Penn 309

Found my dad's old Eagle Claw 9ft with a Penn 309. What is the best/max capabilites for a dispy or leadcore or wire rod ? thanks in advance!

Thank you to all who posted! I've been following the site for a few years always reading and trying to learn more! It is a true addiction!

The Penn 309M has a capacity of 350yds. of 30# monofilament and a line retrieval ratio of about 3:0:1, not a good choice for a stealth reel setup using leadcore or copper line. But if you’re young and like a work out you’ll be getting one every time you reel in the line. The drag on a 309 is poor at best compared to other reels. The 309M capacity is great though. The Penn 309M reel will hold 100yds. of 20# mono at 0.018” diameter plus 300yds. of 50# super braid at 0.015” diameter and 100yds. of 27# Tuf-Line Micro Leadcore at 0.024” diameter plus 30 feet of 20# fluorocarbon leader. The depth will depend on your trolling speed but expect 40 to 50 foot for a fullcore setup as outlined. The Tuf-Line Micro Leadcore has a super braid outer sheath instead of a Dacron sheath which makes the overall leadcore linel diameter smaller thus allowing a full 10 colors of leadcore on the reel. You will have more money in line cost than the reel is worth. http://www.cabelas.com/product/Tuf-Line-MicroLead-Lead-Core/1432828.uts You’ll also need a Church Walleye Board to make the fullcore the most effective. http://www.walleyesinc.com/walleyeinc3/onlinestored.htm Good Luck

The old Penns make a good mono downrigger reel or have a nice line capacity for leadcore. I ran about 300 feet of mono, 450 feet of 50 lb braid and then a fullcore of 18 lb test leadcore last year on mine. It filled the reel up just about full and caught a ton of fish. Reeling in 10 colors of core on those old low retrieve reels is not the funnest presentation in the world but it was working so I didnt change it until this season. I would recommend putting a ton of 20 lb mono and something like 5 colors or less leadcore and it will do you just fine. I would not run, wire or any dipsey on it just because the drags are a little touchy and hard to set them just right for that application. JH BlueCollarOutdoors

You are probably best off running a leadcore rather than a dipsey or wire since (I'm assuming) the reel doesn't have a linecounter on it. I have an old 309 and 5 color lead with plenty of mono backing fits fine. Drag is going on it and eventually I'll lose a fish and be irritated enought ot upgrade. LOL