INDIANANGLER

Hi Guys,

I know a lot of you are into Penn products. I was too, I still like their rods and will still swear by Penn International Big Game Rods and Reels and Fly Reels.

Since of late I have been skeptical about their spinning reels because I heard from reliable sources about them being manufactured in China where the way to Identify the China Made reels I was told was, if the reel seat said "Penn USA" it was China Made where as if it said "Made in USA" iit was US Made. However, I wonder now if even the reels that I believe are made in the US may only have been assembled there and all parts made in China. See attached pictures of the reel below, happened recently while fighting a Large GT. The reel is supposedly USA made, just over a year old and sparingly used.

Over the last few years I have heard from very reliable sources and from personal experience of Penn Spinning Reels faltering in following ways:

1) Hard Plastic Drag Knobs Cracking
2) Caps (handle caps) falling off
3) Silent/Alarm anti-reverse switch on the underside come loose
4) Anti-reverse on/off switch coming off or coming loose.
5) Bail Springs failing
Recently
6) Drag washers failing
7) (Now) handle breaking

On the good side, I have never come across a company in the Angling Industry with better after sales service and Penn have always responded very positively whenever I have had a problem with my reels.

What I have noticed, is that reels made in China really suck (does not matter which brand) on the other side reels made in Thailand and Korea are of a much better quality than those made in China, again irrelevant of the brand.

As far as spinning reels go, I have gone back to Daiwa Japanese Made and if I am looking at saving a few bucks go in for Thai made Daiwa.

I have related this from what I have experienced and this only on their SS spinning reels, hope this helps.

hi Bobby,

You must be joking if you want go after a GT that too a large one with a penn reel!!

Jeen

Hi Bobby thats Serious Structural Failure it appears that the Handle(aluminium)was die casted on to a stainless steel shaft.The Torque loading around that area is rather high and it failed, well ill be checking my reels with Dye penetrant to check for hairline fractures in that area ,thanks for the tip.Did you land the GT?

Hi Bobby.

Do agree about the big Gts on regular reels. Well, Ijust wanted to know what would a Shimano Stella 20000 and Diawa Saltiga 6500 cost in Hong kong now.The japs have still not reduced their prices and the 2008 models are like crazy expensive.

Cheers,

Jeen

Hi Ali,

Check out the new Shimano Torsa...I liked what I saw.

Bobby