Reel Question

[LONGFIN2]

As a wedding gift my buddies bought me a 15 wt. G. Loomis. that I'll be using for tuna, marlin, sharks, mahi, and so on this summer off of OC. Can anyone recommend a reel that isn't going to (now that I have a joint checking account with the wife) get me into deep trouble in the pocket area? I was looking at the Islander FR4, anyone ever used an Islander? Or maybe a Penn? I'm up for any suggestions, thanks.

[gottaflylee]

As a wedding gift my buddies bought me a 15 wt. G. Loomis. that I'll be using for tuna, marlin, sharks, mahi, and so on this summer off of OC. Can anyone recommend a reel that isn't going to (now that I have a joint checking account with the wife) get me into deep trouble in the pocket area? I was looking at the Islander FR4, anyone ever used an Islander? Or maybe a Penn? I'm up for any suggestions, thanks.

Both are good Reels with Islander being the better I think. Biggest draw back for me is that are both heavy reels...

[LONGFIN2]

Thanks for the reply. What about line? Am I better off with floating, intermediate, or a full sinking line? Oh yea, and backing? Most of my flyfishing has been for flounder and stripers with a sinking line, and freshwater trout with a floating line.

[gottaflylee]

LONGFIN2, kinda depends on how you are going to fish it, poppers or streamers. If I'm fishing poppers, floating. Streamers, I prefer intermediate. I also cut the line in half and even will cut it so there is only 10' of running line after the head. By doing this, it helps reduce line drag when chasing fish like Sails and Marlin and you are less likely to break your tippet...
Feel free to give me a call...

[jemche]

longfin- what boat do you fish on? maybe sometime this summer we could hook up and do some offshore fly fishing.

[LONGFIN2]

Thanks Lee, I like the idea of cutting the line down to reduce drag. Guess I'll just buy an extra spool and have both lines handy. Jake, I run the LONGFIN, a 43' Sonny Briggs. We fish offshore every Saturday thru the summer and hit the bay for flounder and such on Sundays.