Penn Battle II Spinning Reel Fishing Reel Review

 

When going on a fishing trip, you need to have a powerful fishing reel with great capabilities so that your fishing trip will be successful. The Penn Battle II Spinning Reel offers you exactly that and even much more.

This Penn Battle II Fishing Reel review will go into detail about the features that it has. We will also provide you with answers to the frequently asked questions so that you can have a clear understanding of this product.

Penn Battle II Spinning Reel overview

The reel is well-known as one of the premier saltwater and freshwater fishing rods on the market, and it’s also surprisingly affordable for its level of quality.

 This reel has an aluminium frame and side plate, making it strong and lightweight. It has one anti-reverse bearing and five stainless steel ball bearings, all of which are corrosion-resistant.

The Penn Battle II also features capacity rings and a rubber inlay on the spool, allowing the braided line to be loaded directly. It has a complete metal body and a robust aluminium bail wire to avoid wear.

 It comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1000 to 8000. Larger sizes have more line capacity and drag power.

The super-strong reel also features an HT-100 drag system that assures a smooth drag even under heavy loads. The set includes a rod constructed of a durable graphite composite and aluminum oxide guides.

Furthermore, the drag washers have been keyed into the spool, allowing you to use both sides of the drag washers. This is useful for preventing a fish from fleeing for protection.

The Battle II reel also boasts of  sealed bearings, which give an extra layer of protection, as well as a closed system that prevents saltwater from entering the bearing.

Overall, the Penn II is an excellent solution for anglers. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. This spinning reel will last for a long time and makes fishing much more enjoyable, thanks to the smooth action. The Penn Battle II is one of the most efficient reels I have ever used, and I highly recommend it.

Features and Benefits of Penn 11 Battle fishing Reel

5 Sealed Ball Bearings

For saltwater use, Sealed Ball Bearings is a must-have feature. These sealed bearings help to prevent saltwater intrusion into the system. 

The bearings affect your drag and retrieve, so your reel’s performance will quickly deteriorate if they are damaged or unclean. The impact of saltwater on the ball bearings is one of the most common reasons anglers take their reels into shops for maintenance or repair.

HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers

The HT is an abbreviation for High Tech, which is a carbon fiber bonded on fiberglass. The number 100 in the name refers to the equivalent of one hundred miles of line removed off the reel in original testing without any detectable degradation, which is rather impressive.

The HT 100 drag system, which uses keyed carbon washers rather than typically felt washers, will extend the life of the reel and give a very smooth, non-jerky drag while under strain from a retreating fish.

By using a keyed washer, it will provide you with access to both sides of the washer, resulting in a smooth drag with a 20 percent increase in possible drag pressure.

Anti-Reverse Bearing 

Back play on the rotor is one issue that arises when a fish pulls on bait and drags the line. There are a few ways of dealing with this, but the one employed in the Battle II reel is an instant anti-reverse. 

The rotor is prevented from reversing by using a one-way bearing built into the reel’s design.

Heavy-Duty Bail Wire

Bail Wire plays such an important part in line management. If it is of poor quality and prone to damage or warping, you will have issues such as tangled lines or unevenly wrapped lines on the spool.

To address this issue, Penn has equipped the Battle 2 with an aluminium bail wire, which should provide the necessary strength and longevity. This means it will always direct the line evenly onto the spool and should do so for the life of the reel.

Wide range of Sizes

There are different types of water you can fish in and different sizes and varieties of fish you can catch while fishing.

Due to these differences, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to fishing equipment.

Penn has designed eight distinct sizes for the Battle II reel, ranging from the ‘1000,’ which is the smallest, to the ‘8000,’ which is the largest.

Line capacity rings

One of the features that I like the most about this reel is the addition of line capacity rings on the spool, which ensures you are always aware of the amount of line available on the spool. These lines are useful and vital in ensuring that you have the proper quantity of lines on your reel.

You don’t want to have too little or too much line, as your casting may suffer as a result. Furthermore, these rings are an excellent visual indicator of how much line is out when trolling, drifting, long casting, or fishing.

When you hook, be mindful of the amount of line that is left on the reel, so that the fish you catch doesn’t leave you spooled. Always ensure your spool is sufficiently loaded but not do not overload.

Gear Ratio

The Penn Battle II Spinning Reel features an open face design and comes in eight different sizes. The smallest is 1000, while the largest is 8000. Each of them has a medium to high gear ratio.

These different gear ratios make it simple to capture a wide range of fish, from small inshore species like smaller reds to giant tarpon.

High-quality paint

The higher the paint quality, the more resistant the reel is to chemicals and saltwater spray, which will normally lead to rust if you are not keen. 

This was a previously reported issue in the previous model. It is encouraging to see that Penn is paying attention to customers’ comments and has resolved this issue.

Rubber inlay

When spooling braid, the rubber inlay is a useful feature. The rubber inlay works as a grip or holds on the braided line, preventing it from slipping off the spool.

Avoiding slippage is particularly important when you have a large line in the water or simply out of line. I’ve often used electrical tape or mono backing on my spools; this rubber inlay eliminates the need for these additions.

Full Metal Body

In terms of weight and construction quality, the reel has a robust body. The Penn Battle II has a full metal body, which makes it a little heavier. It ensures it will not bend under the weight of large fish, and can withstand heavy use, such as on a charter boat.

The Pros and Cons of Penn Battle II Spinning Reel

Pros

•    Instant anti-reverse that help in eliminating the back play when setting the hook

•     Quality construction and design with a solid feel 

•     Smooth drag system

•    Line capacity rings that indicate available line

•   You can use both sides of the drag washers

•   Pocket-friendly price

Cons

• Some people feel it is heavy

•  Challenging to maintain

•  Rough retrievals and wind knots after using it for a while

Top FAQs

What is the difference between the 8000 and the 1000 reel?

A spinning reel of the 8000 sizes is very large and has a large line capacity. The larger reels (6000-8000 size) are built to battle large fish, and with the extra line capacity, you can fish in depths of 100’ to 200’ and still have plenty of lines. Larger reels also have drag systems designed to resist more line stripping if you hook up on a big fish. A 1000 size reel is a small reel with relatively little line capacity.

 What is the max drag for the 8000?

The maximum drag size for the 8000 is 30 lbs.

Can this reel be used both in salty and fresh water?

Yes, it certainly can. Many users of this reel use it for freshwater and saltwater fishing, which means they only need to purchase one reel rather than two.

What is the best size to use for freshwater bass fishing?

I would use a 4000 or 3000

Can you switch the retrieve from the right to the left side of the reel?

Yes, you can use it on both sides. Wind the handle backwards while holding the spool, remove the screwed-on cap, and switch sides.

Which size is most suited to pier fishing?

The 4000 size reel should handle most of the fish you will catch while pier fishing.

Final thoughts

Overall, the Penn Battle II Spinning Reel is an excellent investment, particularly for those looking to capture large fish in both fresh and salty water. These reels are extremely flexible and durable.

It offers every fishing enthusiast an excellent addition to their fishing equipment, with quality features like a robust bail wire, line usage indication, and Penn’s unique HT-100 drag system.

Furthermore, it is very well finished, which gives it a fantastic aesthetic and provides good corrosion protection, extending the life of the reel and adding to its exceptional value for money.

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a novice, the Penn Battle II will provide you with just what you’re looking for: from a solidly made reel with a smooth drag to high-quality paint and a strong metallic body.

Grab your Penn reel and get ready to have a fantastic time fishing.