one thing you can say regarding Penn and that is if you need a part you can get it. From what I have heard even some of their oldest gear, you can still get parts for. Reels are big investments and it is nice to know you don't have to trash one because you have a failed part and can not get a replacement.
Then again I have all Shimano Tiagra 50's and one Tiagra 80 for the planer.
i fish the OC.waters inside the 25 line so my TLD25 x 2 braid mono top shots and TLD20 x 2 braid mono top shots. Yep those 4 should do me fine for now. Easy to keep clean, breakdown, and 8# drags at strike warmed up with free spool. I hope I need to replace the drags soon "cuz" that means steaks on the grill.............i'm BRINGING DINER HOME DEAR
For the weekend guy on a budget, the Shimano TLD is the way to go
very affordable, light weight, simple drag system, extremely user friendly "even I figured it out", and super durable.
I have a couple TLD's and have had nothing but outstanding performance from them. Here's a story for the books. I always stage my reels in the garage, then transfer them to the bed of my truck morning of.
One morning I was running a little behind schedule, somehow one rod was left leaning on the back of the truck... yep you guessed it ran right over it. When the rod first came into view by the headlights, I could see the tire path going right over the reel, but was too dark to see which one it was, my heart sank thinking it was a crushed Tiagra, which isn't very friendly to ones wallet I mind you.
As I approached the reel and realized it was a TLD 25, I felt a little better yeah right.... but was still upset at myself for doing such a stupid thing. I picked the rod up and held it to the light, a few scratches and that was it. Luckily enough I had company that night and parked in the grass the reel was pressed into the ground. OK I'm lying I never have company, I always park in the grass just to P!$$ off my neighbor anyhow. I was in disbelief that I was able to put the rod and reel in the truck and head on down the road. Of course I didn't mention that incident to Baywolf that day.
Moral of the story: don't leave fishing equipment leaning on back of truck!
Oh yeah did I mention the tld is super durable!!!!
I bough my internional from Penn in 1986. They are still going strong. I get them serviced every year and have no problems. I could use a couple of 2 speeds though
Charter fishing we have peen 30s that we use along with LRS 2speed 50s.....Big game fishing we brake out the gold 2speed peen 80s and 130 2speed.......For the king fishing tournaments the only reels I use are peen 12 lts on 7ft keylargo rods