I'm gearing up for cod this fall and only have 2 older Daiwa Sealine reels, one is a levelwind one is not and I need at least 2 more new rods and reels.

I would like a reel with a fast retrieve, 6:1 if possible and levelwind if it can be used with braid. In the $100-150 range, any suggestions?

I checked on Shimano Toriums in the 30 size and looked at Quantum but the Quantums did not have a higher speed retrieve.

the shimano use them for jiggin. Awesome reels. Saw a 10' porbeagle subdued with one.

Torium is a great reel for codfishing w/ a jig. dont worry so much about 6:1 that is really a bit high 4 groundfish. 4:1 thru 5:1 is optimal. spool up with some nice braid and throw it on a nice 8ft. stick with a flexible tip and a stout shaft and u can cast a mile.

another vote for the torium 20, no need for the 30. same reel, slightly wider spool.
50# power-pro

I won't be casting for the cod rather boat fishing for them. I'm thinking a 6'6" rod, light tip but stiff through the middle.

The Torium 20 will be enough to get me down the 200 or so feet I need to get to?

Will braid be ok with a levelwind? I have a Daiwa sealine I have had braid on and it has been ok although I haven't been using it much if at all over the years, and are all rod guides braid-friendly? I am clueless when it comes to braid and all the new conventional rods and reels.

I fiigure the 6:1 ratio is good when I or whoever, needs to reel up to check things as we are used to fishing 20-40 feet of water.

I bought a Saltist last year vs the Torium on the advice of a friend that has a Torium. It's got metal sideplates instead of plastic and fewer parts overall. It actually casts pretty well too. The Saltist's anti reverse gear appears more robust than the Torium's, which is important if the AR bearing gives way on a good fish, as the Torium has been reported to do.

Just go on a cod charter boat and you will see that 90% of them use Penn 113s, because they last forever!
But my favorite is my Newell 540, super light weight, HUGE crank, and it cast a mile!

the torium 20 is freekin awsome. you can launch with it. and its really comfy.

[QUOTE=Raider Ronnie;510080]Just go on a cod charter boat and you will see that 90% of them use Penn 113s, because they last forever!
QUOTE]
because there dirt cheap and newbies can't possibly destroy them.
they have got to be the most painfully slowest reel on the planet:sleeps:
I souped mine up with newell gears, power handle and smoothie drag . Yet still,,:sleeps:

You could do a lot worse than a Penn jigmaster.

I will check into the Torium and the salitst. This will be codfishing from my own boat and not party boat style. I will get a high speed retrieve as I can't deal with the painfully slow, yes, I know the 113, even the H is, sloooowwwww. And I have an old Penn, I don't know which old model it is, with its almost 1:1 ratio, keep it on the bench just to look at. I guess I need to get myself to some shops to check the things out in real life. The Daiwa Sealines I have are good, one is a levelwind the other is not and I have taken them down and kept them up over the years and are in great shape, just don't use them so they will be good with the Daiwa "BeefSteak" rods I got for them, I just need at least 2 more "New-Technology" setups for the fall. Thanks all.

Newell 338 3.6:1 is my go-to bottom fishing reel for cod, tog, sea bass, grouper, red snapper, and triggerfish that are deep.

6'6 rod is way too short. might as well use some old exhaust pipes with a reel mounted on it. You really want 7'6 or 8'0 for some sweet sea saw action and some whip for casting. BTW, i know your fishing from a boat and not the shore. Try casting from the boat. Greatly improves your hookups.

6.6 rod, spiderwire, Penn 113, souped up with electric!! Thats what I have and never look back:humpty:

When cod fishing, why would you ever need to cast? My 6'6" rods work great for ground fishing and they stow easy in the cuddy.

When cod fishing, why would you ever need to cast? My 6'6" rods work great for ground fishing and they stow easy in the cuddy.



When jiggin, you want to under hand cast to cover ground!
Also, longer rods = better action when jiggin

Wierd, when we go ground fishing as soon as the jigs hit the bottom we are hooked up in under a minute, usually less.

I have a set of 6'6" rods, another set of 7' MH rods and one long 8 foot Daiwa rod that is heavy and used to be a cod rod. I just need 2 levelwind reels that are high speed. I found that the Torium's, while 6:2 are fast, they are not levelwind and I can't have my almost 70 year old father and other rookies using non-levelwind reels. THanks all for the suggestions so far though, truly appreciated.

You might want to rethink your choice of gear ratios if you're going to have 70 something year old cranking it. It'll be close to impossible to cronk up a 30+ pounder from a good depth with a high speed reel, unless of course its a two speed.

Two things:
1) Casting your jig will put more groundfish in your boat
2) Pumping rod while cranking in the fish will put less fish in your boat

I don't think casting makes much difference in 300ft with a 32oz jig.

you might want to look at the Shimano Charter Special 2000. We have 8 of them, we use them for live lining, bottom fishing as well as trolling, they are a level wind reel, all graphite so they are nice and light and easy for other people to fish with. Not sure what the gear ratio is off hand but you might want to check them out. They are a die hard reel, can't beat them for the money. Spool with 50 lb braid and you will be all set!!!

Thanks Fisherwoman, I just checked the Shimano charter specials online and I think I have a winner. Levelwind, lever drag, great price, I'll probably look around and get 2. I'll settle for the 4:something to 1 retrieve but as we'll be down there and hopefully cranking up fish come September/October, it shouldn't matter.

Your welcome bud, you will not be dissapointed at all, they work great for all differnt situations, so enjoy and good luck with them. you won't notice any big difference in the gear ration vs a 5:1 or 6:1. You will be too busy bringin fish over the rail to notice.

Best of luck with them.

Fishsmith............32 oz. jig?%$@#%$@$%@# i now understand why u feel casting isnt worth it. That sucker is close to un-castable. I use a 10oz jig and cast it 40-50 yards.