Penn 113h stock vs aluminum spool

seaeagle2 · July 07, 2011, 04:52:55 PM

I'm in the gradual process of swapping out my 320GTI's for 113H's for halibut fishing. The 113H is a lot heavier (Duh) than the 320, and the Washington halibut fishery is "pay your dues" type where you're fishing all day to get a single fish (if you're lucky), not like you guys in Alaska that drop down and get a fish

would swapping in an aluminum spool save much if any weight ? Would going to the new style graphite 1/2 frame be worth it? Even the 320 gets heavy after a full day of jigging.

Bryan Young · July 07, 2011, 05:19:27 PM

Are you buying a new Penn 113H? I believe the new Penn 113H comes with an aluminum spool already.

Weight, there is a substanial weight difference between the brass spool and the aluminum. Also, the aluminum will hold up better if you will be using spectra as it seems more ridged than the brass spool that may warp under high tension spectra fills.

alantani · July 07, 2011, 06:18:59 PM

you're going to save some weight, but probably not enough to justify the cost....... $:-\$

seaeagle2 · July 07, 2011, 08:53:34 PM

I got a used one from one of the members on here, that has the stock brass spool so I was thinking of replacing the spool on that one, and I'm saving my mad money for another one, so I may try to see if I can find a used 113H or 113HL and go through it myself....

Norcal Pescador · July 07, 2011, 09:05:44 PM

QuoteWeight, there is a substanial weight difference between the brass spool and the aluminum. Also, the aluminum will hold up better if you will be using spectra as it seems more ridged than the brass spool that may warp under high tension spectra fills.

Quote from: alantani on July 07, 2011, 06:18:59 PM
you're going to save some weight, but probably not enough to justify the cost....... $:-\$

Bryan and Alan are both correct. Although I have 80# Spectra packed pretty tight on my brass/chrome-spooled 114h without any problems ..... yet.

Have you tried using a rail plate? It's a nice (cheap

) way to rest the arms and wrists especially if the swells are making the boat do the jigging for you.

seaeagle2 · July 07, 2011, 09:46:26 PM

I don't have rails in the cockpit area on my boat (18' Trophy), plus, after changing out the drags on a couple Penn 285's I own with the help of this site, pulling a 113h apart and changing the spool sounds like fun....

Also I sold my wife on the idea that instead of spending a few grand to hotrod my truck, I could hot rod a reel for a lot less

akfish · July 08, 2011, 02:43:38 AM

I think I know where you got that reel... The aluminum spool is lighter and much better for casting, if that's what you need to do. The graphite half frame 113Hs are, in my opinion, inferior to the older post reels because the brass inserts in the frame frequently pop out under stress. That said, I have several half frame 113h's with aluminum spools that I'll swap straight up for your reel if you prefer a lighter reel.