penn 706z - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

mrstriper · 01-19-2005, 09:55 PM

Could you give me the good and the bad...i.e. braid friendly????getting used to bailess, maintenance, and reliability.
Also, any tips welcomed!!!!all info appreciated!!!!
thanks

NIB · 01-20-2005, 07:15 AM

Its a good solid reel a clunkier version of a van sthal.drags are excellent but if ur gonna dunker u gotta clean em out every now an again.Takes about one minute.Not excactly braid friendly although i don't really have much trouble wit em cept for needles which I think are knot makers to begin wit. line roller squeals like a stuck pig wit any pressure on it but still works fine an gets better wit age.Some don't like the anti reverse clicking but I kinda enjoy it as all my old reels made some kinda winding noise an i got use to the cadence of it.Been usin em a long time an i had one problem where I could no longer fish.i made the gears jump on a snag. i think i was able to work it out an keep fishin i don't remember. Parts are easy to come by an u can break the whole reel down an have it back together in short time.it's the workhose of the Penn Line up Very dependable an a good reel for the money.bail less is the only way to go.

Crafty Angler · 01-20-2005, 08:28 AM

What NIB said.

And if you pack the snot out of the housing with SuperLube the anti-reverse clicker noise will go away.

rwilhelm · 01-20-2005, 08:37 AM

I picked one up this past fall and I was very happy with it. The first time using it unfortunately it came flying off my reel seat into the surf. I waited till the sun came up and found my reel about 1-1/2 hour later and I figured the reel would not ever be the same sitting in the water for that long. When I got home I gave it a good cleaning and it is fine. That makes me a believer it what a tank this reel is. As far as braid I have used Fireline with no problems but I have heard others say don't try Power Pro on a Z. Anyone use PP on a Z with good success? The only problem I ran into with the manual bail was trying to cast light lures like bombers into a strong head wind, it was difficult to get the line on the roller. Lesson learned I will throw something heavier in that situation.

mikecc · 01-20-2005, 08:38 AM

sorry to say they just added the 704Z & 706 to the international program. the minimum on the reel is now 704Z $124.99 & the 706 $139.99 they said they will be a limited production reel.

I guess it will be a very limited production.

fishweewee · 01-20-2005, 08:42 AM

day-yum. u could get a bunch of those at Sports Authority for like $75. WTF? I guess I'll be snarfing them up this afternoon.

Anyhoo, I

my 704's with manual bail conversion kit.

I've got them loaded up with 20 and 30 lb test Fireline.

bart · 01-20-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rwilhelm
. As far as braid I have used Fireline with no problems but I have heard others say don't try Power Pro on a Z. Anyone use PP on a Z with good success? .

used 30 lb. PP on my 2 704s for most of the season with no problems. had a few wind knots here and there but for the most part i was very happy.

mikecc · 01-20-2005, 08:50 AM

I'll update the prices later today. I got shipping to catch up on from the weekend.

fishweewee · 01-20-2005, 08:52 AM

I'm confused.

Mike - check ya pm's please.

Steve K · 01-20-2005, 09:33 AM

I have two 706z and I love them. They can take serious abuse and still keep going. The only briad that I use on mine is 30# fireline.

I used to be a fan of Penn but a 706 for $135 is crazy. They are going to lose customers with this new pricing policy.

mikecc · 01-20-2005, 09:53 AM

rwilhelm · 01-20-2005, 09:58 AM

Looks good - Good prices too!

Steve K · 01-20-2005, 09:59 AM

Mike,

It seems fine to me.

Steve

Mike P · 01-20-2005, 10:42 AM

It's still a bargain at $135, but when it was selling for under a buck only two years ago, it's a little hard to take

I bought my first 704 in the early 70s and I think it went in the $35-$40 price range. Adjust everything for inflation and your current earnings, and it's probably cheaper in real money today at a buck and a quarter.

Still hard to take the big step-up, tho

iluvspots · 01-20-2005, 10:44 AM

Van Staals, anyone?

mrstriper · 01-21-2005, 04:30 PM

Thanks for the info...anymore????

NIB · 01-22-2005, 09:02 AM

like someone said stick with the fireline.I use 20 an 30 lb tests.depends on the weight of the plugs I'm throwin.I put 200- 300 yds on an flip to another spool it when it gets worn.

Redsoxticket · 01-22-2005, 09:33 AM

I got a new Penn 706z from Mikecc just the other day. Mike has a nice collection and good service. Looking forward to using the new reel but have not decided if I want braid or mono. Another spool would be nice that way I can have both types.

PurpelNoon · 01-22-2005, 10:16 AM

If they put a little bigger of a line roller and improved on the sloppy anti-reverse, I would pay $200 for it, and sell all my other reels.
I won't keep my hopes up.

basswipe · 01-22-2005, 10:17 AM

I got a 704 from Mike about a month or so back.Talk about timing.

That's a pretty big price increase.I can see why all these import reels sell so well.

Steve HC · 01-22-2005, 10:56 PM

Mr. Striper,
Enjoy your new Penn 706Z, it is an excellent workhorse reel. The 700 series reels have been pounding the surf for many years now, with many happy fisherman to it's credit. It makes a little noise and doesn't have all the flash ,and bearings of some of the newer models, but will hold it's own with any other reel where it counts. I have had no problem with braid on either the 704 or 706Z. Some say it is not braid friendly????Parts are available at any B&T worth it's salt. Rinse with fresh water after use and oil the handle and line roller with some good oil. Grease up the gear box and your good to go.
Good Luck,
Steve

rizzo · 01-23-2005, 10:15 AM

the 706z is a great reel. i use 100% braid on it, and rarely have problems with it getting wind knots, maybe like a handful of them a year if that. Once you pack it with grease you can go for a while without washing it off. The only thing I do is pack the line roller with grease to keep it quiet. You really cant complain about the reel for what it costs. Do a search about this reel, as its been discussed before.

Redsoxticket · 01-23-2005, 11:17 AM

Rizzo, what type braid you using on 706z could it be Fireline?

rizzo · 01-24-2005, 10:01 AM

redsox- ive used power pro (50-65) and stealth (50-65) without any problems as far as wind knots or anything that has to do with the braid friendliness of the reel. Just dont over fill the spool when you pack it on, and be careful not to pack the last 100 yards or so on really tight.

The reason for that is say if youre fishing eels. You have your reel packed real tight with braid. You make a cast and all is well. When you reel in though there is hardly any any tension on the line (unless youre fishing somewhere with strong current, but still probably not enough tension on the line to pack it on as tight as you first did) so the line is packed on loosely, but when you get toward the end of your retrieve the line is overfilled on the spool now, and not packed on tight. Next cast you get a nasty wind knot becuase the line comes off in bunches.