Gear Question

[Fathom40]

I've caught dozens of sharks up to 400# on my 50 TLD's with no problem. Having said that, I have not experienced a tuna over 200# with this outfit so I would have to go with the voice of guys like Taylor who know what big tuna do to a reels drag system under serious long term stress.

TLD's are not "junk" as Sashamy stated. Just maybe not the best reel for giant bluefin tuna.

[sashamy]

They are junk, a 400 pound blueshark or mako is not going to abuse that drag like a 150 pound tuna will the heat and speed of the fish destroy those reels, sharks are zero comparison for what this gentleman is asking....for tuna go gold 50 or 70 like Taylor says....they will stand the abuse that these strong fast fish will cause your reel to endure...for sharks they are probably a fine reel..and I don't recall anything about size of tuna in my original answer

[backman]

I've been fishing unworthy and teeny little TLD-25's with 12# drag and 40# line for 12 years now.

I've had bluefin to 100#, yellowfin to 80#, screaming wahoo, white marlin and lost a bigeye on those inadaquate little TLD's.

I love them and am not scared to pull them in the canyons except at bigeye hour. I'd happily pull a 7 rod TLD 25 spread all year in the Dump/Lanes if the fish are up in there.

The drags are fine, the mechanism and gearing are fine; the handles are inadaquate for big fish and need to be upgraded.

[nsvencer]

The drags are fine, the mechanism and gearing are fine; the handles are inadaquate for big fish and need to be upgraded.

The handles on the 50IILRSA's are the same as the Tiagras. Very comfy.

I agree though, the TLD25's have a crappy handle for sure when it comes to bigger fish.

[amarshall]

They are junk, a 400 pound blueshark or mako is not going to abuse that drag like a 150 pound tuna will the heat and speed of the fish destroy those reels, sharks are zero comparison for what this gentleman is asking....for tuna go gold 50 or 70 like Taylor says....they will stand the abuse that these strong fast fish will cause your reel to endure...for sharks they are probably a fine reel..and I don't recall anything about size of tuna in my original answer

In my opinion, I would take a TLD50 over a new chinese made Penn 50 any day of the week for < 70" fish. I have both.

Older Penn 50s a different story.

[fish4stripers]

There's no problem using the tld50's with rec fish. We have multiple fish in the 60-70 in range on the same reel with no problems. They are a fine reel for a casual bft fisherman.

I have heard of the older ones having the frame break and upon sending them to Shimano, new updgraded reels were sent any no charge. This is the type of customer service you get from Shimano, first class service.