Quote:
Originally Posted by Rockport24
I fish penns (bought them right before they stopped being made in the US)
although I don't dunk them regularly, they have been dunked on many occasions and I've never had an issue, I rinse them off and take them to surfland to be serviced maybe once every couple of years!
Those 704's are supposed to be bulletproof anyway, so drilling them probably makes them more so because the water just has more chances to escape before getting in there are screwing the reel up.
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I pretty much agree. I don't treat my 704z or 706z reels any differently than my VS200. I think I have a bit more confidence in the VS, but my first VS broke... had to be rebuilt. Never had that happen with the Penns.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maddog2020
Sorry - I'm gonna rain on your parade. 
Waste of time & $ IMHO. All those holes do is weaken the cast aluminum pot metal. I LMAO every time I see the "Van Penns". Drilling holes to save weight is an even BIGGER joke. To help get the sand out is a little more valid, but over kill. Few years back I posted (on SOL) how much weight each hole would save in a certain size range.
Penn's drag isn't waterproof nor is anything else on the reel. Sorry - I just don't get it. 
Van Staal & Zeebaas are machine from SOLID pieces of aluminum. Big difference in strength AND cost. For what a VS costs they should wind line better than they do (seems like larger sizes are OK, many of the smaller ones are coned real bad!). At least the ZB winds the line on evenly.
Hey - some one has to speak some truth. I have no agenda and I'm not paid to promote any one's product. I just tell it like it is.
I like to use my older Penn spinfisher reels without any modifications and have MONO on the spools. I still like fiberglass rods even thought 90% of my rods are graphite or graphite blends. Bucktail jigs catch a lot of fish and STILL work once the paint is chipped off.  Live eels always seem to catch larger and more fish than any lures I have ever used. Don't get me wrong, I love using PowerPro and Fireline on the newer buttery smooth by Shimano, Daiwa & etc.
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I have a rod rack on the hood of my truck and when I drive into my yard there is a hose right there and I thoroughly rinse everything before I even walk up the steps. Having the reel rotor drilled is a great advantage when rinsing... it also allows a wave to pass through quickly and not leave a bunch of crap trapped. I do agree that too much drilling on a Penn does weaken it, but just enough to allow for flushing is an improvement and I don't think it weakens the rotor enough to have it be any more susceptible to failure than stock. Admittedly the drags aren't water proof, but so far it hasn't caused a problem. Packing with blue marine grease is what I do also.
As for weight saving... just not of any importance.
Also I use my Penns with Fireline 30lb and they spool the stuff fine.
Truth is, I only own a VS because I spent an hour or so with Steve McKenna and decided I had some reels I had bought very reasonably and if I sold them I could get enough cash to grab a VS200. I paid $550 for the VS NIB. I had about $325 into the reels and sold them for quite a bit more than I paid for the VS. So it made sense to give the VS a shot. Would I spend $650 to own one knowing that I have 3 706Zs and a converted 704Z that are all working great and doing everything I ask of them.... NOPE. I'm not saying they aren't worth it... just not worth it to me.
As for the ZB at $1000, well in the words of the great bowler, Jesus Quintana..."Laughable, man. Laughable." As I say, that's for me in my financial reality and my fishing habits.
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