penn live linner

really new to pier fishing but am hooked for real I bought one of the off the rack custom pier rod from J an M tackle 8 ft for my Penn battle 7000 might be a bit big but is what i am going to use for now but wondering about the live liner I was also given by a guy at church a Penn 7500 SS with a 9 ft power stick but its a made in USA Penn like new really so a little feed back so i can do my research I will be at the pier sat so i can ask some more then Thanks to all I have talked to so far ya all have been very helpful

As you said, your Battle 7000 is a bit large but not so large as to not fish with it or to be in an urgent rush to replace it. A 6000 in that series would have been the ideal choice for your rod. If you're interested in a Live Liner and can swing it, I would say go for it. I have said it before and I'll continue to say that the 560L is probably the best king reel available for up to three times its price. As far as your 7500SS is concerned, what is it you are asking? It's a good reel, just as your Battle a bit large but still fishable.

The Penn Battle 7000 & the 7500SS will both easily handle just about anything off the pier.
IMO, both combos are decent choices for the pier.

My go to combo at the pier is my Penn 7500SS on a Seeker 7' medium/heavy.
I recently picked up an older Penn 704Z, going to use that on the pier too, when I get a rod for it.

Just got a 560L of my own today and fished with it for the first time. No bites, but I can tell I'm going have a new favorite reel. Wish I'd gotten one sooner. I agree with DRH on the reel sizes. I got caught up in the "bigger must be better" and have tired wrists from holding onto heavy reels that are bigger than necessary and hold more line than I'll probably ever need.

[quote author=Haywire link=topic=1885.msg17612#msg17612 date=1345516292]
Just got a 560L of my own today and fished with it for the first time. No bites, but I can tell I'm going have a new favorite reel. Wish I'd gotten one sooner. I agree with DRH on the reel sizes. I got caught up in the "bigger must be better" and have tired wrists from holding onto heavy reels that are bigger than necessary and hold more line than I'll probably ever need.
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There is a small piece in the 560L that automatically trips the live liner off when you begin to reel. It can be removed with no ill effect on the reel. (get DRH to show you how if you want to take it out, but be warned--it's a bitch to get back in) . I used it with it and and then I took it out. Used it and then put it back in to test the difference. Took it back out. I much prefer to flip the switch myself. Takes a little getting used to - kinda embarrasing to cast with the liveliner still on because of the racket it makes. When you hook up, let the fish run on live line setting and feather the spool with your thumb and wait for that initial burst to slow down before you flip the switch. Otherwise you can strip the gears in a flat second. If you don't keep a bit of pressure on the spool when he first runs you can get a birds nest when the line comes off too fast. Might take you a couple of fish to get it right but when you do, you'll love it.

Why does everyone on our pier insist on the live liner type reels? I have seen multiple fish drop baits due to the pressure still on the line while "freespooling"..seriously guys is It so hard to open a bail? But whatever floats your boat....

With 300 yards of 20# braid as backing for 130 yards of 16# Momoi, I'd say the 560L probably holds more line than I'll ever need. A big tarpon would be the only thing I'd think would stand a chance of spooling me off the pier. The sad thing is that Penn is discontinuing the 560L along with the rest of the Slammer line up. The new SSV6500LL will be the closest thing to it. I'm not certain that the additional capacity is worth the extra three ounces of weight of the newer version. If anybody is interested in a 560L they had better get one now. You may gamble and wait for clearance prices later but inventory could be low enough that any discount may be small and might not last long. [quote author=Peaches link=topic=1885.msg17615#msg17615 date=1345520856]
Why does everyone on our pier insist on the live liner type reels? I have seen multiple fish drop baits due to the pressure still on the line while "freespooling"..seriously guys is It so hard to open a bail? But whatever floats your boat....
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Tyler, if you want to talk about dropped baits I can safely say I have seen more fish dropping baits because of the line pressure from it being on the roller, whether behind a bail or on a manual, before one so called freespools. If the bait drag is set right there is not enough pressure on the line to alert a fish to drop the bait.

Oohhhh I guess that's kind of like the whole super crazy loose drag..

Yea live liners are great for a set rod or a young kid... I just cannot see a single advantage for mackerel fishing like we do

Hell whatever works for ya....

That's it Tyler. Think of Liveliner, Baitrunner or whatever other trade name they are called as dual drag reels. One uber loose drag for letting the fish eat and a regular drag to fight the fish, with the ability to switch from one to the other at a flip of a switch. The same approach could be used with a regular spinning reel, but constantly changing the drag setting would get old quick. I'd rather spend an extra ten dollars or so up front and live with the risks of a few extra parts to fail for the convenience of a reel with a bait drag.

Many times I have tried to reel mine to disengage the liveliner only to not have it click back up, so when I set the hook, it just backlashes. I only manually flip mine now.