Plenty of Muscle to take on Big
Game, the reasonably priced Shimano Tyrnos (continued)
Retrieve
& Power(continued):
The diecast aluminum frame of the Tyrnos sports supportive crossbars and held up
nicely under the extreme high pressure of battling the powerful tuna. We didn’t
notice any flexing and are very pleased with the aluminum frame and graphite
sideplate design.
Oversized
handle shank and knob provides comfort and power when reeling in big game fish
When power
is needed, the Tyrnos is engineered for success. Aside from the afore mentioned,
this big game reel also employs an alternating twin pawl anti-reverse system. In
this design we found that it provided a solid hookset and minimized the amount
of backplay on the spool. Even when fish hit or decided to run once reaching the
sub-surface, the pawl did its job without flaws each and every time.
The gears are housed inside the
graphite sideplate. Also notice the alternating twin pawl anti-reverse
Drag:
Coupled with a powerful alternating twin pawl anti-reverse system, the Shimano
Tyrnos uses a drag lever similar to other reels but also incorporates a
ratcheting system to prevent the lever from unintentionally sliding while the
boat is bouncing up and down. The drag has a range from Free to Strike to Full,
and any pressure in between. It is very important that you pre-set the strike
pressure ahead of your trips and do not mess with the drag on the water unless
absolutely necessary.
The drag
washers are completely sealed
In our lab
we tested the drag for its performance at maximum pressure and over 10 runs it
produced about 36 pounds of force (specified rating-33 pounds). On the water we
set the drag to 10 pounds and throughout the day the Albacore that we caught
really showed us how the drag performed. At initial strike the drag is
consistent and smooth. Each time the tuna hit, the rod bent over and line
immediately began to peel off from the spool. In the past, with some cheaper
reels, we’ve noticed the rod bouncing up and down due to a sticky drag, but with
the Tyrnos none of that was experienced. The drag washers on this Shimano reel
are completely sealed to protect any saltwater and other grit from entering,
keeping the drag washers as clean and smooth as possible.
Lever drag is
easy to operate and Shimano designed this one so it won't slip as the boat is
under way
Ergonomics:
Most big game reels are solid and heavy, but that’s not the case with the Tyrnos
thanks, in part, to its graphite sideplates. This feature, plus the diecast
allows the reel to be lighter than comparable models yet still maintain the
necessary structural support to perform under heavy loads from big fish. The
Tyrnos weighs in at 38.1 ounces compared to Penn’s Graphite Series (sporting a
graphite frame) that weighs 39 ounces, and Daiwa’s Sealine Saltwater Reels that
comes in at over 40 ounces. Aside from its lighter weight, this conventional
reel uses a huge power handle and knob that’s not only comfortable to grasp when
cranking, but will not slip even when your hands are slimy and wet from a day’s
catch.
Battling this 27 pound Albacore
tuna far offshore with the Tyrnos was effortless
Durability/Maintenance:
Though the Tyrnos isn’t Shimano’s top of the line conventional reel, this reel
is quite durable in design. The diecast frame, graphite sideplates, and various
components like the A-RB all add to its longevity.
Taking apart
and doing maintenance on the Shimano Tyrnos is something everyone can do
themselves
When it
comes to maintenance the Tyrnos is quite simple to take apart and clean. The
reel comes with a tool that is needed to remove the handle and then it’s all
screws. We recommend removing the components and cleaning thoroughly at least
once a season or more, depending on usage.