I'm heading down to Pensacola in a couple weeks and plan to do some fishing hopefully catch a shark. Here's my question. I have an old 113hlw spooled with 30 lb mono on a 8 foot heavy rod rated for 40 to 60 pound line. I want to upgrade the reel but dont really know where to start. I know I'd like to put a tiburon frame and I think the 7 stack drag on it. I got the reel for my occasional trips to the coast and to target the supposed monster catfish below the dams in Kentucky.
daron, can you help?
I'd have to think the first place to upgrade on the 113 HLW would be the gear sleeve. A stainless steel sleeve will help tremendously under the heavy cranking, keeping that sleeve from rounding off at the handle mount. This can happen even with the stock drags, but with upgraded drags is very likely. If your reel's sleeve/handle connection doesn't look near mint, at least get a new brass sleeve, if you can't spend for the ss version. 8)
I'm gonna tear the reel down tonight and I'll check it. Pro challenger has the SS sleeve for $30 so I might go ahead and order it. The drag feels pretty good but I have no idea how old it is. It doesnt have the graphite frame its just posts
how much drag are you looking for? stock, the reel is good for 15 pounds. anymore than that is hard on both the reel and the fisherman.
Tearing it down and accessing the total condition is a great idea. You may get lucky and the stock drags look fine. Remember, even a well prepared stock drag on these is pretty strong. I think this model comes with a 5-stack. I remember testing drags...and thinking wow when I got to 20lbs. I'm 6'4" and 300 lbs., but I don't think I could hold that for a real long run. I feel the posts are sturdy enough to handle a bit more than stock power, but everyone will agree an aluminum frame is the place to go if you're planning on making the reel sweat. When you start tweaking...there are a ton of stainless parts. Yokes, jacks, gears, and custom drag kits. Alan at Pro Challenger has the double dogged bridges too. 8)
In my opinion --
If you are serious about landing a shark -- the best upgrade would be a beefed up 115 or at a minimum a beefed 114.
Yes, it is possible to land sharks with a 209 -- but to have a planned approach for a successful landing, handling, safety, and either a release or not -- to be better than a 50/50 shot at even medium to small sharks -- will take the right rod, technique, leader material, safety and release tools, fresh HD line -- then the right reel.
Minimum for me would be a 9/0 -- or a 6/0 with upgraded drags, frame, and sleeve.
Otherwise -- yes you will hook something -- but will you land it, stress your equipment to a damage point, and even have a chance to get a look at it?
Daron will be along shortly -- and he is a Shark Guru who also lives in Kentucky.
Best,
Fred
your driver here is your line- are you leaving 30lb mono on it, and fishing at 8-10lbs drag? if so it should be fine stock, but do check shape of the drags and sleeve. you will have about 600yds to play with, which is a decent amount, but you have to considered abrasion resistance if you are land based sharking and 30 lb is pretty light. (I assumed you are going from the beach- this makes a difference as from boat, braid may be option, from which you might upgrade the reel plenty to get maybe 600yds 80 braid plus 60lb topshot.
JMO
John
KY, if you are looking for maximum line capacity and frame rigidity, this is the widest and strongest upgrade available. Please send me a PM if you are interested.
I dont know how to tag each person with a reply so in sorry this is lumped together and long.
Alantani I dont have a set idea on how much drag I want. My original plan was to build the baddest 4/0 I could. Honestly the reel is overkill for anything swimming in KY but we go to the coast once or twice a year and I wanted something I can use for catfish and in saltwater and can handle almost anything that swims by.
Mo65 I've been looking at the stainless internals and plan on adding them as I can afford to.
Foakes I know it isn't the best reel for shark fishing but I cant put together a setup that I'll only use once or twice a year right now. Someday I'm going to but cant afford to right now. My plan it to use smaller baits and cast or kayak them out a short distance. I'd like to catch sharks but really I'll take whatever I can catch.
Thorhammer I'm going to keep the 30lb on for now and running a top shot of something like 80lb maybe more like a shock leader of 80. Eventually I want to put braid on it but it but I wanted to get better at casting it before I spent the money on braid. I'll be casting or a short trip out with the kayak. I know big sharks come in close but I'm going to try to target smaller ones and whatever else is swimming by the pier or in the surf by using smaller bait closer in.
Vintage offshore tackle that is a beautiful frame I sent you a PM. Definitely make the biggest baddest 4/0 with it
OH MY
KY, I received your PM asking if this kit is new. It is, but it has one small ding in the rim of the frame. I don't know how to send photos in a private message, so here is a close up photo of the ding.
These kits go for $245 in Hawaii. If you can use this one, I could sell it for $185 plus $12 for shipping to Kentucky by Priority Mail with tracking.
Thank you,
Randy
Man that thing is nice and a great deal. Let me think about it. I'm not sure I need that much capacity and that takes a big chunk out of my build budget but it would be cool. Do you know if they still make these?
They do still make the Hawaiian Wide, but only when they're dealers in Hawaii how to put together enough orders to make a minimum quantity for a run. I would guess that they run them once a year or year-and-a-half.
Hi KY, your talking of having 30Lbs line with a 80Lbs leeder, I am under the impression, that I would use 30Lbs line & 30Lbs leeder, so your leeder brakes you dont loose all your line on the spool,.
maybe 80 Lbs braid & 80Lbs leeder would be best, then the leeder would snap @ the knot joining the two, & not at the shaft of the spool, then you dont loose all your line, good luck cheers Don.
The idea with the 80 pound leader is abrasion resistance. Wouldn't it still break at the knot though? I'm getting the Hawaiian wide frame so I might be spooling up with something different depending on cost and the fact that I bought a big spool of 30lb mono.
According to a capacity calculator it should hold about 800 yards of 30lb mono 1200 yards of 100lb braid So correct me if I'm wrong wouldn't it compare to something in between a 114 and 115. I know it still has less drag and a higher gear ratio than original senators.
4/0 power handle,,,,,, ;) not that expensive,,,but I found out the difference on amber jacks,,,,,,, ;D
First off, if you are going after sharks you will need at least 3-4 feet of steel leader (solid or braided) in front of the 80# mono leader. A shark can bite right through a mono leader. Second, if fishing for sharks in FL. you will need a shark license in addition to your out of state license. To get the shark license there will be a test. It seems you need to get a book on shark fishing from the beach to learn some of what is needed as far as terminal tackle, recomended rods & reels in addition to what else is needed. You can't compare a catfish to a shark no matter how big that cat is. Rudy
Quote from: RowdyW on June 11, 2020, 06:51:42 AM
First off, if you are going after sharks you will need at least 3-4 feet of steel leader (solid or braided) in front of the 80# mono leader. A shark can bite right through a mono leader. Second, if fishing for sharks in FL. you will need a shark license in addition to your out of state license. To get the shark license there will be a test. It seems you need to get a book on shark fishing from the beach to learn some of what is needed as far as terminal tackle, recomended rods & reels in addition to what else is needed. You can't compare a catfish to a shark no matter how big that cat is. Rudy
I already have a couple rolls of leader one is lighter and the other is about 90lb I think I'll have to look when i get home. I know about the test and permit I'm planning on doing it this weekend. I've been doing alot of reading online and trying to learn as much as I can. I caught a couple small sharks years ago and your absolutely right there is no comparison between them and a catfish.
Quote from: RowdyW on June 11, 2020, 06:51:42 AM
First off, if you are going after sharks you will need at least 3-4 feet of steel leader (solid or braided) in front of the 80# mono leader. A shark can bite right through a mono leader. Second, if fishing for sharks in FL. you will need a shark license in addition to your out of state license. To get the shark license there will be a test. It seems you need to get a book on shark fishing from the beach to learn some of what is needed as far as terminal tackle, recomended rods & reels in addition to what else is needed. You can't compare a catfish to a shark no matter how big that cat is. Rudy
I have gotten 40to50lb cats and a 5ft shark and you can compare them,,,,, ;) there both a blast,,,,, :D Rudy is right the line set up is very important,,,!!!!!! I put 600yd 80lb braid on my 4/0's and for sharks 80lb top shot,,,then steal liter,,,,, :) the best thing about top shot is you can replace it cheap and the 4/0 your building is great for piers,,,,cattle boats and freshwater,,,, :D can't wait to see your first fish on it,,,,,,, ;D
Honestly, for sharking as mentioned before, you should upgrade to a 114H (6/0) or 115L (9/0).
The 6/0 in stock form will be stronger than a semi-beefed up 4/0.
Of if you don't mind a Daiwa, a 600H.
I've been happy with my Hawaiian wide
(spooled with 50lb)but funny it has a bur in same spot but it quickly smoothed out.
For the upgrade dough buy a 6/0 or 9/0 series reel, they're everywhere, then you'll have two nice reels, and probably change in your pocket. Find an ugly one with good guts even more change, and the fish won't care.
Yes I agree with the 6/0 & 9/0 suggestion, I`m not to sure how you fisho`s are measuring your line as you wind it onto the spool, , I brought a 500 M spool of 80 Lbs, 4 strand braid & when I placed it onto the solid chrome 6/0 spool it filled it right up, I did only wind it on manually, but I had plenty of pressure on it, & I have used it a few times & had it caught on a reef, when I dragged it of the reef it did not cut into it self, I doubt, if a wide 4/0 would hold anymore than 450 M if that, cheers Don.
Benni3 I'm a out to order 500 yards of 65 lb braid not sure how big of a top shot I'm going to go with yet I'll take advice on that. I've got #6 93lb wire and #06 58lb wire. If I should go bigger I'll pick it up when I get there. I've already caught a caught a small catfish 2 or 3 pounds with it. The rod is so heavy I thought it dropped the bait twice.
Bryan young someday I'm going to put together a legit shark setup but that'll be a while. 95% of the time this reel will be used in freshwater and I was thinking it could handle small to medium sharks. Hopefully by the next time I go to the coast the reel will be all the way beefed up. I know it's not the ideal setup but I guess my idea is I can fish a live or cut bait and ot be completely screwed. What
Wailua boy that is funny. What kind of rod do you have it on?
Cuttyhunker it's to late my Hawaiian wide frame and spool will be here monday. I kinda keep an eye on ebay and I dont mind having an ugly reel one bit
In Hawaii they use those extra wide reels for casting from high cliffs for tuna with very long surf rods (14&15 ft.)
Ky_sharker
I usually strap it to a 12ft extra heavy nitro for shore casting and paddling out baits but I have put it on shorter poles and done some trolling and bottom fishing. We usually target ulua but have caught a few 6ft tigers, sandbar sharks and black tips with no problem.
Maybe we need a 49A here and done. Different generations but the fish not so much. Hell I'd love to have a 113 spooled by a pissed off any fish, story for a lifetime, But maybe we can land him..........
First what is a 49A? Second a big thanks to Randy at Vintage Offshore Tackle. He had the frame shipped very very soon after payment and it got here two days before it was supposed to. If he hadn't pointed out the ding in it i probably wouldn't have even noticed it. Soon as I figure out how to post pics I'll post some
Here it is. Line should be in today. 547 yards of 65lb braid and 200 yards of 60lb mono on top. Looks like tarpon and king mackerel are in the area this time of year so I should be able to catch something