Whether or not you are brand-new to fishing, or simply want a high quality reel at an reasonably priced value, Penn is a reputation to belief.
In style within the salt attributable to a mixture of top-flight drag programs, capacious spools, and gears that ship fight-winning torque, Penn’s line up of reels are second to none. And whereas their flagship fashions would possibly set you again a bit, entry-level reels just like the Pursuit IV are priced proper for normal Joes such as you and me.
However does the Pursuit IV ship the products?
Let’s discover out!
Max drag: 12 lbs. (HT-100)
Capability: (braid) 15/250; 20/180; 30/130
Gear ratio: 6.2:1 (35 IPT)
Bearings: 5
Weight: 11.8 oz.
Casting
To place the Pursuit IV by way of its paces, I paired it with a 6’6″ Ugly Stik Elite, spooled on some 20-pound Sufix 832, and hit the seaside.
With the spool correctly loaded with line, I discovered that the Pursuit IV was able to really lengthy casts, permitting me to launch fishfinder rigs approach, well past the breakers. Suffice it to say that I used to be impressed – stunned, even – by the gap I achieved with a tough snap solid.
I usually press my 3000-size spinning reels into double-duty in freshwater as effectively, and the Pursuit IV was greater than in a position to present the accuracy and trouble-free casting I anticipated with Damiki rigs, swim jigs, and Texas-rigged creature baits.
Drag
The Pursuit IV affords Penn’s astonishingly good HT-100 drag system, hands-down my favourite possibility at this value level.
Armed with ultra-durable carbon-fiber drag washers, it is laborious to think about higher efficiency on an entry-level reel.
It is reliably easy throughout a variety of settings, offering regular launch and fixed strain.
In laborious fights with purple drum, massive speckled trout, and monster bass, I had no hassle by any means, which is exactly what I might anticipate from the true workhorse of a system.
Capability
I usually run braided line until I am fishing round barnacle-encrusted pilings, counting on a number of ft of chief to maintain my line secure from abrasion. And one factor just about any angler will agree on is that extra line is all the time higher.
180 yards of 20-pound braid isn’t any joke, and you’ll solid to at the least a 3rd of that with any reasonably-weighted rig within the salt.
You will additionally discover that you’ve loads of line for chopping and retying all through the day.
Penn’s Pursuit IV is neck-and-neck with the Daiwa Regal LT on this entrance, and it crushes the Shimano Sedona FJ’s comparatively paltry 140 yards of 20-pound braid.
Gearing and anti-reverse bearing
Penn equips the Pursuit IV with a 6.2:1 gear ratio that, at the side of its massive spool, picks up 35 inches of line per flip.
That is quick – quick sufficient to maintain a decent line with a 24-inch speck in your hook!
It provides up roughly an inch of retrieve to the Shimano and Daiwa, however that is not one thing you will discover on the water.
The 4 stainless bearings and extra anti-reverse bearing present loads of slick spinning, with no lag when it comes time to set the hook. And as you’d anticipate from Penn, this reel is certainly struggle prepared!
Ultimate Ideas
I actually just like the Penn Pursuit IV, and I believe it competes favorably with the Shimano FJ and Daiwa Regal LT.
For my cash, the HT-100 drag cannot be beat at this value level, and from reliably casting within the wind to multi-season sturdiness, this is not a “low cost” reel regardless of its budget-conscious pricing.
For those who’ve been fishing spincast reels like these from Zebco, be ready for startling enhancements in casting distance, smoothness, and sturdiness.
Decide one up – you will be impressed!
