ive been using this reel with a dragmaster upgrade, this reel has the drag upgrade. also been using copper walleye line over the lead but its not for everyone the moochers, the 209/309 penns work well, i dont really need a great drag for landlocks. for 12 colors the 209 is small but there really is no need for more than 5 or 6 colors of lead. the yellow rods dont have the action like newer graphite rods but the yellow rods are indistructablehttps://capt-chuck.com/shop/fishing-gear/okuma-coldwater-cw453d/
Are you talking old usa made Penns or newer China made?? We have been having problems were I fish at the guys at Anderson pro bait in port huron won't even carry them cause they break so easily.. but the older usa made penn hold there place in time.. seems there useing cheaper metals on the Chinese Penns.. penn must have thought no one would notice?? or there supplier did?? I do got newer warfare reels that work great.. same with my penn pursuit 2 spinning model 8000 reels.. there casting 2.25 pound sinkers all day all the time.. no problems reeling them in either.. I know there making a new reel called the rival.. that has good reviews.. I don't want to suggest it cause its new.. my brother ran those lc3 diawa sealine 57 size on his Caralina classic before he sold it 2 years ago the older gray and black diawa sealines.. but kids were getting in the way of using the boat so he sold it.. but ya the older penn were great reel but the new ones are absolute crap..
just googled penn 26 green on ebay, maybe i should retire those two reels
ive been using this reel with a dragmaster upgrade, this reel has the drag upgrade. also been using copper walleye line over the lead but its not for everyone the moochers, the 209/309 penns work well, i dont really need a great drag for landlocks. for 12 colors the 209 is small but there really is no need for more than 5 or 6 colors of lead. the yellow rods dont have the action like newer graphite rods but the yellow rods are indistructablehttps://capt-chuck.com/shop/fishing-gear/okuma-coldwater-cw453d