Penn 155 Frankenreel.

[JRD]

Long story short, my girlfriend's young son expressed an interest in fishing so I went in search of a cheap reel I wouldn't cry about if it went into the water. I came across a Penn 155.  Great! Small real it's going to fit into his hand with a new drag set it's going to be perfect for 10 to 15 pound test and fit on the Calstar 196 I have.  $20 and I scored.  It turns out he is deathly seasick so no problem the real goes back into my bag. As I keep reading through the site I'm seeing other people's 155s and something keeps tugging at my brain. So today I pulled the reel.  You tell me what's wrong with this picture.

The spool is unmarked and shown with a 506 spool comparison.  The reel seat is a 30-49 and the cross bars are unmarked plastic with brass inserts.

[Bryan Young]

I don't know about the spool, but those bars are Newell.  They are made from a graphite composite material.  They will keep the frame straighter and the reel is lighter than if provided with posts,  Good buy of $20

[mo65]

   That looks like a #29L-100 spool...which would fetch your 20 bucks back all by itself. I'd say you got a great deal on a cool little reel!

[JRD]

I don't know about the spool, but those bars are Newell.  They are made from a graphite composite material.  They will keep the frame straighter and the reel is lighter than if provided with posts,  Good buy of $20

I thought Newell but haven't owned a set with the metal caps across the top of the bar before.

[Porthos]

Your 155 was narrowed with Surfmaster 100 Newell bars, 30-49 foot, and the 29L-100 spool. It's functionally equivalent to a modded Penn 27.

Additional upgrades worth considering beyond new greased HT-100 washers (if you don't already have):

• 98-155AT
• 13-200
• 24-56 or other Jigmaster power handle

If it had a Tiburon frame instead of bars + foot, it will for sure fish as a 40lb setup at 12lbs drag, 300+ yards 50lb braid, and 40lb mono topshot.

http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=15627.0

As yours is configured, I'd comfortably consider fishing it up to a 30lb setup at 10lbs drag and maybe jump to 40lbs topshot in a pinch but at 11lbs drag. YMMV...

[Ron Jones]

If you added a Newell stand, it fishes 40# braid like a dream. The Newell stand can usually be found on the Bay for much less than a Tib frame.
Really nice reel.
Ron

[Keta]

Additional upgrades worth considering beyond new greased HT-100 washers (if you don't already have):

• 98-155AT
• 13-200
• 24-56 or other Jigmaster power handle

I have SS AR dogs too.

[Shark Hunter]

That is a sweet little 155.

[Alto Mare]

You did really good JRD, might be one of mine, all my 155 are narrowed.

[basto]

Can a 501 spool be used to narrow these?
Basto

[Keta]

Can a 501 spool be used to narrow these?
Basto

No, they ues a 29L-100.

[basto]

Thanks Keta

[JRD]

You did really good JRD, might be one of mine, all my 155 are narrowed.

It was purchased here in .SoCal, maybe it migrated to warmer weather. 

[Penn Chronology]

That reel is a Eclectic 180!!! I fish one just like it. It will comfortable handle anything up to a 50 Striper, or maybe even bigger fish. Great Reel. The 155 side plate is the same plate as the Model 180, 160 or Model 25, 26 or 27. That reel is easily worth $50.00.

[reel man]

The Newell support posts (bars) are plastic so at least the front bar has a stainless steel rod (line guard) to keep the line from digging into the plastic bar.