Penn GLD30 II, anyone using them?

[bigfish3]

I just took a look at the Penn GLD30 II in a tackle ship in North Eastern Connecticut. does anyone have any experience with these?

I was especially intrigued by the way the 2 speed gear change is operated, It fit my hand quite nicely and was easy to operate. This beats the hell out of my old internationals. Moving the entire halnde in and out was always a PITA.

I know the Shimano is the hands down favorite around here, but I am inclined to give the nice folks at Penn another shot!

I intend to use these for Albies and such.

Any info is appreciated!

Merry Christmas to all...

[Lured Away]

I have two of the single speeds, have been great.

[AquaholicFishing]

I have 2 Penn 30VSW 2 speeds. Love them. Love the design for changing gears, very easy to do while battling a fish. Mine also came with optional upgradable drags. Basically they would be 30 wides with 50# drags. Apparently that is a big thing that penn picked up on from the guys out of SO. CA. They allowed the guys on long range trips to use a lighter weight reel with the 50# drag they need. Haven't had mine changed out b/c I don't trust myself to take apart a reel that expensive. I think Penn started including that on a lot of the international reels.

[Graceland]

I've had a pair of 15 kgs for about 5 years, they were the GLD's predecessors. I've never had the first problem out of them, and I use them quite a bit. I put them out for big red and black drum, cobia, amberjacks, flat line poles when trolling offshore, and deep drop when I don't have anything better handy.

All the VSWs come with the drag upgrades. They aren't hard to install at all.

[Sawdust]

I have 3 GLD 30s and have problems with the clickers poping out when a fish strikes real hard.

[fishterrorizer]

I have 3 GLD 30s and have problems with the clickers poping out when a fish strikes real hard.

poping out or popping out of clicker mode. yeah their clickers are kind of cheezy but if it reall bothers you drill a tiny hole and stick a stainless nail or somthin for a quick fix but I agree it definetly needs some re engeneering.n but the reels are okay but look at the new tlds.

[Sawdust]

Oh yea i'm geting 2 of those new TLD 50s. The clicker Will pop out. The clicker can't keep up with the speed of the fish.