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Random Quote: It's easy to simulate the joys of boating. Just stand in a cold shower and tear up $100 dollar bills
Longtime freshwater fisherman - just got a new-to-me 20' CC to begin exploring the world of near-offshore saltwater fishing off the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Have a full week planned for Grand Isle in early June. The boat/electronics/etc. has pretty much "shot my fishing budget" for 2007 so I am in no position to buy a "spread" of rods/reels for this seadson. So, in search of versatility (and price range) I have narrowed my search to a Torium 50 or a Tyrnos 30 - either reel matched to a Talavera rod with roller/stripper configuration in either a 30-80 lb or a 60-100 lb line range. I expect the vast majority of the work for this rig to be bottom fishing and trolling the offshore rigs from about 8-15 miles offshore - traditionally yielding snapper, cobia, king mackeral, etc. However, if I can get in the company of another boat - we may even venture farther into the Gulf and hope to hook up on something bigger. I will be accompanied by my two grown sons. We all own larger spinning equipment that we use for bull redfish but now need to add to our fishing tackle selection in order to better address the potential for tying into a yellowfin.
I have found that either reel matched to the Talavera rod is in the $400 +/- price range. Each of the three of us will acquire a new rod/reel for this adventure and we don't necessarily have to get the exact same thing. Just trying to maximize the possibility that we can all enjoy the trip and catch fish.
Next year there will be more funding available to step into something more purely devoted to trolling - just want to focus on a reel for this year that will more hi-speed to get bottom dwellers up quickly.
My vote is the Torium. I have 4 of the 16's for kings and dolphins and the are great reels with a lot of line capacity. I don't think you need the heavier ones unless you get to tuna or wahoo. I couldn't justify the extra cash just to have a gold reel when these work just fine. We caught over 50 kings last year on the ones I have and never had a problem.
I don't think you need heavier than the Torium 30. I have 2 and caught 50# AJs among other things on them. You will like the fast retrieve. If you are open to considering another option, I also have a few Avet LXs (buy the 6:1 ratio for high speed) that I would recommend as a lever drag (Torium is a star) - machined aluminum reel, very nice drag system, and a little more $ than the Torium. Put it on a Chaos K30-60 rod, 300 yds 65# spectra w/ 100+ yd mono top shot, and you can do just about anything with ithis combo. I think this combo would come in ~400 as well.
I appreciate the input - but still have a question. In freshwater my casting reel of choice has been the Shimano Calcutta 200B. A sweet little reel with no problems. I have landed many 35#+ redfish on them using 12# test mono. Sure, it took a while but the reel held up marvelously. That reel is a star drag and I am comfortable with that arrangement and I like the fast retrieve as I can work topwater baits in fresh water with less work.
The Torium 30 has a fast retrieve but is a star drag like my Calcutta. The TLD's have lever drag systems but at a cost of a lower retrieve ratio. Sentiment here seems to run toward lever drag for saltwater. Is the lever drag more consistent or rugged than the star drag? Or, it is more a matter of personal taste?
And yes, there is the option of Shimano's Tyrnos 30 or the Avet LX - both having faster retrieves than the TLD's and both have a lever drag arrangement. Of course either of these reels is about a $100 step-up from the Torium 30. Sure, I am not going to let $100 stop me from making the right decision - I just feel that I need more enlighenment before I make a selection.
I have both a torium 30 and a tyrnos 30 on Tsunami rods. I like both bot the lever drag is easier to adjust when trolling. I put out the lure and move lever drag just enough to keep from pulling out more line. When a fish strikes the drag is loose enough not to pull bait out before hook is set and tight enough to see the strike and get rod out of holder. With the star drag it is hardere to troll with, but can be done. Also I find it easier to adjust drag during battle with lever drag. I bought my reels from Professional on Julia st. Downtown N.O. They are great to deal with and can offer good advice.
I am trying to deside b/t the tld, tyrnos and avet lx as well. any in put would be geat.
I have an Avet LX and a Torium 30. Both are nice reels but I prefer the Torium for all around use. I guess I just prefer faster reels. That and the Torium just seems to keep the elements out a little better. Not sure about the Tyrnos but I've owned the TLD and they're quite nice too.
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2005 Sea Hunt 202, Honda BF150 2009 Toyota Tundra
I used to have a few Avets (JX, LX, etc) and had some problems with them. I know that many people think they are gods gift to reels but I'm not among that group. When I reach for a reel on the boat that is a step "up" from the Toriums, I reach for the Accurates.
Shimano Tyrnos vs Torium vs ???
