Penn 180

[work2fish]

Over the years I have caught fish in the 20 to 40 lb class in these same spots...most weigh in the 12 to 15 lb class, and I am using my heavy rods and reels for that now, and to me that is overkill.

Are you talking catfish?

Yes sir.

I have been using a 180 this spring for carp and catfish. It has landed several carp in the 9 - 19 lb range and one 7 lb channel catfish. I enjoy it, although I can't cast it as far as I can cast my ambassadeurs. I think it would be an excellent reel for channels and blue catfish at least up to 30 lbs.

[Flat Top]

Over the years I have caught fish in the 20 to 40 lb class in these same spots...most weigh in the 12 to 15 lb class, and I am using my heavy rods and reels for that now, and to me that is overkill.

Are you talking catfish?

Yes sir.

I have been using a 180 this spring for carp and catfish. It has landed several carp in the 9 - 19 lb range and one 7 lb channel catfish. I enjoy it, although I can't cast it as far as I can cast my ambassadeurs. I think it would be an excellent reel for channels and blue catfish at least up to 30 lbs.

With most of my Delmars I can cast up to 75 yards and with my Squidders I can cast 100 yards or so. All my internals are lapped and polished and I use 40 lb braid with 50 lb shock leaders, and 7 to 8 ft rods.... but that is really winging them out there. Normally 50 yards or even closer will get the deed done. I catch just as many cats up close as I do casting for distance. Deep pools can be found close to the bank, so many times a long cast is not necessary, but you probably know that. Many, many years ago (I am 78 so that happened when I got out of the Navy...that would be about 52 years ago) I caught a 62.5 lb blue cat on the Missouri River with a bass rod and an old Garcia Mitchell spinner with 15 lb mono (fishing for baitfish). Luckily a commercial fisherman was there with his boat and assisted me by running the boat behind the cat driving it to the bank. He weighed the cat on his scale after I landed it with his help. THAT was an exciting catch, but goes to show what can be done with light gear....although I do not want to do that again. Be interesting to see what you can really land with your 180!

[Porthos]

If you want to boost the 180 to a 40lb reel, here's everything I did:
https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,15627.msg162122.html#msg162122