Penn Battle Btl5000 Clicking Noise On Slow Retrieve?

[Eternal Angler]

Is this normal?

 

Kind of annoying, only hear it on slow retrieve, never had a reel do this before.

 

Just purchased this setup from Bass Pro, upgrade from my bass rod and reel, this new setup is for pike and muskie fishing....

 

Recently had to return two Strike King Pro Series crankbaits for being defective, hope this is normal for the Penn...

 

Checked the manual, didn't see anything about this...  Did a search on the Google Search engine as well, nothing...

 

Also noticed on some casts, the bail closes due to casting motion.  I'm using braided line so no harm done, but I heard other fishermen with mono losing lures because of this....

 

[Eternal Angler]

Found this post on Cabelas...

 

"I bought this reel (4000) a few months back. I have done about 8-10 trips with it throwing metal from the surf and jetty. Only after a few hundred casts I have noticed that the main gear is starting to grind loudly. I tried to lubricate it but it is still doing it.
I still gave the reel 4 stars as I have not heard of a single complaint about this reel and with Penn's warranty and repair I know the problem will be solved."

[Eternal Angler]

Found this customer review on Amazon, guess I'll be going back to Bass Pro tomorrow.... 

 

"Reel worked well for a month... for no apparent reason (I take great care of my reels) it started making clicking noises - something internal was rubbing and proceeded to get worse. Don't waste your money.. buy shimano instead. The most frustrating part was dealing with Penn's "customer service"."

[SirSnookalot]

I see quite a few battles down here, I don't think your reel is functioning properly.  I would return or exchange it.  I do believe that a BR member is a Penn tech.  I own a Penn conquer 7000, it is not one of my favorite reels.  Liked it better than anything else when I bought it but it became geary, still smooth.  I've had serviced a couple of times, I really need to send into Penn to see what they can do about it.

[Eternal Angler]

Thanks for your input SirSnookalot, it's amazing Bass Pro Shops gave it to me after they spooled it up with braided line.  I didn't use it till a few days ago on the boat and noticed this clicking noise at slow paced retrieve.  I definitely dont remember the one I tested in Bass Pro doing this, it was the display piece.

 

This is going to be third time going back to Bass Pro Shops for defective stuff.  I just had my spring mechanism on my gas can break on me for my boat as well, the can was only a month old. Returned it to West Marine!

 

The phrase "they don't make'em like they used to comes to mind."  Or everythings been outsourced to China for slave labor...

 

Sad thing is, this was my first Penn and it's probably going to be my last.  I spent $110 on this reel at Bass Pro, I buy fishing reels in store because I want to check it out first.  This shows that whole method can fail too. And come to find out the reel is $20 less on Amazon, doesn't really matter since I'm going to have to shell out another $20 in gas to get to Bass Pro Shops to return it. I guess I'll have to leave a nice review about Penn on YouTube.

 

The bail closing when casting is pretty annoying too, anyone planning to buy this model, I would say stay away from it at all cost!

[Eternal Angler]

Ah what the hell, had to pick up some more lures anyways. Definitely requesting some sort of gift card or coupon from Bass Pro!

 

As for the reel I'm going to buy, well, might have to take a trip out to Cabelas.  Bass Pro really doesn't have much of a selection for musky/pike heavy duty spinning reels and rods.

[SirSnookalot]

As I said I see a lot of Penn battles, I think you have a lemon just like my conquer is but I'm not condemning Penn. Referencing your comment about "slave labor" I don't think is true, China like Mexico is starting to outsource because of their growing middle class.  Wouldn't surprise me to see more items being manufactured in places Haiti in the years to come.

I'm on my second Korean Genesis, I will be getting 3 rd in November, compares more than favorable to anything I've had from any other country including European.  I look at the product, not the country where it's made. 

[dam0007]

Had the reel, its junk, which is unfortunate because Ive had many Penn reels for salt. Mine did same exact thing as well as bail closing mid cast. Not to go brand specific but return it get a Stradic FJ. Easy to find one for a good deal on the web. You will not be disappointed. Quantum Smoke inshore, Cabo and Boca all seem to have a good track record from friends who have them as well.

[LMB KING]

Like sirsnook said i think you have a lemon reel. Penn battles are saltwater reel and has metal all over it. Stradic fj are freshwater reels but are saltwater approve. The bad thing about that reel is that the stradic's are like 70% plastic. So if you're gonna use it in jetties and surf or saltwater, the battle will be better for that. I prefer the penn spinfisher v. 

[dam0007]

Like sirsnook said i think you have a lemon reel. Penn battles are saltwater reel and has metal all over it. Stradic fj are freshwater reels but are saltwater approve. The bad thing about that reel is that the stradic's are like 70% plastic. So if you're gonna use it in jetties and surf or saltwater, the battle will be better for that. I prefer the penn spinfisher v. 

Or go balls to the wall and get a Van Staal? Thats prob the best option but very costly jump from a Battle. Ive been using a Sustain 6000, the 5000 comes with a kickstand which could help abuse on jetties.

 

OP he made a good point on durability but at same time if you take care of your stuff it will last. Have numerous Shimano Baitrunners that have been dropped, submerged, banged against rocks, boat rash etc. Routine maitnence and they work like day 1. The new Thunnis is a BEAST as well.

 

*edit also the bail closing early on casts, was a majority of the Battles. So even if he swapped out chances are he'll still have that issue. I lost some good lure because of it.... It's a reel that if it didnt have these problems would be a no brainer and I would own them again.

[dam0007]

Like sirsnook said i think you have a lemon reel. Penn battles are saltwater reel and has metal all over it. Stradic fj are freshwater reels but are saltwater approve. The bad thing about that reel is that the stradic's are like 70% plastic. So if you're gonna use it in jetties and surf or saltwater, the battle will be better for that. I prefer the penn spinfisher v. 

Double Quote lol Didnt they replace the Spinfisher with the Conflict?? I may be wrong but if so, hows the Conflict? I dont know too much about that one and price isnt bad at all.

[LMB KING]

Double Quote lol Didnt they replace the Spinfisher with the Conflict?? I may be wrong but if so, hows the Conflict? I dont know too much about that one and price isnt bad at all.

Believe it or not the fierce,sargus, battle and conflict are all the same reel, its just that the conflict is the most upgraded of them all. The spinfisher v is the best spinning reel they make after the penn torque. The spinfisher v is a true strong saltwater spinning reel it has alot of drag and power. I use the 3500 for bass and inshore and the 5500 for surf and jetties.

[dam0007]

Believe it or not the fierce,sargus, battle and conflict are all the same reel, its just that the conflict is the most upgraded of them all. The spinfisher v is the best spinning reel they make after the penn torque. The spinfisher v is a true strong saltwater spinning reel it has alot of drag and power. I use the 3500 for bass and inshore and the 5500 for surf and jetties.

Ahh that makes sense with the price increments. My local shop who only sells Penn Shimano and VS, Has had just as many returns of the Spinfisher as the Battle. Many different issues. He said bad bearings, grinding, clicking, bad line rollers nicking line and the infamous bail closing. As far as the bail closing he said its all the models of Penns last few years.

[LMB KING]

Ahh that makes sense with the price increments. My local shop who only sells Penn Shimano and VS, Has had just as many returns of the Spinfisher as the Battle. Many different issues. He said bad bearings, grinding, clicking, bad line rollers nicking line and the infamous bail closing. As far as the bail closing he said its all the models of Penns last few years.

Well for the surf i also have the legendary 706Z bailless made in USA. This reel is bulletproof. A van staal is way too expensive, i do have one but i rarely use it. In my opinion - theirs no better reel than the 706Z. $200 for a made in USA and its proven for decades in fishing industries today (unheard of).

[Eternal Angler]

Had the reel, its junk, which is unfortunate because Ive had many Penn reels for salt. Mine did same exact thing as well as bail closing mid cast. Not to go brand specific but return it get a Stradic FJ. Easy to find one for a good deal on the web. You will not be disappointed. Quantum Smoke inshore, Cabo and Boca all seem to have a good track record from friends who have them as well.

 

Thanks everyone for their input, yeah I think I have my eye on that Stradic ST6000FJ. Not sure what a all-white reel is going to look like an all-black rod, but oh well. I will look at Quantums as well...

 

I don't think Bass Pro shops has much of a selection, but I'll bring these names to the store and go from there.  I might have to order one online, I just hate taking guesses at the size of the reel I need.

 

"Keeper" all take your word for it, as well as your friend's on Penns. I mean I'm sure they still make decent reels in other models, but that closing bail is another dealbreaker for me.

[SirSnookalot]

I did go back and read that you are buying the reel for pike and muskie, at face value the battle wasn't a bad choice.  I do not believe the bad press on the battle is an across the board situation, either a few isolated incidents or embellishments, I just see far too many of them that work perfectly.  You can review about any reel and someone is going to be unhappy.  

Getting back to pike and muskie, I personally do not see a need for a 6000 size reel, they are heavier with more line capacity that I think is needed.  I'm not going to recommend any thing specific, your money your decision, but there are reels that weigh less than 20 oz with enough line capacity and plenty of drag, not that it should be cranked down anyway.

[shanksmare]

There is definately something wrong with your reel. I have 2 Battles, a 3000 and a 6000. Neither one of these reels make any such noise. I also have not experienced any problems with bails closing prematurely.

I purchased my 1st Battle after receiving rave reviews from employees (full time flats fishing guides) at a couple of tackle shops as well as several of the regulars where I used to often fish. My initial impressions of the 3000 were as follows: 

1) Built like a tank, a great solid, smooth reel at a very decent price (under $100). Nice drag.

2) Line capacity was actually far less than advertised. Advertised capacity 205 yards of 15# braid - real capacity about 115 yards of 15# braid.

3) Wind loops - I would get many many wind loops for no apparent reason. An employee at BPS clued me into the solution that has all but eliminated the wind loops. Only fill the reel spool to a level below the gold edge of the spool.

 

I was later going to purchase a Stradic 6000 and the clerk talked me out of it and he also gave rave reviews to the Battle 6000 which I purchased and use in saltwater. The line capacity like the 3000 was far less than advertised.  I use the 3000 in SW also.

 

I also have a Boca 30 reel. It is also a nice inshore reel. With this reel you can fill the spool to the brim without issue.

 

For surf casting the beaches of Cape Cod at night for striped bass I used a Daiwa BG30 and a Penn Slammer 560 without issue. The Slammer got most of the usage but both were bullet proof. This environment will turn lesser reels into junk in short order. Friends of mine use Stradic 6000's, BG30's and Van Staals(one of the bennies of catching a world record fish) with great success.

[dam0007]

via stripers online

 

'Good' companies plan for the next year, next decade, next generation.  I'm beginning to wonder if the Fierce/Sargus/Battle line was the start by Pure Fishing Company (owner of Penn Reels) of a long term attempt to condition anglers to accept the idea of the disposable reel.  Laugh all you want but Pure already has folks buying their reels by the millions despite the plain fact they don't last as long as similarly priced Shimanos, not even close.

 

Now, there has always been junk on the reel market.  What I'm talking about here is a long range marketing plan to change some of our most common perceptions of value when it comes to fishing reels.  And Pure would only be mimicking many other marketing drives, notably cell phones, computers, audio/video equipment. 

 

Pure has already gained a strong foothold in the sub $110 price range and thus I have to conclude they've also well executed the first stage of a long range plan by convincing millions that their product offers good 'value.'  Once conditioned to the idea a good value in a reel doesn't necessarily mean the reel will last all that long, the next step, and the killer stroke for max profit by Pure Fishing, is that we happily start buying the next generation of their product much sooner than we formerly would have to expected to.  However, conditioned to accept a new definition of value, we don't protest but instead re-consume the same type of product that would have previously disappointed us.