■ I remember my first rod. I wrapped a white 13-foot Fenwick 16810 with triple-coil Hilo guides, a clamp-style reel seat and a stainless butt cap. My first conventional reel was a Penn 113HLW, also known as the extended 4/0. At that time, I didn’t know the difference between a 4/0, 6/0, or 9/0, nor did I know the difference between a Penn, Newell, or Shimano reel. I fished with Penn extended 4/0s for years, then added a few 6/0s to my arsenal. A few years ago, I crossed over to what I consider the “dark side” and purchased a Newell model 641. It is similar to the popular 646, with the same drag power and high-speed gearing; however, it is slightly more narrow.
I was one of those fishermen…
