Say you want to buy a fishing reel. You hear that there are loads of reels to choose from: conventional reels, spinning reels, offshore spinning reels, and baitcasting reels. Well you know that what you want is an all-around fishing reel. So that narrows down your options. Then there's the problem of what brand to get. You hear (from the same reliable source) that you should get a Shimano reel since it has a great tradition of quality and superb performance reels. Maybe you should get the Shimano Tyrnos. Your very reliable source has that Shimano reel and he has been raving about it. You decide you'd better check your options and ask around a little more.

If you read fishing reviews, you'll come across the names Penn and Shimano. These two are leading manufacturers of fishing gear.

oThe Shimano Tyrnos is one of the saltwater fishing reel heavyweights. It has a solid one-piece die-cast aluminum frame with graphite sideplates that have aluminum braces. The one-piece frame makes for precise alignment while the graphite body lends the Tyrnos its light weight. It has been described as one of the lightest and nimblest reels around. The Penn Graphite Lever Drag (GLD) has a lightweight graphite frame. It has also been praised for its lightness.

oAlthough both reels are lever drag reels, they have distinctive features about their drag system that sets them apart. The Penn GLD has an extensive 1200 drag quadrant. The Shimano Tyrnos, on the other hand, has several innovative additions to its drag system. It has a pre-programmable lever drag with an almost unlimited range. The drag lever is also easy to use. With just push of a button, you can go from strike drag to full drag or any pressure in between the two.

oBoth the Shimano Tyrnos and Penn GLD have 4 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings and machine cut gears. In this aspect, the Tyrnos proves superior to the GLD. Its ball bearings are anti-rust and have more than 10 times added protection against corrosion than other reels in the market.

oThese two reels also have aluminum spools to hold the line in place.

oTwo-speed models are available from the Shimano Tyrnos and Penn GLD series. The GLD has a push button shift system. The Tyrnos boasts of a Quick Push Button Two-Speed Gear shift with separate gears so that you won't need to worry that your gears will be enmeshed.

The Shimano Tyrnos has even more features that make it a superior choice among the conventional reels available. It sports either a Topless Design for the lighter models or a Reduced Profile Top Crossbar for the heavier ones. The reduced profile top crossbar lets you control the line while dropping baits or lures when trolling. Oversized gears give you greater cranking power for bigger and heavier fish. Another unique feature of the Shimano Tyrnos is its Alternating Twin Pawl Anti-Reverse System. This anti-reverse allows you to hook the fish with as little backplay as possible. An ergonomic Power Handle lets you hold onto the reel comfortably and acts alongside the oversized Shank Handle to increase torque. Need I say more? The Shimano Tyrnos is truly a heavyweight in its category.

Prep yourself up for the best in fishing gear. To check out other fishing gear heavyweights, go to Sea Isle Tackle.