The Pen 330 is a fair reel, but very large and awkward for salmon. If I was to go with an entry level reel, I would go with the 320LD (Lever Drag). The 320 is a lot narrower, and a lot lighter. The handle is closer to the rod so you are not twisting the reel around while cranking, I have 4 of them on my boat for my guests who are "single action challenged", and for fishing sockey (So they don't pull hooks out by crakning on a single actin). The lever allows for much finer tuning of drag on the fly, and when the fish is REALLY giving it, it's actually a neat feeling to pop the drag lever down (Not the same as the free spool lever on the 330), and THUMB the spool as the fish takes line. Like palming a fish, but without the busted knuckes, and the ability to retrieve your line quickly. Then, if you are done "thumbing" your fish, you click the lever to the pre-set "fish" position where you can have the line tension pre-set to whatever you like to have it at.
My upkeep costs on the 330's was close to buying a new reel every year, my 320's have lasted 2 seasons with one pawl being replaced.
HOWEVER, if you plan on fishing Halibut, I would stronly suggest something without the level wind, the 2lb balls kills all of the entry level Penn stuff. I would still go star-drag, but no level wind, the little pawls LOVE to jam over to one side and pile the line up when you least expect it.
