Penn 209 question

[1 aught]

Is this reel ok to use for halibut and/or tuna?. How much 80lb line can I get on it using tuf-line. Would the drag do ok? :whazzup:

All you experience would be appreciated. Thank.

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[Reel Creel]

Two maybe three tuna, do to the drag. Dont ask me how i know.

[1 aught]

Sounds like experience. What about halibut? Can I get enough line on it?

[Silver Eagle]

Probably not if you fish the Chicken Ranch, you need 900 feet to start, esp. if the drift is like the last couple trips.......Ray

[blubeast]

I've used my 209 for both. Holds about 300 yds of 80# tuffline. Works fine for halibut. As long as drift is not too bad, fishing the Ranch is ok.

Tuna is definately sporting. Got about 6 so far on my 209... drag is weak, but if $$$ are an issue, it can be done. I have now upgraded for tuna to a Daiwa 50H. For the 209 and tuna, plan on wearing gloves and using your thumb to augment the drag so you do not get spooled. :blush:

The drag on a 209 is too small, a 210 would be better. Better still is loose the levelwind and get a 113H and you will have a much better reel for butts and albacore.

[Draggin' Bait]

We have a smattering of 209s, 309s, 113s and 114s for fishing. We've never lost an albacore on a 209 with 20-25 pound line (our salmon rods). But there is a "cost". You simply can't force the fight, because the drag on the 209s can't take as much pressure as more expensive reels. That means a longer fight, especially on larger fish, and therefore more time before you are trolling again. The biggest albacore we've taken on a 209 was 45 pounds, and it took about 45 minutes to land it. Reel came through very well. I've heard of people having problems with the level winds on the long runs, but so far ours have held in there (I ensure the reels are always clean and well lubricated).

Larry

[1 aught]

You guys are great. Thanks for all the info. Hope to see some salty dogs out fishing sometime.


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[fg127]

Hmmmmm.....we were planning to remove the level wind from our 209s and use them for tuna. If I sold those, what would I replace them with? For $100 - $150 what would you recommend?

[Fishing Dear]

Originally Posted by fg127

Hmmmmm.....we were planning to remove the level wind from our 209s and use them for tuna. If I sold those, what would I replace them with? For $100 - $150 what would you recommend?

Here are the specs on the Penn senators which I use, I have the 114 HLW,

Gear Ratio:Line:Capacity:Weight:
2.8:1 80 lb. 375 yds. 50 oz

The regular 113 is rated at;

Gear Ratio:Line:Capacity:Weight:
2:1 30 lb. 475 yds. 24 oz

And the standard 114

Gear Ratio:Line:Capacity:Weight:
2.1:1 50 lb. 525 yds. 48 oz

Do a search on ifish classifieds or the really popular auction site and you should be able to get a good buy, I saw a 113H go for $42 plus shipping last week.

Good luck!

Bill

[Tinman]

Originally Posted by fg127

Hmmmmm.....we were planning to remove the level wind from our 209s and use them for tuna. If I sold those, what would I replace them with? For $100 - $150 what would you recommend?

If you're comfortable changing your own drag washers, try the Penn 500 Jigmaster. They cost about $35 at the online auction house. Put in the Penn HT100 drag washers greased with Cals or Shimano drag grease, and you're good to go. For the sake of casting ability, make sure you get reels with the aluminum spool, not the heavy chrome or stainless spool.

This reel has caught more albacore in the last 5 decades than all the other reels put together. The drag is much bigger than the 209, and the gear ratio is 4:1, which is much faster than the 209. Fish it with 25 or 30 pound mono. The drag won't handle 40# line. The one-screw takeapart is handy for changing spools.

[alantani]

i would not push the penn 209 past straight 20# mono and 5 pounds of drag.

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=659.0