I’m in love with this reel since taking it out of the box. This reel is a little heavy compared to my Shimano, 5500 ULTEGRA reels. It might be several months before I can get down to the coast to fish for redfish, flounder, and trout, but with this new hardware, I’m surely looking forward to it! I use the live liner feature for surf fishing and it works great. I cannot believe how far this rig will cast. There is one issue with the smallest Spinfisher VI 2500 though, and that’s the line level at which you can safely fish it with all manner of different hard and soft lures. Anyway, what I was getting to was that I was most looking forward to fishing with the baby in the Spinfisher VI range, the 2500 model……………. The gaskets are available and inexpensive so I purchased several for future use.
I bang on about the incredible Penn Slammer III 3500 and 4500 spinning reels on here because I think they are awesome with what they put up with on the saltwater protection side of things especially - and I am still hoping (jn vain?!) No, of course not, and I would urge you not to treat your spinning reel like this!, but to me there does seem to be a slight difference between what the Slammer III and Spinfisher VI will take - which I guess is reflected in the prices and the IPX ratings.
After a serious dunking or surf session I will fill a sink up with warm water, tighten the drag down fully, submerge the reel, turn the handle for a minute or so, then take the reel out of the water, wind the drag off, and let it sit there to drip-dry. My Dad taught me how to fish with these reels fifty plus years ago. Much more stable and simple than Shimano. Best part … I’m over 70, still using Penn, and discovering new reels to help me catch fish! What rod pairs well with a Penn Spinfisher VI for big amberjacks?
Penn’s excellent customer service is also a huge Plus. Yes and No! Word of warning, forget to set the live liner while in the sand spike and if a ray or shark strikes, you’ll be chasing the rod down the beach. I just changed the grease inside the ball bearings which are chrome steel. The 4500 size Spinfisher VI has the same size body as the 3500 but with a slightly larger capacity spool and therefor bale arm assembly to allow for this. There is another family of Penn spinning reels called the Spinfisher VI which are slightly cheaper again, and whilst they don’t offer quite the same level of protection against saltwater as the Slammer - the Spinfisher VI is quoted at “features IPX5 sealing so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don't have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system” whereas the Slammer has “our new IPX6 Sealed System which keeps water out of the gear box and drag system” - in my mind these Spinfisher VI reels are some serious reels for some very sensible prices.
I also like that the new Spinfisher VI is sealed; no matter how careful you are, reels get wet at the beach. The Slammer III 3500 weighs 403g loaded with line, and as a comparison, my older Shimano Sustain 4000FG weighs 300g loaded with line, so yes the Penn is a bit heavier, but it’s as smooth as you like, stunning to fish with, you can load it right up with braid and get no issues with wind-knots, and that extra say 59g doesn’t feel like anything after five minutes of fishing with it.
The weight difference is negligible as the Penn, is more solidly built. It does cast a mile without having to go super light on your line. is still as 100% smooth as it was on day one nearly two years ago now, so I am really interested to see if this new Stradic FL 2500HG might compare at a lot less money and with what I can make out, a lot of the same technology inside it.
However, I did want to say that I am quite impressed with this hardware (I got the 4500 live liner). Its super easy to adjust to a bailless reel (I’ve been using one for 5 years).
It doesn’t take much saltwater to start corroding parts, so keeping saltwater out and grease/oil in was a big selling point for me. Overall, I want to say that I am very pleased having a smaller lighter bailess reel that I is affordable. These reels are built to withstand the saltwater elements. You look after your reel as best you can but for the most part they don’t like a serious dunking for starters, and yes, this whole issue of how well or not a reel lasts has become far more important to me the more I am starting to spend time chucking lures in surf conditions especially.
It really is an amazing reel for the price.
I was looking at heavier styles for surf fishing but extremely happy I decided to give it a shot. Penn’s line lay and drag are better than my Van Staal. After 1 day of paddle board fishing the reel feels tired, weak, and worn, besides making a terrible racket of noise retrieving a 1/4’oz lure. Watertight seal system for saltwater applications. Great line lay, no wind knots, bail is solid and the drag is smooth. : Shimano Sustain 4000FG (discontinued) - 300g.
The most recent Spinfisher boasts the same rigid full metal body and HT-100 Drag system that made the previous Spinfisher a top performer. Haven’t gotten too much time on the water with it yet, lots of wind knots, due to an FG knot.
Have yet to notice any signs of beach,boat, or truck rash yet, and while I don’t masochistically throw my gear around, I certainly don’t baby it eaither.
Les expéditions ont lieu tous les jours ouvrés.
No issues at all with the 2500 size Spinfisher VI loaded up to this level.
Happy so far - waiting for something bigger. The PENN Spinfisher VI Spinning Reel builds on that legacy with a full metal body and sideplates that keep the CNC Gear System in precise alignment, while the IPX5 Sealed design keeps saltwater out to ensure consistently smooth performance. This review is for the 5500 longcast.
I will keep purchasing them as long as I fish.
Bad: The oversized bail wire virtually eliminates the chance of failure in the heat of battle. First the good: Great looks, good price, excellent drag, and perhaps the best line lay of any reel I have ever owned. I bought the 3500 and 4500, with Battalion II rods based on the advice of a South Florida Fishing Guide, Capt Benny Blanco. If it helps, I have weighed the similar sized reels below when they are loaded up with line, because surely that’s the weight that means the most because surely you’re going to take a reel out fishing with line on it! Thanks Penn. Stellar drag system, ultimate performance.
While I am familiar with back-reeling techniques on spinning reels, I do not think they have a place on high-end heavy duty reels of this caliber.
– The black paint is horrible, but on the other side, is is easy to repaint. As this is a back up system, it doesn’t matter. The Penn Spinfisher VI 2500 is the same size as a Shimano 2500 or 3000 spinning reel, and it weighs 317g loaded with line - out of interest, this new Shimano Stradic FL 2500HG weighs 233g loaded with line. If I was to buy one Penn Spinfisher VI reel I reckon I’d go for this 3500 version because I like how it sits so nicely on a longer, more powerful lure rod I might use in the surf, but then drop down to the incredible HTO Nebula 9’ 7-35g rod and with this Spinfisher it’s a great combination.
I had a lot of reservations about filling a spool with straight braid, no backing, but so far the drag has handled very well, no issues with wind knots and I really love the reel. I do love my deft little Shimanos, but these Penn reels do give me this machine like confidence that they are going to keep on going and going. Bass fishing, Fishing tackle, Lure fishing, Savage Gear Seeker, Surf fishing, Penn Slammer, and I am still hoping (jn vain?!)