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Random Quote: Dad, when are they gonna start biting?
I just purchased my first boat and need to get set up for striper fishing. I am looking to buy four rod/reels for trolling and have read that the Penn 330 GTi is good along with Penn Slammers/Mariners. What is a good size rod to get? Would it be best to get all four of these same combos or two for bottom fishing like Penn Senator/Senator 113H (already have one from Grouper fishing).
What's a good combo for casting and also for drift fishing?
boater's world has their 330/slammer combos on sale right now at $95.99...that includes their 20% off for the liquidation. can't really beat that price. the ones they have don't have the roller tips and strippers, but eyes are fine so long as you don't run wire.
boater's world has their 330/slammer combos on sale right now at $95.99...that includes their 20% off for the liquidation. can't really beat that price. the ones they have don't have the roller tips and strippers, but eyes are fine so long as you don't run wire.
Thanks for the tip. Just picked up four of them, and like you said, only $95.99. They had a lot of them left too.
Would running 30lb diamond line on them with 60lb ande leaders be ideal?
What would be a good size casting rod/reel for stripers? (Penn preferably)
if you run mono, i would run 40# with an 80# leader just because of the spring season...it's overkill for the ret of the year, but why risk losing the hosses and cows?
many guys, myself included, also run 40# mono backing with a 100-yd top shot of 60-65# braid...this set up is usually for the line that you want to run deeper. all mono is fine for your WWB, planer board lines or anything that you want to run near the surface.
i think the bigger penn silverado combos are fine for casting...sv6000 or 8000 would be plenty. i do do as much of that, so there will probably be better recommendations...my spinning tackle is getting pretty old...
i have a penn power graph 1500 combo that i use for my light tackle fishing that i really like. i also have a couple of bigger quantam reels (don't even remember the model numbers, but they're about 10 year old) on ugly sticks that have held up for several years.
I run all 30lb mono with 60lb leader... a 330gti does not have the drag to break 30lb mono!
BTW, go to a local tackle shop with cash and see what they will sell the reels for (and spooled with line). They many times will beat the big stores. Also that slammer rod is junk. I have 3 of those combos and the eyelets in the guides have popped out of all of them already. I was fortunate enough to get one replaced before the bankruptcy but I am stuck with the other ones.
I like a 3/0 rod for strippers because it gives a little more action especially pulling spoons.The GTI and 309`s allow you to count bars and that is a plus.The Senators [114] are great for pulling big umbrellas,but you need a 4/0 rod also.Now if you don`t mind marking your line the the Senators 113,Shimono 20TLD`s will do the trick.The TLD 25 is a bit overkill but can also be used for some offshore fishing.
I may sell all my Penn 330 GTI's this summer and replace with all Shimano Charter Specials. They hold more drag than the Penns but hold less line (for the bay this is not an issue) I agree with the Senator 3/0 rods. I like them too. I also have grown to love a Billfisher rod I have. 15-40lb class rods are great for tandem and solo chutes. 30-50lb class for umbrellas work well.
Be wary of the new 330's being sold at BW. They are all now made in China and not nearly as good as the old ones produced by Penn. Pulled it apart to clean, and it is a whole different beast inside than the ones I bought back a few years ago. Night and Day....
Unfortunately, Penn has been moving their reel production offshore for the past few years. The last 330's were produced in the states in 2007. Unless it says "Made in USA" on the reel, it's now made in China.
It's a real shame, b/c I have always bought Penn reels, and now, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere, or rebuild mine.
Good rod/reel combo for stripers? 
