Penn Torque spinning reel

[johndtuttle]

I hope that 5k is for 2 people

Rates at Tropic Star Lodge, Panama with 4 per boat are $4-5k in prime season vs off season for 6 days of fishing:

http://www.tropicstar.com/pricing2.shtml

Granted there are some other fine operations that are still getting established and are less expensive but once you include air fare, transfer costs, layover in Panama City etc you would be very lucky to get a week of fishing for less than $4k in the off season anywhere once you include all the extras.

[kilsong]

Tunanorth,
I didn't know you were at Penn booth at ICAST.
Just see cheap looking handles. Why do they do it ?
Who are field testers of the Penn and marketing team ?
Didn't Penn realize how much money fishermen are willing to pay for better handles ?

[Tunanorth]

Hi Kil,
I was mainly wandering around the aisles, but went by the Penn booth several times a day when any of the west-coast dealers were around.
As a "left-coaster", I am not that far into the loop on spinning reel development, but am hoping to get hold of a test model [probably the size 7] for upcoming San Diego 5-day and 10-day trips I'll be on.
When that is over, I am sure I will have to send them back, and somebody else will use them.
I did eavesdrop on some of the many suggestions people made for this reel, and no single reel could have possibly incorporated them all!
I've had a Penn Conquer test reel for about 6 weeks, it's been good so far on albacore, but am going to Baja's East Cape August 6 to try it on striped marlin, it feels very good for a reel that "only" costs $229.
BTW, my favorite item in the entire show were the "trophies" made with real fish skeletons [using the museum beetles].

[kilsong]

Tunanorth,

If you like to test reels, go to Cape Cod for bluefin popping.
If you use 15 - 20 lbs drag, you'll never see the problems of any reels. 150 - 250 lbs bluefin will let you know how good your reels are. I fished Cape Cod ninth times from June and I plan to go up there Thursday again.

Here are some custom handle and custom spool by Ocean Marks. The retail price of custom handle and spool are over $200 each and you'll be surprised how many fishermen are willing to pay for them.

[DEEP DEFIANCE]

WOW 9 times to cape cod 9 times and how many BFT?

[BretABaker]

BTW, my favorite item in the entire show were the "trophies" made with real fish skeletons [using the museum beetles].

How about the 28/0 shark circle hook????