Fathom 25nld2 or Torque for 40#

[Kh1983]

Hey guys, looking at purchasing either one of the above referenced reels for general 40# duties, and wondering if the Torque justifies the $350 difference for 40 pound class socal fishing.

I wanted to upgrade from my first gen fathom 25 so I jumped the gun and bought a makaira 10, but realized it's not quite what I'm looking for for 40# (now fs in classifieds).

I plan on getting having either one blueprinted by cal. I'd love the higher end Torque but $750 with tax and blueprinted is a lot of reel to me for school sized fish. It would get used a few times a year. I find myself mostly using 30 and below or 80 and up on my trips.

 

[DBG]

Personally, I could never justify spending that kind of money on a reel to only use it a few times a year. That's just me though.

 

[tunanorth]

It sounds like your budget is fairly open.
If so, absolutely get the Torque, though the blueprinting is not necessary.
There is no such thing as a lever drag reel [any brand] that Cal/Eric can't improve, they are magicians.
However, for 40-pound applications, no aftermarket work is necessary at all, though a well-trained thumb may enjoy putting Rocket Fuel, TSI321, or other speed oil on the spool bearings.

 

[Kh1983]

It sounds like your budget is fairly open.
If so, absolutely get the Torque, though the blueprinting is not necessary.
There is no such thing as a lever drag reel [any brand] that Cal/Eric can't improve, they are magicians.
However, for 40-pound applications, no aftermarket work is necessary at all, though a well-trained thumb may enjoy putting Rocket Fuel, TSI321, or other speed oil on the spool bearings.

Great info and helps with my decision, thank you.

 

[Big_Tuna_]

I dunno what you would use 40# for in SD fishing? I find it too light for bft work and too heavy for patty fishing

 

[Kh1983]

I dunno what you would use 40# for in SD fishing? I find it too light for bft work and too heavy for patty fishing

Mostly for the smaller/medium size bft. Occasional jig fishing.

 

[alexnieves]

I use my fathom 25n for 40-50lb duty. That’s 12-15lb of drag, which the fathom handles no problem.

 

[Big_Tuna_]

I got spooled on my 25N by a massive BFT, never again will I use it for BFT fishing. Maybe for our yellowfin tuna.

But I'm on my own boat. Maybe the sportboat captains can tell you how big the fish are in the sonar school he found before you wet lines

 

[Pjstevko]

I curious what you didn't like about the Mak 10 for 40#? And how the torque is gonna be a better choice?

 

[hucklongfin]

I curious what you didn't like about the Mak 10 for 40#? And how the torque is gonna be a better choice?

Too heavy? Casting a bait? Yoyo? For a BFT sinker rig it wouldn’t matter. There’s a lot out there that isn’t a BFT!

 

[Kh1983]

Too heavy? Casting a bait? Yoyo? For a BFT sinker rig it wouldn’t matter. There’s a lot out there that isn’t a BFT!

Exactly. The mak 10 is probably better suited for 50-60# bait fishing with the Penn being lighter and more versatile, and better matched for a 40# setup. I jumped on a Black Friday deal and they didn’t have the torque in stock at the time.

 

[Pjstevko]

Exactly. The mak 10 is probably better suited for 50-60# bait fishing with the Penn being lighter and more versatile, and better matched for a 40# setup. I jumped on a Black Friday deal and they didn’t have the torque in stock at the time.

Fair enough.....I love my mak10sea for 40#

 

[Kh1983]

Fair enough.....I love my mak10sea for 40#

It has a really nice feel to it. If it had a faster retrieve I’d run it.

 

[Jes P]

They're bad ass work horses... I have a few trq25nLD2 and a few trq25n star drags... I mainly use them for 40# work when fishing for tuna or yt. Ive caught tuna up to 110#, shit ton of yt up to 40# and a 200# bsb with 40# blackwater... the only time I dont have 40# is when im casting bombs at wahoo, Cal can put a higher gear in the 2 speed or for the star drags, Ive purchased gears from Kens...

 

[Terryw]

Either the Torque or Fathom are fantastic. If I were going to send it to Cal I would invest in the Torque. Either is superb straight out of the box for 40# though. I tend to agree with Tunanorth that they really don't need to be blueprinted. They have a fantastic drag curve. If budget is at all a concern and you don't care if it is gold get the Fathom!

 

[hucklongfin]

For 40#, the Fathom 25nld2 is money out of the box. I’m sure the Torque is too. Above 40# I’d go Torque or Fathom 40nld2 and call it good. The only meaningful difference between the Torque and Fathom is the frame and I’ve never heard of an issue with the Fathom frame… so go for the Fathom! The difference in quality/cost exceeds the difference in value… so go for the Fathom!

 

[Kh1983]

I just bought a new torque 25nld2 from another member here. I’ll fish it out of the box and go from there! Maybe throw a tiburon handle on it..

 

[tunanorth]

For 40#, the Fathom 25nld2 is money out of the box. I’m sure the Torque is too. Above 40# I’d go Torque or Fathom 40nld2 and call it good. The only meaningful difference between the Torque and Fathom is the frame and I’ve never heard of an issue with the Fathom frame… so go for the Fathom! The difference in quality/cost exceeds the difference in value… so go for the Fathom!

It is interesting how often I get inquiries that go something like:
"I can't decide between the Fathom [whatever size], and the [Brand Z reel in the $500-$600 range, equivalent size].
In those cases I always say that if your budget can handle it, and you like the higher priced reel, you should seriously consider the Torque.
Quite often the reply is that they had not thought of it.

 

[Roadrunner]

It sounds like your budget is fairly open.
If so, absolutely get the Torque, though the blueprinting is not necessary.
There is no such thing as a lever drag reel [any brand] that Cal/Eric can't improve, they are magicians.
However, for 40-pound applications, no aftermarket work is necessary at all, though a well-trained thumb may enjoy putting Rocket Fuel, TSI321, or other speed oil on the spool bearings.

Rocket Fuel - reel lubricant

did some looking around and see this appears tobe more used in Europe and maybe freshwater ( from stores thst sell it).

Can you tell us a little more of it ?
have you used it? who uses it ? etc

thanx Steve

 

[tunanorth]

Correct, its very popular in Europe among the distance-casting community, and used to be included in the box with USA-market 525MAGS.
I think the "black label" stuff sold by Ken's Custom Reels in Oceanside is pretty similar.