Penn Spinfisher 850ss

[barracat66]

I have used the USA Penn spinfisher for the last 15 years on my various charter operations and they are still going, parts are available and they are easy to repair yourself, I carry the USA an Chinese reels in stock at my shop but i do know which one at this stage is best - USA.
The dollar value on the old Penn is upward to $300.00, compared to the new penn at around $200.00.

[JEWIENEWIE]

Cammac, already have an alvey and love it . But for jewie fishing of the rocks or beach i would personally pprefer the drag system on an spin reel.
Jewie

[mariner_22]

hey Jewie

I have the 950ssm and as has been said they are a great reel and i would highly recommend them to you. As i said i have only just got it but so far so good. It definately has a bullet proof drag on it and casts a mile just what you require for what you want to do.

Francis

[sik008]

we have got the 550,650,750 and the 850 and are awesome for reef fishing... Get the American ones though the Chinese ones are crap..

Cheers alex

[bushbeachboy]

I've got a few Penns, and found them all good reels. I've got a Spinfisher 4300SS, 4400SS, both American made, and both are great tough reels with brilliant drags. Also got a Slammer 460 and a Slammer Liveliner 4600, both also American made and great reels. Also got a Slammer 260 and a Spinfisher 550Ssg, both made in China, and found them to be good reels too. The Shimano's can't come close to matching the Penn HT100 drag for smoothness under pressure. If you are fishing lighter line classes, smooth drag is essential if you want to keep big fish on the line without snapping off.

Having praised up the Penns, I also own some Shimano reels which I like, and I've just gotten a Daiwa Emblem Pro 5500 for long distance casting with high speed retrieve (122cm per crank if you can believe the ads). I haven't had it long enough to give you a report on it yet. I would have bought a Spinfisher, but they don't seem to have anything with such a high retrieve speed.
Cheers
Craig

[JEWIENEWIE]

Well the courier just droped off my new reel. Penn spinfisher 850ssm. I only paid $169 for the reel new which i thought was a good buy. Seems to be nearly identical in every way to the usa made older models.
Heres hoping they are just as good. I should be able to tell you in about 20 years! Now if the wind would just back off a touch.
Jewie

[cammac]

Hey Jewie,

I hear the drags are pretty good on the star drag Alveys but alas it looks like youve done the deal - now remember dont use it for making sandcastles, thats what hands are for - haha

Cam