| Penn Torque 200
Finally got my field-test version of the Penn Torque 200 this afternoon.
Immediately filled it up with line and went down to my dock so that I could do some casting with wet line.
Loaded it with 250 yards of 50 pound spectra, plus a 125-yard topshot of 30 pound Big Game Hi-Test.
I always use an old 9-foot 690-J rod and a hookless Tady 45 I keep around just to be close to the same with everything I test cast.
Thought I had gotten it wet enough, but still managed to burn my thumb on the first cast, the spool is very fast.
After a couple of tries, was consistently cranking off casts that I later paced out to 85-90 yards.
I had no wind and the dock is right at water level, so a bit of tailwind and the elevation of a boat deck might add a couple of yards to that.
I'm 52 years old, so you studly youngsters could probably beat that by applying more "Norwegian Steam".
Drag is very smooth, right up through the highest settings you would ever use with 30.
Frame is extremely solid, and the reel weighs 20 ounces empty.
If you extrapolate the line capacity I use, it would be just fine as a 40-pound bait reel if you bumped the 50-pound spectra up to 350 or 400 yards with a shorter 25-yard topshot of 40-pound mono or fluoro.
For jig casting, firgure you will be pushing the 100-yard envelope, so your topshot should be at least that long.
Max drag is listed at 32 pounds, but after using the Torque 300 for the past 2 months, I am confident the drag would be up to snuff for anything I would put on a 200-size reel.
Will get to catch some rockfish and lingcod with it at the Farallon Islands on Friday, and another local trip later in the month, then a 10-day on the American Angler in October.
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