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View Full Version : Totally Scientific (not) Shootout: Penn SM 70 - Shakespeare Sigma



GBNeil
21-12-2006, 18:30
Hi folks,

this afternoon, having nothing better to do I thought I'd do a bit of casting practise in the field next door. I've been fishing a long time but recently I thought I'd try and improve my casting, so with the help of BB's little video clip and a few others that I found, John Holden etc, I've been slinging weights around the field and probably corrupting the otg style completely. I have improved my otg style somewhat and in the process have moved my max distance marker (mdm) progressively further. Due to the scientific nature of my experiment I'd better say that the mdm now resides at 158 lns (long Neil strides). I'd better also say that I used the following to attain this:

13' Shimano Hyperloop 4-8oz rod
Penn Surfmaster 70
15lb (.35mm) line of unknown manufacture
15-50lb tapered leader (Ultima Powerflex .35-.65mm)
5oz Bomb (mostly lead, no dynamite)

Now I thought I'll have some fun (and prove to myself once and for all that I do have a life). Instead of the Penn, with it's funky long nose, I'll substitute my trusty, solid but slightly naff Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan (with a Ball Bearing(BB)) - boy that'll be fun:yawn: . For those of you who perhaps have never heard of the Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB, it is a beachcasting reel with a standard spool (so now you know).

Cunning as I am and knowing the value of scientic rigour, I thought I'll use the same arrangment as I did to achieve my mdm with the exception of the Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB.

At this point I'd better mention the following points:

- atmospheric conditions: cold, damp and windless

- In a session I cast about 10-15 between 140-158 lns, of which 2 or 3 casts will be around 155-158 lns
- out of the 15, 2 left 5°, 5 straight, 7 right up to 25° (in a nutshell not v. consistent!).

Apprehensive and shaking with excitement at the thought of the scientific accolades that were bound to be pressed on me, I made my first cast - a real duffer to the right. After deciding to be less apprehensive and shaking less with excitement, my experiment continued, almost, yes, almost like a, well..... normal casting session.

So what happened you are no doubt breathless to find out?

Did the fabulous Penn SM 70 outgun the infamous Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB?

Could the slightly naff standard spool compete with the slightly expensive, de rigeur long nosed jobby?

Well, all will be revealed in this scintillating thread, should anyone be even vaguely interested?

Ian_Montrose
21-12-2006, 19:24
I'm interested! Don't tease us, godammit.

Edgey
21-12-2006, 19:45
Sorry to appear stupid; but the following looks as though you need to get a bit more distance!

In a session I cast about 10-15 between 140-158 lns, of which 2 or 3 casts will be around 155-158 lns
- out of the 15, 2 left 5°, 5 straight, 7 right up to 25° (in a nutshell not v. consistent!).


Assuming their are 12 Ins to the foot, that makes each cast about 3.8 yards long. Won't you get a bit wet trying to reach the third wave?

I have my coat

Bagstar
21-12-2006, 20:25
Like the report so far mate but come on and let us know the outcome.

GBNeil
21-12-2006, 20:32
Assuming their are 12 Ins to the foot, that makes each cast about 3.8 yards long. Won't you get a bit wet trying to reach the third wave?

Edgey mate - you would of course be quite right, were we talking Imperial inches, but what we have here is the measurement units lns, not Ins. The lns being of course the famous 'long Neil Strides', being somewhere around 1 yard! I think I mentioned it somewhere in the text, but I'd have been pretty bored reading it too and probably skipped it.

Anyway, are you gripped with the suspense of the conclusion, cos if not I'm keeping Mum?

Cheers

Issy
21-12-2006, 20:42
Edgey mate - you would of course be quite right, were we talking Imperial inches, but what we have here is the measurement units lns, not Ins. The lns being of course the famous 'long Neil Strides', being somewhere around 1 yard! I think I mentioned it somewhere in the text, but I'd have been pretty bored reading it too and probably skipped it.

Anyway, are you gripped with the suspense of the conclusion, cos if not I'm keeping Mum?

Cheers
You lucky bugga, where in Essex have you got a casting field, been looking for 1 for months, got slung off the footy pitch, Tiptree united said that it was a bit dangerous playing footy with me casting from goal mouth to goal mouth, I did offer to change the 5oz lead for a 4oz but they were unimpressed.

GBNeil
21-12-2006, 20:43
What we need of course is a poll, but seeing as I haven't figured out how to do one (or maybe we ain't got the facility on this board?), I'm just going to have to ask the question:

Did the fabulous Penn SM 70 (long nose) outgun the infamous Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB (std. nose)?

Cos I'm staying stumm until opinions are expressed:)

Issy
21-12-2006, 20:46
What we need of course is a poll, but seeing as I haven't figured out how to do one (or maybe we ain't got the facility on this board?), I'm just going to have to ask the question:

Did the fabulous Penn SM 70 (long nose) outgun the infamous Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB (std. nose)?

Cos I'm staying stumm until opinions are expressed:)
Maybe :blink:

Bagstar
21-12-2006, 20:58
You need to contact a mod to make a poll for you. I would say that the Penn should take the prize but you never know.

GBNeil
21-12-2006, 21:00
You lucky bugga, where in Essex have you got a casting field, been looking for 1 for months, got slung off the footy pitch, Tiptree united said that it was a bit dangerous playing footy with me casting from goal mouth to goal mouth, I did offer to change the 5oz lead for a 4oz but they were unimpressed.

Right outside the front gate Issy. I live in the middle of a field, only sheep around here! So yeah, lucky bugga I am indeed.

As to the Tiptree spoilsports, what do they mean dangerous? Huh, they should have stopped playing and stood in awe and amazement at your casting prowess, perhaps murmuring a few deferential wows and clapping from time to time. Next time just get the team in, they'll soon stop when I start slinging 5oz leads in all 4 directions of the compass!

Issy
21-12-2006, 21:07
Right outside the front gate Issy. I live in the middle of a field, only sheep around here! So yeah, lucky bugga I am indeed.

As to the Tiptree spoilsports, what do they mean dangerous? Huh, they should have stopped playing and stood in awe and amazement at your casting prowess, perhaps murmuring a few deferential wows and clapping from time to time. Next time just get the team in, they'll soon stop when I start slinging 5oz leads in all 4 directions of the compass!
Yeah I agree I thought they had come to watch but then they started yelling at me, miserable gits! Oh and you cast further with the Shaky, my reason for deducing this? Baggy thinks it's the Penn and someone had to disagree with him ! :)

Lobber
27-12-2006, 03:43
I recon there will be buggerall difference.. So come on.. results? (though I have a feeling this is a wind-up) :)

Edgey
27-12-2006, 17:02
Edgey mate - you would of course be quite right, were we talking Imperial inches, but what we have here is the measurement units lns, not Ins. The lns being of course the famous 'long Neil Strides', being somewhere around 1 yard! I think I mentioned it somewhere in the text, but I'd have been pretty bored reading it too and probably skipped it.

Anyway, are you gripped with the suspense of the conclusion, cos if not I'm keeping Mum?

Cheers

I am guilty of failing to read the post properly in the first place, hence my somewhat facile remark.:notworthy :notworthy

Seems that as some others have said, the entire population of Essex should be out watching you in awe.

Keep at it

GBNeil
27-12-2006, 17:36
Sorry about keeping you all in suspense and all! Fact is I'd forgotten about this thread, been fooling around in Tackle Threads and such. So without too much more ado the conclusion is:

Yup - the fabulous Penn SM 70 did outgun the infamous Shakespeare Sigma 2201-080B Whisker Titan with a BB with an average of about 8 lns(yards to the uninitiated)!

As a matter of interest I tried again today, this time with another new reel:

Mitchell Avocet Big Surf 6500. This is a slightly lighter 585 gms, with 2 alu spools as std. I used the long nosed coned jobby, 15lb Daiwa Sensor & tapered leader. Unfortunately I didn't use the same set up, instead:

Shimano Hyperloop 2-4 oz
4 oz bomb

No wind and coldish, I was getting within 6 lns of my best with the heavier setup (4-8 oz rod & 5oz lead) - better than with the Penn, so I reckon the Mitchell casts at least as well as the Penn or I was having a particularly good day!

I prefer the Penn due to better design/engineering/quality, but the Mitchell is excellent and gr8 value for money.

I'm planning to try Powerpro braid shortly, so I'll post any findings.