Overhead Reel Info and Help

[simooutwide]

Hi - I am just chasing a bit of info and help on some overhead reels. I looking to get myself a reasonably begginer overhead outfit. I will be mainly bottom bashing and trolling, fishing up to 60m of water and looking to be able to handle some 20kg + GTs, spaniards etc.

After some research I have landed on the Shimano Charter Special due to its level wind and lever drag. The specs says -

Max Drag @ Full w/ Freespool - 33lb
Max Drag at strike w/ Freespool - 22lb

Can anyone help me out with a basic description of what exactly that means?

Basically I want to understand if the Charter Special with say 30/40lb braid will be able to handle some 20kg plus fish. I am assuming it will handle the reefies OK.

Appreciate any help.

Matt

[FNQCairns]

Lever drags often have a setting where the drag sits while fishing, this is the strike setting - used for setting the hook and also for setting a known amount of drag for when a fish hits so that the spool will not overrun or get ripped out of the holder, any number of designer reasons.
This is often user settable up to a maximum value, the full setting is the MAX amount of hurt this reel is capable of when you push the lever to 'Sunset' - the max drag setting.

Even with those specs a person is still capable of landing a 100kg marlin with that reel or any number of other weighty critters if the need arrived.

33lb of drag can battle a lot heavier heavier fish than 33lb, but if you tried to lift a 33Lb fish clear of the water the drag might slip.

cheers fnq

[krazyfisher]

very good reel to use but 20kg+ GT's will blow it apart after a while

[simooutwide]

Yeah, i dont think it will see to many of those big boys. Out where we go though you never know and want to make sure if I do hook up that it can handle it.

So overall do you think it coupled with a 6" rod it would be a decent starter offshore combo?

Matt

[krazyfisher]

Yeah they are a great little reel just dont over work it and yes a very good starter