AGREED!
AFFILIATED WITH PENN FISHING TACKLE [http://www.pennreels.com/]
I put this on a 6’6 Clarus for Trout and 10lb braid on it. Sweet little setup, caught some slottie reds on it too. $69.99 I think. I got it at Dicks for like $49.00 on sale. It’s not the best but for the money it’s decent.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350387886423&ih=022&category=36147&ssPageName=mem_guide:2&rd=1
Insert Funny Line Here
Thanks to all…I knew you guys could clear this up for me 
I’ve had a lot of inexpensive reels over the years and some have been cheap. I currently use a Shimano Sedona 4000 and a penn ssg 440 I think. I bought the Shimano last fall and the Penn a couple years ago. The Penn is about $15-20 more than the Shimano and not nearly as pretty but its such a better reel. My Sedona’s bail shuts on me while casting way too often (5 out of 10 casts) it’s soo bad I have to hook the bail with a finger and hold it open.
I’ve also broken the Shimano fighting a 16" red, Plastic part that the bail connects to cracked! I do like the smooth drag and gears but for $15 more I’m buying another SSg, SSm or Sargus.
My brother’s got two Sargus and I know he’s never taken one apart to clean/lube and his are still smooth and working great.
I’ve got a big Okuma spinning for one of my surf rods and its holding up well. I’ve abused it, it didn’t always get a timely freshwater wash after use, etc… Asides from a little pitting and corrosion on the frame its works great, smooth, no internal rust.
I also used a Barbie rod and reel recently, drag wasn’t as smooth as I was used to but it horsed them sunfish in no problem.
I fished with alot of reels in the $75 to $150 range (Shimano, Phleuger, Diawa, Penn and Okuma). I went with Okumas highest in reel and it has been an absolute joke. I am now back fishing Shimano Stradics and the differnce is night and day. Greater casting distance and little to no wind knots when fishing braid. That being said Nasty Dawg is right on the money. Penn is making a come back and their new prducts are definitley worth a look. The bottom line is that Shimano and Penn will continue to commit to making products that are designed for inshore saltwater fishing while the others simply are just dipping their toe in the water. You can get away with lower end reels in freshwater but unofortunatley that is not the case in saltwater.
He must Increase,but I must decrease. John 3:30
quote:
Originally posted by C TackleI fished with alot of reels in the $75 to $150 range (Shimano, Phleuger, Diawa, Penn and Okuma). I went with Okumas highest in reel and it has been an absolute joke. I am now back fishing Shimano Stradics and the differnce is night and day. Greater casting distance and little to no wind knots when fishing braid. That being said Nasty Dawg is right on the money. Penn is making a come back and their new prducts are definitley worth a look. The bottom line is that Shimano and Penn will continue to commit to making products that are designed for inshore saltwater fishing while the others simply are just dipping their toe in the water. You can get away with lower end reels in freshwater but unofortunatley that is not the case in saltwater.
I’m not real sure I can agree with this statement, I think Daiwa is pretty committed to making quality saltwater reels, but not for under $75.
I’m actually looking at purchasing a couple of new reels as well. I don’t do the yak fishing and these will be used to replace the 3 or 4 Penn 712z reels that I currently use that my late granddad probably bought 30 years ago. The newer Penn that I have is terrible and I don’t think I want to buy another. I was in Haddrell’s the other day and one of the guys there recommended the Shimano Symetre FJ 3000. Any thoughts on that particular reel?
We bought 4 Penn Captiva reels over 4 years ago and they are still working fine. These are the imported Penns, but they are made pretty well and are holding up really well. These sell for between $50 and $75 and have a very smooth drag. One of them is the live bait type reel that is exceptional for free-lining live baits. We’ve had one break in a little over 4 years and that was due to ‘user error’. Nothing has actually failed on any of them, so imports or not, I guess they are still Penns. I still have two Penn trolling reels that I had in high school (graduated in '68) that I still use.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
Folly, which PENN were you unhappy with? I bet it was the Captiva or Silverado which are dropped now because of that reason. The Captiva’s have worked well for some and burnt others but the product that has replaced both reels will run circles around alot of mid to low end spinners on the market.
AFFILIATED WITH PENN FISHING TACKLE [http://www.pennreels.com/]
quote:
Originally posted by FollyI’m actually looking at purchasing a couple of new reels as well. I don’t do the yak fishing and these will be used to replace the 3 or 4 Penn 712z reels that I currently use that my late granddad probably bought 30 years ago. The newer Penn that I have is terrible and I don’t think I want to buy another. I was in Haddrell’s the other day and one of the guys there recommended the Shimano Symetre FJ 3000. Any thoughts on that particular reel?
Buy the Symetre. I have 4 and they work fine after one year with no repair.
big dog
My wife and kids gave me the Symetre 3000 FJ for my 30th birthday present. I’m going to put it on my 6’-6" Clarus. If I like it I’m going to buy another setup just like it, except maybe with a 7’-0" Clarus. I just need to find a time to use it. Between shooting grey birds and shrimping I don’t have time to go fishing. Life is tough some times.
cabelas salt striker
14’ T-wide jonboat
25hp johnson
‘Git -n- Thar’
-My biggest worry is (when I’m dead)my women will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it-
Good ol’ Mr. Blocker said that the Shimano Symetre has the same gears as the Stradic. I have two; they are smooth to operate and rugged - - no complaints. Like all these new reels, you really have to stay after corrosion - - wash off and then spray down with the Penn reel cleaner/preservative after EVERY trip…might do that yourself.
This is your answer, the one you were looking for - - this is the most reel you will get for moderate $$.
Good luck on the fish, NaClH20
Recently I had the opportunity to talk to the Penn/Purefishin guy, not sure if it’s you NastDawg or not, but I got my grubby little paws on a Penn Battle 4000, I fished it from my kayak and I whooped the s*it out of some reds with it and I am sold on this reel. That drag is rock solid and smooth as silk. I now own a Battle 3000 that I am gonna use for trout and I really like these reels. I have ALWAYS been a Shimano or Okuma guy and love those reels but after meeting and seeing all the Penn stuff I am pretty impressed. Penn/Pure Fishing does a LOT of R&D, something to the tune of $48Million JUST in R&D. These guys have really taken a step back and really put together some quality gear. I am sold on the quality of the new Penns, I still have my Saharas and my Okumas and they aren’t goin anywhere, and like Hoppy said only time will tell but I am pretty sure Penn is on it’s way to going toe-to-toe with Shimano.
Oh yeah I do work at the Charleston Angler and we wil be carrying the new Penn line but this is MY opinion… if that baby is ugly I’ll tell ya so…
“Paddle faster boys… I hear banjo music!”
SC Chapter Coordinator- Heroes on the Water
http://www.HeroesOnTheWater.org
Charleston Director- SCKayakfishing.com
Tarpon 160os
Nikonjedi,
I don’t think it was me you talked to but it sounds like whoever it was got you up to speed. I’m glad to see you are enjoying the Battles they are very nice reels for the money. Has Charleston Angler already received some of the new PENN reels? I would recommend you trying the new Allegiance inshore rods as well. Let me know if you have any issues with that battle brotha.
AFFILIATED WITH PENN FISHING TACKLE [http://www.pennreels.com/]