Thread: Live line Penn Spinfisher V replacement

Looking at Penn Pursuit ll 8000 combo to replace my live line rig which is heavy. How important is live lining LYs for kings in October?

8000 might be too big, 6000 with briad and mono top shot might be better for size and weight, loose drag is all you need , till the first run, then adjust as needed from there.....tightening alot by the pier to control and get it's head out of the water (takes the fight out of it)
All that depends on the shark activity anymore how much you can play any fish

IMHO a liveliner is useless for kings.
The liveliner drag is too light to properly set the hook yet tight enough for the king to feel resistance and drop the bait.
Your best bet is to get a lighter reel and freespool when you get a get a pick up ;-)

8000 is to big for 90% of kings hooked on the pier. And too heavy to hold for hours. IMO.
I use a 6500 with 250 yards of 15# mono on an 8' rod. One is an older Shakespeare reel, the other is a relatively new Okuma.

Thanks for your help. I bass fish a lot with 10# Pline CX on President reels and St Croix Triumph rods. These rigs have worked well for throwing bubble rigs and gotcha plugs for spanish in the past, but I've never been comfortable with the Penn LL6500 combo. I plan to go lighter per your advice and hope to see you in mid October.

I've got the Spinfisher 8500LL... It's EXACTLY what #'r said... My okuma is way better as far as a live line system.(regardless the drag always present to the fish) The penn's have a really faint clicker, where as my tica, and okuma have louder clicks that I can hear on a fairly busy day. I have used the 8500 to horse in spanish past the sharks.(my arms were sore though)

The bigger live liners are great for bull reds or black drum when bottom fishing.

Get a 5500LL and call it a day, just open your bail when drifting...

Looking at week of October 15th for my annual fall trip to Orange Beach. Had fun with grandkids in July catching Spanish on bubble rigs using my bass gear. As I posted earlier, the Penn Spinfisher 6500LL combo king rig is just too heavy for my age.

Would a Penn Battle ii 5500 or Okuma Z55s on a MH fast 8' lightweight rod work for kings? Any experience with spooling 250 yds of #15 Trilene "Big Game"mono on these reels? Maybe suggest another colored small diameter mono for pier fishing?

Would appreciate any help that you could give.

When going to smaller reel, like the 5000 battle just use 15 to20lb braid under mono top shot for line capacity, to let them run if sharks aren't present.

Originally Posted by hideawaytexas

Looking at week of October 15th for my annual fall trip to Orange Beach. Had fun with grandkids in July catching Spanish on bubble rigs using my bass gear. As I posted earlier, the Penn Spinfisher 6500LL combo king rig is just too heavy for my age.

Would a Penn Battle ii 5500 or Okuma Z55s on a MH fast 8' lightweight rod work for kings? Any experience with spooling 250 yds of #15 Trilene "Big Game"mono on these reels? Maybe suggest another colored small diameter mono for pier fishing?

Would appreciate any help that you could give.

If using 15lb mono get the Penn Battle 6000. If using braid use what Ironman said. I used a Cabelas Salt Striker 50 size reel I got with a $25 Charge Card Rebate and paid like $30 total for the reel. Used it with 25lb braid and never had a problem with a king spooling me. I have Battles and Penn SSM's a Slammer and some Okuma's. If the Salt Striker isn't a Okuma they sure look the same inside with felt drags and design.

Thanks for your help. Hope to see you in October.