I'm about to go fishing and i look back at my set up's and i realize all my reels are made by penn... 12/0, 9/0, penn ld, and a penn silverado spinner, and i have an imitation penn 4/0 i almost never use.
Does anybody out there have a strict preference of rod, reel, or any kind of tackle, name brand or handmade they prefer before all others?
Just an average fisherman.
Penn all the way, Mark, but that is because I am old school. You were taught by JD Hammer, so you've received an old school education! 
penn reels are the best mark.
I really love my 14/0 and my Avet 80W, fish both with confidence. But, I got a great deal on a Duel 4/0 in about new cond. last year. I think it is my favorite reel in a lot of ways. It is built like a tank but light and small enough to be very manageable w/out a harness, puts out a ton of drag. The biggest fish I've got on it so far was a lemon around 8' though so we'll see if I am still so fond of it at the end of this year.
Chris
Penn, You take care of it and it will take care of you.
Voted best on the beach! 
Hi Guys:
I'd have to agree that Penn is the best all around reel that money can buy. Oh, they have their shortcomings but, all and all they're the best out there.
Best and tight lines,
Norman Bateman
www.ncbateman1.smugmug.com
Penn,Penn,& Penn
I think Penn is definately the best money can buy. As for the rods, I'd go with a Harnell or Harrington. Guides, I'd stay with Mildrum rollers. I think I would also go with Varmac reel seats with the wood handle. The Aluminum reel seats are good but, there is just something about the wood butts that is special to me. Line is also a necessity. I would also go with a Dacron line. I personally use Gudebrod G-6 line but I would go with Cortland Dacron if necessary. Well, that what I would do. I know that many of you have different opinions that I do but, that's what makes the world go around and around.
Norman Bateman
www.ncbateman1.smugmug.com
'PENN' Its a "RICK JAMES BIATCH!!! To the other comp..........by far 
I think Penn is definately the best money can buy. As for the rods, I'd go with a Harnell or Harrington. Guides, I'd stay with Mildrum rollers. I think I would also go with Varmac reel seats with the wood handle. The Aluminum reel seats are good but, there is just something about the wood butts that is special to me. Line is also a necessity. I would also go with a Dacron line. I personally use Gudebrod G-6 line but I would go with Cortland Dacron if necessary. Well, that what I would do. I know that many of you have different opinions that I do but, that's what makes the world go around and around.
Norman Bateman
http://www.ncbateman1.smugmug.com
same here Norman Harnell/Harrington's are the sh*t. I have a couple Gator Glass rods being built as we speak so hopefully I can add them to the list. But to me By far I would choose a Harnell/Harrington.
all my reels are penns but like ive been telling everyone ima make a change. ima buy avet 80 wides from now, 1st reason the light weight 2nd reason better drag 3rd reason easyer to find parts 4th reason it has 2 speed after a long night ur all beat up cause of the yaking and fighting sharks now u have 2 rods that havent got hit so that means u got to drag 2 big rocks with ur bait, thats a bad deal
i only have one reel thats 2 speed and its my TLD 50, this is the reel i use for small baits. onces i get hit its easyer to set the hook and when the shark is running towards u its alot faster than the senators
DIRTY SOUTH SHARK HUNTERS
2012 1st place BLACKTIP CHALLENGE
2011 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION 2nd year in a row
2010 BHC biggest hammerhead shark on 80 lb test
2010 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION
2010 BHC 3rd and 5th place biggest shark
2010 april sharker of the month
2009-2010 Rookie of the year
all my reels are penns but like ive been telling everyone ima make a change. ima buy avet 80 wides from now, 1st reason the light weight 2nd reason better drag 3rd reason easyer to find parts 4th reason it has 2 speed after a long night ur all beat up cause of the yaking and fighting sharks now u have 2 rods that havent got hit so that means u got to drag 2 big rocks with ur bait, thats a bad deal
i only have one reel thats 2 speed and its my TLD 50, this is the reel i use for small baits. onces i get hit its easyer to set the hook and when the shark is running towards u its alot faster than the senators
I agree with you clack. There are two situations in which I really appreciate the speed of my Avet. One is when a fish picks up and rushes the beach. The other is at the end of the night. A couple of the NC places I fish we use spider weights rather than breakaways. We also frequently run baits three or four hundred yards at those spots. Hauling in an 8-12 oz. spider weight at 4 in the AM just sucks w/ a senator. I have done it a bunch and will do it again d/t the capacity of my 14/0 but the Avet brings line in fast enough to keep it off the bottom.
I don't appreciate the lever drag that much and don't really mind a star at all. With a decent fish on I am not thinking about numbers anyway. Righty tighty, lefty loosy works fine for me. At 155# I also have no use for 60# of drag unless somebody is hanging on to my belt!!!! The drag on my Avet 80W is very smooth. The drag on my 14/0 was kind of jerky before I put cal's on the washers.
Chris
I love my 2 speed reels. I took out the 12/0 the other day and hooked up with a hammer. The reel felt very antiquated after using some new and improved technology for sometime now.
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
I think Penn is definately the best money can buy. As for the rods, I'd go with a Harnell or Harrington. Guides, I'd stay with Mildrum rollers. I think I would also go with Varmac reel seats with the wood handle. The Aluminum reel seats are good but, there is just something about the wood butts that is special to me. Line is also a necessity. I would also go with a Dacron line. I personally use Gudebrod G-6 line but I would go with Cortland Dacron if necessary. Well, that what I would do. I know that many of you have different opinions that I do but, that's what makes the world go around and around.
Norman Bateman
http://www.ncbateman1.smugmug.com
Norman,
Take a look at the Lakewood chrome over brass reel seats, I am using them now because I could not find Vamac. I have 3 now, which from what I can tell the only diference between them and a RS6H Varmac is the engraved name, and yes you are right there is just something about a wood butt I always worried a scratching up an aluminum butt and making it "ugly" if that is possible. I will tell you this though, turning a 2" hardwood dowel into a wooden butt without a lathe is an adventure in woodworking
Bob
i say avet all the way i own a penn 16/0 and though i love looking at the reel it does not have the same capability of an avet 80w which is my favorite reel at this time and i use gator glass rods and i stand by them even though people love harnell and harringtons again they are nice to look at but pick one up and its like your in the gym trying to workout to build some muscle