[jnashed]

I am thinking of getting one or two new trolling rods. I have some decent Penn stuff right now (conventional and spinning). What is liked for reel and rod under $200 if possible. Specifically Shimano TLD20s vs Penn Senators 113h. Other ideas are also appreciated. I have fished a couple of old (mid 1980s) Diawas and I liked them also.

Jim

 

[Abter1]

One thing I suggest avoiding: you often see a 113H sold as a combo with a Penn Slammer rod. The Slammer rod is very low end...essentially a give away. On sale the combo price is often $100 or so: $129 is a common price. You are buying a 113H (a very solid reel that sells in that price range) and a rod that may last a half dozen trips before the eyes start to pop. You will also see the Penn 330GT2 bundled with the Slammer as well for the same price...heck sometimes you see it for less WITH the slammer than without it!

You could of course buy the 113H/Slammer combo, and then go buy a decent rod. $60 to $80 can buy a lot of good boat rods. Penn Stand Up Mariners are very solid rods in that range; many others as well.

I don't know if you want to consider a leverwind reel or not. Two to consider are a Penn 330GT2 (or previous model GTi), which is about $100, a Penn 330 LD (lever drag and level wind) for about $140, or an Okuma Titus T20L (a level wind, lever drag), which is about $120 on sale this year. I've never use one, but I expect the Titus T20 (the non-level wind model brother of the T20L) would be a solid reel as well.

All of these I've mentioned are fine for heavy spring and fall trolling in the Bay. Summer trolling you can go a little smaller easily (Penn 320s, Titus 15L, etc).

 

[Steve F]

Jim,
Have you ever thought about a Custom rod that way you can get exactly what you want, give me a call if you would like to talk about one.

301-898-1136 anytime after 5

 

[27 sailfish]

I like a Penn 113H on a Shimano Tallus rod.Good all around outfit for trolling bigger Rockfish.

 

[captainbilly]

If Your Interested

I have a couple of Penn 113's on Penn Senators and 2 spare Penn Senators that I would be willing to deal so I can get some new spinning tackle. I can get you the specs if you're interested?

 

[twiskman]

One thing I suggest avoiding: you often see a 113H sold as a combo with a Penn Slammer rod. The Slammer rod is very low end...essentially a give away. On sale the combo price is often $100 or so: $129 is a common price. You are buying a 113H (a very solid reel that sells in that price range) and a rod that may last a half dozen trips before the eyes start to pop. You will also see the Penn 330GT2 bundled with the Slammer as well for the same price...heck sometimes you see it for less WITH the slammer than without it!

You could of course buy the 113H/Slammer combo, and then go buy a decent rod. $60 to $80 can buy a lot of good boat rods. Penn Stand Up Mariners are very solid rods in that range; many others as well.

I don't know if you want to consider a leverwind reel or not. Two to consider are a Penn 330GT2 (or previous model GTi), which is about $100, a Penn 330 LD (lever drag and level wind) for about $140, or an Okuma Titus T20L (a level wind, lever drag), which is about $120 on sale this year. I've never use one, but I expect the Titus T20 (the non-level wind model brother of the T20L) would be a solid reel as well.

All of these I've mentioned are fine for heavy spring and fall trolling in the Bay. Summer trolling you can go a little smaller easily (Penn 320s, Titus 15L, etc).

I have a little issue with the Okumas- they have a lot of plastic inside the housing (plus the housing/body is plastic too, although on a metal chassis). The only one that I have been inside of was a bit of a nightmare. If you can afford it, I would go with the TLDs. They are very nice, and Shimano is most definitely my favorite company. They really stand behind their products- much like Penn used to. I do have some 330 GTis, and have been very pelased with them as well. My 330s are mounted on Slammer roller rods, and I have had them for 3 seasons, and have yet to experience any issue with them at all. Good luck!

 

[Baldzilla 2.0]

I have a little issue with the Okumas- they have a lot of plastic inside the housing (plus the housing/body is plastic too, although on a metal chassis). The only one that I have been inside of was a bit of a nightmare. If you can afford it, I would go with the TLDs. They are very nice, and Shimano is most definitely my favorite company. They really stand behind their products- much like Penn used to. I do have some 330 GTis, and have been very pelased with them as well. My 330s are mounted on Slammer roller rods, and I have had them for 3 seasons, and have yet to experience any issue with them at all. Good luck!

so my reel was a nightmare huh? ha ha

I like my okumas but I did have hte one Tim refers to above fail, but I've had penns fail too. I have 4 TLDs 15s which I love, only issue is no level wind, but it's an ok compromise!

 

[Abter1]

There was a pretty good thread on this question back before Christmas (present shopping). Try
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/che...-angler/249217-your-opinion-shimano-penn.html
Lots of good and diverse opinions.

Tim;
I hear you about the Slammer rods; peoples experiences seem very mixed. Some seem to last a long time; there are other reports of the eyelets popping off after a few trips (I've had 2 of them do that), and scattered reports about them snapping on the first fish. Glad yours are doing well. I have a T20L, and like it so far. Thats hard for me to say as a dedicated Penn lover. I'll get back to you in about 10 years to report on how well it holds up. I know how my Penns will be doing!!! I haven't been inside the Titus yet, either, and may not rush to go there. A lot of Bay Fishermen I respect a lot recommended the T20Ls to me as a level wind, and I decided to take a walk on the wild side and try one. I'll get back to you in about 10 years to report on how well it holds up. I know how my Penns will be doing!!!

 

[aafinest]

I also got talked into an Okuma T20L and only used it a few times. It never failed but there was just something about it that I didn't like. It sure looked out of place among my Penns. I can't say anything bad about the Okuma but having been a Penn guy my whole life the Okuma just didn't fit. For a non level wind reel you can't go wrong with the Penn 113 nor can you go wrong with the Penn 330 if level wind is your choice. They have both been around along time, parts are easy to come by and are relatively easy to work on. Just my .02 from a Penn guy.

 

[captn harley]

I am thinking of getting one or two new trolling rods. I have some decent Penn stuff right now (conventional and spinning). What is liked for reel and rod under $200 if possible. Specifically Shimano TLD20s vs Penn Senators 113h. Other ideas are also appreciated. I have fished a couple of old (mid 1980s) Diawas and I liked them also.

Jim

I went on E-BAY and bought some real nice trolling ( tuna ) rods all roller plus roller tip,they are DAVIS RODS and come in different sizes #30-50, #50-80 etc. 5'10" with gimbal handles, with shipping $ 58.75 a piece.....Then went on E-BAY and found penn 330 GT2 reels for $ 90.00 a piece with shipping........TOTAL $148.75 rod and reel combo...........SPRING FISHING ....PRICE LESS :rockon:

 

[iFishMD]

I prefer 330GTI's for on the bay as I am a "bar counter" for setting the spread. However I am adding 4 combos to my spread and will be adding ones that can do double duty for offshore work if I get that opportunity. I have settled on TLD20's and will mate them with Penn senator 3/0 rods.

 

[fishcrazy]

Hit EBAY after reading this thread and ran into a familiar name.

eBay Store - JJ'S Tackle Shop: Lures, Flags, Knives

 

[gooddog]

I prefer 330GTI's for on the bay as I am a "bar counter" for setting the spread. However I am adding 4 combos to my spread and will be adding ones that can do double duty for offshore work if I get that opportunity. I have settled on TLD20's and will mate them with Penn senator 3/0 rods.

B-Faithful...Be Careful The Penn Senator 3/0 is a great rod for the WFB in a rock spread because its thin tip will show the movement of a spoon nicely and let you know when you are weeded up...but offshore? I can't imagine what would happen to it with a fifty pound tuna or wahoo. I've had a fifteen pound blue bend it like it were a rubber band.