fight a fish.

Checking bait from 600 feet down with a four pound lead on it is not my idea of fun...especially at my age.

For the Rockpile or shallower areas, I'll use my Penn 114.

Pilar · 10-30-2003, 02:12 PM

The 50h Diawa is a great reel. Versatile, very rugged and simple, discontinued and inexpensive. I have seen them everywhere from Bonneville on 17' sturgeon rods to the tuna grounds 30 miles off Depoe Bay. They cast, have a smooth drag and fast retrieve and last practically forever. The weak point as you pointed out is a low line capacity. About 400 yards of 80# kevlar thread line tops.

The 4/0 senator or 113H is a pretty economical reel made by Penn. It will hold 6 or 7 hundred yards of Kevlar Thread line. About $115 for the reel and $60 for the line. The disadvantage is a weak drag. It is a star type and the stock washers will fry if you get into big fish on a regular basis. They sell after market parts for this reel including much better drag washers. You can also get the 114H or 6/0 for a little more $$$ and both 4/0 and 6/0 are available in a 'wide' model for additional line capacity. I use the 4/0 wide with 50 yards of 80# dacron backing and 550yds of 80# green powerpro kevlar thread line. This works well and I would not change a thing.

For most boat sport fishers this reel is adequate for Tuna, Halibut in deep water and Big sturgeon.

Avet makes a nice 2 speed. I borrowed one from Ragnar and fell in love with it. About the same size as the 113H and this reel was also called a 4/0. It has an anodyzed aluminum body and lever drag. The 2 speed retrieve is nice too. But alot more money. Like $300.

WildHawg · 10-30-2003, 03:38 PM

I have 2 of the Diawa SeaLine "winches" you described above. Have caught sturgeon, halibut and albacore on them. I have 600 yards of 80 pound tough with 200 yards of dacron underneath!!! Bring it on BFB's!!!!

KeyWest · 10-30-2003, 05:54 PM

I use a a Penn International 30T or Penn International 16S spooled with 1000 yds of 50# spectra. Equivalent diameter of14# mono. Does the trick!

[ 10-31-2003, 06:09 AM: Message edited by: skein ]

fishwhenican · 10-30-2003, 06:58 PM

I'm no expert, but... I like the Shimano TLD30ll holds 800 yards of 65lb powerpro with up to 100 yards of 40 lb mono topshot. Drop it in low on a big one and start winching. Add $70 of line to a $319 reel and it is not cheap. Shimano does guarantee the drag for 100 miles of line.

Flatfish · 10-30-2003, 09:20 PM

MissB,

On my 50H ( and I screwed up and let someone else put it on. Otherwise I probably could have got another 50-75 yards on.) I have 440 of 80 tuf( may be fuzzy memory. But I think it is close).

Lumpy has less on his, Maybe 375 or so. He could repsool and get some more capacity. But if he breaks off 50-75 yards in use, he has to respool all over again.

He is looking bigger not only as a line issue, but after several seasons of hog fishing, and now a real hard year in the salt( over a hundred cohos in his boat, and he only targets them when he can't get out to the real playground) the 50-Hs are beginning to show some signs of use. In the next couple years, he will be rebuilding them.

Now I figure gutting a heavy unit like that from hard work is bragging rights. He see's it as an opportunity to buy some more fishing stuff. Gotta like thinking like that!

Mark and the translating for the Lumpinator dog.

Pilar · 10-31-2003, 06:34 AM

Mark, I can give those worn out Diawa reels a good home. Ollie Damon's has drag washers and I have had a 50H last almost 13 years. I got it from GI Joes way back for just $39. Probably still fishing but don't know, it was stolen from my boat.

Rub the wonder dogs ears for me will ya?

Phil Layer · 10-31-2003, 12:10 PM

I got mine off of eBay. Try searching there for "electric reel" or "Miya Epoch."

Good luck.

edsr · 10-31-2003, 11:37 PM

Hey PL - Where are those electric reels sold? Is there a website somewhere?

edsr

KeyWest · 11-01-2003, 08:07 AM

http://www.meltontackle.com/shopping...oduct_id=10347

or

http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet...s.com/servlet/

KeyWest · 11-01-2003, 08:14 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by KeyWest:
[QB] http://www.meltontackle.com/shopping...oduct_id=10347

or

http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet...=SearchResults

Captn · 11-01-2003, 08:28 AM

Hey, KeyWest you are a prety handy guy to have around. Thanks for the threads, and welcome to Ifish (I know I'm a little late). Looking forward to meeting you and getting some serious fishing this next summer.

Fishplay · 11-01-2003, 10:28 AM

I'm running two Penn 114H reels mated with electra-mate 612's.

I also have Penn 330's and Penn 320's set up for boat rods.

Even the 320 will hold enough spectra for hali fishing if you don't spool them with backing.

Your problem on the 50H is simply too much backing.

I spool 65lb on the 320's and 80lb on everything else. I've had good luck with both Power Pro and Tuff.

Flatfish · 11-04-2003, 06:56 AM

Thanks to everyone who has helped here.

No backing on them. They are fishing 900' of water. Add a little wind drift, let the fish run a bit. You get the picture. 400 yards aint much line in these conditions.

Thanks again everyone.

Mark and the dog.

[ 11-04-2003, 03:02 PM: Message edited by: Flatfish ]

11-04-2003, 07:00 AM

65# has much less water drag than 80# and you can get more on the reel.

Fishplay · 11-04-2003, 10:28 AM

WOW!!! 150 fathoms. I see why he upgraded.