Torsa versus Trinidad

hawgs · 05-22-2007, 09:32 PM

Looking at picking up a smaller reel to do bottom fishing/jigging with. I am a bit torn between the Torsa 30's and the Trinidad 30's. Is there much difference between the two other than the price and the ability to change drags?

If you've fished with both... I'd certainly like to hear your opinion. Thanks.

Drifter · 05-22-2007, 10:45 PM

I purchased the Trinidad 30 for bottom fishing and after my first offshore trip with it, I bought a Trinidad 50. The Trini 30 has around 17 lbs of drag - just not enough for bottom fishing IMO.

Mechanically it's solid and looks great but needs more drag. I'm getting ready to send it to Charkbait for an upgrade that increases drag to around 30 lbs - it will be a good reel then.

If your looking for large grouper and Amberjacks, I'd go with a two speed reel. The low gear really helps when fighting a big fish. I use an Avet Pro 30W and it's great! JMO

gman · 05-22-2007, 11:35 PM

They are hard to compare in my estimation but I will try.

The Torsa 30 is a beast with the ability to change the total drag from light to up to 39lbs maxed out. Its multi dimensional as you can use it to fish almost anything. I caught some big groupers on mine with no problems along wih several large tuna.

Torsa Key points ...It is only a single speed though, an expensive one at that, but it also has the bling factor with the mix of silver and gold and has decent capacity 320+ PE8. In addition it is a lever drag which I prefer

The trinidad 30 was a great reel as well, compact, lightweight but minimal drag without upgrades. The reason why I didnt love the trinidad is it was a star drag and compared to the torsa it had less line capacity.

My honest opinion is to go with a trinidad for bottom fishing or if you want something better try a accurate 665 2 speed which holds as much or more line but is a two speed and $100 dollars cheaper.

hawgs · 05-23-2007, 08:35 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not really looking to upgrade the drag on a new reel I purchase... so I guess unless I go with a Trinidad 40 or 50, the drag might not be enough for bottom fishing. Right?

After more research, it looks like the Torsa 20 might be just as good of an option for me as a Torsa 30.

Skipjack · 05-23-2007, 09:05 AM

The Torsa 20 is a better sized reel and can get the job done if tuned correctly and you know what you are doing with it. Torsa 30 is a little too big for me.

I personally like star drag reels. I know how to fix them when they break. I haven't opened up a lever drag yet. The only problem I have with lever drags is the loss of free-spool on heavier drag.

You should go out to Roy's bait and Tackle or Cut-Rate and test out the reels you are talking about. Each has a different feel. You might be more comfortable with one or the other.

LT1 · 05-23-2007, 09:20 AM

I would suggest going with the Accurate 2 speed. Best bang for the buck. If you really want a single speed reel, look at the Daiwa Saltiga. Lightweight, big drags and not as many plastic parts. For a bit heavier reel, Penn Torque is a good choice.

LT

mcgolfer · 05-23-2007, 10:05 AM

if you have to have a shimano then the torsa is your only choice as a stock reel. you will have to change out the drag cam and go with the bfs cam if you want to use it to grouper fish. i have the 20 and 30 torsa's and the 30 is more appropiate for bottom fishing and the 20 seems to work better for jigging all day. as others have stated the accurate 665 2speed or even the 870 2 speed would be my choice over the shimano. less money and better made american product. if you are set on a torsa pm me and i will make you a good deal on a torsa 30.....rick

gman · 05-23-2007, 10:13 AM

i am a long time all shimano user. I owned the Tiagras, the TLD's, trinidads and the torsas. With that said, please understand this when you buy a torsa for $699 it comes witha single drag cam, each additional one is $50 bucks. Its a big investment for bottom fishing.

I have since changed over to Accurate products becuase i feel I get more for the money. The 665 2 speed has a the same high gear as the torsa but a 2:1 low gear which is great especially near the end game and i got it for $579 which is $100 less and no more drag cams to buy, its also smaller. The accurate 870 2 speed is even smaller with almost the same drag but with less capacity for less money

Dont get me wrong I loved my torsa but reels change over time with technology.

hawgs · 05-23-2007, 01:19 PM

I decided on a couple two speed Avet LX's on Seeker rods. I had my mind set on a Torsa with a Chaos rod, but hopefully I'll like these combos.

JackStraw · 05-23-2007, 06:19 PM

hawgs,

You will love that combo! So many good products out there it's hard to go wrong. Good luck.

05-22-2007, 09:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
hawgs Junior member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri City, Texas Posts: 21	Torsa versus Trinidad Looking at picking up a smaller reel to do bottom fishing/jigging with. I am a bit torn between the Torsa 30's and the Trinidad 30's. Is there much difference between the two other than the price and the ability to change drags? If you've fished with both... I'd certainly like to hear your opinion. Thanks.

05-22-2007, 11:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 976	I had both They are hard to compare in my estimation but I will try. The Torsa 30 is a beast with the ability to change the total drag from light to up to 39lbs maxed out. Its multi dimensional as you can use it to fish almost anything. I caught some big groupers on mine with no problems along wih several large tuna. Torsa Key points ...It is only a single speed though, an expensive one at that, but it also has the bling factor with the mix of silver and gold and has decent capacity 320+ PE8. In addition it is a lever drag which I prefer The trinidad 30 was a great reel as well, compact, lightweight but minimal drag without upgrades. The reason why I didnt love the trinidad is it was a star drag and compared to the torsa it had less line capacity. My honest opinion is to go with a trinidad for bottom fishing or if you want something better try a accurate 665 2 speed which holds as much or more line but is a two speed and $100 dollars cheaper.

05-23-2007, 10:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
mcgolfer Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: antlers oklahoma Posts: 383	if you have to have a shimano then the torsa is your only choice as a stock reel. you will have to change out the drag cam and go with the bfs cam if you want to use it to grouper fish. i have the 20 and 30 torsa's and the 30 is more appropiate for bottom fishing and the 20 seems to work better for jigging all day. as others have stated the accurate 665 2speed or even the 870 2 speed would be my choice over the shimano. less money and better made american product. if you are set on a torsa pm me and i will make you a good deal on a torsa 30.....rick __________________ there is no limit on tackle

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05-22-2007, 10:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Drifter Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 91	I purchased the Trinidad 30 for bottom fishing and after my first offshore trip with it, I bought a Trinidad 50. The Trini 30 has around 17 lbs of drag - just not enough for bottom fishing IMO. Mechanically it's solid and looks great but needs more drag. I'm getting ready to send it to Charkbait for an upgrade that increases drag to around 30 lbs - it will be a good reel then. If your looking for large grouper and Amberjacks, I'd go with a two speed reel. The low gear really helps when fighting a big fish. I use an Avet Pro 30W and it's great! JMO

05-23-2007, 08:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
hawgs Junior member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri City, Texas Posts: 21	Thanks for the suggestions. I'm not really looking to upgrade the drag on a new reel I purchase... so I guess unless I go with a Trinidad 40 or 50, the drag might not be enough for bottom fishing. Right? After more research, it looks like the Torsa 20 might be just as good of an option for me as a Torsa 30.

05-23-2007, 09:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Skipjack Junior member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Antonio Posts: 14	The Torsa 20 is a better sized reel and can get the job done if tuned correctly and you know what you are doing with it. Torsa 30 is a little too big for me. I personally like star drag reels. I know how to fix them when they break. I haven't opened up a lever drag yet. The only problem I have with lever drags is the loss of free-spool on heavier drag. You should go out to Roy's bait and Tackle or Cut-Rate and test out the reels you are talking about. Each has a different feel. You might be more comfortable with one or the other.

05-23-2007, 09:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
LT1 Junior member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 11	I would suggest going with the Accurate 2 speed. Best bang for the buck. If you really want a single speed reel, look at the Daiwa Saltiga. Lightweight, big drags and not as many plastic parts. For a bit heavier reel, Penn Torque is a good choice. LT

05-23-2007, 10:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
gman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 976	i am a long time all shimano user. I owned the Tiagras, the TLD's, trinidads and the torsas. With that said, please understand this when you buy a torsa for $699 it comes witha single drag cam, each additional one is $50 bucks. Its a big investment for bottom fishing. I have since changed over to Accurate products becuase i feel I get more for the money. The 665 2 speed has a the same high gear as the torsa but a 2:1 low gear which is great especially near the end game and i got it for $579 which is $100 less and no more drag cams to buy, its also smaller. The accurate 870 2 speed is even smaller with almost the same drag but with less capacity for less money Dont get me wrong I loved my torsa but reels change over time with technology.

05-23-2007, 01:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
hawgs Junior member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Missouri City, Texas Posts: 21	I decided on a couple two speed Avet LX's on Seeker rods. I had my mind set on a Torsa with a Chaos rod, but hopefully I'll like these combos.

05-23-2007, 06:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
JackStraw Junior member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	hawgs, You will love that combo! So many good products out there it's hard to go wrong. Good luck.

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