TLD 25's

[CaptBeach]

Theres another thread going in the Va Board and some have mentioned the TLD 25 is up to our waters offshore I admit, the TLD 25 with a Alantani Power Handle is a pretty stout setup especially if you run the Alantani Drag Update...but is it a "go to reel"? I've got 4 of them but am getting 4 TLD 50 2Speeds very soon...I will probably run a couple of 25's in the spread as well but will run 50's deep on a down rigger or the WWWWWB and the WWWWWWFB baits...

So...what is hte consensus? IS the TLD 25 up to the task for Va Off shore on a daily basis?

[cyruss Dog]

I believe they are fine for your flat line baits and even short riggers. We caught several 40-60 pound YFT this spring on 25's in the flat line position. No power handle, no drag upgrade.


_______________________
Earley Times
Little Creek

[cirwin]

I would say move up the TLD 30 if your going to put more money into the 25. It's ready to go straight out of the box.

[CaptBeach]

IMHO the TLD 25 with the graphite drag update and the power handle is a TLD30...lots of drag and an awesome handle to crank on...



These handle upgrades completely transform the single speed shimano tld 20 and 25 reels and give them some serious torque. the handle arm is all stainless steel. the 4/0 kolekar grip is stainless steel and delron. they cost $40 each, with domestic shipping included.

handle upgrades - please read this first

the fish's interface with the reel is the drag system. once you upgrade your drag washers to greased carbon fiber, the fish will probably not be able to tell the difference between your $90 ambassaduer and your $350 calcutta. your interface with the reel is the handle grip. in between the handle grip and the drags is a reel with single or two speeds, leverdrag or star drag, graphite or aluminum frame, level wind or no. once you're on a fish, your reel may as well be a black box. it's you on the handle grip and the fish against the drag.

personally, i've found most fishing reel handle grips to be to small. that's why i had pete kolekar make the bigger ones for me. the materials he chose were stainless steel and delron. the grip is turned on a lathe, starting with barstock. the stainless is tubing, screws and more barstock turned on a lathe. these handle grips have a very comfortable 9 degree offset. they are not fancy, but they are very tough and come in three sizes. first, there is a smaller tapered grip that i call a 2/0 kolekar. i personally put them on the loaner reels that i use for inshore rockcod fishing. alot of guys really like them on smaller reels. then there is a full sized handle grip that i call a 4/0 kolekar. i have these grips installed on my progear 501's and my accurate boss reels, from the itty bitty 197 to the 650. the last grip is the newer tapered magnum that i call a 6/0 kolekar. i put these on my accurate atd's. i like these grips on any size reel from a penn senator 113h to an 80 international. the trick is to match the grip with the size of your reel AND the size of your hand.

[Carson MAC]

I only run 25's when fishing for mahi, whites, and sails. Hook into a good tuna or a blue one and your eff'd. Can you get by with them when your tuna fishing...yes. Do I recommend it...No.

[Persistence2]

They are great reels. For everyday fishing out of VA Beach they can certainly handle it. With that said, I run all Penn Int'l 50's and an Senator 10/0. My luck would be a Blue Marlin or a Bigeye at the Canyons on the TLD 25 and I'd be pissed. I love TLD 25's with those handles, they rock.

[TUNALUNATIC]

They are fine until you get spooled by something- after that you wont have the tld's for long

[sloth]

They are great reels. For everyday fishing out of VA Beach they can certainly handle it. With that said, I run all Penn Int'l 50's and an Senator 10/0. My luck would be a Blue Marlin or a Bigeye at the Canyons on the TLD 25 and I'd be pissed. I love TLD 25's with those handles, they rock.

I'll second that. Well put.

[Persistence2]

Just out of curiousity, how many have been spooled out of VA/MD when using decent tackle? I have been fishing offshore out of this area for 10 years now and have not seen a reel spooled. True I have also never caught or seen caught a fish over 300 pounds but I'm just curious. I know a 100 pound Tuna cannot even come close to spooling a 6/0 or 9/0 Senator.

[CaptBeach]

I got spooled two years ago on a TLD 25 off Sandbridge trolling for Stripers in Jan Feb...could not turn it...came out of gear thinking I'd snagged something, nope still running and running hard...peeling off line...cranked up and turned into it to gain some line too late...PING.....gone....I swear I could smell buring drag plate...I still wonder...