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

[Flat Top]

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

Thanks! Very interesting!

[Keta]

Wei, at one time my prefered Penn this size was the Surfmaster 100, then I found the Monofil 27 and used my 29L100 spools building a few of them.

[Flat Top]

Wei, at one time my prefered Penn this size was the Surfmaster 100, then I found the Monofil 27 and used my 29L100 spools building a few of them.

They are a handy size... the same size as my 146.

[Porthos]

Forgot there was one more phase of upgrades: https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,26074.msg295284.html#msg295284

[Flat Top]

Forgot there was one more phase of upgrades: https://alantani.com/index.php/topic,26074.msg295284.html#msg295284

Very nice Porthos! I have never owned or used a hot rodded reel, other than adding carbon fiber washers, lapping and polishing the innards etc...just OEM Penns...and never had one fail in over the 60 years I have been fishing them. I have had a few heavily used Penns wear out but new parts solved that problem and I fished on with them. Still have a few of those reels and use them today. I have a question: Where did you get the factory ratings for the reel that you mentioned in your post...I believe you said you upgraded the reel from a 15 lb to a 40 lb reel?

[Porthos]

...I have a question: Where did you get the factory ratings for the reel that you mentioned in your post...I believe you said you upgraded the reel from a 15 lb to a 40 lb reel?

I suspect that the original reel was manufactured before I was born (late '60's), so I can only rely on Mo and Scotts' page: https://www.mysticparts.com/PennParts/ReelSpecs/PennMonofils.aspx#specs

The original brass 13-155 (unhobbed) was fished at 11 lbs drag until the upper section of that 13-155 split apart, literally, and the pinion could no longer engage the spool. I eventually found the 13-200 to be a perfect fit replacement, and it had the hobbed ring that prevents splitting. Can now button down the drag by hand to 12-13 lbs, so applying the 1/3 rule and the fact that 1-2 lbs drag is imparted by the rod and guides under load, this sums up to 13-14 lbs drag from top-of-spool...hence 40lb reel.

With all the upgrades plus 50lb braid main to 40lb mono top shot, I have been fishing it as configured on SD long range trips for the last 10+ seasons. The 3:1 gears are great when hooked up to dodo's, YFT, and YT (so far), but when the capt'n calls out "Watch your lines," I'm usually the last one in after some frantic retrieval...