Another Dam question......

[mo65]

   This 2-speed with Adam's drag kit is going to be a beast!

[Chuck750ss]

   This 2-speed with Adam's drag kit is going to be a beast!

A two speed? Wow! That really brings out my inner reel nerdness!

[Alto Mare]

Shouldn't really compare the 650SS to the 270 though, two completely different reels.
I had a few come through my hands and I'm sorry I didn't hold on to them.
The 650 has 4.7:1 ratio, making it much faster and useful for some types of fishing, while the 270 is much slower making it a better choice for other types of fishing.
I like everything on those reels except the detachable reel stand.
Still nice reels though.

Sal

[handyandy]

I consider the 270 a 20 plus pound fish catching reel. I like challenging myself one of the times when I went bottom bumping below a damn on the ohio river near me for grins I took my 221 with 10lb test berkley big game mono on a stiff 6ft bass type rod. Normally I would use a little bigger reel with 15-20lb for bumping below the damn as sometimes you just get a bunch of little eater cats sometimes some medium 10-15lb ones sometime reel big ones over 20lbs most of depends on what's in below the damn and what I can manage to net for bait. Anyways that day during the eclipse a while back all we were getting were mostly smaller eater cats in the 3-6lb range so I broke out the quick 221 put an ounce pencil drift weight on with a three way swivel the typical circle hook I would use for this stick on a hole little 3-4" thread fin shad and started to use it to bump. I knew it was a little under powered for what could potentially bite. But it was fun caught a hard fighting 26" and 24" drum that was peeling line in the current, bunch of small cats, one decent flat head that probably weighed around 10lbs that was pulling a lot of line out. Was a lot fun these little quicks have got some guts to say the least.

[Chuck750ss]

Nice rock head!

[Shark Hunter]

Very Cool.

[happyhooker]

Drum, and buffalo as well, are underrated fighters; lots of strength.

Frank

[handyandy]

Yeah I always enjoy getting into a good fight with buffalo, drum, cats, and big gar on lighter tackle. Big drum and buffalo I think are some of the best fighting fresh water fish, big catfish put up a fight, but pound for pound I think drum fight harder. That's why I love smallmouth pound for pound they put up good fight. Nothing like peeling drag to me no matter what's at the other end I enjoy it. Especially on old reels puts that much more of a smile on my face when it's on reels I have gone through.

[Chuck750ss]

We catch plenty of drum down here but have never caught a buffalo on rod and reel. My high school ag teacher would carry myself and his son up to the dam fishing. And he fished for drum. Only person I have known that liked them. Buffalo I like!

[Rivverrat]

I think the 270 is more reel than needed for any catfish up to 30 lbs. Unless you fish narly structure or heavy current.

The 440 or even a 331 with upgraded drag would be what I would use. 440 has an adjustment for the bail that the D.A.M. reels don't have until later models.
They do have a plastic spool which doesn't bother me to much. Rap the arbor with some protective tape & use braid topped off with mono.

If I wasn't fishing heavy current or structure a 331 with a Finessa metal spool would be the reel I'd use for catfish in this size class.
I'd put the 331 on a faster tipped blank than the usuall spinning rod & want the blank capable of fishing 40 - 50 line.... Jeff

[happyhooker]

Yeah I always enjoy getting into a good fight with buffalo, drum, cats, and big gar on lighter tackle. Big drum and buffalo I think are some of the best fighting fresh water fish, big catfish put up a fight, but pound for pound I think drum fight harder. That's why I love smallmouth pound for pound they put up good fight. Nothing like peeling drag to me no matter what's at the other end I enjoy it. Especially on old reels puts that much more of a smile on my face when it's on reels I have gone through.

An angler after my own heart.

Frank

[happyhooker]

The 440 or even a 331 with upgraded drag would be what I would use. 440 has an adjustment for the bail that the D.A.M. reels don't have until later models.
They do have a plastic spool which doesn't bother me to much. Rap the arbor with some protective tape & use braid topped off with mono.

If I wasn't fishing heavy current or structure a 331 with a Finessa metal spool would be the reel I'd use for catfish in this size class.
I'd put the 331 on a faster tipped blank than the usuall spinning rod & want the blank capable of fishing 40 - 50 line.... Jeff

Some good advice there, Rivverrat.

Frank

[Rivverrat]

For some reason unbeknownst to me most all of those older Dam reels feel awkward or clumsy when I stick them on a rod. I've never been able to figure out why they feel that way but it must have something to do with balance or just my perception.   

I think it is the way they balance also the handle angle on some models lends itself to a sort of awkward feeling. Easy to get used to though.

[Rivverrat]

Drum are not only great fighters they are pretty good eating. Gar can put on a show with their quick turns &  going air born at times..... TRASH FISH ?  My Beehind!

Like to see a bass or trout go 2 days in August where most gar call home. More Apocoliptic survivor's the any thing else.... Jeff

[happyhooker]

Gar can put on a show with their quick turns &  going air born at times..... 

Gar are a challenge; with their bony mouths, if your hooks aren't in #1 shape & you don't set the hook with a little emphasis, you'll come up empty.

Frank