Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Conventional and Bait Casting Reel Rebuild Tutorials and Questions => Penn Senator Tutorials and Questions => Topic started by: Padre on July 26, 2017, 06:31:07 PM

Title: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Padre on July 26, 2017, 06:31:07 PM
Title says it. I'm going to NC in October to chase kings and bull reds from a kayak. Will be trolling live baits for the kings - these are king mackerel, by the way, not yellowtail.

I have a 112h with ss gears and one of Alan's handles. Will that work for these kings? I know it will handle the reds easily; they're not the speed demons these smoker kings are. If it won't, what should i look at?

Thanks!

kevin
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on July 26, 2017, 06:35:25 PM
As long as you have cf drags I think you'll be ok. If Bryan has a 5 stack kit for your baby I'd go for that as well :)
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Padre on July 26, 2017, 06:40:41 PM
Quote from: Tiddlerbasher on July 26, 2017, 06:35:25 PM
As long as you have cf drags I think you'll be ok. If Bryan has a 5 stack kit for your baby I'd go for that as well :)

I think he does. Wondered about that, too. I believe it's the stock drags. I don't think i changed them. If i went to the 5 stack, would i need to change anything else? SS dog?
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Bill B on July 26, 2017, 07:03:59 PM
With CF drags and after market handle you will be fine......maybe add a SS gear sleeve so you do not round out the brass sleeve.....I do not think any other modifications would be necessary....but then again if you wanted a Hot Rod, lots of other options are available.   Bill
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Padre on July 26, 2017, 07:17:06 PM
Quote from: TARFU on July 26, 2017, 07:03:59 PM
With CF drags and after market handle you will be fine......maybe add a SS gear sleeve so you do not round out the brass sleeve.....I do not think any other modifications would be necessary....but then again if you wanted a Hot Rod, lots of other options are available.   Bill

I hate to admit that i have to ask this, but... how do you tell if the drags are carbon fiber? They have that waffle appearance that i associate with CF...

And yes, i know the Hot Rod posts. I'm deliberately staying away from there because i could easily loose all sense of, well, sense and reason and go wild.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: oc1 on July 26, 2017, 07:46:58 PM
A 4/0 would be appropriate from a pier, but I think it is an overkill fishing from a kayak.  I would drop down to something the size of a 2/0.  If it is a Penn, bone stock is fine as long as the drag washers are still decent.  Kayaks have the sleigh ride feature and there is less chance of abrasion or obstructions.  So, you can use lighter line and need less of it.  A smaller reel will be much more comfortable to use too.
-steve
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Padre on July 26, 2017, 07:51:25 PM
Quote from: oc1 on July 26, 2017, 07:46:58 PM
A 4/0 would be appropriate from a pier, but I think it is an overkill fishing from a kayak.  I would drop down to something the size of a 2/0.  Kayaks have the sleigh ride feature and there is less chance of abrasion or obstructions.  So, you can use lighter line and need less of it.  A smaller reel will be more comfortable to use too.
-steve

112 is a 3/0. My primary concern is the drag (there's a reason they call them "smoker kings") and the retrieve speed. When those kings turn and run at you, you've got to be able to keep up.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: oc1 on July 26, 2017, 08:03:15 PM
Sorry, I never can remember those numbers.  40-50 lb braid is plenty.  I agree that something faster than a Senator would be nice.
-steve
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: RowdyW on July 26, 2017, 11:41:48 PM
 112H is 4 to 1. How much faster does it have to be. The same gears as a Jigmaster 500 which will work too.                  Rudy
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: vilters on July 27, 2017, 03:29:38 AM
you should be good w/ 3/0. it's basically a 99 width jigmaster with a taller spool, which would actually increase the amount of line per crank on retrieve a bit. cf drags should be all you need, which it should have unless it's a really old model. sounds like a fun trip, good luck, and post a report
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: scrinch on July 27, 2017, 03:58:15 AM
Quote from: Padre on July 26, 2017, 07:17:06 PM
I hate to admit that i have to ask this, but... how do you tell if the drags are carbon fiber? They have that waffle appearance that I associate with CF...

The waffle drag washers are CF...most likely Penn HT-100 washers. The pre-CF washers were smooth, like thick paper, and a dark gray color.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Rancanfish on July 27, 2017, 01:51:06 PM
I think that I'd do the testing on the water like Alan has always suggested. 

If you indeed have the CF drags you'll be fine.  Then if the reel goes overboard it's a bummer but not a wallet breaker.

I've said it before, I have never had a reel failure on the water.  I fished almost entirely Jigmasters, Squidders and 320gti's.  Of course I was lucky enough to have met 'Doc Tani' early on. (Pre website days even).

I have a small fortune in upgrades sitting in my garage that no way I'd take on a kayak!

You have the right approach.  Good luck on your trip.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Army_of_One on July 27, 2017, 07:54:04 PM
The last king I caught from a kayak was with a shimano comparable in size to the 3/0.  You'll do fine with a simple drag upgrade.  :)  I would be leery of trying to catch the bulls with it though.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: nelz on July 27, 2017, 09:24:46 PM
Hey guys, let's not forget, the older Penns have been hauling in many trophy fish for decades!

Yes, a big King would give it a workout, but even an all stock 112H can handle it, especially from a kayak. The only issue might be keeping up if the fish decides to turn around.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: conchydong on July 28, 2017, 12:29:15 AM
We fish Kings with 3 or 4 lbs of drag as we use stinger rigs with light treble hooks. It is easy to finesse them after a couple runs. It is not the drag  strength but the smoothness.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: SoCalAngler on July 28, 2017, 03:05:12 AM
Quote from: conchydong on July 28, 2017, 12:29:15 AM
We fish Kings with 3 or 4 lbs of drag as we use stinger rigs with light treble hooks. It is easy to finesse them after a couple runs. It is not the drag  strength but the smoothness.

X2. Most fish kings with light drag do to pulled hooks on these fish. As a matter of fact several reel manufactures make different drag setups with a slower drag curve just to fish kings.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Padre on August 07, 2017, 08:58:32 PM
So it sounds like I'm okay. I also have a Jigmaster 501. Maybe that would work as a backup?

I have some other setups for the bull reds. They don't run like the kings; they just pull like school buses. 😎
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: thorhammer on August 07, 2017, 10:09:23 PM
3/0 is plenty. I use 20 lb mono.  Don't overkill. 
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: vilters on August 08, 2017, 02:23:16 AM
jiggy 501 would work great. same internals as 112h, smaller diameter spool = more power. back it w/ spectra and you will have plenty of line capacity.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: jnd1959 on August 08, 2017, 03:23:46 AM
I don't know how they compare but I've caught plenty of kings with a stock tld 15 and light drag. Good luck. From a kayak it is even more fun.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: handi2 on August 08, 2017, 10:34:39 PM
That reel stock will handle Kingfish all day long. The starting drag is less than 5lbs when fishing. Maybe 10lbs max for schoolie's. My largest is 53lbs with a Penn 320. Accidental catch.
Title: Re: Will 112H do for kingfish?
Post by: Whit on August 17, 2017, 11:28:11 PM
What Handi2 said.  That 112H was originally designed for trolling for rockfish and blues in the Chesapeake, and will flat handle big kingfish. no worries.    I know because I was part of the group that was asked by Penn back in the 1960's as the reel was being designed.

Put some 20 lb test on there and you are gtg.

That said, personally, I grease my HT-100's and also use a Tiburon frame to keep things nice and straight.

It's also a favorite of mine for albies and schoolie YFT on the left coast, which fight harder than a king although the runs aren't as long.