PENN has been making fishing tackle a long time, since 1932 to be exact. In 1963 PENN came out with its first generation of spinning reels the Greenie series, then PENN added the 2nd generation the Z series of reels. A little later, the 3rd generation, SS series, came along and it was not too long after that PENN introduced the 4th generation: SSm & SSg series, then the 5th generation (V). After that came the 6th generation (VI), I helped with that series myself and very much enjoy using my Spinfisher VI today.
So, after sixty years of great spinning reels PENN is stepping it up again! Yes, you guessed it, the Spinfisher VII (7th) series of spinning reels! I know; why fix something that is not broken, it is more like taking what is good and making it better! PENN has really put together a versatile line of spinning reels. From the Speckled Trout and Redfish catching with the SSVII 2500 size to the SSVII 5500 Cobia catching size, to the 7500 Long cast Big Drum surf fishing, to the White Marlin kicking SSVII 10500, yes that is right a 10500-size reel with a max drag of fifty (50) pounds!
I know what you are thinking, but this series does not seem much different than the VI’s?? And you are correct, well kinda; but a few upgrades have been done. The first upgrade is now the 2500 to 5500 sizes also have CNC Brass main gears, before it was only in the 6500’s or larger sizes. I am a big fan of the 5500 size and use this size a lot for big Red drum, Tarpon and Cobia fishing. This is good news to hear from a fishing guides prospective. Why go to brass gears in the smaller series, stronger and they will stay smoother longer. Another upgrade is the Line clip design on the spool. The new design allows for nearly any size line to hold in it. From super thin braid to larger Fluorocarbon leaders, this design will hold them. Good news here is you will not have to lose those expensive Fluorocarbon leaders now. No more making a loop or cutting the leader off, it will now hold just fine in this new line clip design.
Here are some of the other great key features of the new Spinfisher VI series:
• Full metal body
• Sealed HT-100 Carbon fiber drag washers
• Superline Spool-No backing needed because of the rubber gasket keeps superline (braid) from slipping
• IPX5 Sealed body and Spool
• Six (5+1) Shielded stainless steel bearing system
• Line Capacity Rings
• Bail-Less in sizes 4500 and 6500
• Long Cast in sizes 5500, 6500 and 7500.
• Live Liner Feature available on sizes 2500, 4500, 6500 and 8500.
The PENN Spinfisher VII features IPX5 sealing so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you do not have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. The HT-100 drag washers are housed in a fully sealed spool to give the stopping power needed for big saltwater fish. A Full Metal Body and side plate keep the CNC gear system in precise alignment under heavy loads.
I was honored to be on the test team for these new Spinfisher VII reels and I can truthfully tell you I was impressed with these reels right out of the box. They have a very clean, powerful, and traditional, yet a newer PENN look/design to them. The reels are smooth while turning the handle, but still have the power to crank in big fish! I caught loads of keeper size Speckled trout on the SSVII 2500, large Flounder, Redfish, and Striped Bass on the SSVII 3500 size. The drag system is super smooth even on the highest drag settings. I put some very high drag pressure on the larger Redfish (Bulls) I caught with the SSVII 4500, Cobia, sharks, and Tarpon on the SSVII 5500; with that said the drag kept its setting through the length of the fight and stayed smooth.
If you have enjoyed the Spinfisher series of the past or are ready to purchase a reel that will last a long time; take a good, look at the new Spinfisher VII series. I believe that this reel is going to turn quite a few heads in the fishing world, and you will be happy you have them in your arsenal of fishing tackle. I am especially happy about the CNC brass main gears in the smaller sizes going forward!
The new Spinfisher VII series will be hitting your favorite tackle shops this fall.
Check out PENN’s full line of great Rods, Reels and Accessories at www.PENNreels.com
Thanks for reading and if you have any questions about any PENN products just let me know.
The New PENN Authority Spinning Reel series is the new PENN standard. Focusing on best-in-class smoothness and sealing, these reels will have a size and gear ration for every scenario. Utilizing CNC Gear Technology, the precision-cut stainless steel geartrain paired with the Dura-Drag system, will give you the power to tame anything from within the deep blue. The IPX8 sealed body and spool are top of the line, ensuring that no water or debris will reach the internals, even if submerged. Whether fishing the creeks or in the blue water, the PENN Authority sets a new standard for durability and performance.
-Submersible IPX8 Sealed Body and Spool
-Full Metal Body, Side plate and Rotor
-CNC Gear Technology with Stainless Steel Main and Pinion Gears
-Sealed Slammer Drag system with Dura-Drag
-12+1 Stainless Steel Bearing System
-Leveline Slow Oscillation System
-Spare Hypalon Handle Knob (rubberized EVA)
I was on the design and test team for the new Authority spinning reels. I personally tested 2500, 2500HS, 3500, 4500 and 5500 sizes. These reels are awesome right out of the box, the box that the reel comes in is pretty impressive also every reel comes with a great neoprene cover. The Authority reels have a smoothness I don’t see/feel in many other spinning reels on the market these days. Smooth as in those precision-cut CNC stainless steel gears, they feel great, and they will last longer than other spinning reel gears. Keep in mind that it’s not a cheap to make stainless steel CNC gears, the tooling has to be changed out a lot when cutting stainless steel. This is one of the reasons these reels have a higher price tag. But you’ll feel the difference and see a longer life with these gears because of this process.
Authority reels are IPX8 sealed, and this rating has been tested by a third party to ensure its credibility. So, what is IPX8 sealed mean anyway?? IPX8 rating means that the Authority can be fully submerged deeper than 1 meter without water intrusion. Hey, we all know if you go saltwater fishing, from time to time you are going to get wet and so is your fishing gear; you might even drop it in the water. Or the “friend” you let use it might drop it in the water…
Now one question I have had asked quite a few times about these reels, is it light enough to cast all day; in my opinion the answer is yes. The 2500 comes in at 11.9 ounces, now before you go saying but Capt. Jot that’s not a “super” light reel. And you are correct, but this reel has a ton more technology in it to stay smooth and sealed! This adds weight! Double seals, thirteen bearings, a full metal body and stainless-steel CNC gears adds up.
Twelve models to choose from with four High Speed (HS) models available 2500HS, 4500HS, 6500HS & 8500HS. Retail price range $499.95 to $599.95
SIZE BER RATIO DRAG WEIGHT
ATH2500 2500 13 5.7:1 20lb 9.1kg 11.9 oz
ATH2500HS 2500 13 7.0:1 20lb 9.1kg 11.9 oz
ATH3500 3500 13 5.7:1 30lb 13.6kg 14.3 oz
ATH4500 4500 13 5.7:1 30lb 13.6kg 15 oz
ATH4500HS 4500 13 7.0:1 30lb 13.6kg 15 oz
ATH5500 5500 13 5.2:1 40lb 18.1kg 23.6 oz
ATH6500 6500 13 5.2:1 40lb 18.1kg 25.4 oz
ATH6500HS 6500 13 6.2:1 40lb 18.1kg 25.4 oz
ATH7500 7500 13 4.7:1 50lb 22.6kg 29.7 oz
ATH8500 8500 13 4.7:1 50lb 22.6kg 31.1 oz
ATH8500HS 8500 13 5.3:1 50lb 22.6kg 31.1 oz
ATH10500 10500 13 4.2:1 60lb 27.2kg 37.3 oz
The New Authority reels will be hitting the market this Fall. When you see one in a tackle shop, pick one up turn the handle, see what it feels like to you.
The PENN Slammer III was a great success for PENN Fishing tackle; a strong, sealed and dependable saltwater spinning reel. So how do you make the Slammer series better? PENN has released the Slammer IV and Slammer IV DX (Dealer Exclusive) series of saltwater spinning reels. I was fortunate to have help design and test these new Slammer IV reels. Myself as well as a few other top notch saltwater guides and captains helped with the design and testing of the new Slammer IV series. The Slammer IV and Slammer IV DX reels feature a IPX6 Sealed system which keeps water, salt, sand out of the gear box and drag system. PENN is also using the updated Slammer Drag System which now utilizes PENN’s proprietary Dura-Drag material. (HT-100 in 2500 size) The same Dura-Drag material used in PENN Internationals; “Big Smooth Drag Systems”!
Here are some of the key features of the New Slammer IV spinning reel series:
• Full Metal Body, side plate and rotor
• Reduced Rotor weight
• Hydrophobic bearing in line roller (sheds water away from the roller)
• Reduced minimum drags for better low end
• CNC Gear Technology; smooth out of the box and stays smooth under pressure.
• Stainless steel Gears in the DX series
• IPX6 Sealed body and spool design
• Sealed Slammer Drag system with Dura-Drag
• 8+1 Stainless Steel bearing system, 9+1 for DX series (DX has two bearings in the spool)
• Super Line ready spool
• Line Capacity Rings
• Instant Anti-Reverse
• Slammer IV comes in sizes 2500, 3500, 4500, 5500, 6500, 7500, 8500 & 10500; DX 2500 to 8500
• High speed models in sizes 2500, 4500, 6500 and 8500
• A bail-less model in 5500
• Drag ranges of thirty (20) pounds 2500 size reel and Sixty (60) pounds 10500 size reel (Max drag)
• One of the differences between the Slammer IV and Slammer IV DX; the DX series has CNC Stainless steel main gears. Slammer IV has hardened CNC Brass.
You may notice the larger handles on spinning reels in the market these days. I won’t lie, at first, I was not a fan, but after using reels with bigger handle setups. I found out I really like them. Yes, I was wondering the same thing out of the box; “boy that handle looks odd, how’s it going to feel and fish?” To my surprise it feels and works great. It’s easier on your hands and fingers, makes it easier to hold the rod and not have the reel walk back and forth in your hands. Also, when reeling in fast or working a lure fast it’s easier to keep the speed constant with the easy control of the larger handle. Especially with the high-speed models. All models* of the Slammer IV reels come with the metal gold handle knob and an EVA foam knob as well in the box. You can choose whatever you like to fish with. (*2500 only comes with an EVA knob).
As a guide on the design and test team for the Slammer IV I’ve been very impressed with the lasting smoothness and strength of this series of reels. I’ve had them for just over a year & a half and they are still just as smooth as they were out of the box! On my 2500-test size I’ve caught loads of Flounder and Redfish in the one-to-six-pound range. We also landed a eighty-pound Tarpon and countless Bull Red Drum over forty inches on a 5500-test reel; still smooth! I’ll definitely have the Slammer IV series of reels in my arsenal for this upcoming fishing season. The Slammer IV and DX series are in your favorite Tackle shops Now!
If you have any questions of the PENN Slammer IV series or any other PENN product, please let me know or check out www.pennfishing.com
Thanks for reading and good fishing to you!
Capt. Jot Owens
As a full time fishing guide the spinning reel is my day to day tool of the trade. Now I know there are lots of other important tools of my trade that can make or break my fishing trips, but the spinning reel is definitely at the top of the list most days. What makes a good, great or even the best spinning reel in your opinion? The 200 plus days I see on the water a year gives me a lot of time to think about these kinds of things and trust me lots comes to mind! Here are the kinds of things that are important to me in a spinning reel. Weight, light without sacrificing strength, smooth that stays smooth, dependable day after day of fishing and of course the price point. Thinking of all of those things this is not always the easiest decision or heck even to find that spinning reel on the market today with so many options out there.
I recently got to use a spinning reel that I was quite impressed with, it’s the new PENN Clash II spinning reel. PENN fishing tackle asked me to take a few of these reels for a “spin” to see what I liked or did not like about them. Honestly there was not much I could find I did not like about the Clash II reels I fished. The new PENN Clash II series is made up of six sizes of spinning reels; 1000, 2000, 2500, 3000, 4000 and 5000; also there is two high speed sizes 3000 and 4000. I’ll talk about why high speed spinning reels later in this review. I believe there is a size Clash II for just about any kind of inshore and near shore saltwater fishing scenario.
The PENN Clash II, in my opinion, is probably one of the best inshore reels I’ve every used. Featuring PENN’s proprietary CNC Gear™ Technology and HT-100™ carbon fiber drag system, the Clash™ II can handle any inshore species you hook into. The Hydrophobic ‘say that three times fast’ Line Roller Bearing, along with the Clutch Armor System ensure protection to critical components in all weather conditions without sacrificing weight; while the Leveline® Slow Oscillation System ensures perfect line lay cast after cast.
Here are the features of the new Clash II series:
– Full Metal Body and Sideplate
o Gives a rigid framework to keep gears in alignment under heavy loads.
– CNC Gear™ Technology with a Brass Pinion and Aluminum Main Gear
o Durability, Smoothness, and Precision is what CNCGear™ Technology delivers. By using state of the art software and CNC machinery the drive, pinion, and oscillation gear are cut to exact tolerances using premium metals.
o CNC machinery cuts gears directly out of a solid piece of metal, giving it more precision and resilience than other manufacturing processes that utilize molds to shape gears.
o CNCGear provides precision and therefore exact alignment, which means smooth performance.
– HT-100™ Carbon Fiber Drag System
o Drag is used to help fight or tame fish without breaking off line and without fighting the fish into exhaustion.
o HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads. All HT-100 washers are greased with our proprietary PENN® grease for longevity.
– 8+1 stainless steel bearing system
– Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearing
o On most spinning reels the line roller bearing is a crucial point that can become weak due to saltwater exposure. The Clash II features a specialized line roller bearing with hydrophobic properties which prevents saltwater from penetrating the bearing and causing harm or deterioration.
– Clutch Armor System
o Proprietary system including seals around the rotor and the pinion gear that protect the pinion assembly, including the clutch. This is the most critical area on a reel to protect.
– Leveline® Slow Oscillation System
o The perfect oscillation for an extremely even line lay.
o Even line lay on the spool means less likelihood of wind knots and line twist, resulting in better, smoother casting
– 3000/4000 Standards have a paddle knob and include a power knob in the box.
– 3000/4000 High Speeds have a power knob only.
o
Let’s talk about why a high speed saltwater spinning reel? I was not sold on the idea of a high speed inshore spinning reel when I first was talking to PENN about the new Clash II series. BUT my mind was changed after fishing the high speed spinning reels; 3000 and 4000 sizes. High speed reels give you the ability to cast and retrieve more quickly, allowing for more casts and the ability to keep up with fast-moving fish that have the potential to cause slack in line. I really liked casting the high speed reels for Bonito, False Albacore and Mackerel using casting spoons and jigs, as a guide I can see where this will really help my clients that don’t fish much. This will allow those clients to retrieve lures at the fast speed I need them to present to those “reaction bite” fish like Bonito, mackerel etc. And also think about this, how about casting popping & rattling corks. Cork goes down you know you better get that slack up fast before that fish spits out the lure!!! Trust me the Clash II high speed reels work great for that too.
The PENN Clash II reels will start to hit stores next month around (mid March) and price range for these reels will be $199 to $239 depending on size. All in all I’m very excited to fish these reels on my own while fun fishing as well as my clients using them too. Do yourself a favor and at least pick up a Clash II at your local tackle and feel how good these reels feel. Thanks for reading and good fishing to you.
I’ve been in the fishing industry for over 26 years and I’ve seen a lot of different fishing products hit the market. Some good, some not so good and even a few that were crazy. The question is whether good, bad or crazy do they work? When I heard about Plano Rustrictor; “l thought will it actually work as well as it’s supposed to?” Guess what it does!
Rustrictor begins working the moment the box closes. Once closed the stowaway’s interiors atmosphere changes and is filled with VCI vapor. VCI ions attract to metals creating a wall of protection that is only a few molecules thick and stops rust before it can start. Rustrictor always protects and never leaves a film, residue or odor on the surface of tackle. Gone are the days of a spray-on/in solution that lets fish know something’s amiss. With the protection built right into the Stowaway box, there is no maintenance, no worry about having the dividers in place and more wasted money on rusted and damaged tackle. And the system lasts for years!
I love to know that as a full time saltwater guide my hooks, wire leaders and hard baits are not going to rust in my stowaways. As you know seasons change with that the lures you use change to. Nothing is worse than reaching for a lure you haven’t used in a while and the hooks are covered in rust. And as a guide you can imagine what my clients think about my gear when I hand them a lure with rusty hooks. No worries now; six hours, six days or six months later that lure is rust free!
The Plano Rustrictor Stowaways are available in seven of the best selling models from 3500, 3600 and 3700 sizes, making them perfect for handling and protecting all terminal tackle and hard bait needs. Plano Rustrictor is hitting the market now, check your local tackle shop if they don’t have Rustrictor stowaways tell them to take a look. Rustrictor is going to change the fishing industry when it comes to protecting your valuable terminal tackle and hard baits!
Thanks for reading and good rust free fishing to you!
