Need 2 new reels, should I bother getting 80's or stick with 50's to complete the spread?

[tubbyama]

We already have four Penn 50's. And a boat full of TLD stuff. I'd like to use 80's for the bluefin troll, but Im wondering if its worth it if the other four are only 50's anyways. Should I get the 80's and rig them in the spread in any certain position? Thanks.

[Earesponsible]

Do you have a planer rod/reel yet?

[CaptNemo]

yes get the 80's, I added two on bent butts last year, and use them for a lot. I used them early for the planer rod tuna bite, then once the hot water shows up I run my dredge off of an 80. Very versatile, even if your fishing a spread of 50's you can always throw a big black bart or big spreader bar off the 80 and know your right. Also if your fishing same spread, run your 80's off the long riggers, gives you more line cushion, I like mine a lot, but bent butts are a must have with them

[tubbyama]

yes get the 80's, I added two on bent butts last year, and use them for a lot. I used them early for the planer rod tuna bite, then once the hot water shows up I run my dredge off of an 80. Very versatile, even if your fishing a spread of 50's you can always throw a big black bart or big spreader bar off the 80 and know your right. Also if your fishing same spread, run your 80's off the long riggers, gives you more line cushion, I like mine a lot, but bent butts are a must have with them

Great explanation. Thanks again.

[uncle Bob]

Or get the 50 Avet or the 50 Avet TRX. They are on sale at Charkbait. They have enough drag for a planer
Uncle Bob

[Earesponsible]

Avet TRX is sick. You could pull a planer the size of a cafeteria tray.

[Fish&Surf757]

An 80 with a bent butt is great for the dredge or planer rod, however your pretty restricted to a fighting chair or leaving the rod in the rodholder when fighting a fish. If your a meat fisherman, then its a deadly stick. I can recall many offshore trips out of vb where nothing was biting, no marks on the finder, and out of the blue the bent butt gets smacked. If loading the 80 with braid, make sure you pack the line on as tight as you can. The pressure of the planer will bury the line in the spool and create an underwrapped backlash mess and youll lose a fish if the line isnt on there super tight. Single strand wire works great on them too.

[tubbyama]

An 80 with a bent butt is great for the dredge or planer rod, however your pretty restricted to a fighting chair or leaving the rod in the rodholder when fighting a fish. If your a meat fisherman, then its a deadly stick. I can recall many offshore trips out of vb where nothing was biting, no marks on the finder, and out of the blue the bent butt gets smacked. If loading the 80 with braid, make sure you pack the line on as tight as you can. The pressure of the planer will bury the line in the spool and create an underwrapped backlash mess and youll lose a fish if the line isnt on there super tight. Single strand wire works great on them too.

So you cant really stand up with harness with this big rig?

[Fish&Surf757]

Yes and No, the angle on most bent butts is usually too much to be able to use with a belt/harness. the butt of the rod is usually too long as well. You can get custom bent butts that are made more for fighting fish standing up. If you got a heavy standup rod it would work but an 80 will wear the angler out really quick. I use the bent butt as more of a utility rod (dredge,planer,deep sword fishing). Your kind of defeating the purpose of a bent butt if you get a wimpy one that you can use for standup unless you want to use it for blue marlin and throw a Spanish on it. You want one with a good angle and heavy class (80-130) so the rod dosent bend with all the pressure from the dredge/planer. I guess it all depends on how you want to use it. I feel like a planer with a spoon or a ballyhoo attracts fish into your spread and is a must if you want to catch wahoo/mako. A dredge increases your chance of keeping a marlin in the spread longer. Everyone uses them different but an 80 or a 12/0 senator on a bent butt (Billfisher BF80130PR Planer Rod 1Pc 80-130Lb Bent Butt is what we use) is definitely worth having.

[coomes]

I like to have 80s for the wwb baits for bft and run 2 from the long riggers back about 350-400yds and also run them in the short rigger position for blue marlin. They work great and with a short bent butt they are very doable stand up with a a belt and harness and you can put some serious heat on a fish with them. I also have a planer rod with a long bent butt but it is a bear to stand up fish with but it does a great job for its purpose. With that being said if you don't fish for the bigger bft where you have to pull wwb a 50 spooled with 130 braid and a 80# topshot will do everything else. A planer rod is a great addition to most spreads and will sometimes catch fish when nothing else will(especially wahoo and bft).


Patrick