Penn Fathom 60 lever drag 2 speed up to the task?

[tristan]

Need advice from the brain trust here.

I'm gearing up for a hoped-for trip out of San Diego next year, and need to know if the Penn Fathom 60ld 2 speed is up to the task for the mid to large sized tuna.   I'm thinking that with 40lbs drag it may work as an 80-100lb reel.

Anyone have one?   How's it working out?

[Ron Jones]

I couldn't see how it wouldn't. The biggest I've fished is a 40N and it would do fine as a 60-80 reel.
The Man

[Rivverrat]

First off I've yet to fish for tuna. But based on the 60 having the same drag components as the 40nld2. I believe your asking to much from this reel if your expecting to get 40 lbs. of drag from it.  Some use the 40N 2 speed for 80 line & that is pushing things based on my testing. the Fathom 40 2 speed will produce 22 lbs. of usable, fishable drag.

Based on the drag performance & how these reels act under load 60 line is the best max line for for long term durability.

I'm also fully aware a boat or two out your way have them on deck as loaners spooled with 80. The Fathom series are fantastic reels even more so when one considers what they cost.  My advice is not to fish them as a reel for 80 line & by no means  expect they will perform well above 30 lbs. of drag long or short term ... Jeff

[uniontex777]

First off I've yet to fish for tuna. But based on the 60 having the same drag components as the 40nld2. I believe your asking to much from this reel if your expecting to get 40 lbs. of drag from it.  Some use the 40N 2 speed for 80 line & that is pushing things based on my testing. the Fathom 40 2 speed will produce 22 lbs. of usable, fishable drag.

Based on the drag performance & how these reels act under load 60 line is the best max line for for long term durability.

I'm also fully aware a boat or two out your way have them on deck as loaners spooled with 80. The Fathom series are fantastic reels even more so when one considers what they cost.  My advice is not to fish them as a reel for 80 line & by no means  expect they will perform well above 30 lbs. of drag long or short term ... Jeff

I agree with that. I have 40N (narrow version of 60). When i tested mine with about 22 lbs of drag at full, side plate is getting hot quickly with some binding at high gear. 80-100 lbs will need heavy frame reel like makaira or penn visx .

[SoCalAngler]

They have been fishing the 40N two speeds at Guadalupe island with 80 lb test for a few years now. Many yft in the 80-125 lb class have been landed on them. With that said if your fishing the local bft and you get hooked to a big one a 30 two speed at a minimum will be needed and 50 two speed would be best,

I took my FTM40NLD2 on a trip I went on for those fish two weeks ago but they would not bite the 60 lb test that day. 40 lb test was the max that would get picked up so as you can guess no really big fish were landed that day. One around 90 lbs was landed on the 60 but that was at the end of the trip in the dark and it was the only fish to bite 60 lb.

I brought 30, 40, 60 and a 80 lb setups with the 60 being the 40N and the 80 being a 30 two speed. If I went on a trip for those fish again I'd bring the same setups and if I got hooked to a jumbo on the 30 two speed I pray I'd get the fish in.

Cal Sheets is also doing mods to the TRQ and FTM 40's to better fish 80 lb on if you choose to go that route.

I for one would not go for the FTM 60 and would look at a 30 two speed to use at that 80 lb line test.

[Rivverrat]

SoCal thanks for posting this. 

I guess having this knowledge I would now say in stock form I would not fish the Fathom 40 2 speed with 80. Now I need to call Cal's & talk with him. His wife is a hoot & holler... Jeff

[SoCalAngler]

SoCal thanks for posting this.  

I guess having this knowledge I would now say in stock form I would not fish the Fathom 40 2 speed with 80. Now I need to call Cal's & talk with him. His wife is a hoot & holler... Jeff

I don't really know about that. One of the long range boats out of SD 2-3 years ago was recommending the 40N's for 80 lb at the Lupe. If I was going to use 80 lb on my 40N I'd set the drags at 18-20 at strike. Once the fish settles down and the the true fight begins I could bump the lever past strike to get around 22-24 lbs if needed.

At Guadalupe island a combination of both power and speed is good to have and many times you have to play beat the shark.

But, the local bft are different.

[Rivverrat]

SoCal,you've got me thinking now. Any reel that goes 2 seasons on the boats is reason enough for me ask questions.  I've had 4 of these reels come across my bench 40N's. to were brand new headed for the Great Lakes.

None of these reels where first production run. So there could not be any associated problems in that regard. if there were any. The other thing I've found out it's not really fair for me to compare the Fathom & Torque of the same model. The Torques in most cases I've personally seen perform noticeably better than the Fathoms which they should.

I guess also I need to define my definition of an 80 lb. reel. I fish 80 at 24 - 25 lbs. drag. Like your self I start at a lower setting & increase as needed.  Just because a reel can produce a fishable level of drag say 24 lbs. in my mind doesnt define it for the appropriate line class that goes with it. In my mind at the time this is or "was" a maxed out reel fished at this level
But any reel that does so for a season or two on the boats out there.... well yes this gives me pause for reconsideration. I will look into this some more when I get the chance.



Another very pertinent caveat, I've never to any degree fished these reels. My prior thoughts & statement were made based on what I felt & saw doing simple test after servicing them

So others know, none of what I've said here is meant in any way to be a knock on these fantastic reels. Discussing reel performance or increasing it is what makes some of us here run about
dressed up in our happy pants... Jeff

[Keta]

I'd use a 40NLD2, the 60 will work fine.

[SoCalAngler]

Maybe or maybe not. A 237 pound bluefin tuna hit the dock today

[Rivverrat]

I'd use a 40NLD2, the 60 will work fine.

Lee, to be clear. The topic was not about whether or not any one would use the Fathom 40NLD2 or whether the 60 version will work. The opening poster made comments of wanting to use the Fathom 60NLD2 as a 80 - 100 lb. reel also making mention of the  posted by Penn max drag numbers. The topic then carried over to whether or not the 40NLD2 will work for 80 line.

First I think it would be misleading to send any one out with either of these reels saying they would be fine fishing them with 100 line with appropriate drag. I dont believe any one here has done this. As stated in my first post in this thread I've been aware some of the boats have the 40N on their decks loaded with 80 line.

 I would put forth that the average angler does not have the technique to properly fish 20 lbs. of drag for any extended length of time with out wearing on them a good bit. Based on this my question would be how often are these reels on the boats seeing use above 20 lbs. of drag.

 I see the 40N as great real for 60. Until some one proves me wrong, while it works for some with 80 line. I will not suggest it for long term regular use using 80 line & appropriate drag . Again this based on what I saw & felt testing them after service. As always I could be wrong...  Jeff

[Rivverrat]

Maybe or maybe not. A 237 pound bluefin tuna hit the dock today

SoCal, caught with what reel ?

[Keta]

Maybe or maybe not. A 237 pound bluefin tuna hit the dock today

Nice!  I'd feel better using a 30 or 50 for that grade of fish.

]  I see the 40N as great real for 60. Until some one proves me wrong, while it works for some with 80 line. I will not suggest it for long term regular use using 80 line & appropriate drag . Again this based on what I saw & felt testing them after service. As always I could be wrong...  Jeff

I will assume that with 40# max drag the drag at strike will be around 30#.   That is enough drag to fish 100#.  I plan on using my TORQUE TRQ40NLD2 as a 60-80 reel loaded with 80# spectra.  I do not think it would be under gunned on the large average BFT they are catching NOW fishing the reel as a 80#. All 5 of my cows were landed with 28-35 pounds of drag, but on a SDS 50.

[Rivverrat]

Lee, I agree with you if the max drag number  posted by Penn was attainable. These numbers were not reachable in the Fathom reels I've had across my bench. Speaking with Penn some time ago they agreed with what I found.

Also while the Fathom & Torque line both use some of the same parts internally  you will see a noticeable difference in performance between the two. This goes for both the star drag series & the 2 speeds. Possibly more so in the star drags. Though the 15 2 speed in both versions the difference isnt as big as in the others.
For instance you will never achieve a fishable 20 lb. level of drag from a Fathom 25N. This however can be expected & done easily with the same model Torque. Even easier to reach this level of drag in the smaller Torque star drags.  

I really believe this difference in performance is found because of the stronger Torque frames.When comparing the side plates they appear close in thickness but they arent.   The Torque frame has much better yield strength than the Fathoms because of it slightly thicker side plates & better material used in them & the frame.

I know I push my reels my Andros 12's for instance. All three have been fished @ 25 lbs. drag a lot. Not in any way reels for 80 line.  I wouldnt use these reels for 80 except for how SoCal described. Which is how I fish my Andros 12's with 15 lbs. to start & increase as needed.  

None of the prior stuff really matters  as long as they bring in the fish & make some one happy.  Sure is fun to talk about... Jeff
 

[Keta]

1.7 ounces difference in weigh, the Fathom is cast aluminum and the Torque is machined aluminum.  The machined frame is most like stiffer.

I'll see what I can get for max drag out of my FTH25NLD2 in the morning, Penn says 33#.   I set it for 15 to 20 pounds at strike and have never gone past that, it is my 40/50 pound reel and it's spooled with 60# JB hollow.

I have a FTH40NLD2 coming in for a pre use service and line spooling soon, When I get the line on it ( I recommended 80# JB solid) I'll compare it's max drag to my TRQ40NLD2, it will be spooled with 100# JB hollow unless I come up with some extra $ and go with 80# hollow.