1 each bottom/trolling rig and spinning rig?

[MADMAXKC]

I will be moving down to Pensacola in April, but I will be there for training in early march. I want to go ahead and get a couple of new rod/reel setups. What do you guys recommend for each. 1 would be a bottom fishing/trolling setup and 1 a spinning rig. Thanks for your help. I plan on spending about 100-125 on each reel and I am not sure what to spend on the rod's. I appreciate your advice, thanks.
I was at Cabelas today and I liked the Penn GTI 320 LD.

[tidester]

The 320GTI is a nice reel. I've got a couple of them on downrigger rods that I used to use for guests trolling up king mackerel with 20 lb line. I've also got 330 GTI's on trolling / bottom fishing setups with 30 lb line. Again, they are really nice and hold up fairly well, except for the drags if you catch a real monster. I cooked the drag discs in my 330 GTI with a 86 lb wahoo one time!

The key question you have to consider is line test. Are you going to bottom fish with 20 lb, 30 lb or heavier line. Are you trolling where you need more line capacity? What about spinning tackle line weight. Are you going to toss plugs and grubs for trout, or use it for heavier offshore duty?

The logical step is to determine your target species, then determine your line weight based on your targets, then go with a reel for that weight line and type of fishing, then match a rod to it.

[gw204]

I also have the 320 GTis. Instead of using 20 lb. mono, I spooled them w/ 200 yds. of 30 lb. Fireline and mono backing. I only use them for trolling in the mid-Chesapeake Bay and while I have yet to hook a monster on them, nothing that swims the water I fish is strong enough to burn the drags or spool me. I have them mounted on Penn Senator 20-40 lb. rods. Makes for a very nice combo.

Another option is Penn Special Senator series 112H 3/0 and 113H 4/0 (if you don't need the levelwind). Both are proven workhorses and if maintained properly, will last forever. My 6/0 114Hs rule!!! Bump up your budget a bit or search ebay and get a Shimano TLD 25 ($180). Smooth as silk operation and an awesome lever drag. Of all the conventional reels I have, this one is my favorite. It loves to catch big stripers in the late fall and I used it extensively offshore for Mahi, Tuna and Marlin. Sorry, I'm starting to stray....

My two nicest spinning outfits are a Penn 5500SS mouted on a 6' med-heavy Ugly Stick w/ 30 lb. Fireline and a Penn 4500SS on a 5'6" med Ugly Stick w/ 20 lb. Fireline. Both are extremely smooth and with the Fireline, very sensitive. Great for flounder. I've taken stripers to 36" on the 5'6" with an older Shimano reel (now toasted from those fish). Had to finesse them a little but hey, that's part of the fun.

Tidester, you think that Wahoo smoked your 330, I almost had one hooked up on my 5500 while chunking for Tuna off of Ocean City, MD last summer. We saw the fish (looked every bit of 50 lbs.) cruise through our chunks. I grabbed the spinner, which I had already rigged in case we saw some Mahi-Mahi and pitched it to him. I guess he could see the 50 lb. fluorocarbon leader I was rigged with cause he wouldn't touch it. I rigged up a tuna trap w/ 30 lb. fluoro and a wire leader, got him to take it a few times but he would spit it out before the circle hook could do it's thing. Man, would that have been fun!!!!

Anyway, Tidester is right. Determine what species you are going to fish for and the methods you intend to employ, then make your equipment decision.

Good luck.

Don't forget a camera to post pics of your catches!

http://userpages.umbc.edu/~bmille4/sirreel/index.html

[This message was edited by gw204 on 01-23-03 at 08:58 AM.]

[DreamWeaver21]

I have a 330 GTI and a 113H (4/0). I have 40lb mono on the GTI and 50lb Power Pro on the 4/0. Neither reel has had any problems, but to be honest I haven't used them a whole lot. I prefer the 4/0 over the GTI, but I favor my TLD 20 over the 4/0.

Dream Weaver Fishing Team
21 foot Cape Horn

[Wrangler]

I kinda go along with gw204 above: a Penn 4500/5500/6500 depending on what you're targeting for the spinning reels; and a Penn Special Senator in 3/0 or 4/0 for conventional. These reels are a great foundation to build on, and, if taken care of will last a lifetime.

I have a lot of fancy shiny aluminum reels to choose from, but I still rely on the Special Senators from time to time.

Dave

[Mr. T]

Try eBay. http://pages.ebay.com/

Type in key words like baitrunner, sealine, etc.

Saw some good deals, wanted to start bidding myself, but I need more rod and reels like I need a hole in the head.

[MADMAXKC]

Today I found a Shimano Tallus rod for 80.00 that sounded like a good price, does anyone have any experience with these rods?

[Huck BB62]

BUT, they ARE great reels AND they're in your price range. Check out Okumas. They're very good, NOT bottom of the line reels. I've had custom shop after custom shop scoff at them and call them junk. Tell ya what, the proof's in the puddin' and they are being tournament fished and are a favorite of a fishing author with more time on the water than any six anglers that I've met with MUCH more invested. So far, I love mine. Okuma makes reels for both purposes that you're looking for.

2002 Trophy, 2002 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crewcab 4X4

[MrPat]

If you want one reel for bottom fishing and trolling, then the Penn 113H (4/0) is great. Some use the 6/0 for the bottom, but the smaller size is more comfortable. You can put 65 lb Power Pro on it and finish it off with 20 feet of mono when you bottom fish. When you troll, you may want a longer top shot of mono for shock protection. Put this on a nice 30-80 lb test stand up rod and you have it all.

[MADMAXKC]

I picked up the shimano Tallus rod and a penn 320LD. I am looking forward to trying it out in March. Can you tell me a little more about backing and Shock leaders? Thanks MM