Versatile Big Game Rod & Reel?

[birdhunter]

Okay, I'm looking to spend some dough on a rod and reel for some BIG fish. I'm talking about halibut, albacore, peelers, the works. For reels I'm thinking a Diawa 50h or a Penn 4/0. Sounds like 80# tuffline is the way to go. (Nod to Pilar :grin: ). Any thoughts on these? Some better than others? I'd prefer to just get one reel that will be able to handle them all.

Now then, rods? Is there a rod that can handle them all? I've used the ugly sticks for the halibut and oversize and really like them. How about Albacore? I've never done any tuna fishing, but plan to this summer. I'm in the dark on this one. Seems like you need a much longer rod. Does a single rod exist that can handle all these species? Will I actually be able to afford it? I'll be looking at the show, but I wanted to see if anyone point me in the right direction. Thanks a bunch.

[ 02-08-2002, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: birdhunter ]

[Coot22]

hey birdie,

big weekend ahead! I am just excited because I havent fished or hunted in a loooooooong time. anyway, down to business.

Here ya go:

Rod: 1)2202 shakespeare ugly stik Tiger.
2)Berkeley 30#-80# air (yes the Ramsey series like the one that I got at the end of ovesize season last year)
3)Penn Power stick in 30#-80#

Opinion: Cant go wrong with the ugly stiks because they are fiberglass and can last a long time. You saw how they handled Bertha! Drawback...Have seen a number come into the store with broken tips. The top 3 inches tends to break off if you even come close to high sticking it. The Berkeley's are awesome rods. I have heard nothing but good things about them. However, they are high modulous graphite which is not as strong as the fiberglass when it comes down to horsing in a couple hundred pounds of fish. They might also break on a hard stricking fish like the albacore. The power sticks are good but I havent seen enough of them sold but have seen a couple back. The one thing you are going to want to look out for is the number of guides on the rod. It is always better to have more than less. You will see a rod at the show which is green and black. It will be at the Englund marine station if I recall from last year. They will be showing it off like none other. You will see guys lifting pounds of lead with this rod. Yes that is impressive but the number of guides on it is too low. Watch as a guy picks up the lead and how the rod wants to rotate to the left if he is right handed. That is because the line is going through the rod at such an angle as to cause the rod to want to do that. They will be cheap too but stay away. My vote is for either the Berkeley or the Tiger...go with the Tiger. Oh, by the way, take a look at the ugly stik customs too...those are sweet.

Reels: 1)Daiwa 50H
2)Penn 4/0
3)Penn 320-345

First of all, the Daiwa 50H is one of the best reels on the market. It is the reel that Jack used to use b4 he switched to Okuma's. It is the reel that I sell the most of to guys wanting all around setups. I have sold more combo's of ugly stiks (customs) and 50H's or 320's than I have of anything else. However, 50H's are going to suck for deep water fishing because you have to manually reel all of that line back on with your thumb as the line guide. This sucks when you are down 300+ feet. That is the same with the Penn 4/0. The Penn 320's and 330's have the exact same internal gearing...the only difference is in the spool size. The 330 takes a little more line. If you wanted to go with one of these two I would take the 330 for line capacity purposes alone. Now we go to the Penn 340's and 345's...you have seen what my 345 can do. (brought in that oversize in under ten minutes :shocked: ) but it is overkill. The 340 in my opinion would be perfect for what you are looking to use it for. It doesnt have as fast of a retrieve ratio as a 50H but it is a work horse and it has a line guide.

The ideal rig would probably be a 340 and an Ugly stik Tiger 2202 (or a 2202 custom). Use TUFF line 80# That is the easy part. Put 300 yards on it. Dont put it on yourself though. Take it to Fisherman's if you get one at the show and let them spool it up for you. Put on about 30 yards of 80# dacron for backing (spool filler) and then put on the 80# TUFF line. Make sure it is on tight. They are usually good about it...usually. It has to be on tight or else the line will bury itself in the spool and you will lose your rig/fish and a lot of line...expensive line. If you use it for tuna you might want to leave some room on the top of the spool for a top-shot of monofilament as a bumber and something with some stretch because those fish are fast and would snap your 80# TUFF like it was dental floss. Something to keep in mind.

Well, there you go buddy. I will see you this weekend :smile:

-Coot

[ 02-08-2002, 01:54 PM: Message edited by: Coot22 ]

[Phil Layer]

Great post, Coot!

Where do you work? I may need to pay you a visit.

[birdhunter]

Judaist Priest!

Thanks Cooter. I should have know you'd have an opinon. I'll see ya tonight.

Anyone else, or did the "walking tackle shop" cover it all?

[Coot22]

Hey moby,

Thx :smile: , I work at Fisherman's marine supply but I am only seasonal work there. I go to school for nine months out of the year. You can go to the Delta Park store or to the sportsman's show where they always have a display, and talk to pretty much any of the tackle guys. Josh, Jason, Scott, Brandon, etc. and any one of those guys can tell you anything and everything you want to know about any kind of fishing. The guys that I mentioned should be at the sportsmans show except for Brandon who I think is holding down the fort at the store :smile: .

Hey birdy, the rods still havent come in yet. I WANT MY RODS!!! Maybe they came in on the truck this afternoon?!?!?!?! So, yeah, I will talk to ya tonight bird...water is looking pretty cherry...might just have to do something about that...heh heh heh

-Coot

[Pilar]

Hey birdhunter. I use the whopper whipper. That's a shakespeare BWB-1120, about $80, but you could do better at the show. This is a black ugly stik, one piece, 9', 20# - 80# line rod. Tough as hell and lots of leverage for big dogs. I use this rod for Flatty, Peelers in the gorge and charlie Tuna. This is the big brother to the ugly stik tigers you already know about. When I first tried it on a peeler I was amazed at how much control I had. At no time did I feel like the rod was going away. That fish was 11'! and came to the boat in about 45 minutes.

Hook that up with the Penn Senator 4/0 or 4/0 special (extra wide spool) and 400 yds of 80# tuff. That ought to cover anything the Ocean can dish up. The reel is about $90 and the line $40.

Two summers ago I fished with Krystalflash (his firs time) for Tuna. We had many kodak moments but the one that stands out could have been scripted. He asked over the roar of the motor "What's a bite look like?". I glanced over to the whopper whipper just as it buckled to the water and began to smoke line off the reel. 'Like that bro, pick it up' I said. I'll never forget Mikes dinner plate sized eyes as he tried in vain to get the buckled rod free of the holder. By the time he had the rod and I had turned and slowed the boat the fish had freight trained 1/2 the line (200yds) off the reel and was well into the second 1/2 30 seconds later.

So to make it simple, break out the big guns for the ocean. You never know what the hell you're going to hook up on. Right Mike? Like maybe flipper. How do you chase a dolphin that sounds a 1000' after it eats a tuna feather? You don't unless your boat is a submarine. In any case use a big stick and a reel with lots of line on it.

[ 02-08-2002, 03:51 PM: Message edited by: Pilar ]

[bait boy]

Aa word of caution on the 320, 330, 340, and maybe even the 345. If you have a levelwind the pawl that makes your line guide move back and forth is made of milsd steel and will rust and lock up on you if you do not take care after each trip and rinse or wash your gear well. I love my 330 but I have a buddy that has the same reel and has had trouble with his level wind on 2 of his penns. so if I was going out to buy a deepsea reel it would not be a levelwind..

[Pilar]

Good point Rick. The ocean eats everything except stainless or plastic. Over the years the gear that has survived has been the simple rugged stuff like the Diawa 50H and the Penn 4/0.

I don't think I own even one level wind except for steelhead gear.

[Dr Strangelove]

Calstar 6-6.5ft 30-80 lb Glass with optional roller guides, and Penn Senator 4/0 or 114H of course Accuframe. 40-60lb mono or braid. Might go with ceramic guides if braid, otherwise get carbide tip and triple reinforced stainless guides. Have fun. Doc.