Penn Fathom Star Drag Reels Review

Super Smooth and Ergonomic

Use this for Tuna and Yellowtail on the West coast and for replacing some older Sealines. This reel works great super smooth yet similar to the Sealines in the best ways.

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Penn FTH25N

Very smooth casting and well made reel.

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Great for surf

I have 3 of these. Strong drag and cast a mile. No complaints

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Good bottom fishing reel

Bought it.for bottom fishing and it served that purpose well. Obviously it has no level wind so you will have to pay attention to the line lay will retrieving but otherwise no issues.

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Fast spool great surf reel cast's well

I bought these reel for surf fishing on beaches for shark very lively spool but casts really well once you adjust the centrifugal brakes a bit. overall easy to clean loud clicker.

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Great Reel

This is a all around great reel from fluke to tog can do it all I now own 4

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Great reel!!

I got to use it snapper fishing in the gulf and hooked a very large shark 220# ...no problems
It replaced an ageing sealine h600 and i will be replacing the other five sealines also..

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Great reel!

I've been using Penn for a long time and they hit a home run with this reel! The Penn Fathom FTH12 has a nice compact feel but loaded with enough power to tackle large saltwater species! Don't let the 6-1 gear ratio fool you, this reel packs a lot of torque. I recently winched in a 4 foot dog fish ( sand shark), 18 pound tog and a 23 pound cod. It handled the fish effortlessly.… read more It's freespool is amazing, makes a great casting reel as well.

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Great Bass/Blackfish reel

Use this reel for both Blackfish and Bassing on a Lamiglass rod - the reel is like butter, drag is great and completely capable of handling big Togs or 30+ lb bass.

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Great reel for the price !!!

Smooth drag with plenty of power.

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Nice Conventional reel

Great reel for inshore fishing. Has a stronger drag system then the Squalls for fighting larger fish. Reel is smooth and handle is position nice for cracking down while fighting the fish.

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Solid

Was pleased with weight, size and solid drag system. Bought for Blackfishing but broke in on sea bass and summer codfish. A lot of guts for a small non metal real. Looks like good value at this $$.

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Sick reel

Good for bottom and live bait

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Trolling reel

this is my go to trolling reel for big dolphin and tuna in south florida

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Great reel! Hesitation from free-spool into gear = normal

I got the Penn Fathom 15 star drag, and I am real pleased with it! Had to buy it online, so never had the reel in hand before I ordered it. The local stores don't carry ANY salt water products here....
Anyway, the reel feels really solid, a touch heavy, but that's to be expected with the solid metal frame. I think it will outlast the light weight graphite reel (Squall).… read more />
(!) When I got the reel, I played with it for a bit. Engaging the free spool, and than back in gear. And, when I put the reel back in gear.... there is a "grinding" sound feeling almost before it finally clicks into gear. It almost takes for you to reverse the handle to have it "click" back into gear.
So, naturally, I was concerned and called the seller right away, and they were really good and refunded me, and I re-ordered the same reel.

(!) On some of the fishing forums, I brought this issue up. Someone asked me if I had line on the reel when this occurred. I didn't. He said it's normal for that to happen if there is no line or weight/resistance applied. The little bit of weight from the line will make the reel click right back into gear.
Something I din't know and thought of before hearing about it on this forum. Disadvantage of online shopping I guess. So, it's normal. The new re-ordered reel does the same thing,

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