i,m lookin to buy into 2 penn, shimino or avite 80# and fill then w/braid and a top shot of 100yds mono ..please tell me how u would build rig or load a 80# reel and rod ...i need your input...thanks dave

about 1 month too late.

I practically gave a 2 speed 80 away.

is a 2 speed necessary for tuna or just get low gear? or high

Not necessary but nice to have. Lots of giant tuna were caught on single speed reels.

You definitely appreciate the 2-speed when you need to clear lines that are way back.

Pack them super tight with braid my buddy has a floor mounted leaning post and packs them under load. So they don't dig into itself. 200# braid and 100yards of 150# mono. 150# mini barel swivels with chaff gear and LI crimps at the end. Then you can crimp the flouro leader right on with chaff gear and LI crimps. Get rods with Bigfoot guides so you can wind the swivels right thru and onto the reel. it helps when you can pull the fish right to the rodtip.
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95% of the time your in high gear, and when your in low gear your trying like heck to shift it back to high gear to gain line faster.
They say low gear to muscle the fish up from the depths, but to me that'll just pop the hook out all that much faster.
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Not necessary but nice to have. Lots of giant tuna were caught on single speed reels.

Still are, plenty of big singles still out there.

So suggestion just go with high gear like for instance 6:1?

thanks guys .do u insert mono into 200lb braid...how much braid in yds (what brand) goes on the reel first. not sure what LIs are .what hooks do u like . i,m looking at the shimino 80#.

thanks guys .do u insert mono into 200lb braid...how much braid in yds (what brand) goes on the reel first. not sure what LIs are .what hooks do u like . i,m looking at the shimino 80#.

freak was talking about (LI) size of Jinkai crimps specific to the mono size.

Yes I is the size for 150# LI means long I.
Not sure of the yards on the braid I think an 80 wide will hold about 900 yards of braid. You can use Jerry brown Or tough line xp off eBay whatever suits your wallet.
Chinese finger spliced into the hollow braid about 15 feet or so then 1/2 hitched a good 15-20 times with doubled up rigging floss, then smear with ply-o-bond glue Hooks are owner mutu usually the ringed ones and matched to the size of the bait.
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Yes I is the size for 150# LI means long I.
Not sure of the yards on the braid I think an 80 wide will hold about 900 yards of braid. You can use Jerry brown Or tough line xp off eBay whatever suits your wallet.
Chinese finger spliced into the hollow braid about 15 feet or so then 1/2 hitched a good 15-20 times with doubled up rigging floss, then smear with ply-o-bond glue Hooks are owner mutu usually the ringed ones and matched to the size of the bait.
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perfect setup. You'll love the JB, I have it on everything now

pros and cons of the penn 80 over shimino 80 is 1 better than the other.on line price new penn 80 @ $575-600 shimino 80@ $750. both about same weight 110oz and line 200lb braid @ 2100yds .other than price that do u like. i was told to go with shiminos bc of there drag settings r better ? i have 2 80# bent butt rods already.. looks like about a grand for 1 rod/reel and line. if u r lucky???????

Gotofish has 2 or 3 shimano 80w's and 1 Penn 130st that he's looking to sell.

Evidently 7 bentbutts was overkill for a 20 footer.
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Melton says the 80 wide holds 1500 yards plus top shot
Penn International 80VSW Combos - Melton International Tackle (http://www.meltontackle.com/products/penn-international-80vsw-combos.html)

Look on Craigslist there on there all the time or call fishermans outfitters they were getting about 750 for reconditioned single speed 130's on bent butts.

Why don't you just dust off your handline setups you could put a second motor on instead for the $$
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PENN 80SW Internation Reel (http://boston.craigslist.org/nos/spo/2847500231.html)

http://boston.craigslist.org/bmw/spo/2833714505.html