OutdoorHub
OutdoorHub Overview: PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500
The PENN Spinfisher line of spinning reels has a protracted historical past of being one of many go-to spinning reels for inshore and surf fishing courting all the best way again to April 1961 with the unique PENN Spinfisher Mannequin 700. Now over 60 years since that authentic PENN Spinfisher was launched we now have the PENN Spinfisher VII reels. These new reels have been initially introduced final yr at ICAST 2023 with the intention to proceed the lengthy legacy of excellence that anglers have come to know in relation to PENN reels. I acquired this PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500 that November and since then have been fishing with this reel wherever I may, chasing Striper, Catfish, and Sturgeon within the river, redfish and sharks from the seashore, and king mackerel and tarpon from the piers. So lets see how this reel has held as much as a yr of use and see if the brand new Spinfisher VII hits the mark of continuous the legacy.
PENN Protection on OutdoorHub
- PENN’s NEW Ally II West Coast Standard Rods – West Coast Tuna Slayers
- [ICAST 2024] PENN Launches NEW Fathom Cordless Electrical Reel
- PENN Spinfisher VII Spinning Reel w/ Fenwick Elite Rod: The Good Redfish Combo!
- PENN Stands with Captains for Clear Water (CFCW)
- NEW PENN Carnage III Boat Standard West Coast Sequence Rods
Specs – PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500
The PENN Spinfisher VII comes with a completely sealed HT-100 carbon fiber drag system, which produces loads of drag. The gearing of the Spinfisher VII has been upgraded to all-brass gears which are CNC minimize, no sintered steel or forged gears right here. These gears are then mated with 5+1 sealed stainless-steel ball bearings for a pleasant tight lockup, in its full steel physique. Lastly, the reel itself is IPX5 sealed, so it is protected against water intrusion from a low-pressure water stream at any angle.
The Spinfisher VII is on the market in 18 fashions, ranging from a lightweight sort out 2500 measurement as much as an offshore huge recreation 10500 measurement reel for taming the most important of sport fish. There will even be extra varieties as properly equivalent to lengthy forged, liver liner, and bail-less variants. The max drag throughout all of the variants will vary from 15 kilos to 50 kilos relying on the reel measurement.
- IPX5 Sealed physique and Spool Design
- CNC Gear Know-how with a Brass Primary Gear
- Keyed HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag Washers
- Full Steel Physique
- Superline Spool
- Bailess
- Gear Ratio – 5.6:1
- Retrieve – Proper or Left
- Line Retrieve – 42 inches per flip of the deal with
- Max Drag – 30lb / 13.6 kg
- Weight – 21.8 oz
- Ball Bearings – 6
- Mono Capability (lb take a look at/yd) – 12/390, 15/ 345, 20/205
- Braid Capability (lb take a look at/yd) – 30/485, 40/410, 50/335
On the Water – PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500
Like I stated earlier than I fished about wherever it was acceptable for a reel of this measurement. I had the reel spooled up with 30 lb braid tied on to the spool, the superline spool ensuring the road by no means slipped even below heavy drag strain. More often than not I had this mounted on a customized 9ft king mackerel rod and the remainder of the time I had it on a 7ft Ugly Stik boat rod. The massive line capability with 30 lb braid, 485 yards, made the Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500 very able to dealing with huge fish. I had a number of tarpon hookups prior to now yr on the reel with the fish dumping line off the reel with no points. Even when a grasping dolphin obtained a hook in it whereas stealing a stay bait, the reel held up whereas I locked down the drag. Even below heavy pressure I didnt see any cases of flex within the rotor or slipping of the antireverse.
The reel itself did nice on the water, be it throwing plugs or meat. The road retrieve charge of 42 inches of line per flip of the deal with offers you loads of velocity for working plugs or spoons, however not too quick to comfortably fish bait. The road lay was constant from proper out of the field, producing a really even line lay without having for shims below the spool. Even after a yr of fishing, I’ve not had an points with my braid shifting up or down the spool.
I do want to notice a few issues concerning the 6500 Bailess Spinfisher VII. First, should you haven’t dealt with a whole lot of sealed reels you may be shocked on the stiffness of the reel whenever you crank it. That is the fee it’s important to pay when coping with a whole lot of sealed reels, I might say it runs fairly center of the pack for the texture although. Second, is the peak of the road curler on the 6500, in comparison with an older PENN 706 it does really feel a bit excessive. Giving the reel a bit extra of a studying curve to get used to the placing line on the curler with out it. Nevertheless, I’ve heard that this isn’t a priority with the 4500 sized bailess reels, so take this with a grain of salt and see should you can deal with each of the reels first earlier than coming to your personal determination.
Opening it Up – PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500
Throughout this yr of fishing with this 6500 Bailess Spinfisher VII, I didn’t service this reel as soon as. Probably the most this reel ever obtained was only a spray down with a hose after journeys. I didn’t wish to child this reel, as a result of let’s be actual a great portion of anglers will greater than seemingly by no means open up their fishing reels. Hell, I’ve seen loads of individuals stroll straight off the pier or docks with out rinsing any of their gear off after a day within the salt. I additionally didn’t add any grease to the reel as I used it in the course of the yr, every little thing in there’s from the manufacturing unit.
For essentially the most half, proper off the bat, I used to be impressed with what number of seals the Spinfisher VII had all through. With there being a rubber gasket nearly in every single place water may intrude into the reel no less than for what you possibly can take aside with out instruments. I did discover although the reel deal with itself doesn’t have a seal behind it just like the deal with cap does. I additionally observed a bit of little bit of corrosion across the base of the stem of the reel deal with the place it screws into the physique of the reel. That is extra beauty than the rest because it doesn’t have an effect on the reels perform however it’s one thing to bear in mind.
Now to open the reel up when you take away the reel deal with, you solely should take the three screws holding down the aspect plate off. You don’t should take away the bumper or the rotor of the reel to open it up. This can be a huge plus in my guide, this offers you simpler entry with much less screws to lose. I do wish to word, one of many three screws did have some floor corrosion, as did the screw gap. This was simply cleaned off with a cotton swab and a few heat water.
Taking the aspect plate off you may actually see all of the efforts put in to maintain water, sand, and salt out of the reel. With a strong gasket punning completly across the rim of the reel physique. It’s also possible to see under the sealed ball bearings, which is a giant enchancment over extra historically discovered shielded ball bearings. These sealed ball bearings preserve moisture and salt out whereas being even simpler to service than conventional shieled ball bearings. Moreover you’re nice by these good yellow gears, machined out of brass. Whereas brass gearing was the usual these days its typically been changed by cheaper materials choices.
However simply because the gearing is brass doesn’y routinely imply its good, we’ve to take a better take a look at the gears to get the total story. The tooth of the drive gear present nothing out of the strange displaying minimal put on. This goes for the pinion gear as properly, the damage will not be completely even however for the value level of the reels I wouldn’t anticipate them to be. If that is what the gears appear like after a yr, I’m not gonna fear about them for years to come back. Additionally word the
With the primary shaft take away, which is held in place with two screws for added stablity, it’s time to take away the rotor of the reel. The rotor nut is locked in place however three screws and a safety lock. This retains the nut from backing off and letting the rotor wiggle below strain. Underneath the safety lock there’s one other rubber seal, to maintain water from getting in by means of the reel’s principal shaft.
Underneath the rotor nut, there’s one other gasket to maintain water out from below the rotor nut. Trying on the pinion gear you may see an artificial bushing contained in the pinon gear, this to cut back friction between the primary shaft and pinion.
Shifting on to the pinion of the rotor, I went to open up the road curler of the reel. Inside I discovered one other sealed bearing, which is all the time nice to see. Typically now you discover reels with bushings as an alternative of ball bearings for the road curler. Whereas bushings work, they’re a poor alternative for a correct ball-bearing line curler. Once more the usage of a sealed ball bearing makes for a idiot proof line curler system.
Whereas I didn’t point out it earlier than, however each screw I eliminated whereas opening up the Spinfisher VII had a wholesome little bit of blue threadlocker, making certain not one of the screws will again out as you fish.
Last Ideas – PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500
After a yr of utilizing the Spinfisher VII 6500 Bailess, I’ve to say I’m fairly pleased with this new era of Spinfisher. Like many different PENN reels, these are tremendous rugged and solid-feeling reels with a wonderful end. It’s been a problem-free reel this entire yr, with no odd noises and a great line lay on the spool. The one “drawback” I had with the perform of the reel was a wind knot someday on the pier, however greater than seemingly that was consumer error whereas throwing mild stay baits into the wind. The brand new CNC machined brass gearing, the sealed bearings, gasket seals, and keyed HT-100 drag washers are all nice options on the reel, however there’s something I want to say concerning the Spinfisher VII. If you’re wanting a glassy clean reel this isn’t it, the seals on the reel do give it a little bit of resistance whenever you begin reeling. However I really feel the trade-off is value it for the added sturdiness of the reel, I see this as a reel that may final for a very long time identical to my trusty ole PENN 706z. The construct high quality and options that PENN has put into this reel make for a strong worth in case you are trying particularly for a contemporary bailess reel choice that doesn’t break the financial institution.
PENN Fishing Social Media Channels
The put up OutdoorHub Overview: PENN Spinfisher VII Bailess Spinning Reel 6500 appeared first on OutdoorHub.
