Just picked up a Ugly Stik Tiger Lite Jigging rod. I would like a reel that can be used for jigging as well as having a bait runner for fishing live bait. Been looking at the Shimano Baitrunner and Penn Spinfisher V. Would either of these hold up jigging for Grouper and AJ’s? Anything I am missing? Thanks for the help.
I have the penn battle 6000 spooled with 50 lb power pro which is basically the little brother of the spin fisher V. It has crushed an 70-80 lb tiger shark and a 55 lb AJ. Shark took maybe 5-7 minutes to get to the boat, AJ took maybe 15 or more. No grouper yet on that reel, but I have confidence it would get the job done. I think it was on the shark when the spool got SLIGHTLY warped. The warp was so slight that it took the guys at the repair shop a little while to figure out why it was making a very faint rub sound (a small part of the spool was rubbing on the body once every other time the spool came up and down). I really don’t know how the spool got bent, I don’t think it has been dropped, but regardless, the good folks at Hadrells and Penn gave me a brand new spool 1.5 years after purchase. (one year manufacturer’s warranty, and Hadrells Point told me they matched the manufacturer warranty so 2 years total warranty). The reel is honestly a blast to fish with, and drops line down to the bottom faster than many of my conventionals. I can only imagine the spin fisher V would be even better.
Shimano Spheros!
.
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
I have a spheros 6000 that I absolutely love.
I love bottom fishing with a spinning reel, I feel the bite much better. that’s just my personal preference. ideally would like to have the 8000 though 
fishing live bait is different if that’s what you are interested in. ill defer to someone else on that one…
“mr keys”
I’ve heard good things about the Spheros (mostly from Paul!) but haven’t fished with one (or the Baitrunner for that matter). I do have all of the SSVs from 3500-7500 minus the 6500 and am a big fan. They’re a bit heavy but they’re solid reels with a good drag and I don’t mind a bit of weight. The SSV 6500 has the live liner feature which you were looking for so I’d say that’s the reel you’re looking for.
PM Nasty Dawg on here as he’s the go to guy for Penn and can tell you everything you could want to know about them.
Rap they make the 8500LL Live liner also if I am not mistaken. I have a 7500 that has held up well also
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
-
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
Rapchizzle you are correct, The 6500 and 8500 both have the live liner feature and we also offer a 4500 live liner for inshore/nearshore applications. The SSV also has a sealed drag and water tight design with 8-10 internal seals on the non live liners depending on size and 11 seals on the live liners.
AFFILIATED WITH PENN FISHING TACKLE [http://www.pennreels.com/]
Thanks for all the input. I have heard a lot of good things about the spheros.
Nasty Dawg, can the ssv 6500LL drag handle being locked all the way down, when fishing with 60lb or so braid?
Spheros reels seem indestructible in my opinion. I’ve used them, but tried out Quantum’s Bocas last year after getting a really “try me” price on them. I love them, too, especially with the bigger handle. Best bargain reel on 360tuna.com has been the Spheros and Boca. That’s the route I’d take, a 6000 or 60 with 50# braid and 60# mono spook leader. Just my 2 cents.
“The problem that infuriates you the most is the one you are meant to solve.”
Rap they make the 8500LL Live liner also if I am not mistaken. I have a 7500 that has held up well also
experience noun \ik-#712;spir–#601;n(t)s
-
the fact or state of having been affected by or gained knowledge through direct observation or participation
-
that thing you get just moments after you needed it.
I will say for the money the Penn battle 7000’s are probably the best reels I have ever purchased. They are inexpensive as far as offshore spinning reels go and have held up to the use that I put them under which is amazing. I run 60 pound braid on them ,and we use them for casting to Dolphins, Cobia ,Bonita and for drift lines for king mackerel. The drags are still silky smooth, the action on the real is still slick, and I have had no corrosion issues like other people talked about.
.
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Enough of you were so high on the Shimano Spheros that when I walked into my local shop and spied a 6000 for $109.99 I picked it up right away. Now I have to decide what rod to put it on and what to spool it with. Come on warm weather.
“Temptation may lean on the doorbell… opportunity may only knock once”
quote:
Originally posted by springtideEnough of you were so high on the Shimano Spheros that when I walked into my local shop and spied a 6000 for $109.99 I picked it up right away. Now I have to decide what rod to put it on and what to spool it with. Come on warm weather.
“Temptation may lean on the doorbell… opportunity may only knock once”
Pm’d you.
Pioneer 197 Sportfish
Yamaha 150 4-stroke
Just bought a couple of rods for the same purpose actually and looked at both options. Ended up going with the new bait runner 4500 on trevela jigging rods and couldnt be happier. Caught multiple AJ’s and my first cobia on it last year. The drag on the Penn battle was a little to chunky for me as compared to the Shimanos
256 Sea Fox cc
twin twohundreds