Penn 111(2/0) Pig Puller

[MACflyer]

Looks good! Just about time to get some line on it and get it wet.

[Keta]

Nice job!

[Gfish]

A great Penn Senator IMO. 3-post/side frame, narrow platform. Slow but powerful gears. 3 screws/side for the stand, right? Can't remember.

[Keta]

A great Penn Senator IMO. 3-post/side frame, narrow platform. Slow but powerful gears. 3 screws/side for the stand, right? Can't remember.

I tried using a Surfmaster 100 for salmon and the gear ratio was too slow, 4:1 is much better.  The low gear reels are great for bottom fish though.

[Deepennz]

Hi Surfrat,
Both the 2/0 and the 3/0 senators were first produced in 1942 with external access drags.
The first (1938) 4/0's were produced with internal access drags but they had changed by 1941 to external access.
Penn continued with the external access drags on the 4/0's and 2/0's until the late (1948/1949) forties and then reverted to internal access - perhaps fishermen found that their drags got wet/failed too easily?
However, it would seem (from my collection at least!) that Penn changed to internal access on the 3/0's by 1946!
So - your easy access drag 2/0 would appear to be from the early/mid forties - thats an 80 year old reel!
The orange swirl handle is from the late fifties/early sixties and has been added later.
Cheers
Martin

[oc1]

The orange swirl handle is from the late fifties/early sixties and has been added later.
Cheers
Martin

The green replacement handle looks older.  No?

[Rancanfish]

 I thought for sure someone would mention that the 2/0 was very popular at one time for salmon trolling with 2lb lead.

Like every other guy here I have a few. I have one that I made from a 3/0.  I never did troll them after all the upgrades.
 

[MisterStinky]

The reel turned out great. What line are you going to use?

[Keta]

What are the "pigs" you are going to pull with this reel?

[Surfrat]

MisterStinky, I will use 50# or 65# braided line. Thanks!

Keta, The "pigs" are Tautogs or Togs or Blackfish, in my pond, it's a "Togzilla". I made my Blackfish Special for them and it's a great reel. I've definitely seen a fair share of spinning and bait casting reels blow /lock up from togging. They're powerful fish, many need to be ripped away from their holes, which is why most serious tog guys stick with conventionals.

Blackfish can be incredibly strong and stubborn fighters, especially when it's hooked near rocky structures. A reel with a powerful drag system that can apply significant stopping power is essential to prevent them from diving back into the cover. So a tog reel with at least 15 - 20 pounds of drag capacity is enough and a slow 2.8.1 or 3.1 gear ratio will give you the torque muscle needed to pull those fish away from their rocky homes.

Most local guys use a Penn Jigmaster 501 or a Squidder 146 for Togzilla because it holds enough line and the drag is good. I want to try something else for Togzilla and have a bottom/chunking fishing reel.

[Keta]

)