Penn #49 trolling reel

[Misfit Toy]

Hi All,
I have an old Penn #49 Mariner reel . It has a narrow
spool and two levers on one side of it. I've owned it since I was a boy and have never really understood it's function.
Could someone please explain it to me? I don't think Penn
still makes it. I believe it was designed for trolling with wire.

Thank You
Misfit Toy

[WildeOne]

I have two and , yes, they are designed for wire line ... they are still sold by Penn. The forward lever is really dangerous. It allow the spool to let line out with the crank engaged. I guess the idea was to count the revs and therefor, the amount of line let out. I wired mine locked so those nasty levers would never get used (and break someone's hand). The rear lever is the free spool lever found on all star drag reels. They're fine reels for wire line fishing, although not too many people fish with wire now. I used to use them all the time for inshore trolling for bluefish, stripers, etc.

[bunk-r]

The 49L was originally designed many many years ago for bottom fishing. The extra clutch was for back reeling when a large fish was hooked (drags weren't strong enough back then). Squidders have the same feature on the bottom of the right side plate. Eventually Penn made 2 more versions of the 49 without the extra clutch... the 349 and the 149. Both have been discontinued for many years. I think they should put the 48L out to sea as well

[dogboy]

i have 3 or 4 of them, and use them for wire line and lead core.....not all the parts are still available

a "brand new" one, box and hall, sold for 80 bucks on e-bay recently

i got one on e-bay last week in better than decent shape for 30

i am not lead pipe certian, but i think the 349 has better gears and a bearing or 2 where the 49 only has bushings


the main bearing are available on the after market....apparently an off the shelf bearing can be modified by a machinist...

now you are reminding me how much work i want to do on all those old penn reels