I'll stick to sh**mano and Van-Zeb-Stall, thanks.

(They have them at BPS in Foxboro now)

Are you hoping someone from Penn is reading this? Hoping they'll send you a Torque to get your feed back?:confused:

For another $150, you'd be nuts not to go with a Stella SW instead.

Once you get into the $700 range on reels, go with the proven commodities. Van Staals have been around for almost 20 years, and Saltigas prove themselves every night in the Canal.

There is nothing innovative, or even an improvement over the proven high-end spinning reels, about this fugly thing. Unless you consider that goofball button that switches from automatic to manual bail closure--what looks to me to be a sand jam in waiting for surf guys--an "innovation". Penn is late to the dance with a clunky looking entry, IMO.

Seems premature to bash the Penn other than on looks.
Has anybody actually fished one?

The drag curve also seemed EXCESSIVELY steep due to the coarse drag knob clicks. Kinda odd.

The machining seems very rough, some holes were smooth, some not so much (probably enough to cut your leader with if you needed to. feature!)

The drag curve also seemed EXCESSIVELY steep due to the coarse drag knob clicks. Kinda odd.

The machining seems very rough, some holes were smooth, some not so much (probably enough to cut your leader with if you needed to. feature!)

I noticed the same thing about all of those rough edges. If what you can see and feel outside has evidence of shoddy workmanship, how is one supposed to feel confident about the inside workmanship?

Seems premature to bash the Penn other than on looks.
Has anybody actually fished one?


Haven't fished one yet but from what I've seen with it in my hands I'll likely not bother. IMO, not anywhere near VS or ZB. Nor Saltigas (which I don't have experience with)

Shame on anyone who actually believed Penn would, or even more laughable - COULD, pull off such a reel.

Perhaps time will prove me wrong?

In the mean time VS and ZB will get my money.
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I know someone that used one and let's just say there were gear issues.

They should have just made an updated 706z, in a few sizes and priced lower than a VS or ZB. Home run. I know I know I know were a specialized small market, but they probably would have done better than trying to compete with reels like the stella and high end surf reels at the same time.:screwy: I woulda bought three of em.

Seems premature to bash the Penn other than on looks.
Has anybody actually fished one?

Ok, gimme $700 and I'll beat on it for fall run at Montauk. :D
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Ok, gimme $700 and I'll beat on it for fall run at Montauk. :D
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Make it $1400 so you have a back up.

if they made a sealed reel that was Substantially less expensive (350$) than VS or Zee, then the guys who want a sealed reel but cant pull the 800$ trigger would buy them... but if you are holding 750$, and you have a VS and a torque in front of you........c'mon..... you need to meet or EXCEED your competition in this world...

Seems premature to bash the Penn other than on looks.
Has anybody actually fished one?

Haha, you're right there, it is pretty d*mn ugly.

I went to my local shop today with money in hand for either the Penn or a VS 150...Picked up the Penn cranked it a few times and put it back..not even close...for that much money it felt like crap..it felt loose and there was a lot of play. .Needless to say I went home with a silver VS 150.

If the final products aren't machined any better than the models I've handled in the past, it would be a good idea to wear a glove on your hand, because the edges of the reel stem are rough and sharp. And the stem is way too wide--and I have pretty big hands.

What size Penn torque were you looking at that is the equivalent of a VS 150?
Seems to me you would be considering the Stella 5000sw or Catalina 3500/4500 instead.

So why did you go with the VS over those reels? Not criticizing your choice, they are all nice, just curious.