This is my review of the Penn Battle 4000 series spinning reel. Having owned this fishing reel for over 2 years and used it in fresh and saltwater I feel like I can write an honest review on this reel. If I was to rate the reel on a star rating I would give it a 3 out of 5.
Background:
Advertised as being a durable and powerful reel Penn designed the Battle with a full metal body. This makes the reel very sturdy and is suppose to keep the gears from having any play. A balanced rotor and stainless steel main shaft also add to the advertised durability and smooth functioning of the reel. Other features include a rubber gasket on the spool so no backing is needed for braided lines, 6 sealed bearings, and HT-100 drag washers.
Right from the store I loved this reel. It was very smooth and had no play in it. The reel fit snug on the reel seat of the Penn Battle graphite rod and it was very easy to fill the spool with #30 power pro braided line. The bail was nice and crisp with no play or worries of it snapping back mid cast. The spool itself has a sealed bearing on the shaft and the drag were very smooth when pulling line and testing it out. The soft touch rubber knob felt very good in my hand and the operation did not feel jerky or off balance. This was my first impression of the reel and I was sure that I had made a great purchase.
PROS:
As advertised the reel is very well balanced. On the 7 foot graphite rod that came with the combo I felt very little fatigue while casting lures on the water, even though the reel is heavier than similar class reels by other manufacturers. The drag is very smooth and didnt hang up on fish like my other 'store brand' reels would in the past.The infinite anti-reverse bearing has never failed and maintains a solid back stop when setting the hool.
CONS:
The biggest problem plaguing the Battle series is the wind knots, or snarls of line that would come flinging off the reel every 10-15 casts. I tried numerous "fixes" found on various forums to no-avail. The only real fix I could find was to switch from braid to mono-filament, which didnt make the wind knots disappear, as the line would still get really bad twists in it, just didnt affect casting as much. After about 3 months use I noticed the knob would get build up of salt/corrosion where the knob meets the aluminum handle. I would have to oil it before use to ensure smooth performance. I also noticed the finish on the reel starting to 'bubble' where the side plate meets the frame of the reel. Although the drag has maintained its smooth operation the "clicker" and aluminum assembly are corroded beyond use and micro adjustments are alot harder. The nut holding the rotor to the brass slip shaft gear assembly is held at its tightened position by a star washer, with a hole for a set screw. The hole is more of a slot however, and I have found that this screw sometimes gets loose which allows the rotor to wobble during retrieve giving the reel a sloppier feel. I tried to use a small drop of lotite to hold it in place but it still comes loose. The spool bearing has play in it aswell, which I have not replaced. The stainless steel shaft is supported in the gear box and at the brass slip shaft gear by plastic bushings, which have since been stretched/warped and no longer hold it tight which causes the reel to rattle. The reel is not sealed, and a small plastic plate is molded on the bottom of the reel and secured with a small screw. After cleaning the reel one day I noticed the plate had cracked so I removed it, underneath I found the space between the plates packed with corrosion and salt, and the corrosion had entered into the gear box and corroded the main drive gear and internal components.
The Situation:
Below are a few pictures from the last reel break down/cleaning.
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| Spool knob corrosion. |
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| Spool drag plate corrosion. |
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| Shaft corrosion |
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| Rotor nut washer. |
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| Rotor nut washer tightened down with loctite. |
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| Rear corrosion/crack. |
Shakespeare Ugly Stik Lite
This is my review of the Shakespeare Ugly Stik lite line of fishing rods. I been using Ugly Stik rods since I was old enough to hold up a fishin rod. For a rod that wont break the bank and is nearly unbreakable you cant beat an Ugly Stik! I would give the Lite series a 4 out of 5.
Pros:
Unbreakable blank with cork handles and a solid reel seat. You can haul the big ones around and nearly touch the tip to the butt of the reel without any worry about breaking the rod.
Cons:
Heavier rod, not a good choice for slingin lures all day. Also due to the blank material and slow action it tends to not be as sensitive.
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