So the new Penn Star Drag Torque arrived this week and I ran down to the tackle shop (shout out to Stretch at Stella Maris in Sheepshead Bay) and we loaded it up with 150 Yards of 40 pound yellow power pro braid. I ran to the boat and tried it out on a Sea Bass and Porgy run. I put 12 feet of 30 pound flouro that I picked up from Black Pearl who is hiding somewhere on the forum ( https://www.mkt.com/pro-challenger-llc ) and used very small 2 Gamakatsu circle hooks on 40 lb flourocarbon all loaded up on my pink custom porgy stick and a 4 ounce bank lead.
So much overkill to catch a $2 fish :)
I figured I would bring in a buck of two of fish.
The reel, and this is my third torque, was fabulous and immediately got put to a moderate test when we rolled up to the McAllister grounds and landed an unexpected 26 in Black Sea Bass. The adjustment on the star drag was smooth and steady, even more so when I unexpectedly hit a 24 inch fluke. It was a day of catching the unexpected, with Eels, Snappers, Triggers... seemlingly anything but the expected scup. I still caught enough fish to distribute to passangers on the boat. I probably pulled in about 60 fish altogether on very light tackel and the precision of the Torque made it all seem mundane.
What is most interesting, at least to me, is that the reputation for this reel is that it is weighty. I find that the 12 on my light tackle matches up very nicely. I don't feel any weight, and the drag and spool is so fine, that It fishes very very very light.
I noticed much of the improvements in this later model. It is a very positive fishing experience and I am very glad I picked this reel out before they go off the market.
150' of 40# Powerpro and 12' of 30# fluoro? You run it mostly empty?
The Torques are / were benchmark reels. I to love the Torque 12. Mine are loaded with a little more than a 150 yards of 60 braid with 50 or the same weight mono leader. Need no more than that for my specific use.
I also have heard the latest versions of the Torques referred to as heavy, tanks etc. In light of the fact we now have 4/0 size, 15 -18 oz. two speeds capable of fishing 60 line they may have a point with this in mind.
However few if any reels offer the same level of handling characteristics, overall performance & bullet proof durability as the Torque 12 or 15.
Stuck with one reel for the majority of my fishing the Penn Torque 12 would be it.
From small bass to catfish well over 50 lbs.
From about 1/8 oz to over 1 lb. weights & baits it can do most every thing I need done at least good enough or better than most any other reel made.
Simply no better star drag made.
Maybe ever ? ... Jeff
I'm thinking you meant yards, not feet.
The Man
Quote from: Rivverrat on July 27, 2019, 05:13:47 PM
The Torques are / were benchmark reels.
I also have heard the latest versions of the Torques referred to as heavy, tanks etc. In light of the fact we now have 4/0 size, 15 -18 oz. two speeds capable of fishing 60 line they may have a point with this in mind.
Simply no better star drag made.
Maybe ever ? ... Jeff
Some funny observations from interacting with a LOT of consumers regarding these reels over the years.
Virtually everybody who refers to them as "tanks" is confused, and referring to the Gen1's.
They may claim to be talking about the newer ones, but when you probe a little more, its plain they mean the 100, 200, 300 TRQ star drags.
Another one of my favorites, "Well, they LOOK heavier.......".
Very true that PENN never really advertised them, so the majority of the fishing public literally did not know they existed.
Also true that the Accurate "Valiant" 2-speed series has taken a lot of mass out of their compact 2-speeds, but they did not stop making their other "medium" and "heavy" frame models, and nobody else has taken lightness to that extreme.
I've got an assortment of both black and gold ones in size 12, 15, 25N, 30, and 40, which I am hanging on to!
mrbrklyn - Holy cow, a 26 in Black Sea Bass, that is huge!
Jeff - yeah, my TRQ100 is a heavy tank alright. I changed out the star to the plastic one from a Baja just to lighten it down a bit. The solid steel star and power handle is overkill! Wish I could find a balanced aluminum handle to fit it, but nobody makes them.
Quote from: nelz on July 27, 2019, 09:12:17 PM
mrbrklyn - Holy cow, a 26 in Black Sea Bass, that is huge!
Jeff - Wish I could find a balanced aluminum handle to fit it, but nobody makes them.
Try Tiburon.
The shaft of the TRQ100 is square, same size as the Baja Special, (same drag too). Yes folks, that little reel has some serious guts!
Anyway, I've only found power handles to fit the square shaft, not balanced. Mrbrklyn, are you saying the handle from a Fathom IIs 15 levelwind will fit?
No reel is perfect. Even as much as I like the most recent line of Torque Star Drags there a couple of things that could be better. One is the stock handle I replace all mine with the Tiburon offering & knob. The stock handle flexes to much when these reels are pushed. The Tib offering completely takes care of this.
Second issue when you fish a reel in hand for 3- 4 days straight of every week for 12 hours or more things show up & this may be just me, is the sharp edges. Particularly the bottom inside edge of the gear box where the gear cover meets the right side plate. Small complaints for such a wonderful reel.
Quote from: Rivverrat on July 28, 2019, 08:04:00 PMThe stock handle flexes to much when these reels are pushed.
That's ironic since the first gen Torque goes to the other extreme with a massive handle that's the same as the Baja Special's. I suppose it works for the 200/300 but they even put it on the little 100.
How do you have your spool tension adjusted ?
How much side to side play does the spool have when using your reel.
Somethings up I've yet to experience this my self. This same cap & rubber O ring arrangement is used in other Penn reels.
This has me perplexed... Jeff
ideally, zero load, zero freeplay.
Alan
Do you think 2 of the rubber O rings would work/fit? & hold the cap tighter.
I have a TRQ 12 for a few years love it but since I heard of the caps falling off I have been worried about the cap falling off.
joel8080
Here's a suggestion, a fix I've used on Abu's. Wrap some teflon plumber's tape on the threads enough for the cap to screw on snugly. It will keep the cap well sealed as well. ;D
Quote from: nelz on July 29, 2019, 04:40:18 PM
Here's a suggestion, a fix I've used on Abu's. Wrap some teflon plumber's tape on the threads enough for the cap to screw on snugly. It will keep the cap well sealed as well. ;D
yup!
Hi Ruben, I have some Hylomar Aerograde PL32, gasket joint compound, it doe not dry, I brought it to seal gaskets on the fuel tank, but I was not really rapt about it for the fuel, I have used it in the thread of the caps, just stops them from turning to freely, with out it being to hard to ajust when required. good luck, cheers Don.
Abu Garcia reels made in Sweden. The teflon tape is not sticky, it is just to make the threads snugger. You can get it at any hardware store. Rudy
Quote from: alantani on July 29, 2019, 03:22:06 PM
ideally, zero load, zero freeplay.
Alan I know this. I'm just trying assess this problem. Something isn't right.
Quote from: mrbrklyn on July 30, 2019, 02:11:36 AM
Quote from: nelz on July 29, 2019, 04:40:18 PM
Here's a suggestion, a fix I've used on Abu's. Wrap some teflon plumber's tape on the threads enough for the cap to screw on snugly. It will keep the cap well sealed as well. ;D
WHat is Abu's and will I be able to move it :)
Ok this is why I was asking how you have your spool tension set. How much are you moving this knob ? How much play in the spool ? Also why do you need to move or adjustment after it's set ? The spool tension is usually set & left alone. This a very odd & unique issue.
Cant tell for certain but the O-ring looks damaged in the pic. This can happen from over tightening. Which would also lead to the cap coming off.
The fact it has occured with other reels makes it even more so. I can say I have a lot of time both fishing & working on these reels & this is a first at least at the level your experiencing it. I have an obsessive desire to understand & fix stuff like this. So please take no offense. It's all about the reel. Look forward to your reply to above questions... Jeff
I've seen some old primitive reels that the left side cap would work itself loose and fall off if you weren't careful. It was because the cap was putting tension on the end of the spinning spool shaft, would vibrate during a cast or run, and the cap would move in the same direction as the spool shaft. That's the lefty loosey direction on the tail plate. A tensioning cap on the head plate will want to righty-tighty itself during a cast or run; the opposite of your problem.
Teflon tape will certainly fix it. But, that's a really expensive reel and it seems like you shouldn't have to be holding it together with tape.
-steve
Quote from: oc1 on July 30, 2019, 05:59:33 AM
Teflon tape will certainly fix it. But, that's a really expensive reel and it seems like you shouldn't have to be holding it together with tape.
-steve
Maybe a drop of Loctite 241 to secure this cap ?
Ruben, I also fish a couple of my Torques most every day. These are my go to reels when a rod is fished in hand. I wholeheartedly believe this issue can be solved with out using tape, glue or any other approach of this type.
More info is needed to move in that direction. Be good to know if you adjust spool tension when fishing ? ... Jeff
Quote from: mrbrklyn on July 27, 2019, 02:10:26 PM
So the new Penn Star Drag Torque arrived this week and I ran down to the tackle shop (shout out to Stretch at Stella Maris in Sheepshead Bay) and we loaded it up with 150 Yards of 40 pound yellow power pro braid. I ran to the boat and tried it out on a Sea Bass and Porgy run.
What boat do you like on Sheepshead Bay? I went out on the Marilyn Jean last year. It is surprisingly close to the northern Philly suburbs. The fishery is a little different from central and southern Jersey, which I fish more.
Quote from: mrbrklyn on July 30, 2019, 07:08:05 PM
Quote from: Rivverrat on July 30, 2019, 04:49:04 PM
Ruben, I also fish a couple of my Torques most every day. These are my go to reels when a rod is fished in hand. I wholeheartedly believe this issue can be solved with out using tape, glue or any other approach of this type.
More info is needed to move in that direction. Be good to know if you adjust spool tension when fishing ? ... Jeff
I don't adjust it or change it... really ever.
OK I'm completely stymied... Jeff
I had a great experience a couple weeks ago on the Big Mohawk in Belmar. Very profesional and friendly crew and we managed to nail some big fluke.