The Penn Fathom II Star Drag Reels are available in nine different models. You get a lot of performance for your money. If you are looking to buy a new star drag reel, you should really take a look at the new Penn Fathom II Star Drag Reels. This is great for anglers who are bottom fishing and want additional cranking power. You also have the option of a lower gear ratio power model in the 25, 30 and 40 sizes. Penn increased the drag on all models and added one more ball bearing. There is even a version of the 15 with a large cast control knob and double paddle handle for anglers looking to make really long casts from the beach. To take things to the next level, Penn has incorporated an externally adjustable magnetic braking system on the 12 and 15 sizes.
The Fathom II combines Penn's Live Spindle with free floating design with an internal centrifugal braking system so it makes really long, accurate casts. Penn has integrated their Fast Gear Access Sideplate which makes it easy to work on your own reel without the fear of parts flying all over the place. They feature all aluminum construction and a powerful Versa-Drag system with HT-100 washers that can handle a lot of pressure. These all metal reels are extremely well built and versatile. In summary, these reels are ideal for a wide variety of traditional UK-style boat fishing applications, fishing both baits or lures.Penn improves their star drag reels with the introduction of the Penn Fathom II Star Drag Reels. Certainly, less-experienced anglers will appreciate the level-wind, especially if using braid. I leant the reels to several anglers on this trip, and all reported enthusiastically that they were very good reels to use.Aside from the silky-smooth drag and solid construction, it was noted that the spool release and side adjustment controls, along with the star drag, were easily adjusted, if necessary. Sadly, bad weather prevented me targeting these, but throughout the week the anglers on the trip did experience plenty of action catching snook, jacks and stingrays to more than 10lb. Sea Angler’s contributing editor, Dave Lewis says…I took the Fathom II 20 and 20LW models on a trip to Nicaragua, where I anticipated they would prove ideal for the tarpon we hoped to catch. There really is a reel to suit everyone within this range. The 50lb-class is just what you need to help bully a big porbeagle, ton-up conger or giant common skate to the boat.
The smaller 15 and 20 models are perfect for drifting sandbanks for plaice and turbot, working lures for cod, pollack and bass, plus uptiding and even float-fishing, while the heavier 30lb-class is best suited to deepwater downtiding for big rays, tope and congers. Looking to get a smaller reel as this will be a light line setup for.
I have a 25 - 30 lb setup already, CALSTAR BWCDH 270-8HC (15-40) 8’ with an Avet Raptor MXL. They’re built to last and are ideally suited to UK-style boat fishing. The Penn Fathom II 12 and 15 star drags look very similar in size/weight, but Ive heard that the 12 casts better and lets the weak/small bait we’ve had this year swim better. These reels are designed for hard working everyday use. The star drags are infinitely adjustable to give you exactly the right amount of silky smooth drag whenever you need it – very impressive. The Fathom II also houses Penn’s legendary powerful HT-100 drag system, which is one of the best in the business. They’re reasonably fast, too, with the 15 and 20 models having a retrieve ratio of 5.5:1, the 30 giving 4.3:1 and the 50 a slower 3.7:1.įull Metal Body construction keeps precise gear alignment across the range, while the Fast Gear Access Side Plate allows for easy maintenance – simply remove four screws and you have access to the insides without fear of springs or other tiny components popping off all over the place (we all know that feeling, right?). Obviously, line capacities vary across the range, but Penn has rather cleverly addressed the age-old braid/mono problem by providing line capacities for both, even adding line capacity rings on each spool, so you know exactly where you are and how much backing to put on when using braid.Īs an example, the 15lb-class reels can hold 325 yards of 15lb mono or 590 yards of 20lb braid, while the 30lb-class holds 375 yards of 30lb mono and a whopping 1,040 yards of 30lb braid. The 15, 20 and 30 are also available with a built-in line counter, but you might have to shop in the USA to pick up one of those. There are a staggering 13 models in the new Fathom II LW series, including 15lb, 20lb and 30lb-class models available in both right and left-hand wind, plus a 50lb-class right-hand wind. Penn is a name synonymous with hardwearing, quality workhorse reels and this latest range certainly lives up to that reputation, writes Dave Barham.