Hello Everybody
I'm considering the purchase of the Shimano 20 but hear different reviews about 16 VSX.
What are the differances and pros & cons of each.
all help is appreciated.

Joseph

I have owned both reels. I kept the 16VSX. The 16VSX is topless, has an easy to use shift mechanism, comes ready to fish 60# line (28# of drag at strike), is lighter, has a slightly better gear ratio (higher at the top same in low), and has excellent freespool once you remove the grease from the spool bearings. My reel spins like a top.

I think the Tiagra 20 is capable of just slightly more drag. It is narrow, but not topless. Some will use it for 80#.

It depends on what you will use this reel for but I would rather fish a 16 size reel for 60# and a 30 size reel for 80#...

I'll add that Penn does not tie our hands in terms of offering our clients added value (i.e. appropriate spooling included in the price). Penn has made an obvious committment to build gear that's better suited to what we do here on the West Coast Long Range side of things. While shitmano tries to depend upon high profit margins and dealer coercion to push their stuff into the hands of consumers. There's a big difference in philosophy, that's bred from competition (something shimano is afraid of facing).

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

I have been using the 16VSX for over 2 years.
Within the limits of its' line capacity, I haven't found anything it can't do.
For local/Long-Range/East Cape, I use either a 50 or 60-pound mono topshot over 80-pound spectra.
It puts out 28 pounds of drag at strike, and 32 pounds at full with good freespool, way more than you would ever actually use.
You can cast a sardine on boiling bluefin or get way out there on a long soak at Alijos or Guadalupe for 50 to 150 pound class tuna.
Also excellent for marlin/sailfish trolling at the East Cape for anything up to 300 pound blues.
For Alaska, just go with straight 80 or 100-pound spectra for those monster halibut to 350-plus pounds.
In a few instances, I have used it for extra-heavy yo-yo situatioans for yellowtail or wahoo bombs, but it is a little heavy in the hand for a lot jig casting.
It's also a bit too much reel for dorado, smaller schoolie tuna, or lingcod jigging, but I do know people who use them for those applications.

Penn is the manufacture that listens to the fisherman and fishing operators. Just look at their migration to LR syle configuration and performance on all their new reels.

I had two not one but two reels come apart on my last 5 day trip to the "lupe" on nice size tuna. I replaced both reels with a Penn and an Avet. The Penn went to John Baker for his magic and will be a sano piece of equipment on my next trip south.

The Avet, as we all have heard or witnessed is sano from the factory and all you need is the right line class, knot, leader and hook and your good to go slay some "cows".

Penn and Avet are the only "cow" proof manufactures in my humble opinion.