Sometimes a single word can characterize you. Since 1932, Penn has been committed to fishing. The founder of Otto Hence dreamed of forming the best fishing company in Philadelphia, the large city in the United States. And he succeeded!
Today Penn International is successfully continuing its journey in the direction it has indicated, producing certain gear for certain anglers. Penn offers the world’s largest line of reels, rods, and equipment. The company produces more than 280 items and the range is constantly updated.
Each item is designed to help anglers enjoy every moment while fishing. The assortment of the company will satisfy everyone – a naive young man who has hooked his first fish and a seasoned veteran.
The company has been operating in the global fishing market for 70 years and occupies one of the leading places. Penn’s gear is being tested by three-time world champion Neil McEllow. Thanks to his advice, the company produces the world’s best reels and rods, with which hundreds of competitions have been won.
Top 7 Best Penn Fishing Reels – Editor’s Choice
Now let’s look at the 7 best reels from Penn that are available now!
1# Penn Battle II Spinning Reel – Best Choice Overall – Amazon’s Choice
These all-metal reels perfectly combine stylish design and excellent technical performance. The metal reel body guarantees durability and long service life. This allows you to firmly fix the details of the mechanism inside the reel and to avoid loosening and backlash during its operation. Suitable for use with braided cords. Reinforced braking system. The size of the bow of the line has increased, which is why it has become not only stronger but also more convenient to use.
The reel has six stainless steel bearings and a steel spool. There is no need to even talk about anti-reverse – it is currently installed on all Penn reels. Equipped with brand carbon fiber discs HT-100. HT-100 discs have been used by the company for many years, providing durability, soft work, and the necessary braking force of the axial brake. Even under heavy loads, no matter what kind of fish you catch in fresh or seawater, the Penn Battle II reel will last you for many years.
2# Penn Squall LevelWind – Best Trolling Reel Amazon’s Choice
Penn Squall Lever Wind trolling reel is an ultra-modern fishing reel. This model of the reel is equipped with a lever-type brake, the body is made of lightweight but very durable material – graphite. The Dura-Drag drag system allows for smooth braking. The forged spool made of aluminum has indicators of the remaining fishing line and with its help provides instant anti-reverse. The Squall Level Wind reel has movable mounts, thanks to which it is attached to the rod.
The precision gears of this model are made of the highest quality stainless steel. The remaining gears are made of manganese-bronze alloy. With all of these components, the Penn Squall LevelWind reel is designed to take pleasure in fishing. Penn Squall Level Wind trolling reel behaves perfectly in all situations. When fishing with this device, it may seem to you that this reel has artificial intelligence aimed at helping you in any fishing situation.
3# Penn Slammer III Spinning Reel – Best Value For Money Reel
In addition to enviable power, Penn demonstrates impeccable build quality. Precise fitting of assembly parts provides ideal protection of the mechanism from dust and dirt, creating conditions for successful and long-term operation. The use of the strongest materials and outstanding technical solutions allows the owner of the Penn Slammer reel to use its capabilities for many years. Located under the spool, the HT100 drag disc protects Slammer’s drag performance. The long life of the disk can be doubled if after wear and prolonged use, turn it over the other side.
Penn Slammer Spinning Reel has 5 corrosion-resistant ball bearings and one roller bearing. The largest model of 760 has 6 ball bearings. The gears of the reel were made under pressure. After this operation, the wear resistance of the metal gears increased significantly. The reel is great for braided fishing lines, forged aluminum spool with anodized coating. The robust ergonomic handle made of durable metal is designed for serious loads. Such a case of durable and light alloy, which has a Penn Slammer reel, have only American Penn reels. The great reel is available in 6 sizes.
4# Penn Fierce Spinning Fishing Reel – Best Budget Reel
The Fierce series of spinning reels have been designed to meet the needs of anglers of all levels. The range includes eight models with a gear ratio from 5.2:1 to 6.2:1. To increase their strength, aluminum is used to manufacture the body and rotor. Thus, the reels can withstand heavy loads, but remaining relatively light. To reduce vibration during operation and achieve a smoother rotation, Techno-Balanced technology was used to design the rotor. Fierce has 5 bearings (4 balls and 1 roller) to ensure the best performance of the entire mechanism. Perforated aluminum spool, with inner ring notches for determining the level of winding fishing line. The front drag has a protective gasket that prevents water and dirt from entering the drag discs.
Depending on the model, maximum drag loads are between 6.6 and 24 pounds. If there is a need, the folding handle can be quickly reinstalled on the opposite side. The reel is equipped with an explosion circuit, where all the details used in it are indicated.
5# Penn Fathom Lever Drag Trolling Fishing Reel – Runner-Up
The multifunctional Penn Fathom Level Drag Reel is designed for trolling fishing. This type of reel is equipped with a stainless steel slot. Thanks to this, even the largest fish will not break. Many fishermen give their preference to this particular type of reel. The side plates and bodies are all metal, which ensures structural strength. Professionals who used the Penn Fathom reel note its high functional capabilities, and most importantly reliability and durability.
These parameters are key factors when choosing professional fishing equipment. Penn Fathom FTH20LW Level Wind Reel trolling reel is perfect for extreme fishing. With the help of such a reel, it is very easy and convenient to catch fish and get it from great depths without much effort. The gear mechanism is made of stainless steel, resistant to corrosion. 3+1 sealed bearings are ideal for saltwater fishing. Penn Fathom is relatively lightweight and very easy to use, which is a key factor in extreme fishing. The reel is perfect for real professionals and just lovers of sea fishing.
6# Penn Squall Level Drag Trolling Fishing Reel
The Squall Level Drag trolling reel is very popular among catfish and sea fishing enthusiasts. This reel combines all the innovative engineering solutions, unique in their characteristics and practically invulnerable. The Level Drag reel is equipped with a lever-type drag, the reel body is made of light and very strong graphite. The spool is made of a single piece of aluminum, has indicators of the remaining fishing line in the form of strips, which allows you to determine the amount of cord remaining on the spool and take advantage of instant anti-reverse. The powerful Dura-Drag mechanism allows for smooth braking. The gears of the reel with a high-speed gear ratio are made of stainless steel, the gears of the main gear of manganese-bronze alloy provide a smooth ride, noiselessness, and reliability in any difficult situation. The reel has 6 bearings, also made of stainless steel.
7# Penn General Purpose Level Wind
During the time that has passed since the launch of the series in production, before it came to its present perfect appearance, it was repeatedly modernized and improved. Now this multi-purpose reel, after the latest modifications, is very popular with fishermen involved in trolling and bottom fishing. The series is distinguished by side plates made of light graphite composite. Indestructible gears, balanced handle, spool eyelet made of hardened stainless steel.
Thanks to the level wind system, the winding does not go astray and under heavy loads, the reel retrieves the fishing line smoothly and efficiently. Penn HT-100 multi-drive drag system is patented, runs smoothly, has a great adjustment, and is incredibly reliable. The knobs on the handles are made of durable plastic material, the feature of which is to prevent fingers from sliding on the surface. Penn Level Wind reel is easy to use. Thanks to the carbon fiber sleeve, there is no need for systematic lubrication. To strengthen the side covers, they are reinforced with double metal contours. To withstand aggressive saltwater, all metal parts of the reel are coated with chrome.
FAQ About Penn Fishing Reels
The section addresses the most frequently asked questions about Penn reels. If you are interested in something, but you have not found the answer to this question here – ask it in the comments and our experts will immediately answer your question!
In Conclusion
The Penn company makes excellent reels, possibly better in the budget segment. If you have never heard of this company, I recommend you take a closer look at it. Penn reels have a very low price but offer excellent quality, product durability, and reliable and consistent use without difficulty. That’s what the fishermen love them for. Have good fishing!
Additional helpful information about Penn Fishing Company
A Rich Past & Present & Future
Since Otto Henze founded the PENN Fishing Tackle Company in 1932, we’ve been at the forefront of modern reel design and production. We pride ourselves on the fact that millions of experienced anglers around the world put their faith in PENN products every day. That’s what inspires us to continue our founder’s dream of manufacturing the world’s highest quality fishing tackle.
Contact Penn Fishing
Have a question? Need a product? Want a problem solved? We’re here to help. In fact, we’re a lot of places. You can contact us via phone or email at the location listed below. Hope to hear from you soon!
PENN Customer Service
7 Science Ct, Columbia, SC 29203, Phone: (800) 892-5444
Please ship all return/warranty merchandise to: PENN Customer Service, 1900 18th Street, Spirit Lake, IA 51360
Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00am to 6:00pm EST
Tags: #penn saltwater spinning reels review / #penn baitcast reels review / #penn saltwater reels review / #penn senator reels review / #best penn reel for surf fishing / #best penn spinning reel for surf fishing
I live in Tenerife (Canary Islands) for the last 10+ years and share my daily fishing experiences on my website. Many years of personal experience as a fisherman and the vast experience of my friends allow me to write professionally on any fishing topics (from choosing a flashlight and equipment to deep-sea fishing).
All of my advice is based on practical real-world experience and will be useful to both novice anglers and professionals. Read more about the author.
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I recently purchased the Battle 3 DX spinning reel mainly because I was attracted to its color and wanted to test out the smoothness of Penn’s new generation. I found that Battle 2 couldn’t compare to the BG, but the Battle 3 is definitely a step up in terms of smoothness. However, it still doesn’t quite beat the BG, which has a proven track record for smoothness.
The Battle 3 DX version, which I went with, boasts brass gears in every size compared to the normal Battle 3 and features a unique color scheme. I personally prefer the look of the Battle 3 DX with a blue braid over the BG, but when it comes down to it, the BG is a reliable and smooth option as well. Ultimately, I think it’s hard to go wrong with either reel.
I personally own several Penn Battle II reels of various sizes for my saltwater fishing needs, and overall I find them to be quite nice. They do have a bit of weight to them, but they are generally well-built and durable.
While they may not be the smoothest reels on the market or the most well-sealed, I appreciate that they are easy for me to work on myself and that there is a wide network of shops where I can purchase replacement parts. I’ve actually had to use this service a few times, and I’ve found that just about every part is available and reasonably priced.
Because of this, I keep returning to the Penn Battle II reels, despite the temptation to spend more money on a reel with brass gears. It’s hard to justify the additional expense when I already have great reels that I know I can easily repair and maintain.
One of my friends owns a Penn spinning reel that cost around $150, and he seems to like it. However, I think it’s important to remember that any reel exposed to saltwater should be rinsed with fresh water afterward.
I’ve heard from my friend, who happens to be a Shimano representative, that serious jetty fishermen wearing wetsuits tend to prefer either Van Stahl or Stella reels. According to him, these reels are sealed well enough to withstand submersion in the surf.
I’ve also read that Okuma reels are sealed and popular worldwide, but I personally haven’t had much luck with them. Despite their lower price point, the Okumas I’ve owned have tended to last only a year or so.
In my experience, Penn is a good brand, but one of its biggest issues is line laying. Some of their models tend to have trouble with uneven line lay, which can lead to tangles on subsequent casts. However, this issue is less common in the more expensive models. It may not be a problem if you’re only casting short distances, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind.
When it comes to conventional reels, Penn has a long history of reliability, but it really depends on the specific model you’re looking at.
As for the BG, I highly recommend it. It’s one of the best and most reliable spinning reels on the market, and the price is unbelievably low compared to other manufacturers. It’s definitely worth considering if you’re looking for a high-quality reel at an affordable price.
I recently bought two Penn combos a few weeks ago: a Wrath 4000 combo with a 7′ medium rod, and a Battle 3 LE 3000 combo with a 7′ medium-light rod. I’ve been using them almost every day to fish in the saltwater canal behind my house, and I even took the Wrath combo to fish off the beach.
So far, I’m really impressed with both combos. They feel very durable and well-made, and I expect them to last a long time. Interestingly enough, the cheaper Wrath combo ($59) actually feels a bit smoother than the more expensive Battle 3 LE combo ($169). But overall, I’m happy with both setups for their respective price points.
I also have a couple of other really cheap brand combos that are many years old and still work well, but I think these Penn combos are definitely a step up in terms of quality and performance.
Penn reels have a legendary status that was built on some seriously tough reels. However, these days, it’s important to keep in mind that you get what you pay for. The lower-tier reels are pretty much like every other lower-tier reel out there – they’re prone to going belly up in saltwater unless you completely rebuild and clean them. On the other hand, the upper-tier reels are really good and definitely worth the price you pay.
Of course, they’re not quite on the same level as a VanStaal when it comes to keeping out saltwater, but for the average angler, they’re more than adequate. Overall, I think Penn is still a solid choice for those looking for a reliable and durable reel, but it’s important to be mindful of the price point and the quality tier you’re buying into.
I used to primarily use Penn reels for my fishing, but now I only buy Shimano reels. In my experience, they last longer and feel smoother.
I have to admit that I am not the best at taking care of my gear, which is why I prefer not to buy high-end reels.
It would be frustrating for me to damage a $500 reel with boat rash or other wear and tear. Instead, I prefer to stick to reels in the $70-$100 range, and if they last me 3-5 years, I am satisfied with that.
As a former Penn reel user, I made the decision to switch over to Shimano reels. Although I don’t have any solid evidence to back up my decision, I personally find that the Shimano reels have a better feel to them. I’m not saying that Penn doesn’t produce quality reels, but it seems like Penn reels nowadays require more maintenance to ensure they continue operating smoothly. That being said, taking care of your equipment is crucial. After a day of fishing, be sure to soak your reels in freshwater and keep the moving parts lubricated to ensure longevity.
The Slammer reels from Penn not only look great but they are also tough as nails. As an owner of five of these reels, I can attest that they are some of the best I have ever owned. I also have a couple of Spinfisher VI’s which I absolutely love. However, there is certainly nothing wrong with the Pursuit and Fierce models – they are both solid choices. Penn Battle II and III are also excellent reels to consider.
The Penn Slammer III was definitely a workhorse and a top competitor for the Shimano Saragosa, which is widely regarded as one of the best offshore spinning reels ever made. And with the release of the Slammer IV, Penn has only improved upon an already great reel.
For my light tackle setup, I have a Penn Fierce II 4000 reel paired with a Rovex Hurricane travel rod. It’s my go-to for small lures and harbor fishing where I don’t need heavy weights. However, the reel has caused some frustration for me as it tends to seize up randomly and I’m not sure why.
Despite that issue, it has been reliable for the most part. The rod is a joy to use, lightweight, and casts well, with enough power to provide an exciting fight with medium-sized fish. My only gripe is that the guide feet have corroded, mainly due to my own laziness with cleaning, and the reel seat could be improved.
If you’re considering purchasing a Penn reel, I highly recommend the Spinfisher VI. It’s an excellent reel that can withstand being submerged in water, although I wouldn’t advise it. It still functions perfectly fine with regular cleanings.
On the other hand, I do not recommend Penn Fierce II. They are known for breaking down or becoming rough within a year. I’ve had terrible experiences with them.
Your choice of fishing rod will depend on your fishing style. If you’re using bait, a heavier rod may be necessary to cast your sinker and bait out further. Longer rods can also help keep your line above the waves when placed in sand spikes.
Essential items to bring with you include at least one rod and reel spooled with your preferred line, a spool of leader material, and plenty of terminal materials for your rigs. Whether you’re using a fishfinder, double drop, plugging, or anything else, bring some sinkers, swivels, hooks, and sinker sliders if necessary.
A sand spike for your rod is crucial if you’re bait fishing. You don’t want to place your reel in the sand.
I recommend carrying separate knives and pliers instead of a multitool.
All my reels are spooled with braid, and I use a 65lb fluorocarbon leader regardless of whether I’m using bait or lures.
Apologies for the scattered post; I’m just trying to jot down what comes to mind.