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| After looking over some options for trolling reels, it looks as if I cut it down to two options:
1.) Penn International 975LD It's a lever drag bait caster. I talked to a Penn rep. at the factory and he said it would hold up to casting and trolling no problem....about $300
Then there is a new reel that Penn just came out with: Penn 320LD. About $130. Looks like a nice reel.
Anyone use any Penn reels that has something to offer?? Any other models I should be looking at??
The reel must have a level wind. I'd prefer that you be able to cast it too. |
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| I've got a 975 but not the lever drag version.
It's a tank! Casts well...good drag. 4.75:1 ratio if I recall correctly. Bait clicker is not as noisy as you might like for trolling. Supposedly it has lots of stainless steel inside. I use mine for casting very large bucktails and crankbaits. The reel makes retrieving them effortless.
Smaller than an abu 7000 and lighter too but bigger and wider than an abu 6500. The only problem I found was the bait clicker button which was placed so that it rubbed on the web of my hand between the thumb and first finger and was very uncomfortable when palming the reel. Talked to a Penn service guy and found out that the button was solid plastic and so it could be filed down, so I carefully did that and contoured it to the curve of the frame. It is now a perfect fit.
I have heard from others the reels stand up well to trolling but have no first hand knowledge of that. I use a 209 for trolling.
A very impressive reel IMHO. |
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| I have a 209m and 9m level wind trolling reels. They both cost me only $30 (although I think normal price is 50-60$) the 209 is a big trolling reel but the 9m is probobly only slightly bigger than a 6500. They are really tough reels it seems like. I also do use them to cast when ancoring or dock fishing with suckers. So they can be casted. |
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