Penn 2021 Slammer IV, Saltwater Spinning Fishing Reel, Front Drag

Product Information

The jury is still debating whether or not more bearings equals enhanced performance and to be honest, it’s very hard to tell the difference but it’s still a feature. The Penn Slammer IV comes with eight stainless steel bearings and one anti-reverse bearing. Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearings Size 5500- Gear Ratio 5.6:1 -Bearings 9 - Max Drag 40lb/18.1kg - Mono Capacity m/mm 390/0.28 210/0.36 - Instant Anti-Reverse message will provide an estimated arrival date, which can be unpredictable as suppliers often change Also featured on the spool are line-capacity rings cut into the base of the spool. These are designed, not for how much line is loaded, but refer, at a glance, as to how much line you have left on the reel spool when a big fish takes a lot of line. The inner line denotes 1/3 rd capacity, the middle line 2/3rds capacity, and the outer line full capacity. And while we’re thinking of line, the spool capacity is 230yds of 15lb mono, or 380yds of 30lb braid, give or take. More than enough to handle anything this reel is pitched against in UK waters!

CNC Gear Technology with Stainless Steel Main and Pinion (Fully Supported pinion tail and spool shaft) We’ve loaded the reel with both 15lb mono, and 30lb braid. In both cases the line-lay has been excellent. We loaded the mono to within 1/8 th of an inch of the spool lip, but found the braid is better and reduces any chance of wind knotting if it’s left slightly lower than that below the spool lip. Either way, the reel casts easily to long range appropriate to the weights and lures being used. This is Penn’s flagship feature on all their reels and it’s something that sets them apart from the competition. Their CNC gearing technology makes all components of the gearbox out of brass and since they use a CNC machining process it ensures precision. This results in enhanced cranking power which is especially important when dealing with saltwater. IPX6 Sealed Body SMALL-MEDIUM SIZE REEL Models: 2500, 3500, 4500, 5500 - Suitable for medium-heavy inshore applications and light-medium offshore fishing . Fish them on a 10-12ft light surf rod for whiting, dart and more. Or use them on a short boat rod for snapper and other reef fish or on a light jigging rod. Most sizes will also suit an 7-9ft general purpose spin rod. High speed options exist in the 2500 and 4500 size for blistering lures like metal slugs through the water column.

The Penn Slammer IV features many of the technologies you have come to love on the Slammer III, like IPX waterproof Seal and CNC Gear technology. However, a few extra ball bearings are now included (now 8), plus a hydrophobic line roller bearing for improved performance and water resistance. Then there has been a rotor weight reduction by approximately 10-15% in most models too. In the case of the SLAIV4500, it has a 6.2:1 gear ratio. This means that each time you turn that handle, the spool will spin 6.2 times. To some the handle looks a little oversize and we’d probably agree that on the shelf it does, but you can’t fault its fishing performance, nor the overall balance of the reel.

And, if you need ultra-accurate casting distances to reach fishy looking snags or want to fish right on the edge of a distant estuary channel, then the spool carries a line clip you can clip the line into once you’ve gauged the distance you need to cast to keep your baits or lures bang on the money. We wondered if, at a weight of 22.4oz (633g) the reel would feel heavy? Nope! We actually found that the reel balances really well on our typical 11ft to 11ft 6in bass rods, also on the longer European style soft tipped boat rods around the 10ft to 11ft length we prefer for general boat drift fishing and species hunting.

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Let’s be honest here - if you go down the Penn Slammer IV route for UK and Irish bass fishing, they are already way more than enough spinning reel for the fish we catch from a strength/drag point of view, indeed you have most likely made your choice because of what the reels can do for you as regards standing up to saltwater hassles and so on. I also love the Shimano Stradic and Vanford spinning reels that I have fished with, but if money were no object I’d be very tempted by some of the Shimano Stellas instead. But in reality do I need more spinning reel than a Stradic or a Vanford or a Slammer for what I do with lure fishing for bass? IPX6 is the rating this reel gets for its sealed design to prevent saltwater from accessing the internal components like bearings and gears. This is important because of salt spray and water coming off the line as it respools. It’s crucial that you have a well-sealed reel to prevent water from accessing and rusting everything out. Penn offers some of the best technology in this regard. Dura-Drag System and may ship directly from them or first get shipped to our facility. The last known quantity available The reel is smooth in operation, but from new you can feel the gears more than some other reels. That said, it’s a common trait with the more upmarket Penn reels that much like a car, they actually get run-in the more you use them becoming smoother.