Penn International 50w

[Jordan]

I am probably going to buy this reel to shark with as I have found a deal that is too good to pass up. The guy I am going to buy from is a sharker and used it for sharking, but i'd like to hear your opinion on the reel. I would fish it probably with 130 or 150lb braid with 100lb mono topshot. Thanks.

[C-MONEY]

200lb mono

[Get-em-wet]

the 50VSW only has 30lbs of drag at Strike...so going that big is a waste of money...i'd go 80 lb of mono the whole thing...the 50W holds 850 yards of 50lb so you are looking at upper 600's to mid 700's in yardage with 80lb mono...if you are concerned with yardage then go with 100lb braid then 80/100 lb topshot of mono. i have 80lb on my penn 6/0 and it only has 22lbs of drag...and the only reason why i went that big was because i fish that reel around structure most of the time.

[catfish slayer]

its a great boat reel.

[Jordan]

the 50VSW only has 30lbs of drag at Strike...so going that big is a waste of money...i'd go 80 lb of mono the whole thing...the 50W holds 850 yards of 50lb so you are looking at upper 600's to mid 700's in yardage with 80lb mono...if you are concerned with yardage then go with 100lb braid then 80/100 lb topshot of mono. i have 80lb on my penn 6/0 and it only has 22lbs of drag...and the only reason why i went that big was because i fish that reel around structure most of the time.

I was looking for yardage.. I want this reel to be able to handle anything. So you're saying not to go so heavy with the braid and topshot?

[fixed80]

JCS... you should hold up on the reel for right now and do more searching. the reason is that the internationals and many like it(avet, tiagra, etc) have way different clicker sounds unlike the senator. although they look real cool and can put out more drag, but if you don't find the noise from the clicker to appealing than you should reconsider before buying.

oh yeah... maintenance may be more costly if something were to fail too. but that shouldn't happen to often i wouldn't think.

the senators are actually the way to go because they are cheaper and the clicker is much better which you can hear it a ways away.
really this is your choice and not anyone else. i don't blame you, those internationals are pretty fabulous and sweet.

[Jordan]

JCS... you should hold up on the reel for right now and do more searching. the reason is that the internationals and many like it(avet, tiagra, etc) have way different clicker sounds unlike the senator. although they look real cool and can put out more drag, but if you don't find the noise from the clicker to appealing than you should reconsider before buying.

oh yeah... maintenance may be more costly if something were to fail too. but that shouldn't happen to often i wouldn't think.

the senators are actually the way to go because they are cheaper and the clicker is much better which you can hear it a ways away.
really this is your choice and not anyone else. i don't blame you, those internationals are pretty fabulous and sweet.

I know how the clicker sounds because kevin has an avet 50w.. And trust me I am always keeping an eye on things while sharking ,so I am not going to miss a shark.. I am getting this 50w for 225$ and it retails around 500$. I was originally going to buy a 14/0 but money's tighter than I thought it was going to be, and 225$ for a lever drag reel is a sweet deal. I'm definitely going to braid with topshot so yardage won't be a problem, and the drag can push around the low 40's at max (so i've heard). It was just too good of a deal to pass up, and it actually appeals too me.

[Get-em-wet]

the clicker is not a problem....if it's been broken in it is pretty loud...if it's yardage then look into spooling it completely with 80lb braid, and then tying a swivel to 200lb mono leader to swivel to leader. make the mono the distance you feel comfortable with...

[jamesk]

If you are worried about not hearing the clicker use a light stick and some sewing thread and tie the light stick to your line close to the rod that way you can see it at night or use a ballon partially inflated during the day

[catfish slayer]

What condition is the reel in?

[C-MONEY]

Using balloon is illegal btw.

[jamesk]

since when is a balloon illegal? I have used them for years and no FWC officers have told me anything about it being illegal

[snookabogus]

The newer penn 50vsw have 30# of drag at max on strike. so im guessing the older models would have maybe a little less.

[Jordan]

The newer penn 50vsw have 30# of drag at max on strike. so im guessing the older models would have maybe a little less.

It's not that old of a reel. I have had a few people tell me that it reaches almost 50 at max, and a few that say low 40's.

[snookabogus]

The newer penn 50vsw have 30# of drag at max on strike. so im guessing the older models would have maybe a little less.

It's not that old of a reel. I have had a few people tell me that it reaches almost 50 at max, and a few that say low 40's.

then they must have beefed it up, it says 30#s max at strike. with a few years of catchin fish it can wear out the drag cuz nothing stays the same over time. im not saying its an old reel, but in a few years and many sharks my avet is gonna put out the same drag.

Still a great buy, check your pm

[C-MONEY]

Balloons are illegal because the sea turtles eat them.

[fixed80]

Balloons are illegal because the sea turtles eat them.

i though if it wasn't discarded than it wasn't illegal.

[C-MONEY]

I dont know, I was using a balloon and was told to take it off and put a water bottle on.

[fixed80]

a bottle is more better anyway cuz it does pop on ya, and....... you can put a glow stick inside it while your fishing at night. actually since i said that i need some glow sticks for my bottles.

[C-MONEY]

I trade 1 Glowstick for 2 rays

[fixed80]

do you fish at night though. it gets dark around 9. so really you would need it if your stay on the beach was like till 3am. dont wanna waste a glow stick for an hour.

[C-MONEY]

we go from 1-5 to try to catch fresh bait. then 5-12 we drop shark rods

[Frogfish101]

you'll get close to 1000 yds with 130 JB and 100 lb mono topshot

[snookabogus]

you'll get close to 1000 yds with 130 JB and 100 lb mono topshot

i get more line capacity on my avet 50w and i dont even get 1000 yards.

600 yards of 130 jb
250 yards of 100 mono

[fixed80]

you definitely need a minimum of a thousand yards or else you may get spooled.

[snookabogus]

i lock my drag

[Frogfish101]

you'll get close to 1000 yds with 130 JB and 100 lb mono topshot

i get more line capacity on my avet 50w and i dont even get 1000 yards.

600 yards of 130 jb
250 yards of 100 mono

You got screwed then. I've personally seen avet 50Ws with 750 yds 130 jb and 250 yds 100 mono

[Dewberry]

instead of ballons or glow sticks or water bottles we use these bobber things. i dont know that their original purpose is but we get them at Bass pro or walmart. the have a bright LED that can be turned on and off and the have metal BB's in them to if your line moves at all you can hear them rattle. we use the round ones and red is the brightest color. the 2" diameter makes a louder sound

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 0_100-10-4

[boghy]

Many people will not agree with me because there is not enough feedback on this, but since 2010 Okuma Makaira MK-50WII with they Tiburon Engineering beats Penn 50VSW hands down. With they 60lbs at strike and 85lbs at full Penn 50VSW is only half away there. Same price range.

[bolo]

Sorry, there is no point on having a reel that produce 60-80lb of drag if he cannot apply it even with a harness. He will get drag all over the beach.