Penn

[Mobasser]

Penn is one of the older reel companies. I've never owned any Penn reels myself, and I don't see them talked about much, as far as freshwater- bass fishing.                                             Is anyone using any of the newer Penn spinning reels? Do you like them, and how do they compare with some of the other popular brands?                                              

[J Francho]

Penn has become Pure Fishing's saltwater brand.  While some of the tackle crosses over, they're more synonymous with big game angling.

[bulldog1935]

You'll find Tackle Advisor's you tubes comparing Penn spinning reels at every price level. 

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrm08dXl_mMtfxHPj-llsWA

[CrankFate]

I have a decent amount of penn reels. Unfortunately, IMO, it is mostly a nostalgia brand. It’s just, again, IMO, not up to the level of other brands today. And I would also say not up to the level of other brands in the past. I still use antique Abu Garcia reels in the saltwater for certain applications. I rarely ever use a penn. It used to be the standard brand. It could have stayed that way or gotten better. It didn’t. For whatever reason. There are just so many better products out there. If they came out with something new and great, I’d get it. But I have been waiting and waiting. Still nothing. I see their lo profile reels, but there’s nothing there that would get me to buy one. They look like repainted Abus, which I already have a few of.

[PressuredFishing]

4 hours ago, J Francho said:

Penn has become Pure Fishing's saltwater brand.  While some of the tackle crosses over, they're more synonymous with big game angling.

This ^^^ my dad loves their spinningreel  series because it's a all metal reel so if he drops it it won't Crack, he gets the small 2000 saltwater rated ones for freshwater, they are still all metal he likes that

[OldManLure]

I owned at least one Penn reel for quite a few years, and have found no reason to abandon them.  I currently use a Slammer and Battle II, and continue to have zero complaints.  

[WRB]

Where are Penn’s spinning reels made today?

Tom

[Jigfishn10]

New Jersey? ?

[Mobasser]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Where are Penn’s spinning reels made today?

Tom

I believe China Tom

[J Francho]

Their big, expensive conventional reels are made in Philly.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

Their big, expensive conventional reels are made in Philly.

I knew the International series conventional off shore reels are made in the USA, where are the spinning reels made?

Tom

[J Francho]

Probably China, like everything else. 

[PressuredFishing]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

Where are Penn’s spinning reels made today?

Tom

China I think

[T-Billy]

I've bought a Spinfisher VI and two Battle III's in the last couple years. 2000 and 2500 series. Zero complaints. Smooth turning, aluminum frames and rotors, good line lay, sealed gear boxes, cnc machined gears, smooth drags. I'm a 100% satisfied customer, and will likely buy more.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

It seemed like frame rigidity and function took president over being lightweight and smooth.  They also were relatively easy to learn how to clean and service which comes in handy if you dunk the reel.  

Being a little heavy isn't a big deal for salt water guys especially when you need a sturdy reel, but not many people want a trout size reel that weighs close to 10oz.  Not to mention they weren't exactly the smoothest operating reels either. 

Recently Penn must have put some serious effort into getting a good spin fisher on the market again with the vi.  They put a really nice AL main in the smaller vis and brass in the bigger ones which made a world of difference.

They eventually addressed the heavy reel issue and came out with the Conflict and Clash lines designed to lighter in weight, but still rigid and salt resistant.  The Conflict didn't really take off, but the Clash proved to be a good platform and the Clash 2s are even better.

Now dont get me wrong, you can absolutely use Penns for FW if you don't mind a little extra weight.  

 

2 hours ago, WRB said:

I knew the International series conventional off shore reels are made in the USA, where are the spinning reels made?

Tom

The Torques and believe it or not the remakes of the older reels called the Zs are made here.  I thought I had heard they had a limited run of SE Battle that were made in the US.  Take that with a grain of salt though I could be wrong.

[Mbirdsley]

14 hours ago, CrankFate said:

I have a decent amount of penn reels. Unfortunately, IMO, it is mostly a nostalgia brand. It’s just, again, IMO, not up to the level of other brands today. And I would also say not up to the level of other brands in the past. I still use antique Abu Garcia reels in the saltwater for certain applications. I rarely ever use a penn. It used to be the standard brand. It could have stayed that way or gotten better. It didn’t. For whatever reason. There are just so many better products out there. If they came out with something new and great, I’d get it. But I have been waiting and waiting. Still nothing. I see their lo profile reels, but there’s nothing there that would get me to buy one. They look like repainted Abus, which I already have a few of.

You could use this statement for those old round trolling reels.  At one time in 60’s70’s and 80’s  the penns were the  standard trolling reel for Lake Michigan salmon and steel head.  Than the Diawa sea lines came out and kinda knocked penn of their pedistool.  Now it’s still diawa and you can add the okuma in the mix too.  
 

right now a penn round reel for big water trolling will cost you $60 bucks.  However, for less money you can get a okuma convector with a line counter. 

[CrankFate]

@Mbirdsley yes, there was a time when Penn was it. And sometimes, for fun, I’ll use one. But they just let the whole world pass them by.

[islandbass]

On 12/17/2021 at 10:57 AM, WRB said:

Where are Penn’s spinning reels made today?

Tom

That’s easy — Penn sylvania ??
 

Update - I jokingly said Pennsylvania as a pun (just popped in my head) and posted it before seeing JFrancho’s post. A purely coincidental pun since Philadelphia is in Pennsylvania. 

[WRB]

Pure Fishing has control of where the Penn brand they bought is manufactured. The competitive world of spinning reels the Penn brand is made off shore, not in Philly.

The salt water legacy Penn International, Senators and Squiders I believe are made in the Penn faculty.... Not sure?

Tom

[J Francho]

The machine shop in Philly is unlikely to exist without the sales from the reels made in China. Pretty typical story. American workers won't provide high quality work for pennies. So, I'm not sure what your point is, Tom? I wonder how many people Pure Fishing employs here in the US? 

[T-Billy]

On 12/17/2021 at 6:23 PM, T-Billy said:

I've bought a Spinfisher VI and two Battle III's in the last couple years. 2000 and 2500 series. Zero complaints. Smooth turning, aluminum frames and rotors, good line lay, sealed gear boxes, cnc machined gears, smooth drags. I'm a 100% satisfied customer, and will likely buy more.

Well... That didn't take long. I just ordered another Battle III for the Dobyns Sierra STP 741SF that I also just ordered. At this point, I'm not even sure how many rods and reels I've purchased this year. Clearly I'm not responsible enough to have internet. 

I bought a STP 700SF last spring to try and temp those finicky smallies during the summer mayfly hatches using tiny marabou jigs. That didn't work out well for me, but I sure had fun using it to load the freezer with fall crappie. I wanted something with just a bit more power while still having the ability to throw 1/16 a good distance. The 741 should be just the ticket. These are REALLY nice panfish rods.

[Deleted account]

My Internationals and Senators from the 60s to 90s still see heavy use. My SS and Z spinning reels have been mostly retired. The current lineups don't fare well apples to apples against the competition.

 

[JS8588]

I fished this past season with mostly a Penn Clash II 2000 & a Battle III DX. They both worked well until I trashed the Clash II when I took a misstep off the dock. Battle III is still chugging along.

[Mr. Aquarium]

Most of my bass spinning reels are penn. I have penn battle 2, pursuit 2 and fierce 2. They are my work horses. From trout, and bass, to bait for carp and bowfin, or 30lb salmon and 10lbs brown trout. The penn battle is a heavier bass rod I use for swimbaits but its Also my light saltwater rod 

[Johnbt]

I hear good things about the Battle line from saltwater fishing friends.

 

My Penn SS - 440, 460, 4400 ss and ssg - reels are long retired. I started retiring them when I bought my first Shimano Triton Baitrunner 4500 in the '80s and then bought a 3500 and 6500. Now my surf spinning reels are Daiwa and Shimano.

 

The PENN Z is "Made in USA of domestic and imported components"

 

www.pennfishing.com/products/z-series-spinning-1315424