Other than gear ratio, is there anything that distinguishes one reel from the other? Are their internal components the same?

I am looking for a 50lb 2-speed to replace our KG15. Which one would be better for fishing YFT and BLT during summer months out of the San Diego Harbor fleet? We are unable to take trips longer than five days.


Bent Poles and Taut Lines,

Tommy

Tommy, I just looked at the Penn website (www.pennreels.com) and it looks as if the 16 VSX was designed to fish the super braided lines so my guess is that it's probably a little "beefier" although they weigh the same. They also have slightly different gearing. Check out their site. Good luck & tight lines!

Big Fish,

Thanks for your help. I have been to the Penn Website numerous times, but I was unable to find anything there that explained the difference(s) between the two reels. I am wondering if they have the same drag capabilities. I am assuming I would rarely have need to fish heavier than 50lb mono on it, but I would like to be able to should I have need.

I recently held the 16 VSX, and it feels about the same weight as our 15KG. It does seem that casting with it would take lots of practice. It does seem to be a quality reel. I actually liked it as much as the 30 Torque that I also held. The 30 Torque is a heavy reel indicating it is well-made. I do like the idea of a 2-speed though for wrenching in heavy Guadalupe YFT ahead of the tax man.


Bent Pole and Taut Lines,


Tommy

Tommy, go with the VSX! Unless you plan to fish light lines, really light lines go with the stronger piece.

Let me put the two reels into perspective.

Here on the east coast, we fish lighter lines on a given reel as compared to you west coast guys. We also tend to fish off small, private boats and we can chase our fish and not rely on heavy line and drag settings.

The 16 VS is more for our style of fishing, spooled with 20lb or 30lb line (mono) for sailfish and similar pelagics. The drag curve is set up for that. One of the target markets is live baiting sailfish off the coast of Florida. Folks targeting White Marlin are also big users. Many tournaments here in FL and the Bahamas are "line class" restricted and the use of braid not allowed. For those events, the VS is perfect.

The 16 VSX has a much stronger drag curve and the target angler is one who wants to fish 50lb or 60lb line, i.e. braid. It doesn't seem to be too popular here in the SE; we don't have much of a tuna fishery unfortunately.

Tom

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TGriff,

Exactly! Well stated Tom. The nice thing is that Penn is thinking smart and setting up their reels for both styles of fishing/application. The design guys at Penn are doing some very good things these days, downright innovative.

GS<
MS

TGriff & Chark,

Thanks so much for your help. It is all the more clear to me now. I will be buying a 16 VSX. I'm going to try to sell our 15KG. If I can't, I know where a portion of my tax return money is going.


Thanks again,

Tom

TGriff hit it on the head.
If you are going to fish the higher drag settings and 50-60 or 80-poound line, the 16VSX is specifically made to do that.
If you were going to fish say, 30 pound, the 16VS has much finer gradients of adjustment at those lover settings.
One other thing, the 16VSX comes with a metal rod clamp, the 16VS comes with a plastic one.
BTW, I also use the metal clamp off the 16VSX in situations where I need the extra strength, such as when using a TRQ300 with big surface iron or wahoo bombs with 50-pound test and a cork-tape rod.

If I buy a 16VSX, will it be good to go right out of the box, or will I need to drop it off at Cal's booth at Fred Hall??? Free spool???

Thanks,

Tom

The 16VSX comes good to go from the factory, and maintains perfect freespool up to 28 pounds at Strike, and 35 pounds at Full, way more than you would use with the appropriate lines.
The one thing some people like to do is go in and "de-grease" the bearings, etc. and add Speed-X, Rocket Fuel, Hot Sauce or other speed oil of their choice.
Of course, once you go to that super-light lubrication on any reel, you have to keep after it all the time.

As stated above, no expert here, but I just got one and had to go through the same decision.

Great size reel, tank like, SVX has #28 max strike, VS has #10, numbers are from Penn 07 print catalog.

30VSX has #35.

One made for mono #16 class, light drag as it will break the mono if any heavier, other
beefed up for braid, 50 to 60lb topshot on 80lb braid, 1/3 of line breaking is @ 20lb drag.

Steve and seant,

We normally fish Saltiga 50's with straight 40lb P-Line for YFT tuna at Guadalupe. But when the tax man is lurking, I am thinking that a Penn 16 VSX spooled with 50lb P-Line will provide a decided edge in getting YFT to gaff without paying toll. Is my thinking flawed? Is there a better way to go?

BTW, we have thought about going Spectra and 50lb topshots on out Saltigas, but we also use them to flyline; therefore, we would like to keep them as dedicated 40lb outfits.


Thanks,

Tommy

If the fish are biting 50 pound line and up, the 16VSX is a beast, but it is just too much reel for 40-pound line.
The freespool is excellent for a reel of its' size and line capacity, but of course the actual weight of the spool is just as relevant as how "free" the freespool is.
It is really the next magnitude of line capacity and size larger than a Saltiga/Saltist 50.