Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Are you guys using star drag reels for casting jigs?  It's my understanding the free spool on a lever drag reel isn't as free as on a star drag, and makes for difficult casting.  Is this true?  This was the knock on TLDs when they came out in the 1980s.  Guys were resorting to removing all the grease from the reels and replacing it with either brake fluid or tranny fluid.  I can't remember which.  It did seem to work, but I don't know what the long term effects on the reels would have been.  I hear different stories.

i guess what I'm asking is when to choose/buy one over the other.  Is the star drag reel designed better for a particular application over the lever drag reel, and vice versa?

I use TranX 500's for surface iron and bombs. Everything else is a leverdrag. Star drags like the Fathom 25sd, Trinidad/Torium 16/20 and Daiwa Saltiga/Saltist 35/40 are great for surface iron! Most die hard surface iron fishermen use them.

I use star drags for 50lb and below, lever drags for heavier line. Newer lever drags cast better than the older ones but I think a star drag still has a little edge for casting. Somewhat depends on the operator though

Quote from: MarkT on March 30, 2026, 02:24:03 AM30# would be for light bait which hasn't been needed for the last few years. Maybe for making bait? I don't bother with 30# any more.
40# for fly lining a sardine.
50# for yo-yo, bombs, surface iron. I use 3-4' of mono tied to my braid. I use a longer top shot of 50# for yo-yo. 50# is my go to on 10 day trips.
60# for yoyo and bait.
100# for trolling.

I see you use both a #50, and #60 rig for yo-yoing.  Is there much difference?

Quote from: Bill B on March 29, 2026, 04:15:16 PMMy first trip I brought 5 outfits.  2 never left the rack. The 3 used were: Penn Fathom 25NLD2 on an Okuma PCH a 40# rig, Penn Fathom 40NLD2 on an Okuma PCH a 80# rig, and a Penn Baja Special on a no name rod for 50#.  You would do well with the 25N 40# and 40N 60#, a handful of irons, and assorted Mustad hooks (no need to bring the expensive designer hooks as unwanted fish are cut off or broke off and the fish don't care), and a half dozen torpedo sinkers.  I'm that guy who brings 20# of sinkers, so will have plenty to share. 

Beyond that, trollers will be in abundance to use, and we all will have extra gear for loan. 

If you are in SoCal there are plenty of tackle shops willing to help.  Charkbait recommended  my first 2 Fathoms and they are the backbone of my quiver. 

As we get closer and they fishing reports start coming in, we will be able to dial in the list. 

Bill

Thanks.  Even though after speaking with Alan, and him saying that people will likely have rigs that I might use, I still feel that I need to buy a couple of rigs to show I have some skin in the game.  Borrowing someone else's good gear who I don't even know is not a good feeling.

As for buying two rigs, initially, I was thinking that a #40 and #60 rig, like you mentioned would be a smart start since they are pretty standard rigs regardless of the trip, or am I wrong?  I could fill in the gaps with rentals.

How do you feel about rental gear in my situation? 

Quote from: Jim O on March 30, 2026, 10:16:04 PM

Quote from: Bill B on March 29, 2026, 04:15:16 PMMy first trip I brought 5 outfits.  2 never left the rack. The 3 used were: Penn Fathom 25NLD2 on an Okuma PCH a 40# rig, Penn Fathom 40NLD2 on an Okuma PCH a 80# rig, and a Penn Baja Special on a no name rod for 50#.  You would do well with the 25N 40# and 40N 60#, a handful of irons, and assorted Mustad hooks (no need to bring the expensive designer hooks as unwanted fish are cut off or broke off and the fish don't care), and a half dozen torpedo sinkers.  I'm that guy who brings 20# of sinkers, so will have plenty to share. 

Beyond that, trollers will be in abundance to use, and we all will have extra gear for loan. 

If you are in SoCal there are plenty of tackle shops willing to help.  Charkbait recommended  my first 2 Fathoms and they are the backbone of my quiver. 

As we get closer and they fishing reports start coming in, we will be able to dial in the list. 

Bill

Thanks.  Even though after speaking with Alan, and him saying that people will likely have rigs that I might use, I still feel that I need to buy a couple of rigs to show I have some skin in the game.  Borrowing someone else's good gear who I don't even know is not a good feeling.

As for buying two rigs, initially, I was thinking that a #40 and #60 rig, like you mentioned would be a smart start since they are pretty standard rigs regardless of the trip, or am I wrong?  I could fill in the gaps with rentals.

How do you feel about rental gear in my situation? 

If you're going to buy 2 set-ups get a 40# and 80#!

Hi Jim, I'm not a regular on Alan's trips but have been on a couple.  Renting a 100 lb outfit wouldn't be a bad idea, hopefully it has metered line on it.  Depending on your budget , Penn Fathom 2 speed reels are a pretty good value.  A 40NLD2 with 80 lb braid (metered) with a 50-75 foot topshot of 60 lb mono would be nice for your 60 lb outfit.  I am partial to an 8' UC Terminator  rated 30-80  for my 60 lb rig.  These are pricey rods though.  They do have 2 options for guides and reel seats on factory rods, the rod with Fuji components costs a bit less than the one with all Alps components.  I use the one with the Fuji components.  Great yo yo and light sinker rig set up. As far as the 40 lb rig, another Penn Fathom model 25NLD 2.  You could do a better budget option on a rod, the Okuma PCH 801XH 8' rod works nice for 40 and is a nice option for the price.  I like the Black Fathoms better than the Silver ones, the high gear on the Silver ones is 6:1 opposed  to the Black ones that is 5.1 :1 .  The finish on the black ones seems to hold up longer.  I have re tooled over the last several years all my offshore gear, and these seem to be pretty good rigs.  You will have sticker shock when looking at Calstar rods now, but they are still great quality.  The Penn West Coast rods can also be a great option.  Good luck and tight lines!

60 lb is kind of a hybrid weight class.  You can fish a 40NLD2 with 80, I would probably step up my rod to an Okuma PCH 741 3XH.  If you are thinking United Conposites, a 7'6" Centaur is a good choice, I actually fish a Penn International 12VISX for my primary 80lb set up with a Fathom 40 NLD2 spooled with 80 metered braid 50'80 mono topshot for my daytime sinker rig.  There are a couple ways to rig the sinker rig, the rubber band through the sinker style. Another way is the Bralla drop shot rig, you use a ringed circle hook tied to your leader, then tie a lighter line on the same ring that goes to the sinker, it only needs to be about 3-4 feet long.  Pin your bait through both lips and lower slowly to the zone... the skipper will tell you how deep the fish are.  Don't swing, just let the fish take the bait with a circle hook.

Quote from: MarkT on March 30, 2026, 07:14:17 PMI use TranX 500's for surface iron and bombs. Everything else is a leverdrag. Star drags like the Fathom 25sd, Trinidad/Torium 16/20 and Daiwa Saltiga/Saltist 35/40 are great for surface iron! Most die hard surface iron fishermen use them.

Mark you left out the Lexa and the Komodo! - john

Quote from: Brewcrafter on Today at 12:57:33 AM

Quote from: MarkT on March 30, 2026, 07:14:17 PMI use TranX 500's for surface iron and bombs. Everything else is a leverdrag. Star drags like the Fathom 25sd, Trinidad/Torium 16/20 and Daiwa Saltiga/Saltist 35/40 are great for surface iron! Most die hard surface iron fishermen use them.

Mark you left out the Lexa and the Komodo! - john

The Komodo and TranX 500 are going to Cedros this year!