20 Pound Reels!

[alantani]

One of the most common line weights used in Northern California is 20 pound test.  For inshore fishing on the day boats out of any local Norcal port, it's pretty much all you'll ever need.  Match it up any of these reels with a lightweight 8 foot stick and you've got a great little 20 pound outfit.  We're looking for a reel that will hold 200 yards of straight 20# monofilament.  Star drag or lever drag is fine, but no two speeds and no levelwinds for the sake of this discussion.  Just so we all get to start at the same point, we will clean out the bearings or bushings and then lube them with your lube of choice.  We will also upgrade the drags to greased carbon fiber.  That means that the only differences in our list of reels will be gear ratio, retrieve rate and price.  

All of the reels listed below will deliver an easy 5 pounds of drag, which represents a 25% drag setting for 20 pound mono. Only the discontinued Penns would have trouble delivering more than 8 pounds of drag. The more modern reels could easily be rigged with up to 400 yards of 50 pound spectra and a short topshot of 40 pound fluorocarbon. A typical drag setting for 40 pound fluorocarbon would be 12 to 14 pounds of drag. So, whether you are old school or new, these would be your choices for a 20 pound non-levelwind single speed reel!

Accurate 400 BX Narrow - 225 yards of 20# mono, 4:1 gear ratio, 23 inches per crank ($409)

Avet SX - 220 yards of 20# mono, 5.3:1 gear ratio, 30 inches per crank ($159)

Daiwa Black Gold STTBG20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inchest per crank ($179)

Daiwa Saltiga SA20 - 170 yards of 20# mono, 5.4:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($379)

Daiwa Saltiga SALD20HS - 210 yards of 20# mono, 7.3:1 gear ratio, 42 inches per crank ($409)

Daiwa Saltist Lever Drag Hyperspeed STTLD20HSH - 210 yards of 20# mono, 7.3:1 gear ratio, 42 inches per crank ($239)

Daiwa Saltist Lever Drag STTLD20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.3:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank ($229)

Daiwa Seagate 20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($149)

Daiwa Sealine SL20SH - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($115)

Daiwa SL-X20SHA (disengaging spool) - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($125)

Newell 220 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 5:1 gear ratio, 27 inches per crank ($150)

Penn Fathom 15 - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($199)

Penn Jigmaster 501 (narrow 500) - 200 yards of 20# mono, 4:1 gear ratio, 27 inches per retrieve  (discontinued)

Penn Squall 15 - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($149)

Penn Squidder 146 (narrow 140) - 220 yards of 20# mono, 3.3:1 gear ratio, 18 inches per crank (discontinued)

Penn Surfmaster 100 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 3:1 gear ratio, 16 inches per crank (discontinued)

Penn Torque 15 Black - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($400)

Penn Torque 15 Gold - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($400)

Progear Classic Series 501 - 200 yards of 20# mono (approx), 6:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank (discontinued)

Shimano Charter Special with topless frame - 190 yards of 20# mono, 4.2:1 gear ratio, 23 inches per crank (Alan Tani conversion)

Shimano Torium 14 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.2:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank ($180)

Shimano Trinidad 14a - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.3:1 gear ratio, 38 inches per crank ($470)

Shimano Trinidad 16na - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.2: gear ratio, 46 inches per crank ($480)

Shimano Tyrnos 8 - 170 yards of 20# mono, 6:1 gear ratio, 37 inches per crank ($180)

[Squirmypug]

What about the Penn 525mag?

[Black Pearl]

What about OMOTO VS-10?

[George4741]

Alan,

If I may, I'm setting some additional criteria.  I think that the reels should have metal spools.  Plastic spools might crack with #20 mono.  And since I'm a Penn guy, I suggest the following be added to the list:

Penn 60 Longbeach, 2.5:1 ratio

Penn 155 Beachmaster and it's narrower variants, 3:1 ratio

Penn 285 Delmar, 2.3:1 ratio

Penn 9M with levelwind removed, 3.4:1 ratio.  I've done this to one of mine and it makes a very light, compact reel.  This one could turn out to be my favorite reel for this purpose.  We'll see how it goes.

All of these reels should hold approximately 200 yds of #20 mono or more.  I realize that there are many other suitable Penns for the job, however, these inexpensive reels are always available on ebay.  I didn't include other Penns because they are either too big, not commonly available, or parts are no longer made.

[TonyFriend]

I recently picked up an "as new" Charter Special on eBay for $75. Even with the "Alan Tani" conversion, that has to be the cheapest way to hit the criteria.

But do you need to do the conversion? I presume Alan's posting referred to a salmon rig. If so, why eliminate level wind? The standard Charter Special only needs to have a greased Carbontex washer ($10) to make it an almost perfect salmon reel.

[Norcal Pescador]

IMHO the 20-pound rig is good for fishing for many species - rockfish, lingcod, smaller seabasses, school-sized tuna (20-30#), salmon, etc. The removal of the level-wind evens out the playing field just as disregarding 2-speed reels would.

We're looking for a reel that will hold 200 yards of straight 20# monofilament.  Star drag or lever drag is fine, but no two speeds and no levelwinds for the sake of this discussion.

Just look at all of the possibilities that have been mentioned. No need for a gold-plated, tungsten wonder machine that you need a second mortgage for to get out on the water.

[alantani]

let's add a stainless steel handle arm and a 4/0 kolekar grip.  i love spending other people's money!   

[day0ne]

What about the TLD Star 15/30? 360yds of 20, 13lbs drag

[floating doc]

I've been to this website multiple times over the years. It's been a wonderful resource and I finally decided to register so that I could reply to this thread with my ebay purchase from last night.

I have fished with Penn 990 and 980 since they were the "hot, new thing". I'm on a super tight budget right now, so last night I bought a 970 on ebay. I think that it could make the list; hopefully it's already got the HT100 conversion (very likely since it's spooled with braid).

So...Penn 970, 4.25:1 gear ratio. 275 yards of 20 lb mono. Drag? I don't know; I'll be finding out.

[alantani]

welcome!  i just finished servicing a 980.  beautiful reel.  i have a few international 20 handles left and these are the ones that in generally bolt on to the 9 series penns.  it's a great looking combination.  alan

[alantani]

What about the TLD Star 15/30? 360yds of 20, 13lbs drag

good one, yes!

[Dominick]

Alan: Ack! you forgot my favorite Penn International 20.  This is a real 20lb reel .  It's a good thing God made rod holders.  I used to get arm weary waiting for my sinker to hit bottom in 50 feet of water .  I'm the only guy I know that wears a harness fishing for Stripers in the bay with this reel. Dominick

[Alto Mare]

I'm the only guy I know that wears a harness fishing for Stripers in the bay with this reel. Dominick

Don't feel bad Dominick, a lot of other 80 years old guys do. By the way , what are you trying to show here? I think the Zin is playing a trick on you .

[redsetta]

Awesome reel Dominick - never seen a 20 before.
Cheers, Justin

[Dominick]

I'm the only guy I know that wears a harness fishing for Stripers in the bay with this reel. Dominick

Don't feel bad Dominick, a lot of other 80 years old guys do. By the way , what are you trying to show here? I think the Zin is playing a trick on you .

Sal:  Don't tell me this is not a 20lb reel.  Dominick