Opinions Please: Penn Senator 113N or Penn Fathom TFH40NLDHS for groundfishing in > 200 ft of water

[Roccus7]

Learned Colleagues: My Legacy US made 113H with it's wide spool is just too much reel and weight for a day's fishing in over 200' of water with 18 oz Norwegian jigs. I've decided to go narrow spool, but which of these two reels is a better choice in your opinion? I want to stay at at $250 max price so please feel free to share other reels, but stick to that price cap.

 

[WhatKnot]

I bet that Lep can chime in on that.

 

[Fluke Whisperer]

I bought 2 of these last year for trolling bass with 24 oz mojo combos paired to 2 trolling sticks for 60lb braid.

srmo.com Penn Fathom Leverdrag - FTH30LD 2 Spd

This guy has the cheapest prices on penn reels, as far as a narrow high speed reel goes, their great for fast retrieve, but can tire you out pretty fast, that's why I chose a 2 speed lever drag, my hands are riddled with arthritis.
I'm getting up there in the age bracket too lol.

Penn Fathom TFH40NLDHS is mighty heavy imo, have you looked at shimano toriums?
When I went cod fishing a few years ago, I used a penn fathom 12 star drag, gets 25 lbs of drag and can hold 300 yards of 50lb braid has a nice power handle setup and comes in around 150$, it's light and I have had no problems with it, I have 2 and 1 Penn fathom 15 star drag, it's just the wide version of the 12.

I know there people with a lot more experience with cod setups that can chime in, some swear by Newells or at them depending on what side you're looking from.
Anyways, best of luck.
Jay

 

[MakoMike]

If you have the 113H stick with it, its not much heavier that the narrower spools. Drop down to 14 ounce jigs, they work just as well as the 18s and are easier on your arms.

 

[Old Mud]

I told you i would give you one of my 130 ST's.......... Oh wait !!, i mean my 6/0.

 

[Roccus7]

I told you i would give you one of my 130 ST's.......... Oh wait !!, i mean my 6/0.

Hey, that computer works for you!! I couldn't take one of your STs, BUT if I ever purchased one, or a competitive version, I'd commission you to create one of your custom wooden handles...

Back to the original topic, I've decided on the 113N and have one ordered. I'm a horribly negligent fisherman when it comes to my gear, driving it hard and putting it up wet. The massive machined frame of the 113N is more my style so I stuck with that.

This rod is for fishing the deep stuff while jigging, and often that means 300+ ft so I'm locked into 18+ oz jigs. In anything under 200', I use my 500Ms and 8 oz jigs...

 

[eyeglassjoe]

I still like the Diawa Seagate, in fact I just ordered a few more for local fishing here. 20, 35, and 40. the 35 can pretty much cover all your wreck fishing and diamond jigging needs, the 20 for fluke and blacks , 40. just because sometimes I need more line. inexpensive as far as reels go nowadays around $150. to me proven reels, I use them on my charters in Alaska for all my jigging, as shallow as 50' up to 400'. The 35 & 40 are the same drags, the 35 is narrow, 40 wider. Just figured I'd throw that out there , hope it helps.