Product Review: PENN Spinfisher V Spinning Reel Review

So after fifty years of great spinning reels Penn is going to blow your mind again with, yes you guessed it, the Spinfisher V series of spinning reels!  I know; why fix something that’s not broken, it is more like taking what is good and making it great!  Penn has really put together one versatile line of spinning reels with the new Spinfisher V series.  From the Flounder catching SSV3500 size to the Sailfish kicking SSV10500, yes that’s right a 10500 size reel with a max drag of forty pounds!

You asked what makes this line different from the older Spinfisher series?  There are a lot of very good features in this new line and I will lay them all out for you soon, but one that really gets my attention is the water tight design of these reels.  There is a total of six seals (nine on the live liner models) used to create the new Water Tight Design in the Spinfisher V series.  Whether you dunk the reel in the surf or let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting in the gear box or drag system.

Here are some of the other great key features of the new Spinfisher V series:

• Full metal body, sideplate and rotor
• Sealed HT-100 Slammer drag system
• Superline Spool-No backing needed because of the rubber gasket keeps superline (braid) from slipping
• Friction trip ramp prevents premature bail trip when casting
• Heavy-duty aluminum bail wire
• Five (5) Shielded stainless steel bearing system
• Infinite anti-reverse (Back up ratchet on 7500-10500 sizes)
• Line Capacity Rings
• Live Liner Feature available on sizes 4500, 6500 and 8500.

Reel capacities etc:

Model                              Mono Cap                                               Braid Cap                                           

I was very lucky to be on the test team for these new Spinfisher 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 new, Penn look to them.  The reels are smooth while turning the handle, but still have the power to crank in big fish.  The drag system is super smooth even on the highest drag settings.  I put some very high drag pressure on the larger Redfish I caught with the SSV5500 and larger sharks on the SSV6500LL; with that said the drag kept its setting through the length of the fight and stayed smooth!  I caught loads of keeper flounder and Speckled trout on the SSV3500, over fifty Bull Redfish on my SSV5500 and some large Sharks and Cobia on a SSV6500LL (live liner).  And after all that work the reels are still smooth and ready to go another day on the water of hard fishing! 

If you enjoyed the Spinfisher series of the past or you’re ready to purchase a reel that will last a long time; take a good look at the new Spinfisher V series.  I believe that this reel is going to turn quite a few heads in the fishing world and you’ll be happy you have them in your arsenal of fishing tackle.

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.

Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
captainjot@captainjot.com

PENN: Let the Battle Begin!

Posted in Product Reviews on July 18th, 2012

Product Review: Penn Fathom Star Drag Review

It’s really amazing how fishing tackle has come so far in so little time; super small braided line, yet stronger than steel, fish finders that show you clear high-definition photo like image and fishing reels that come in a super small size yet produce huge drag powers.  These are just a few examples of what the fishing industry is coming out with these days and guess what; it’s only going to get better in time.  With that said, now you the angler has got to make the decision on how much you spend and what you get for your money on fishing tackle.  Let me introduce a reel that is a power house in a small and yet affordable package; it’s the Penn Fathom Star Drag series.

Here are some of the great features that the Penn Fathom has to offer:

• Full metal body and sideplates
• Lightweight aluminum spool
• Machine-cut marine grade bronze main gear with hardened stainless steel pinion.
• Live spindle with free floating spool
• Patented Versa-Drag  system with HT-100 washers
• 5+1 Shielded stainless steal bearing system
• Instant anti-reverse bearing with silent back up ratchet
• Line Capacity Rings
• Internally adjustable centrifugal braking system

The revolutionary Live Spindle design is the reason the new Fathom star Drag is the most castable reel in the market place. The improved configuration allows the spool to spin independently of the spindle and pinion gear, which significantly reduces friction experienced from the extreme acceleration of the spool when casting.  Other reels using a “fixed spindle” design slow the rotation of the spool and reduce casting distance.  Additionally the Live Spindle improves the retrieve of the reel because the spindle and pinion do not need to turn relative to each other during heavy loads unlike “fixed spindle” reels that result in a difficult retrieve and erratic drag.

Line Capacity Rings are another new feature of the Fathom Star Drag.  These rings eliminate the question of how much line you have left when casting or fighting a fish.  The three lines on the spool flange let you know when you have 1/3rd, 2/3rd or a full spool of line.  Also if you re-spool often these lines give you benchmarks for backing or topping your super lines with monofilament which will help eliminate wasted time and line.

I was one of a handful to test these reels in the design phase of this reel and I was impressed with the Fathom Star Drag form the beginning.  I looked forward to fishing them every chance I got, they are so smooth and you can cast them a country mile!  I as well as my customers caught some very nice fish on the Fathom Star Drag reels.  We caught a Tarpon on the FTH25N that weighted an est. eighty-five pounds as well as a lot of very nice Bull Redfish over thirty-five inches on the FTH12 reel.  I feel that these reels will be a good fit for the surf fisherman to the offshore jiggers and the live bait boat fishermen too; you can do so much with these reels due to there variety of features and sizes.

Please take a look at all the new fishing products from Penn at www.pennreels.com  If you have any questions about any Penn product please let me know, I’ll be happy to answer them.

Thanks for reading and good luck fishing,

Capt. Jot Owens
Penn Reels Elite Staff
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Posted in Product Reviews on February 13th, 2012

Product Review: Product Review-Penn Legion Rods

Penn has taken inshore light tackle fishing to the next level with their new line of light tackle fishing rods.  Let me introduce the Penn Legion series.  The Legions have everything you need in a light tackle rod and nothing extra that you don’t need to get in your way on a rod.  These rods were designed, tested and still used today by light tackle anglers all over the world.  I was on the test team for these rods and from the first day I fished them, I really liked them!

There are 19 models in the Legion line and I’m sure you can find a rod or two that will match what ever kind of light tackle fishing you enjoy doing.  One thing I look for in rods today is a rod that is built well, balanced in your hands and its feels good to fish with; I look forward to casting my Legions everyday I use them.  I don’t have that feeling in the back of my head thinking, “I wish I had a different rod to use than this one”.  I have owed rods in the past that just did not do it for me, the Legion is far from those rods; it’s a pleasure to cast every time!

Here are some of the features that really make Legions great rods:

• 100% 30 ton Graphite blank for incredible strength
• Fuji Hardloy guides on all models
• Fuji Reel seats on all models
• Carbon scale; a unique twist of strands of carbon fiber that create a beautiful scale pattern on the rods.
• 19 Models with 16 spinning and 3 casting
• A soft yet durable rubber gimbal on the heavier models in casting and spinning.
• Cork handles on the lighter models and EVA on the heavier models
• Spinning models with lengths of 6’6”, 6’9”, 7’, 7’3”,7’6” and 8’  casting models are all 7’
• MSRP: $99.95 to $119.95

One personal story I have with a Penn Legion medium spinning seven foot rod, is a 54 pound cobia that decided to eat my bluefish jig this last June.  I was out on a beautiful afternoon with my wife just cruising outside of Rich’s Inlet NC; very close to Wrightsville Beach, NC.  I saw a school of menhaden and lots of bluefish working the school of menhaden just outside the inlet.  So I casted my jig in to the school of menhaden and something, much bigger than a bluefish picked up my jig.  After a twenty minute fight and a very tough time of gaffing; we got the 54 pound cobia in the boat.  And what do you know it was caught on a Penn Legion medium spinning rod with a Penn Battle 3000 spinning reel!  The Legion did great under the pressure of a 54 pound Cobia and the twenty minute fight and the Penn Battle spinning reels was just as smooth too after the fight!  That is one day I’ll never forget!

Check out the full line of Penn Legion rods at www.pennreels.com or your local tackle shop.  If you have any questions or comments on the Legions or any Penn products please let me know.

Thanks for reading,

Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
captainjot@yahoo.com

Posted in Product Reviews on November 9th, 2011

Product Review: Penn Battle Spinning Reel-Product Review

Penn Fishing tackle has been around for a long time and over the years has brought some of the best rods and reels to the world market.  If you are an avid fishermen, I’m sure you have noticed that Penn had been working hard on some new and exciting products lately!  Let me share one with you that is going to be Penn’s new hot, built well and affordable spinning reel.  I would like to introduce the Penn Battle spinning reel.

The Battle comes in seven sizes to cover almost all fishing scenarios; inshore, near shore and offshore.  As we all know braided fishing line (superline) has gotten very popular over the last few years.  Hey its great stuff, small in diameter and super strong; but its hard on tackle IE: gears and drag systems.  The Battle’s full metal body and side plate keep precise gear alignment under heavy loads.  And with Penn’s legendary HT 100 drag system; not only will this reel have a strong drag system it will last many hard fishing seasons.  All Battles come with braid ready spools, no backing needed for these spinning reels; you can put braid right on the spool with no worry of line slippage.

Cap and Stats:

BTL2000: Mono cap yds/lb: 260/4   210/6   140/8 Braid cap: 260/8   225/10   170/15 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 7 lbs Ratio: 6.2:1 Weight: 9.6oz

BTL3000 Mono cap yds/lb: 250/6   170/8   140/10 Braid cap: 275/10   205/15     170/20 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 10 lbs Ratio: 6.2:1 Weight: 11.6oz

BTL4000 Mono cap yds/lb: 280/8   230/10   170/12 Braid cap: 335/15   275/20   205/30 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 13 lbs Ratio: 6.2:1 Weight: 12.6oz

BTL5000 Mono cap yds/lb: 250/12   220/15   190/17 Braid cap: 405/20   305/30   250/40 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 20 lbs Ratio: 5.6:1 Weight: 20.3

BTL6000 Mono cap yds/lb: 320/15   280/17   220/20 Braid cap: 445/30   365/40   310/50 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 20 lbs Ratio: 5.6:1 Weight: 21.8oz

BTL7000 Mono cap yds/lb: 390/17   310/20   280/25 Braid cap: 505/40   430/50   360/65 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 25 lbs Ratio: 5.3:1 Weight: 27.8oz

BTL8000 Mono cap yds/lb: 390/20   350/25   260/30 Braid cap: 550/50   450/65   390/80 Bearings: 6+1 Max drag: 25 lbs Ratio: 5.3:1 Weight: 29.2oz

Key points to the Penn Battle Spinning Reel:

• Full metal body and sideplate keep precise gear alignment under heavy loads
• Superline Spool™ – No backing needed because of the rubber gasket keeps superline from slipping
• Machined and anodized aluminum spool
• HT-100™ drag washers provide smooth drag under heavy loads
• Stainless steel main shaft
• 6 sealed stainless steel ball bearings
• Infinite anti-reverse
• Techno-balanced™ rotor gives smooth retrieves
• Machined and anodized aluminum handle with soft touch knob

Let me tell you a little experience I had with a Penn Battle 2000 spinning reel.  I was on a Flounder charter trip this summer; we were fishing around Masonboro inlet, NC.  I was watching my client’s fish, baiting hooks and measuring Flounder when all of a sudden one of my customers starts screaming about all the line that was running off her 2000 Battle.  Now you have got to keep in mind we are anchored in twenty-five foot of water in a four knot current running away from the boat.  The “fish” was running hard and I felt it was probably a sting ray but it started to shake its head (rays don’t do this).  So I tightened the drag down and my client held on and reeled hard for over twenty minutes.  Finally a forty-one inch Bull Red Drum pop up; we netted, photo, tagged and released the giant.  After the fight picked up the 2000 Battle we had caught the nice Red on and checked the drag and smoothness of the reel; it was still like it just came out of the box.  Here is a photo of the Bull Red we caught that day.

As a full time fishing guide, outdoor writer, seminar speaker and on the Penn research & development test team; I’ve seen a few spinning reels.  Day in and day out, I fish with spinning reels.  When I look for a spinning reel, I look for the one that has a good price, but also is built well enough to last my through charter clients and tournament fishing.  Over the years of fishing, I’ve found that you get what you pay for in any fishing tackle, but how wants to pay “too much” for tackle (no one)!  You want a spinning reel that will stay smooth and have good smooth/strong drag season after season; right?  If this sounds like the reel you are looking for give the Penn Battle a try.  Check out all the great Penn Products at www.pennreels.com

If you have any questions about the Penn Battle or any Penn product, let me know and I’ll be happy to answer you questions.

Thanks for reading,

Capt. Jot Owens
Penn Reels Elite Staff
Ranger Boats Pro Staff
www.captainjot.com
910-233-4139

Posted in Product Reviews on October 10th, 2011

Product Review: Product Review-EGO S2 Slider Landing Net

As a full time fishing guide I have a lot of tools that I use every day while I’m fishing. One tool most anglers don’t take serious enough as to how important it is; the landing net!  You know the tool that actually gets that fish of a lifetime, the tournament winner or your child’s first fish in the boat; yes that tool!  Your landing net is very important when you think about it, ‘I mean come on’; how would you get a big Speckled trout, Flounder or trophy large mouth Bass with a treble hook hanging out of its mouth in the boat?  I have lost a net before, I have left the net at home and as a guide it’s a bad feeling not having a net!  So if you have got to have a net, and for most light tackle fishing you really need one, why not have the most revolutionary landing net on the market?  Let me introduce the game changer in landing nets; the EGO S2 Slider Landing Net.

The EGO S2 Slider has everything you need in a landing net and a few things you didn’t even know you needed in a landing net that work!  The revolutionary EGO S2 Slider landing net and fishing accessory product system, utilizing the most advanced handle extension technology available, was designed specifically for the freshwater and light inshore saltwater fishing enthusiast. With a simple pull or push of the foam grip, the S2 Slider handle can be easily deployed to net, gaff or release a fish and then be quickly retracted. The innovative modular platform also allows the handle to detach, providing accessory interchangeability and compact storage for anglers with limited boat space.

The game changing aspect of the EGO S2 Slider is all the accessories that you can put on the S2 Slider Handle system.  Just think one tool on the boat that can net fish, gaff fish, release fish and help you dock the boat!  Let me explain all these great accessories.

• S2 Slider Handles: 
-18” Slider Handle Extends to 36”
-29” Slider Handle Extends to 60”
-48” Slider Handle Extends to 108”

All of these handles Float, have a Neoprene foam grip, and lock in 6” intervals.

• S2 Slider Boat Hook:
-Pull/Push arcs fit 1”diameter rails or stanchions.
-Concave surface on hook fingers for better rope control.
• S2 Slider Knife:
-Cut snagged lures free from weeds/small roots.
-Cut weeds away from trolling motor.
-Cut fishing line for quick release of fish.
-Replaceable stainless steal razor blade
(Replacement blades are available from EGO)

• S2 Slider 3” & 4” Gaff Hook
-Angular design reduces hook entry angle
-3/8” #316 Stainless steel hook rod

• S2 Slider Net Attachments:
-Medium-Nylon Mesh
-Medium-PVC Coated Mesh
-Medium-Rubber Mesh (non-tangle)
-Medium-Clear Rubber Mesh (non-tangle)
-Large-Nylon Mesh
-Large-PVC Coated Mesh
-Large-Rubber Mesh (non-tangle)
-Large-Clear Rubber Mesh (non-tangle)
-Large-Deep Rubber Mesh (non-tangle)

There are so many reasons to have this net, but for me it’s the ease of knowing I have a tool on the boat that does so much, it does not take up much room and it floats.  Whether you fish for fun on the weekends or fish 250 or more days a year like me, you’ll love having this tool on your boat because it’s not just a net it’s much more!

Check out all the in and outs of the EGO S2 Slider at www.egos2slider.com

Thanks for reading,

Capt. Jot Owens
www.captainjot.com
captainjot@yahoo.com

Posted in Product Reviews on September 21st, 2011