Penn 309

[Ron Jones]

Can anyone tell me if the 309 spool is the sme size as a 99? They both use a 66 stand but I'm not sure of the diameter.
Ron

[George4741]

Not the same.  The 309 has a slightly larger diameter and a different spindle.

[Ron Jones]

Thanks,

I knew they wouldn't fit. but I figured they were close. Because of how similar they are, the 309 seems to be as close to a factory albacore special as they come. They are a little slow, but with a newell stand and updated drag stuffed in a steel gear and all the other stainless bits they would be very capable. Seems like a great live bait reel.

Ron

[George4741]

A friend of mine and his two sons use the 309 for albacore out of San Diego.  They've been using them for the last five years without a problem.   
  George

[Ron Jones]

The first thing to go would be the level wind. I wonder if we could use the 112h bridge and run 500 gears the same way we do the grouper special. A 5:1 built up 309 would be awesome! If I can scrounge another 112H I might have to try that.
Ron

[Bucktail]

A friend of mine and his two sons use the 309 for albacore out of San Diego.  They've been using them for the last five years without a problem.    
 George

How big are the fish they are catching on the 309s?

[john2244]

I have a couple of 309's that I have used for various types of local fishing.  I have not caught anything big, maybe a 20# batray.  I removed the level wind and they have worked fine.
John

[George4741]

How big are the fish they are catching on the 309s?

I'm not sure, but we catch school albacore, dorado and the occasional bluefin on 1-1/2 day trips.  Some of the albacore are 30 plus pounds.