It's interesting to see where this one has gone. I forgot I started it!
FWIW, I bought an -80. initial drag tests brought it to 45# on my cheapo scale. very smooth there, too, but realistically, I'm never gonna go past 25#
on this rig. put it on my 300g Dragonfly jigstick, & loaded the reel w/ OTI
65# colored PE, w/ a 20' 65#f/c leader. ended up getting right @ 300y on the spool.
Took it to Venice. jigged quite a bit, but biggest was a 15# YFT. not much of a test, but pulled really smooth a couple times set @ 17#.
Never got a good YFT on that rig. BUT. A friend of mine went on this trip
w/ a Pts-60 on the 7' OTI popper. Deckhand hooks up on a 70# YFT,
reel is set light, so you get the picture. turns down & stops that sucker!
w/ about 50y of braid left, he short-pumps it boatside in about 20 mins.
on a Cabo PTS-60 w/ 250y 65# pwr pro!
drag was smooth even @ the
last long run. So I bought a PTS-70 for my popping rod & got 275y of 65#
on it & for the record, there's a 10' 60# mono leader w/ an allbright.
practice casts w/ a Tuna Hunter are going about 80-90 yards. I know I could get farther w/ a longer rod. I also think the only way to get the line off faster would be to make some small wind-ons.
-Brian