Penn GS 555

[Bill B]

Just picked up a GS 555, graphite frame, alum spool, three bearings, 5.3:1 ratio, eared cf drags and an advertised 12 lbs max drags....it looks like a really capable reel for yellowtail, albacore, and schoolie tunas...anyone have an opinion/experience with this.....thinking it would be a great 40 lb or more mono reel....Bill

[MarkT]

I had one that I put 4.25:1 gears in and had loaded with 40# mono. I sold it because it was too wide for me. Both my 545 and 535 have 5.3:1 gears. My 525 and 525 mag has the stock 6:1 gears.  I did replace the handles with ones from Daiwa SL reels. The 525 mag has a Torque handle. All are the original versions with non-eared drags.

[cbar45]

I owned a few.

The frames can flex and contact the spool if routinely fished close to max drag.

Other than that they were ok.

[thorhammer]

Love'em, my whole kingfishing stand is 555 and 545's, and we've  caught sharks to 100lbs on them that would eat our pogies. I use 535's, 525's and 525 Mag (one of my top couple favorite reels, any kind) for surf fishing. Carbon drags stock. Didn't service them the first 15 years I owned them, just a drop of oil in bearings a couple times and kept clean. No issues.

[Bill B]

Thanks for the comments guys....I think I will spool it with 40lb mono, and switch top shots to match what Im fishing for.  I looks like a fishing machine and more capable than the size would suggest...Bill

[thorhammer]

double dawged, too....

[Bill B]

TH...I was looking at that....was it as easy as it seems?

[thorhammer]

stock. they were ahead of their time in 1995. 20 years and I cant find a reason to upgrade to newer stuff in this niche. I just don't think anyone has improved upon them at the price point for the application. My .02