Penn Battle 2 5k or 6k?

[Desync]

Went to dicks last night to look at Kayaks and ended up looking at reels also, saw the Penn Fierce II and it looked nice. So today I was looking around online at reviews and such and seen that everyone said go with the Penn Battle 2 over the Penn Fierce II, I tried looking online but can't really get a good comparison of size between the 5k, 6k, and 8k.

 

As I use the Black Max I bought at wal-mart several years ago for lure fishing I will most likely use the Penn reel as my bait reel or possibly a 2nd lure reel. Will most likely be going for cat with bait or stripe / largemouth bass for lure, was wondering if I would need the Battle 2 5k or 6k and how much bigger is the 6k? Will also most likely be using 30lb spider wire for the line. 

 

Also thinking about putting this reel on a Ugly Stix GX2 6'5" or 7" med-heavy rod 

 

Appreciate the responses if anyone has used these before and could give some insight to them.

[Red Bear]

I own the Penn Fierce in a 4000 size and use it for catfishing and at times have striper fished with it using lures in the past. even though i only have 17lb sufix siege mono on it, which some people would consider small for catfishing, it doesnt cast very far so i never use lures on it anymore but only because i have better combos for lures. if youre looking at a Battle in the 5000 or 6000 size, i dont think it would be suitable for casting lures for bass or striper unless youre casting real heavy lures. would probably be great using bait for big cats though. In my usage of the Fierce, aside from lack of casting distance with lighter baits and the weight of the reel(sorta heavy), its strong, durable, drag is good, and it operates smooth. I would probably go down to atleast the 4000 size and not bigger if you insist on using it to cast lures. if live bait and catfishing, the 5000 or 6000 will give you plenty of power. I also own a Penn Captiva size 6000, this reel is super smooth, great drag and is powerful and casts better than the Fierce. I have 20lb Stren on my Captiva and i have cast crank baits with it for striper/lm bass, and brung in plenty of catfish with it. I have the Captiva on an 8ft MH Ugly Stik Catfish rod. I love that combo. As for the Battle, ive never used one, but Penn does make fine reels. If youre going to go size 5000/6000 try to put it on an 8ft rod, if you like the Ugly Stiks, as i do, then perhaps look at the Ugly Stik Catfish or Striper lines to pair with the Battle...just remember that bigger reel will wear you out if you do a lot of casting with it...sorry i cant speak directly about the Battle, but hopefully something in here can help you...

[Desync]

5 hours ago, Red Bear said:

I own the Penn Fierce in a 4000 size and use it for catfishing and at times have striper fished with it using lures in the past. even though i only have 17lb sufix siege mono on it, which some people would consider small for catfishing, it doesnt cast very far so i never use lures on it anymore but only because i have better combos for lures. if youre looking at a Battle in the 5000 or 6000 size, i dont think it would be suitable for casting lures for bass or striper unless youre casting real heavy lures. would probably be great using bait for big cats though. In my usage of the Fierce, aside from lack of casting distance with lighter baits and the weight of the reel(sorta heavy), its strong, durable, drag is good, and it operates smooth. I would probably go down to atleast the 4000 size and not bigger if you insist on using it to cast lures. if live bait and catfishing, the 5000 or 6000 will give you plenty of power. I also own a Penn Captiva size 6000, this reel is super smooth, great drag and is powerful and casts better than the Fierce. I have 20lb Stren on my Captiva and i have cast crank baits with it for striper/lm bass, and brung in plenty of catfish with it. I have the Captiva on an 8ft MH Ugly Stik Catfish rod. I love that combo. As for the Battle, ive never used one, but Penn does make fine reels. If youre going to go size 5000/6000 try to put it on an 8ft rod, if you like the Ugly Stiks, as i do, then perhaps look at the Ugly Stik Catfish or Striper lines to pair with the Battle...just remember that bigger reel will wear you out if you do a lot of casting with it...sorry i cant speak directly about the Battle, but hopefully something in here can help you...

The fierce did look good, I liked the idea of the LL version with the flip switch, but it seemed every review I read pointed to the Battle 2, then I read an article last night about "Spinning combos for the general fisher" and as I read the article they picked a setup for the general fisherman with no target fish in mind. They suggested the Penn Battle 2 5000 with a 6'6" or 7' Ugly Stik GX2 rod, and while I had a little extra cash (Doesn't happen often) I figured I would go ahead and buy myself a 2nd setup, as I currently use the Black Max combo I bought from wal-mart a few years ago for lure fishing.

 

So I was looking around and found on Amazon the Battle 2 5000 for $83.23 and the Battle 2 6000 for $83.49 so only a 26 cent difference in price, was just wondering if I did pick up the Battle 2 6k and used it for my bait setup with 30lb braid on it, I would have myself a decent setup if I ever traveled back to FL to fish from the piers there like I use to, but also didn't want to seem like I was bringing in a shark reel / rod to fish for cats at my local river where I usually fish.

[Chrisran99]

Battles are good reels but the sizes you mention are big and heavy. Look at a Spinfisher 3500. It can be had for close to the same price, weights less than the bigger reels, and is very well made. 

[Desync]

3 hours ago, Chrisran99 said:

Battles are good reels but the sizes you mention are big and heavy. Look at a Spinfisher 3500. It can be had for close to the same price, weights less than the bigger reels, and is very well made. 

I did look at the spinfishers and they seem nice. The main reason I chose the battle 5000 was that way I had a good reel for years to come. That way if I ever found myself heading down to FL again to fish off the pier in Panama City Beach I would have a decent size reel to handle whatever bit.

 

I have noticed like you said, everyone says how heavy they can get and how tiresome they can become if fishing for long periods of time. I still consider myself semi young, 33 years old and have never got tired of fishing or casting. My longest trip fishing non stop was 18 hours on the Dan Russell Pier in Panama City Beach few years ago, only stopped fishing to watch this older man named Doub pull in a 12ft hammerhead from the pier, then when he walked it down the pier to the beach we got on the beach and picked it up and loaded it onto a little red wagon.

 

Basically just looking for something I could reel in big 40 - 50+ lb cats on, big stripe (as we have some pretty big stripe here in bama when they are running by the dam here) so I was basically wanting a good strong setup, you think the spinfisher 3500 would handle 30lb braid with a 40-50lb blue cat on the end?

 

EDIT: Bought my GF this setup from wal-mart: http://www.walmart.com/ip/33588644?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227023357979&wl0=&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=40971376352&wl4=pla-78913930592&wl5=9012466&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=33588644&wl13=&veh=sem and was looking to get a PENN reel about the same size, I KNOW the tiger is mainly all plastic so it's not as heavy as the penn reels, but I would still like one about the same size as that. I know the smaller PENN reels will be more powerful than this tiger setup, but i've never liked the look / feel of a small spinning reel in my hands.

 

NOW you have me looking at nothing but the spinfisher V, now I really can't make up my mind on which I would like to purchase.

 

Talked with Josh at JandH and it seems the spinfisher V 4500 is going to be my best bet, so most likely going to pick that with the Ugly Stik GX2 7' MH rod and 30lb spiderwire stealth.

[Chrisran99]

As long as you have the right rod I think it would handle 30# braid, but I can't see fishing bass with anything bigger the 3500. Not saying it can't be done just don't think it would be much fun. Now playing a big striper or catfish on the 3500 would be a blast. But , I do have the 4500 LiveLiner on my Christmas list.

If your fishing Smith lake I might need some advice about the trout fishing in Sipsey Fork. I have a weekend planed up there at the end of September.

[timsford]

I don't fish for bass with bigger than a 3000. If you want a tough reel that will work in saltwater and hold a TON of 30 pound braid but doesn't weigh a lb by itself, look at the daiwas tournament ss 1600. I use the 1300 for bass and stripers and it is plenty strong enough for DD catfish. The 1600 would definitely be my pick. Lasts forever and lots of guys use them in salt for all sizes of gamefish

[Red Bear]

it seems obvious you dont want a smaller size reel, and that is fine. you can fish for bass just fine with a bigger sized reel if thats youre choosing, the fish dont know what you got. the tiger reel from walmart if i had to guess is a 4000 sized reel, ive had one. i had it in spinning and stripped the handle screwing it back on too tight, my fault, switched the handle side and gave it to my uncle who still uses it. i also have a tiger spincast combo from walmart when they were metal and not plastic, i have pulled in striper with it, but its a longer fight because of weak drag.

the live liner reel youre talking about might be a good idea if youre fishing with live bait, ive been wanting to get me one and i hear Okuma makes an excellent live line reel. actually i just did a search and realize the Fierce comes in a live liner model now, i might have to check those out myself...

if i were in your shoes, i wouldnt go any bigger than the 4000 or 5000 size, nor any smaller. you will figure it out

whats kind of funny to me, i actually have my fierce paired up with that walmart shakespeare tiger rod, just an older model rod than the one you posted....

 

[Desync]

24 minutes ago, Red Bear said:

it seems obvious you dont want a smaller size reel, and that is fine. you can fish for bass just fine with a bigger sized reel if thats youre choosing, the fish dont know what you got. the tiger reel from walmart if i had to guess is a 4000 sized reel, ive had one. i had it in spinning and stripped the handle screwing it back on too tight, my fault, switched the handle side and gave it to my uncle who still uses it. i also have a tiger spincast combo from walmart when they were metal and not plastic, i have pulled in striper with it, but its a longer fight because of weak drag.

the live liner reel youre talking about might be a good idea if youre fishing with live bait, ive been wanting to get me one and i hear Okuma makes an excellent live line reel. actually i just did a search and realize the Fierce comes in a live liner model now, i might have to check those out myself...

if i were in your shoes, i wouldnt go any bigger than the 4000 or 5000 size, nor any smaller. you will figure it out

whats kind of funny to me, i actually have my fierce paired up with that walmart shakespeare tiger rod, just an older model rod than the one you posted....

 

WOW a 4000 size? I was thinking it would of been like a 6000+, but I never really owned a bunch of spinning reels so size comparisons to me are way off. If it's a 4000 size then the 4500 will be perfect for me. Appreciate it.

 

Well Amazon doesn't accept PayPal so I had to go with J and H, got the Spinfisher V 4500LL, went with the LL version just in case I ever need it in the future, it will be nice to have. Still going to put it on the Ugly Stik GX2 and see how it does.

 

My original quest began when I saw the Fierce in Dick's over the weekend, then after reading reviews I kept hearing Battle 2 was a step up for almost the same price and a lot better, that's when I found the Battle 2 for $83 on Amazon, then someone mentioned the Battle was 2 notches down from the Spinfisher V and the Spinfisher didn't cost a whole lot more than the Battle. So I started searching again and ended up with the Spinfisher, have 14 days to return it so we'll see how it goes.

[CybrSlydr]

The 3 fish I've caught have been on a Battle II 4000.  A catfish in the couple-pound range and two LMBs in a similar range.  I really like mine.

[Desync]

Well, I ordered everything yesterday and it should be here Monday, totally opposite from what I started to buy but it's done and paid for so we shall see how it does.

 

Ended up getting

 

PENN Spinfisher V 4500LL spooled with 30lb powerpro spectra

TSUNAMI Five Star 7' MH Rod

[Wurming67]

I just got Penn battle 2  combo 4000 for inshore fishing I love it can't beat it for the price

[AlTheFisherman313]

If anyone is interested in these they can be had in a combo for under $100.00

walmart online, but my god what a deal that’s under 100 shipped.

 

i personally own a 2500,3000 and 5000 combo. I use the smaller for bass and the 5k for musky.