Corpusfishing.com

[crab_n_fisher]

Upon arriving here in Wasilla, Alaska, my cousin surprised me by giving me a "hand-me-down" Halibut rod/reel combo. It is a five-and-a-half foot 80-130 lb no-name roller rod, coupled with a Penn 895 LC reel.

Knowing that he is a huge Penn freak, he told me that Penn discontinued this reel a number of years ago. I went online, and if memory serves me correct, it was only manufactured from 1999-2003 or so. Fine enough for me, so to speak.

He has it loaded down with 200 lb spectra (don't ask me why!). He has only landed two halibut on it, the biggest 97 lbs. So this reel is basically still new.

When I get my digital camera problems fixed, I'll post pictures of it.

You have heard of "eight plus bait," when fishing heavy Texas surf? Try four or five lbs of lead and a 20/0 circle hook engorged with fresh Herring or "trash" Cod fillets. It is a common set-up to use in Cook Inlet. Instead of a 400 lb mono leader he uses rope....yes, I said R-O-P-E!!!

The main question I want to know is if anyone has used the Penn 895 LC reel and has remained satisfied with it? And why did Penn eliminate it from it's well-reknowned arsenal?

Any and all replies are appreciated. Thank you!

(PS.....When I boarded a plane in Texas this past Monday afternoon to land in Arizona , to make a one-shot flight to Alaska, I ran into a man who represents an Alaska Charter service, south of Kenai (www.crookedcreekrv.com). He asked me if I was sick of the Subway commercial/jingles of "Five dollar...Five dollar .... Foooooooot-looooongs!"
I said, "No," but I see it either on the tv non-stop or hear it on the radio quite often; however, he forewarned me......warned me about something...In Alaska it's "six dollar...six dollar foot longs!" And it is so effing true! I escape from civilization to the wilderness of no-man's-land, and I hear this crap?