Conventional vs Spinning reel for deep fishing?

[jayd305]

Which one is more practical? I am eying a Penn Defiance conventional or a Penn Fierce 8000. I am not "inclined" to penn but I like ease of use and something I can count on. If you guys have any other suggestions for the same price range, the fierce 8000 is $99 and the defiance is about $120, both with matching rods, then please let me know.

I believe on the fierce 8000 I can fit up to 80 lbs of braid or 30 lbs of mono, around there. and not sure about the defiance but I'm sure you can fit good line #s considering its a conventional reel.

I want it for deep fishing like I said. In my opinion, the spinning reel can do the deep fishing plus I could cast out if I wanted to. The conventional I have a feeling I could only troll or let it drop to the bottom..

Any advice? Thanks!

[PhishingPhanatic]

It depends what you want to do with it..for trolling and bottom fishing, almost everyone uses conventionals. For flatlining baits, pitch baits, and vertical jigging, most people use spinners. There is no 1 outfit that will handle all offshore needs. At the bare minimum, you need a 20 lb class spinner, and a 30-40 lb class conventional outfit.

[jayd305]

Well I don't own a boat so I'd want it for shore/bridge deep fishing. Won't be that deep but something that could handle the bigger fish on the bottom.

[bigseank22]

Well I don't own a boat so I'd want it for shore/bridge deep fishing. Won't be that deep but something that could handle the bigger fish on the bottom.

the fierce is good enough for the bridges...i use a couple different sized daiwa bg's and they are perfect for the price

[crashmister]

Well you might want to consider something you can use off a bridge and a head boat bottom fishing. Not unusual to fish 300+ feet of a local head boat. Way deeper than you'll ever see off a bridge.

[PhishingPhanatic]

The right conventional reel on the right rod, will outcast a spinner any day, if you know what you are doing.

[ricky9]

why not pick up a penn jigmaster?

[Miamipescador]

Do you know how to cast a conventional?

Big spinners are decent bottom rods but i would only use one with the baitrunner feature. It takes too long to tighten the drag back up and set the hook/ get pressure on the line. Not to mention your drag might be too tight/loose.

If you want a big spinner for bottom fishing... Baitrunner 6500 20-25 lb test or 50-80 lb braid

Put that on at least and 8' 15-30 rod and youll be a mutton slaying machine!

[jayd305]

why not pick up a penn jigmaster?

Looks decent enough and good price. Is it good?

[jayd305]

Do you know how to cast a conventional?

Big spinners are decent bottom rods but i would only use one with the baitrunner feature. It takes too long to tighten the drag back up and set the hook/ get pressure on the line. Not to mention your drag might be too tight/loose.

If you want a big spinner for bottom fishing... Baitrunner 6500 20-25 lb test or 50-80 lb braid

Put that on at least and 8' 15-30 rod and youll be a mutton slaying machine!

I looked for the 6500 you said but I only see 650 SS or the 6000 and from there it goes to the 8000. The 6000 is it a bit on the pricier side like $170 for just the reel. The 650SS is like $130 which isn't too bad but no rod either. Any other good alternatives?

[Miamipescador]

Do you know how to cast a conventional?

Big spinners are decent bottom rods but i would only use one with the baitrunner feature. It takes too long to tighten the drag back up and set the hook/ get pressure on the line. Not to mention your drag might be too tight/loose.

If you want a big spinner for bottom fishing... Baitrunner 6500 20-25 lb test or 50-80 lb braid

Put that on at least and 8' 15-30 rod and youll be a mutton slaying machine!

I looked for the 6500 you said but I only see 650 SS or the 6000 and from there it goes to the 8000. The 6000 is it a bit on the pricier side like $170 for just the reel. The 650SS is like $130 which isn't too bad but no rod either. Any other good alternatives?

Sorry should have stated.... SHIMANO BAITRUNNER 6500 B. Proven workhorse reel, will outlast those made in china penn reels.

You should be able to snatch one up on ebay from $100-130 basically new with light wear

You want to spend $100 for the rod and the reel?

[jayd305]

Doesn't have to be exactly $100. But I am budget conscious for this because I'm no pro at fishing. I try to get something decent that will work well for what I need it for.

[Sirsnookalot]

I get offshore quite a bit and as stated no one outfit can do it all. Much of the time my gear is fine, but every now and then it's way too small. I have been spooled more than once on each of the 3 outfits I take with me. I do use 2 different ones on the drift boats, but seldom go, I wouldn't take a real good combo on the sea mist.
My Avet Mxj on a Star handicraft 25 lb is too small, the rod needs to be replaced.
My Penn conquer 7000 on a redbone 30# boat rod is pretty good, but a 40# rod would be even better.
I take soron 60 on a star 25# inshore and it it's ok, but it isn't a great rod. IMO bigger is better in the long run on everything. I'm in process of replacing all my rods and use a bait runner instead of that soron, you just don't know what you are going to run into out there and make no mistake you get what you pay for, I've learned that.

[gdm phil]

I do both in shore and off shore......


IMO you need a ar solid set of rods. For example I started out with all spinning gear. I prefer to use a conventional for everything but pitching baits to phins or inshore back country fishing. I use my the same reels for drifint live or dead baits, bottom fishing and trolling. I usually pick up a spinner if I want to get right on the edge of a weed line or if I see something hitting surface baits.

My arsenal now is
2 mxls
1 jx for jiggin
accurate 870 and 665H
Penn SS and sargus

I can pretty much do any kind of fishing to an extent....

[ricky9]

Doesn't have to be exactly $100. But I am budget conscious for this because I'm no pro at fishing. I try to get something decent that will work well for what I need it for.

I would grab a jigmaster and a penn sargus/battle of ebay. There decent fishing reels and you wont have to break the bank too much since you would still need to buy rods. After you get comfortable with your technique and what you like, you can buy better quality gear.

[bulld0g62]

The jigmaster is good reel For most applications, and the penn fierce seems like a solud reel so far. I think you can grab an 8k on a 8ft rod from BPS for like 90$

[Miamipescador]

I had a 9' rod with a 7k fierce and it was $100 at bps. Put some 20 lb on it and youre good to go

[jayd305]

Hey guys thanks for your feedback. I went on the BPS site and checked out a few of the reels and reel/rod combos that I like and I want your opinions on what the best pick would be. These of course are taking price $$$ in consideration but I'm willing to buy any one of these. Again if you have suggestions on other options for the same $$ then please let me know. And again I am not inclined to Penn but they seem like they give the most bang for the buck IMO.

Reels (no rod)

Penn Battle
BTL7000 - 20/310 line capacity - 50/450 braid - $119.99
BTL8000 - 25/350 l.c - 65/450 br - $119.99

Penn Defiance
DFN25LW - 30/225 line capacity - 50/450 braid - $79.99
DFN30 - 40/250 l.c - 50/600 br - $89.99
DFN40LW - 40/285 l.c - 65/580 br - $89.99

Penn General Purpose Round Levelwind
309M - 40/250 l.c - 60/625 br - $59.99

Penn Sargus
SG7000 - 19/390 l.c - 65/360 br - $99.99
SG8000 - 30/260 l.c - 80/390 br - $99.99

Now Reel/Rod combos

Penn Spinfisher SSm Metal Reel/Power stick
7' - 20/220 - 5+1 BB - 50/300 braid - $149.98
7' 15/420 - 65/340 br - $159.98
7' 25/340 - 65/440 br - $169.98

Penn GT Levelwind Reel/Offshore Angler Power stick
6'6 or 7' - 40/250 line - 30/900 braid - $149.98

Penn Spinfisher SSm Reel/Slammer Rod
7' - 25/250 line - $159.99

Penn 113H Senator Reel/Slammer Rod
30/475 line - $149.99 (no more info was put on this one)

Penn Sargus
7' - 20/240 line - $139.99

These are it. Tell me what you think. I probably would use it for a boat but not very often since I don't own one, so I would use it mainly for either bridge, surf or anywhere I can step on.

[bulld0g62]

Any combos with 8 or 9 ft rods? That would be better for casting from surf/pier/bridge. But ive heard good things about the battles, and seen many being used on the piers. The penn spinfishers are a good choice too for spinning reels.

[jayd305]

I went to the flea market for the first time in a while. I was just looking around and I spot and older guy with some fishing rods stacked up. I spot a Penn Senator with a 6'6 Slammer rod. He asked $95. I offered $80. He said 'tell you what, give me $85 and I'll throw in some sinkers and swivels' What's $5 more? So I said deal. The rod and reel are in great shape. Everything works nicely, there's not even any scratches on the rod. Brand new the rod is $150 + tax. My heavy rod search is definitely over! Thanks all!