I AM DONE WITH PENN!!!!

Lucky Hook II

I have used Penn reels my entire life. When I started running charters in 2008 I continued to use Penn reels. They reliable, strong and never failed. Until I decided to change my old Penn's for the Penn Battles. I had never had Penn reels lock up on me, have corrosion problems and drag issues like the Penn Battles, they are CRAP!!!! Like the title said "I AM DONE WITH PENN. I am going to try out the new Diawa BG's.

demersalangeler

 China........

demersalangeler

 What were your old penn reels? Spinfisher ssg's, ss, or ssm?

Lucky Hook II

My old PENN reels were ssg’s and ss’s.

conchydong

I still fish my SS and SSG’s from 25-30 years ago although I don’t use spinners that often.

bocapup1

It’s time for a change!

demersalangeler

Lucky Hook II said:

My old PENN reels were ssg’s and ss’s.

     made in USA.

Tugas

Daiwa BGs 

Lucky Hook II

I am trying out the BG's now, will see how they hold up.

demersalangeler

 I'm wondering why this is funny?
 Those reels will out last any spinfisher penn produces today. Probably most any production reel of today for that matter. 
 If you can't catch fish on those reels you probably dont have mutch buisses fishing. 

 Often when we go there is at least one original spinfisher z series, ssg, ss, or ssm on the boat. For the sake of nostalgia. (With upgraded carbon drag washers.) Now if you think the old leather drag washers are funny. I understand that.

 I'm curious to see if the new BG'S will last as long as the original BG series. Some how I am doubtful they will.   

John McKroid

As a kid, I loved my Penn 9/0, 4/0, 3/0, JigMaster 500 and Squidder 140 and 145, they were great reels for their time.  Never been one to use spinning reels, but even back in the '70s Diawa was the first to introduce a covered bail, and had the better spinning reels.  Coming back to fishing after moving to Florida in the late 2000s, I began upgrading my Penns with newer reels. Lucky Hook II, I share your frustration and disappointment.  The once-great company has been slow to innovate, and the durability of the products falls short of other brands.   There are some other American brands that still make the reels here in the states worth trying such as Avet, Accurate, and Seigler. 

flagold

Lucky Hook II said:

I have used Penn reels my entire life. When I started running charters in 2008 I continued to use Penn reels. They reliable, strong and never failed. Until I decided to change my old Penn's for the Penn Battles. I had never had Penn reels lock up on me, have corrosion problems and drag issues like the Penn Battles, they are CRAP!!!! Like the title said "I AM DONE WITH PENN. I am going to try out the new Diawa BG's.

What you're saying the reason I and many others simply re-build the older stuff.  I hate it that the last of the great companies is now building pot metal reels.

PENN USA VS Chinese Penn: https://youtu.be/rLDXH-cjUZ8

As far as the leather drag washers - worked well for a hundred years on all types of fish - no reason they won't work now.

BeachBob

Yes, IMHO the "China Virus Penn" reels are overall inferior to the USA built originals.  My old Squidder is rolling right along and still landing fishies off the beach for many decades.

flagold

BeachBob said:

My old Squidder is rolling right along and still landing fishies off the beach for many decades.

Put mine back to work recently.  The old Squidder simply works.

Docked Wages

Lucky Hook II said:

I have used Penn reels my entire life. When I started running charters in 2008 I continued to use Penn reels. They reliable, strong and never failed. Until I decided to change my old Penn's for the Penn Battles. I had never had Penn reels lock up on me, have corrosion problems and drag issues like the Penn Battles, they are CRAP!!!! Like the title said "I AM DONE WITH PENN. I am going to try out the new Diawa BG's.

Lucky Hook,  Are you using the Battle I or the Battle II?

Lucky Hook II

I've used both, both have had really bad corrosion issues in and out!

Docked Wages

LH, I asked because the Battle is really a lower cost economy reel.  The Battle "I" entered the market <$100 per reel and not a heavy duty salt water reel.  Then complaints came in that it did not compare to other mfr reels or the Penn name even though the comparison was against much higher cost reels.  Then the Battle II came out and they upgraded the adhesion of the finish, added the HT100 drag and the biggest improvement was introducing sealed bearings. The price increased only $10. Not a bad real for the money but still not a heavy duty salt water reel. 

If you want higher precision and longevity, Penn reels are out there but you will pay more for them. These reels are manufactured in the USA (vs low cost labor overseas), consist of CNC 6000 series aluminum machined bodies (vs cast aluminum A380 bodies), anodized finish vs painted finish,  introduce fully sealed bodies by ways of CNC grooves for o-rings and a higher quality bearing system. 

The reason for offering  both product lines of scaled economy and quality is to provide the right reel at the right price point for each angler.  

Lucky Hook II

Docked Wages,

I was not comparing the Battle with much higher priced reels.  The Penn ssg's and ssm's models were not much higher priced at all, they were much better reels the the crap they are putting out now.  I have a couple friend that use the Penn Spinnfishers, much higher priced and they are also crap.

Like I said in my original post.  I have used Penn reels since I was able to buy my own reels, approximately 35 years or so and I am completely disappointed to see what Penn has become.

FlatsWrecked

I have two Penn Battle combos in 4000 size. Can not keep inserts in the rod guides, tired of  spending money to get them repaired. Good backbone to the rod but guides are terrible.

skankin pickle

Give the BG's a shot. They have held up great for me.....drag is super smooth.