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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517 |
Which would you choose and why ? Will be used for trolling, and bottom fishing.
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,065
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 11,065 |
Given only those choices, and for only the purpose stated, I'd take the Senator because it will hold more line and handle larger forces. But I prefer fishing the Jigmaster with lighter tackle because of its lightweight and diminutive size.
"There's more to optics than meets the eye."--anon
"...most of us would be better off losing half a pound around the waist than half a pound on our rifle."--dhg
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25,131 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25,131 Likes: 1 |
For trolling- the Senator.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517 |
We are finishing gearing up for retirement fishing. Wife had saltwater gear when we met from fishing in the Pacific off CA., Catalina Island area. She has a few custom rods, but no action type, line size, or lure weights. 2 of the rods have a Jigmaster, and a 4/0 on them. We have 1 extra rod that's fairly stiff, and was thinking of another 4/0 for it, as a lighter troller, over a pair Daiwa 610's we have. We going down Baja to Los Barreles or LA Paz, so we're trying to gear up accordingly.
Last edited by splattermatic; 03/24/21.
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 47
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 47 |
The "guts" of those two reels are in no way similar. The 4/0 Senator (the Red or Black versions) are built for much heavier usage. The jigmaster is fine for most purposes, but it will eventually fail if pushed beyond its limits. It's not a tuna reel or a reel to pull heavy loads in deep water.
If you go with the 4/0 Senator I would recommend you look at the Penn Baja Special. It's an awesome reel for what you are seeking to do. But it isn't cheap, about $250.00. It will last forever.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,256 Likes: 13
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,256 Likes: 13 |
I can cast the chit out of either one and I have both, I can cast my 4/0W farther than the jig master. It really depends on what I'm fishing for, in the surf with big baits the 4/0, jig master with smaller baits.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
Save your pennies and get an Avet
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,582
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,582 |
I feel with braided line even a Jigmaster will cost a fortune to fill. I have a half dozen 501s the narrow version, on King Salmon trolling rods. I have 3/0s with AccuFrames ...for Halibut, they hold about mile of 100 lb braid ! Not really just seems so. I think the drag washers are the same size so, drags are important. A Jigmaster with new drag washers is going to be a happier situation than a slick washered 4/0
Watch 'Yer Topknot!
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,922 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,922 Likes: 1 |
I don't know about the jigmaster but I have a 3/0 & a 4/0 pen senators that I got in 74/75 that work like they are still new .a little ruff on the out side but still smooth on the inside . both have been used hard broke a few rods with each on . bottom fishing and trolling use to have different rods for both reels depending on what I was fishing for . I have a 209 pen reel the same age I stacked blocks for my uncle all summer to make money to buy them .when he got paid for the job and was paying me he ask what I was going to spend my money on I told him the fishing reels that I was talking about all summer he laughed and said don't waste your money and said go buy rods then gave me the brand new reels
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25,131 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 25,131 Likes: 1 |
Save your pennies and get an Avet I agree. A lot better choices now in smaller lighter packages. Trolling is hard on reels. A buddy that guides uses Avets and services them every year. They’re solid.
“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,256 Likes: 13
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 47,256 Likes: 13 |
Avets are great, going to get an Avet 130 soon, spool it with 200lb braid for shark fishing from the beach and also for offshore.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
Avets are great, going to get an Avet 130 soon, spool it with 200lb braid for shark fishing from the beach and also for offshore. I have an HXW on the way for halibut and black cod. Gonna run 80lb braid, should be able to fit over 850yds for dropping deep for black cod. Bought a Shimano Trevala jigging rod to go with it.
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,196 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,196 Likes: 5 |
A Penn 4/0 is a reel that you can thumb the spool, engage the eccentric lever while keeping your hand on the crank and your other hand on the forearm of the rod. Once you learn how to use a 4/0 for deep dropping and live bait fishing a 4/0 can't be beat.
Life is good live it while you can.
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
Everything any penn does, an avet does better. Fact. I own an international 16vsx and my LX spooled up with 65lb braid does everything that penn will do. At a fraction of the weight. Know any Avet maintenance shops? Me neither. I own 5 I think now and they are the only reel I'll buy outside of a spinning reel
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 5,196 Likes: 5
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2020
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Everything any penn does, an avet does better. Fact. I own an international 16vsx and my LX spooled up with 65lb braid does everything that penn will do. At a fraction of the weight. Know any Avet maintenance shops? Me neither. I own 5 I think now and they are the only reel I'll buy outside of a spinning reel Sounds like you think you know what your talking about. So why the he'll would anyone want to put 850 yds of braid on a reel and not use any backing? And do you think you can out cast me using your Avet, and me using a Penn 4/0?
Life is good live it while you can.
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
Everything any penn does, an avet does better. Fact. I own an international 16vsx and my LX spooled up with 65lb braid does everything that penn will do. At a fraction of the weight. Know any Avet maintenance shops? Me neither. I own 5 I think now and they are the only reel I'll buy outside of a spinning reel Sounds like you think you know what your talking about. So why the he'll would anyone want to put 850 yds of braid on a reel and not use any backing? And do you think you can out cast me using your Avet, and me using a Penn 4/0? I run straight braid because some of the black cod spots are 300-350 fathoms. Use straight braid to minimize drag and so I can feel the hits that far down. I bought that reel strictly for dropping down, not casting. Avet does make smaller reels that are more designed for that kind of thing. I have 2 that I troll with and I can cast them just fine. For reference I do have an International 16vsx also. Its a solid reel but it weighs a ton. Go jigging all day and you will feel it, which is why I switched to the Avet.
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
Everything any penn does, an avet does better. Fact. I own an international 16vsx and my LX spooled up with 65lb braid does everything that penn will do. At a fraction of the weight. Know any Avet maintenance shops? Me neither. I own 5 I think now and they are the only reel I'll buy outside of a spinning reel you think you can out cast me using your Avet, and me using a Penn 4/0? https://www.avetreels.net/reels/mx-series-136/mxj-58-series-lever-drag-casting-reel.htmlThat's what I run for trolling reels, and they call it a casting reel. I'd fight a halibut on it too. That reel is 17oz. Lighter than a 4/0 by over half. What weight you wanna fling? They are a whole lot faster too. 5.8:1 compared to 3.3:1. An extra foot every turn of that handle. Comes in handy when you are trolling with cheaters or planer boards. But like you said, what do I know. You don't know how I fish at all. Wanna know my all time favorite coho lure? A chartreuse sassy shad jig. Caught more on that thing than anything else. Sounds funny but its true.
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
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Could you cast one of these?
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,349 |
I spooled those up with straight 20lb trilene big game for trolling. I can still cast them just fine. I caught my biggest king casting with an abu garcia 6500. That's the last reel I bought with a star drag. A lever drag is much more useful. I've watched people overspin their star drags and it freespools while a fish is running, backlash and it breaks off. You can make it impossible to do that with a lever drag.
The rods are actually cheap Okuma Classic Pro's. One of the best trolling rods I've found and they are really affordable. I wouldn't hesitate to throw one of these on a halibut rod though with some braid. They can handle it.
Again, this is my uninformed 2 cents.
What do I know....
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,069 |
You're right Hank, those are some great reels. We use them a bunch on jigging rods. Lings, yelloweye and halibut, I can honestly say a hundred fish or more a season on each of them and no issues. Maybe a spool bearing every couple years or so, but that's more on us not cleaning them with fresh water well than a fault of the reels.
"243/85TSX It's as if the HAMMER OF THOR were wielded by CHUCK NORRIS himself, and a roundhouse kick thrown in for good measure."
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