Penn Squall Low Profile Baitcasting Reels Review

Good reel... a bit over-priced?

My first baitcasting reel, mainly used for bottom-fishing & fluking in LI and RI waters. Works okay in that regard. When trying to cast a bit, i bird-nested it a few times. Maybe I don't know how to handle the baitcasters well. Some parts are plastic (like exterior cover) which I do not appreciate but I guess that's what you get at this price range. These days I wish I saved… read more a bit more money to get Daiwa Lexa TW.

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Smooth (200LPHS)

Fished with this for a week solid in Canada. Paired it with a 7-foot heavy action rod for heavy Northern Pike baits and some deep trolling for lake trout. It worked well for both. Had a little trouble getting the drag set just right, but worked that out pretty quickly.

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Thing is a tank (400HS)

Its deff a BIG reel but silky smooth and comfortable in the hand, love the power handle, looking foward to testing it out soon

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An absolute Beast

This reel is Beauty and Beast all in one. Need a bigger, more powerful baitcaster fro any reason? This one is it.

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300 is an Amazing muskie reel

Bought the 300 for muskie fishing in Ohio. Best muskie reel on the market HANDS DOWN for under $200. Mounted it on a Kast King Kong 8 foot Very Heavy and it will wing heavy bulldogs 200 feet no problem. Doesnt even need a power handle... the stock handle is big and will work fine.

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200 Left hand, reasonable

I've been using the 200 size squall mounted on a medium fast action rod for a few months now. It seems reasonable for the price, but time will tell.

When you first start using this reel, it feels dull. You don't get great feedback in the reel when you're fishing. After more extended use, however, you start to be able to feel what the bait is doing. It feels like the gears… read more are coated with something springy so that rotating the handle feels smoother and you don't feel when the gears contact each other. This eventually wears off, and you start to get better contact with your lure. With better contact comes a slightly grindy feel though. It's most definitely not a coffee grinder, but it's somewhat rougher than a curado or tatula. 3/8 oz is the lightest my particularly reel casts reasonably.

Now that I've been fishing it for a couple months, I can tell that the side plate (particularly the external control) is flexing when I'm reeling under load. It's very strange. I'm concerned that the side plate might come off if I'm fighting a large fish. I've landed 30" snook on this, and I'm curious to see what happens with larger fish. The side plate has not come off yet though.

Casting is fine. It doesn't feel refined, but it casts far. Cannot for the life of me skip with this reel. Thing just blows up.

This reel shines when I'm cranking a jig or crankbait. The long handle diminishes the struggle inherent to cranking heavy lures deep and over long distances. Unfortunately, the line capacity isn't huge. I've emptied the spool trying to fish slow pitch jigs from shore (20g). Reeling in the jig felt great though.

This does not cast heavy lures well. If the lure is over 1.5 oz, it does not feel safe on the reel. The side plate flexes and the casting is horribly inaccurate no matter how I set the breaks. Around 1 3/8 oz is the sweet spot.

Would I recommend this reel:
Yes, if you want to fish swim baits around 1oz or crankbaits around 3/4 oz, and you don't mind feeling the side plate bend as you crank. Not a good all around reel.

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THIS REEL IT?S GONNA KILL IT!!!

No doubts, Penn always come with the best.

The reel looks Amazing, very tought.

I like the double handle knob.

Going for the Tunas, Mahis, Snooks and Jacks.

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Penn Casting Reel

This real is definitely worth it for the price .
Its perfect for saltwater inshore use. Its casting and balance are superb. Have it matched up with 7’6 Shimano casting rod together makes it perfect for salt water inshore species.

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Absolute Beast

The 400 Lo-Pro is an absolute beast of a reel. Penn quality through and through. I need more.

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Penn Good bait caster

I purchased and have used inshore fishing. The reel performed good no problems.

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Extraordinary reel

Perfect reel too use on the jetties got the 300lh size and paired with the prevail 7' medium heavy casting rod can't say no more Is perfect for me.

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Awesome little reel

Really well built and ergonomic! Will be using this as my main light tackle setup from now on!

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Great reel!

Squall 300LP. Just buy it! First landed fish was a 24” Striped Bass! Hit the hook so hard I initially thought I was hung up! But she ended up being no match for this reel! I can’t wait to see this thing put the brakes on a Cobia next year! Smooth cast even with 40lb braid. Paired it with a Prevail II Inshore 7’ and threw 2oz jigs with ease. Hats off to Tackle Direct for the incredibly… read more fast shipping & Delivery!

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