When you are after proper sized fish from the boat, the Shimano TLD II A 50lb 2-Speed is the kind of reel you want bolted to your rod. It is built for trolling, bottom fishing over wrecks and reefs, and any heavy boat work where line capacity and drag strength matter far more than casting.
The TLD name has been around on charter boats for a long time, and this two-speed 50 sits at the powerful end of the range. If you are booking your first wreck trip and want a reel you can trust with a big fish, it is a very safe bet.
The frame is graphite composite rather than solid metal, which keeps the weight down on a reel this size and means it will not corrode when it lives on a boat.
Inside, the gears are stainless steel and the spool is aluminium, so it has that reassuring, solid feel when you turn the handle.
Shimano fit four A-RB bearings and a roller bearing. That might not sound like many, but A-RB bearings are treated to resist salt water, and on a boat reel that is worth far more than a big bearing count.
This is not a casting reel and it does not pretend to be. What earns its place is the two-speed gearing, with a 3.5:1 high gear and a 1.4:1 low gear, switched with a button on the handle.
The high gear gets line back quickly when you are dropping down to the wreck or winding up to check a bait.
The low gear is where it really comes into its own: when you are connected to something big and it is holding hard to the bottom, dropping into low gear lets you wind it up steadily rather than pumping and hoping.
With 700 yards of 50lb mono on the spool, there is always line in reserve.
The lever drag is the best thing about this reel. Rather than a star you twist, you push a lever forward to add pressure and back to ease it off, with a marked strike position so you can set it the same way every drop.
With up to 16.7kg of drag, there is enough to stop a big conger or ling heading back into the wreck, and because the lever feeds pressure on gradually you can play a fish with real control rather than in steps.
In short, two-speed gearing, a strong lever drag and a build that stands up to salt water are exactly what you want in a reel for targeting big fish from boats.
At around two hundred pounds it costs more than an entry-level star drag multiplier, but for anyone who fishes wrecks and reefs regularly it is heavy duty engineering at a fair price, and the sort of reel that will do season after season.
| Feature | What this means |
|---|---|
| 50lb 2-speed lever-drag multiplier | The reel is built for heavy boat fishing rather than lure casting. |
| 3.5:1 listed gear ratio | Retrieve speed is geared for power and control with larger fish. |
| 16.7kg maximum drag | High drag pressure helps manage powerful saltwater species. |
| 50lb/700yd mono capacity | Large line capacity suits trolling and deeper boat work. |
| Graphite composite frame | The frame keeps weight lower while helping resist corrosion. |
| Aluminium spool | The spool gives strength for heavy line loads. |
| Four A-RB bearings plus roller bearing | Bearing protection is useful where saltwater exposure is expected. |
| Right-hand wind | Handle position should be checked before buying if reel hand matters. |
See how the Shimano TLD II A Reel 50lb 2-Speed Right Hand compares with other multiplier & baitcasters on overall score and current price.
| Name | Price | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Shimano TLD II A Reel 50lb 2-Speed Right Hand | £199.99 | |
| Shimano Tyrnos | £220.00 | |
| Daiwa 20 BG MQ Reel | £168.38 | |
| Penn Slammer Iv Reel | £174.99 | |
| Penn Fathom II | £159.99 | |
| Penn Battle IV Spin Reel | £103.49 | |
| Penn Mag 4 Multiplier Reel | £129.99 | |
| Penn Rival Level Wind Multiplier Reel | £79.99 | |
| Wychwood Agitator S1 Baitcasting Reel | £49.99 |
Tracked shop prices over time.
It is intended for heavy saltwater boat fishing such as trolling and bottom fishing over wrecks and reefs, where line capacity and drag strength matter most.
Yes. This is the 50lb 2-speed right-hand TLD II A, with a 3.5:1 high gear for picking up line and a 1.4:1 low gear for lifting big fish.
Shimano list the TLD50IIA with 50lb/700yd nylon mono capacity.
Shimano TR G 200 Reel Right Hand 
Shimano Tranx A 401 Reel Left Hand 
Shimano TLD 15 Multiplier 
Shimano Tyrnos 
