a list of 20# reels

a guy asked for a list, not a recommendation.  we're talking straight 20# mono, nothing fancy. thought i'd post it here, too.   here goes. 

One of the most common line weights used in Northern California is 20 pound test.  For inshore fishing on the day boats out of any local Norcal port, it's pretty much all you'll ever need.  Match it up any of these reels with a lightweight 8 foot stick and you've got a great little 20 pound outfit.  We're looking for a reel that will hold 200 yards of straight 20# monofilament.  Star drag or lever drag is fine, but no two speeds and no levelwinds for the sake of this discussion.  Just so we all get to start at the same point, we will clean out the bearings or bushings and then lube them with your lube of choice.  We will also upgrade the drags to greased carbon fiber.  That means that the only differences in our list of reels will be gear ratio, retrieve rate and price. 

All of the reels listed below will deliver an easy 5 pounds of drag, which represents a 25% drag setting for 20 pound mono. Only the discontinued Penns would have trouble delivering more than 8 pounds of drag. The more modern reels could easily be rigged with up to 400 yards of 50 pound spectra and a short topshot of 40 pound fluorocarbon. A typical drag setting for 40 pound fluorocarbon would be 12 to 14 pounds of drag. So, whether you are old school or new, these would be your choices for a 20 pound non-levelwind single speed reel!

Accurate 400 BX Narrow - 225 yards of 20# mono, 4:1 gear ratio, 23 inches per crank ($409)

Avet SX - 220 yards of 20# mono, 5.3:1 gear ratio, 30 inches per crank ($159)

Daiwa Black Gold STTBG20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inchest per crank ($179)

Daiwa Saltiga SA20 - 170 yards of 20# mono, 5.4:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($379)

Daiwa Saltiga SALD20HS - 210 yards of 20# mono, 7.3:1 gear ratio, 42 inches per crank ($409)

Daiwa Saltist Lever Drag Hyperspeed STTLD20HSH - 210 yards of 20# mono, 7.3:1 gear ratio, 42 inches per crank ($239)

Daiwa Saltist Lever Drag STTLD20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.3:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank ($229)

Daiwa Seagate 20H - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($149)

Daiwa Sealine SL20SH - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($115)

Daiwa SL-X20SHA (disengaging spool) - 210 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 35 inches per crank ($125)

Newell 220 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 5:1 gear ratio, 27 inches per crank ($150)

Penn Fathom 15 - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($199)

Penn Jigmaster 501 (narrow 500) - 200 yards of 20# mono, 4:1 gear ratio, 27 inches per retrieve  (discontinued)

Penn Squall 15 - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($149)

Penn Squidder 146 (narrow 140) - 220 yards of 20# mono, 3.3:1 gear ratio, 18 inches per crank (discontinued)

Penn Surfmaster 100 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 3:1 gear ratio, 16 inches per crank (discontinued)

Penn Torque 15 Black - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($400)

Penn Torque 15 Gold - 190 yards of 20# mono, 6.1:1 gear ratio, 28 inches per crank ($400)

Progear Classic Series 501 - 200 yards of 20# mono (approx), 6:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank (discontinued)

Shimano Charter Special with topless frame - 190 yards of 20# mono, 4.2:1 gear ratio, 23 inches per crank (Alan Tani conversion)

Shimano Torium 14 - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.2:1 gear ratio, 36 inches per crank ($180)

Shimano Trinidad 14a - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.3:1 gear ratio, 38 inches per crank ($470)

Shimano Trinidad 16na - 200 yards of 20# mono, 6.2: gear ratio, 46 inches per crank ($480)

Shimano Tyrnos 8 - 170 yards of 20# mono, 6:1 gear ratio, 37 inches per crank ($180)
 

Thanks for the great info!


Rey

Thanks for the great info Alan.

Cool thanks Alan.

Good list and info although I feel a bit like a red headed stepchild with my TLD5 and TLD15 . Is the 5 considered a 20 lb. reel or is it a smaller rating ?

the tld 5 would be a great 20# reel.  note that the narrow charter special TR 1000 is about the same size.  once free of the levelwind assembly, it makes a great reel.  that's why i came up with the topless frame.   for the tld 15, i would load it with straight 30# mono. 

Geez Allan you left out the finest 20# reel on the market for bait fishing. The Penn 975 CS IMHO. Easy to maintain, casts great and smooth drag. My go to fly line reel for WSB. Scott

I have a TLD 15/30 and a 20/40 pretty hardy reels that wont set you back until you get your tax return. A bit clunky and after using the revo toro series they all feel clunky. Alan, what do you think of the curado 300 series? Ive been told that these reels hold up pretty well for kayak fishing.

Hey Alan, do you have any more of those Charter Special conversions available? Let me know, thanks!

i usually think if the 975 series of reels as straight 30# reels, or even 50# spectra with a 30 or 40# topshot.  the other two, the 955 and 965, were left out because of the levelwind assembly.  the curado series is nice, but again it was left off of this list because of the levelwind assembly.  and lastly, yes, got a few of the frames left.  they are here.  http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=501.0