PENN Spinfisher V Spinning Fishing Reel

I decided to purchase this reel from Penn because there is no bail to close on your line while you are making a powerful cast with a heavy lure or bait set up. I lost a big hook w/ leader baited with squid and a medium sized sinker last summer when a bail closed on me during a cast. I don't even want to think about loosing a $20 pencil popper. This reel has performed perfectly so far. I use it at the beach surf casting in saltwater. This reel has the following features: Utilizes all metal construction. Aluminum, anodized to prevent corrosion. 5.6:1 gear ratio. Water tight design uses seals to keep saltwater out. 5+1 Shielded stainless steel ball bearings - including anti-reverse bearing. Weight - 22.5 oz. Extra plastic washers - to adjust how the line lays on the spool. Mine does not need any adjustment. Spool - Capacity 430 yards of 30 lb braid which is what I use. Spool has a rubber or vinyl coating to keep line from spinning on the spool. You can order extra spools directly by calling Penn. Drag - Sealed. Dial up to a 30 lb drag instead of the usual 15 lbs. Material, I believe it is carbon fiber. Using this reel has been great. When reeling in a lure the mechanical operation and feel is very smooth. There is no wobble, and this reel has been designed for the rotor mass to be in balance without a bail. This is a heavy duty, dependable and solid reel. The drag can be adjusted to any setting you desire as changing by one click does not change the drag very much. The spool has a beveled inside face to help the line shoot out upon casting. Using the reel can take some getting used to. You have to put the line on the roller bearing with your finger after casting. If this is new to you I recommend watching some videos on youtube to help you. Once the line is on the roller bearing you just reel the line in as usual and the line will never pop off of the roller bearing on its own. After you use this reel for a while, placing the line on the roller bearing will just become second nature or put another way you will do this without thinking about it or looking at it while doing it. I'm having a lot of fun fishing with my new Penn Spinfisher V bail-less reel. Great value. Recommended !

I would like to start this by saying there are TWO kinds of "Saltwater Reels": 1. Used IN Saltwater 2. Used IN the SURF There's a big difference between those two. Most reels that say they're rated for "Saltwater" do not necessarily mean they're rated for the surf. The key factor being that "Surf" conditions are more harsh due to the fine grit and sand that can get into the reels, and "Reelly" messing up your day. On incoming surf, the water is loaded with ultra fine sediment, and more often than not your reel is going to get either splashed or even dunked in the water from time to time, this fine grit is a killer on reels. I have a few Saltwater spin reels that say saltwater rated, however in the surf they took a death within a couple trips (maybe 10 to 15 hours of use), having to be opened up and cleaned out, as they eventually started to fail (Actually reeling became labored due to the fine grit that got into them, affecting gearing and spool post actuation). To note: I practice all the due diligence in taking care of my gear, rinsing everything with freshwater, extensively, after every session. I then use an air compressor and blow out the excess water, fallowed by lubricating sprays (some silicone, some not), followed by another wipe down and test use to clear the excess. So far, putting this Penn to the test has proven the SpinfisherV to be a very good reel. The slammer drag, being sealed, I think is a big part of that. I fully immersed it, a few times in the surf, and it performed flawlessly. The reel is pretty beefy, you'll feel it's "Heft" right when you take it out of the box. The bail system is very solid, not flimsy, and the drag system is quite sensitive and smooth. I have to say so far I'm impressed and will update accordingly if I have any problems. But so far, it's been a great reel.

I hate writing reviews until I fully test and use the product, sorry for a long delay but 5 years and still going. One of the standout features of the PENN Spinfisher V is its durable construction. The full metal body, sideplate, and rotor, along with the heavy-duty aluminum bail wire, provide a solid foundation that can handle the rigors of saltwater fishing. This reel has shown exceptional resistance to corrosion, maintaining its functionality even after extended exposure to saltwater and sand. The drag system is a key component of the Spinfisher V's performance. It delivers a robust and silky smooth drag, allowing me to reel in even the toughest fish with ease. The addition of the friction trip ramp prevents premature bail trip when casting, reducing the risk of line tangles and improving overall casting efficiency. The instant anti-reverse bearing further enhances the reel's performance by eliminating back play, providing solid hook sets, and preventing handle movement during critical moments. In conclusion, the PENN Spinfisher V Spinning Fishing Reel has proven to be a reliable, durable, and versatile option for saltwater and sand fishing environments over the past five years. With its full metal construction, sealed drag system, smooth operation, and convenient features, this reel has consistently delivered a high level of performance and customer satisfaction. I can confidently rely on the Spinfisher V to enhance my fishing experience and tackle various challenges with ease.

I've wanted a saltwater capable long caster for a while now and this product gives you just that. I've shied away from models such as the Shimano Ultegra because I wasn't sure how'd they hold up in the salt. Let me break it down for you. Pros: Fully sealed, saltwater resistant. Just like any other Spinfisher this reel is resistant to splashing, sand, and the occasional dunking. This is important as I do a lot of jetty fishing where splashes from waves are commonplace. Extremely smooth worm gear oscillation system. I've counted roughly 22 to 23 wraps of line from when the spool moves from top to bottom (Compare this to a Penn Battle II which only gives you about 6 or 7). This creates superb line lay which allows for phenomenal castability. Wind knots are a thing of the past. Manual bail trip. Penn was smart to do this, no more breaking off $30 plugs. Lastly, and most importantly for me, this reel has a lot of cranking power for a long caster. Bear in mind that most European long casters are designed for lighter freshwater applications such as carp or eel fishing. I have reeled down on 20lb blues and pulled up bass from ocean inlets without issue. Cons: It's heavy. It can definitely wear on you if you plan on casting plugs all day. However, it is 7500 size so it sort of comes with the territory. Recommendations: Be sure to pair this with at least an 11 foot medium heavy power rod to get the most from its performance. A 12 or 13 footer is even more ideal. Also, a fast action rod will get it out there even further. Overall, this is well-crafted, extremely smooth reel that is a great bargain for its price.

Great Reel but not perfect. Be sure to absolutely tighten up the handle side cap to ensure water tighness. There should be only a extremely small gap between the cap and the reel side showing barely any threads. There are some reports of water seeping into this reel. The gasket seals DO protect this reel much better than your average spinning reel. Be sure all your plate screws are secure and tight. These reels will handle most situations but unfortunately you'll get a slight horizontal spool wobble in some of them. Doesn't really affect much. The drag is great and extremely strong. The finish and paint is good, and the internal gears are good too. Overall this is a good choice, but unfortunately Chinese manufacturing doesn't have the consistency as the U.S. models of yesterday. You have to spend around $250 now for a US Penn Reel to get the best stuff. I own 4 Penn spinfishers and have caught 150 lb sharks on the 7500 SSV. No serious problems.

One of my favorite reels (for salt or fresh). Heavy, but an absolute beast. I have a 6500 on a surf rod with braid and it can cast a mile. Drag is smooth and so is reeling in or working a fish. Feels like a rock. Solid. Has had numerous dunks and drops. All you need to do is rinse it with fresh water. To those offering bad reviews: if you are using a spinning reel and you are cranking the handle to close the bail....you’re doing it wrong and hurting the reel. Stop it and stop being lazy. Close it manually. Easy way to grind gears and break things.....no matter the size of the reel. If you aren’t rinsing it off after each use, that is on you. You are damaging your own reel. If you are reeling a fish while it is pulling drag, you are doing it wrong. Let the reel and the rod work for you. But seriously, never reel closed the bail. Always do it manually. This reel is amazing. I can’t wait to get another (probably more). I fully suggest this reel. I mainly surf cast and jetty fish. I have fished it in the dead of night, heat of the sun, and in downpours. Always performs. Second only to my Stradic ci+ that was more than twice the price. Don’t believe bad reviews. Try this reel for yourself. Amazing. Tight lines!

Really and truly an amazing spinner reel. I have used this paired up with a 12 foot uglystik and few hundred yards of 50-lb braid and its been phenomenal. It is definitely on the heavier side plus the rod I choose is not any lighter either. After getting into more surf fishing this was definitely a huge upgrade over my Penn Pursuit II rod/reel combo, and the weight difference was very much noticeable. I've got no problem flinging 3-6oz diamond jigs immense distances compared to the old rod/reel I had. The one feature I love that has come in very handy was the fact that the bail does not lock when you try to reel in while its open, nor does it lock with a particularly hard cast, I have lost many a lure and popper this way. Another notable feature worth mentioning is it is a sealed reel so a few dunks or splashes in saltwater wont make much of a dent in it. On the maiden trip I managed to catch two blue fish well over 15inches and they put up one crazy, and fun, fight. I purchased this in May 2016, it is now July so its been in use for about 2 months as of writing this and its performed amazingly well each time, surf fishing, night fishing, and pier fishing, its all been great.

I have been buying and using Penn spinning reels (started with the green reel) for nearly 50 years. I have a 716, 714, 550, 950, and a 260 Slammer and fish about a 100 days/year in Hawaii. When I retire next year I plan to fish more often. For some reason, this reel can cast much farther out than the others. I love the thick bail as it holds its shape and does not stick like the thinner wire ones. Having a sealed shaft, the handle does not spin freely as there is always some resistance. Being that I whip in the surf and the reel always gets salt water splashed on, the sealed design is perfect for my use. I will find out how effective this sealed design is when I take it apart for servicing after the summer. The reel is rather heavy for its class because it has a metal body. I prefer a metal instead of a lightweight graphite body as it does not warp/flex during use and the internal gears last longer.