Overall tougest reel

[lunker36]

Besides Van Staal (way out of my wallet's reach) what do you guys think the overall toughest spinning real is? I'm going to be strapping it on the back of my kayak which i launch from the surf. i will be using 50 lb. braid for small brown sharks, blues, and some stripers. thanks

[Catch my Drift]

any of the penn z series ;) try a 710 but you say sharks so maybe a 708

[mini ike]

zeebaas, but they are twice as expensive as a van staal. then theres a shimano stella which are also expensive. daiwa saltiga, penn slammers too.

[egghead]

Penn "Z" Series. Tougher than Van Snoopies.

After that Shimano bait runners.

[pluger032686]

The PENN 706 Z fished With Them Since I Started Bass Fishing About The Age Of 10 No Doubt The Toughest Reels Ive Fished i Swim With Mine Up North In The Fall And The Keep On Ticking Must Admit I Did Break And Buy A Vs 275 Because The Abuse ,the 706's Take Swiming With Is Too Hard To Keep Up With But I Stand By the penn Just a workhorse

[Mullica Bob]

How about the new "Accurate" spinning reel?

[Bob ECT]

Today's Penn Z Series are made in china, not exactly the classics from the past.

What price range are trying to stay in and what the intended use for it?

[Blynch]

penn slammer 560

[OVER THE RAIL]

Good answer, Blynch.

[gotboost1]

Penn slammers.

[RyanPaul]

i use the 704z locking bail never had a problem

[egghead]

Today's Penn Z Series are made in china, not exactly the classics from the past.

What price range are trying to stay in and what the intended use for it?
Bob, how have they changed?

[gone_fishing]

Shimano 4500BR...good, tough, and inexpensive. I wouldn't put too much money into a rod/reel you are using on a yak until you are VERY experienced out there. I have beaten up my BR and it's always worked 100%.

[Bob ECT]

Bob, how have they changed?

All Penn spinning reels are now made in China

[mdub1226]

710Z or baitrunner

[CaptG]

Diawa BG - Black/Gold series have allways been some of the tougher spinning reels made. Have some 20+ years old that have taken a lickin and are still kickin.

[Tangled up 21cc]

4500 bait runner by shimano best all around spinning reel



tight lines

[OVER THE RAIL]

But, Slammers keep working after they get dunked. :)

[WaltJr]

Penn Slammers. !!!

[bass ackwards]

Ive had both BR and older penns such as the z and ss. Go with the older penns while the BR is a good reel the do not hold up to the abuse. I had a BR that I used hard and it only lasted a few months before I had to send out to get fixed, could'nt do it myself. Then the bail fell apart on me and when I tried to get it fixed they did nt have the parts, know it collects dust. I dont have the cash for the VS so I use my old penn ss and i go swiming with it all the time, I clean it out everytime i do this and it still kicking. Easy to fix and find parts

[RebelMusicNP]

cabo's or boca's both have not disappointed. if you can hold off and save money get a van staal. best purchase i've made with fishing gear.

[oz775]

no doubt about it- go with Shimano- would never buy another Penn reel as long as I live!!! JUNK!!!- Shimano are smoother, have smoother drags, and are very dependable- have had 3 bad expereinces with Penn- i kept giving them the benefit of the doubt! But never again

[CobiaKeith]

My vote goes for Shimano 4500 Baitrunners.
I have 2,about 10 years old and one about 3-years old.
Zero problems on boat or in the surf.
They have gone swimming in the surf,no problem.
I do not baby my reels they take some serious abuse.I have only recently began to maintain the 10 year-old models correctly. I cannot kill them.
Been through about 7- Penns, mostly 550ss and 550 ssg a couple 650ss ,all had problems and most of them retired early.

[OVER THE RAIL]

I, too, have had trouble with some Penns, but Slammers are not SSs or Zs. They're much better.

[chops67]

For what you want to do you're better off with an older Penn. If you lose it, not that big of a deal. Easy to take apart to clean if they get dunked.

Another reel, I saw at Off the Hook tackle, was a Fin Nor Offshore reel. Very nice. That might be a future purchase. Check them out. They look very tough.

[Capt. Scott]

High hook last time I fished the Karluk River in Kodiak, AK for 35 pound King salmon was using a small bass rod with a closed faced Zebco. He landed at least 5 and hooked twice as many on a day fly in trip....:eek:

Current outbound was at least 5 knots....

Was it talented fishing???? Luck???? What??????:confused:

I saw it and I vote good fishing...he probably was/is a HEL* of a bass fisherman!!!!!!!:D :D

Fished mostly Penn my whole life...never a problem with any of them except the cheapo bubble pack kind....

[JerseyBrian3]

Penn SS series when they were made in philly. Have a few 6500ss and 7500ss and love em. Had one for roughly 10 years, works great and only had it serviced 1 time in the 10 years. They are not as smooth as the compeditors but you said tough. Get and 8500ss or a 9500ss and hold on to your hat.

[zar2754]

shimano bait runner gets my vote , my 3500 has beaten big stripers , drum, blues, and sharks (browns). Its been dropped, dunked, scratched, and still has never let me down.

[Reel Nice]

4500 bait runner by shimano best all around spinning reel



tight lines


I second that.... and they do work after taking them swimming

[filletone]

Diawa BG series are my choice. They have all of what you need and none of what you dont. All metal, huge drag, very simple and durable.

[Dick_O'D]

Pen 704 Z make it bailless tough to beat., easy to take care of only problem, I hate the clicker!
O'D