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 |
Torque Series |
|
International Two
Speeds and Single Speeds |
|
Light Line
Internationals |
Penn Reels
 PENN INTERNATIONAL - BIG GAME REELS
The Great American Reel Company - Penn Fishing Tackle
These are the reels that define the craft. For
big game and long range enthusiasts, you can own no better gear than these
 products - they
define the art. Penn Internationals are totally uncompromising in their strength
and material integrity. They represent a true "lifetime" purchase, with excellent parts availability -
worldwide, and tournament grade performance.
For 2006 Penn has created some
exciting new products and refined some of our favorites. Their
International line benefits from improved drag performance. The
new polished drags are smoother in operation and capable of enhanced
performance over extended fights. Their new and redesigned reels are
also much improved in freespool performance. Internationals are no
longer just designed as trolling reels, they now offer great rail performance
for flylining a bait and even casting in the hands of a skilled angler.
For decades Penn has defined the craft of
sportfishing. That tradition has not changed, in fact it's become even
stronger. Unlike imported product lines, Penn does support their gear
through long term parts availability. That's one major distinguishing
feature of Penn reels and others (like the much over-hyped, profit
pushed stuff offered by a bicycle company from Japan). Penn reels offer
much better drag performance (proven fact), much better parts
availability (proven fact), much better anodizing for a nicer finish
appearance over time (proven fact). Buy American quality, buy a Penn.
In specific terms, without the smoke and
mirror hype, how are the Penn International Series reels different than
the Japanese competition? There are several significant differences
that most consumers never have the opportunity to learn given competing
manufacturer and retailer profit based hype. Penn has always been known
to produce rock-solid products that operate in a bullet proof fashion.
They have always been reliable, durable and strong, but much of their
real beauty lies on the inside. They never operated with the "built-in
obsolescence" mentality of the imports. Before getting into the
products, we'll first focus a bit on what you are buying when you
purchase a Penn you own something that will catch fish, long term.
 It
all begins with the frame and side plates. Penn International V-Series
frames, sideplates and spools are precision machined from solid forgings
of a high-strength, but lightweight aircraft grade aluminum alloy. No
half graphite or plastic bridge cover, just high-strength alloy. This is
a big game fishing reel, plastic covers just don't offer the same
strength. It's what one well advertised Japanese competitor does to save
costs, but it ultimately costs you the consumer...
 Internal
components are crafted in an even more rigorous manner than the frames,
after all, they're the guts of an International that will separate the
proverbial men from the boys. International gears begin life on a
Swiss-made "Gear Hobber" where stainless gear blanks are precision
machined to tolerances that literally meet NASA grade standards. Compare
gears on Penn Internationals to ANY other big game reel and you'll find
that Penn's quality and durability outmatch the competition. It's almost
an embarrassing comparison. The image on the right shows a Penn 80VSW's
gears compared to the well advertised Japanese 130 class reel. The Penn
80 has gears 44% larger on the low end and 54% larger on the high-speed
gear than what shimano offers on their 130! Penn's 130 gears simply
embarrass them even more! It's like comparing an old Datsu to a F350
Super-Duty, not quite a fair fight...and that's the whole point of this
discussion.
 Just
as important as the main gears, is the one-piece spindle and pinion
gears. The International spindle and high-speed pinion gear are machined
from a solid piece of high-strength stainless steel allow. The low speed
pinion is also machined from the same material. It's then permanently
pressed onto the spindle. The competition simply keys their pinions to
one another, as well as to the drag palate! They actually expect a SMALL
pin of stainless steel to withstand the enormous sheer strength to which
these pieces are subjected when fighting a large gamefish. The Penn
International is bullet-proof, as strong as they can be made, with long
term performance at the forefront of design considerations.
What's
New?
Limited Edition
75th Anniversary
Penn 50VSW!
 Here's
the nicest gift any fisherman could receive.
2007 celebrates Penn’s 75th
Anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, Penn has commissioned a
coin to complement an anniversary edition 50VSW International reel.
a print of the 2007 Penn catalog Cover will be available and sold as
a Serialized set with the Anniversary Reel and coin. The Anniversary
reel/coin and Print will be limited to 500 pieces, with only the
first 250 being sold as Sets. the second 250 pieces will be
available as individual pieces.
As part of the Limited Edition
Anniversary Set, the 50VSW reel will feature an engraved
left sideplate to match the Print and coin. Housing both the
coin and reel, will be a wooden presentation box, suitable
for display in any fishing aficionado’s private collection.
 In
creating the Anniversary Coin, the cover artwork created by
JK Christian is converted into a 3-dimensional sculpture.
This process was performed by Caesar Rocco Rufo, one of the
world’s leading coin sculptors. Shown here, Caesar is hand
crafting the various layers that will ultimately become the
Penn 75th Anniversary Coin.
This limited edition
collector's item will be a gift that will be cherished for
many, many years. Of course the reel is fishable, but
there's a lot more to this proud offering that makes it the
most special production we've ever seen in the world of sportfishing. Truly this is something any dedicated angler
will proudly display at home, show to friends, and value for
a lifetime...and well beyond.
View Your Shopping Cart
Penn Torque
New 300LD Arrives!
 The
Torque is a ground breaking new reel from Penn, and it's garnered
much publicity by virtue of it's unique design and incredible
cranking power. The full compliment of
Torque reels are now available!
What makes this reel different? All star drag
reels have pretty much followed a 1930's patented reel design made by
Penn. The Torque is a whole new direction. The Torque series of reels
incorporate an integrated side plate (ISP) that serves as the basis
for their design. The side plate integrates the components into one
rigid assembly. As a result the reels can achieve super-high drag
capabilities with fewer parts and greater strength and tighter
tolerances than a traditional reel. When the drag is increased the
side plate absorbs the load, without any binding or alignment
problems. Gears, pinions and handle maintain perfect alignment no
matter how heavy the load! That's just part of the reason for the buzz
this reel is generating. It's powerful, with a gear that dwarfs the
offshore manufactured "competition" in terms of size, strength and power. The reel
has a 6.3:1 retrieve rate, AND it's powerful when it comes to cranking
in a fish. This is a reel that's made for Spectra, it was designed
with the capabilities of the "super" lines in mind. It's "over-built,"
for good reason. The Penn design team knew it would be fished hard, so
they built the Torque with hard use in mind.
Penn Torque Series
The
new Penn Torque series of reels offer a big change in reel design. Penn and most other reel
manufacturers base star drag reels on Penn's 1933 patent in which a bridge
plate was used to mount the gear stud and main gear. Things have
evolved since that time, machining and materials have advanced, and reel
design can now reflect these advancements through some creative thinking.
The innovative folks at Penn came up with a better idea, sketched out on a
napkin during lunch... From that sketch came a new patent. The Torque
series of reels incorporate an integrated side plate (ISP) that serves as
the basis for their design. The side plate integrates the components into
one rigid assembly. As a result the reels can achieve super-high drag
capabilities with fewer parts and greater strength and tighter tolerances
than a traditional reel. When the drag is increased the side plate absorbs
the load, without any binding or alignment problems. Gears, pinions and
handle maintain perfect alignment no matter how heavy the load!
Traditional bridge designs do not lend themselves
well to high speed gearing as the increased load often distorts and
misaligns the gear stud. Some manufacturers add some "slop" into the gear
studs, for a semi-floating alignment (at the sacrifice of misalignment).
With Penn's new design pinions and gears are unaffected by force and load
so alignment with the pinion is consistent. The new design allows for an
OVERSIZED high speed gear for a unique combination of power and speed.
Speaking of gears...
In the photo above you can see a comparison of
gear sizes, an interesting comparison. The large gear on the right is the
new Penn Torque gear. It's huge, and made from hard and strong stainless
steel. The skinny gear on the left is from a shimano Torsert (er I mean
Torsa, a reel we've been making fun of for several months). Penn describes
the gear on the left as "a competitor's multi-cam $700 lever drag reel."
They also go on to describe "when we went to measure the hardness, they
were so soft we couldn't even measure it on the same scale as the Penn
gear." The gear pictured in the center is just as soft as the Torset's,
and also 40% smaller in thickness than the Penn. The overseas gears just
don't cut it, when they are compared to the USA made product.
 Penn's
done some extensive testing on these new reels. They've proved their point
in the real world of fishing, not through advertising budgets and
buzz-words like our least favorite Japanese manufacturer... The three
reels in the series all share a 6.3:1 gear ratio, 5+1 ball bearings and
are made for gaining the fishing benefits of Spectra lines.
 The
Torque is a ground breaking new reel from Penn, and it's garnered
much publicity by virtue of it's unique design and incredible
cranking power. The 300 size has been on the market since late
September '06. The 300's have been around long enough to generate
some feedback from the field, and it's been positive. The gearing is
quick, so we're seeing the reel used by the folks targeting wahoo
and yellowtail on the iron, since speed can be critical to enticing
a bite from these fish. Given the strength of the reel, the use of
heavier spectra is appropriate to gain the advantages of line
 capacity
while maintaining a more compact and better casting sized rod/reel
combination.
The smallest model, the 100 became available
in July '07. It's a small powerhouse of a reel, capable of pulling
some serious drag, casts very well even with smaller baits, and will
prove itself quite capable with larger fish. The TRQ 100 features an
additional cast control feature on the sideplate, similar to a 525
Mag. For most anglers, the smaller size 100 and 200 are basics like
bread and water. They are the size gear we fish often, but their
capability is great. Whether fishing long range or local, you'll get
a lot of mileage from these versatile reels.
ALL MODELS NOW IN STOCK!
 Penn released their newest Torque, the 300LD.
in March of '08. This innovative design
will be something the marlin guys drool after. Powerful and precise,
these are the characteristics that come to mind when you first put
your hands on the reel. It is a unique design for a leverdrag reel,
and it offers very good freespool performance, useful for tossing a
live bait to a turned on marlin. Unlike most leverdrags, the 300LD
uses a traditional drag stack. Instead of a large single disc, Penn
uses a new patented (Versa-Drag) featuring a large diameter, STACKED
multi- drag
cartridge incorporating five active drag surfaces for an incredibly
wide and smooth drag range with minimal force exerted on the reel.
There's no lateral load on the bearings or handle with this unique
design. Further, you have a GREAT range of smooth drag available, from
4#'s all the way up to 32#'s!!! Add to that the fact that the drag
totally disengages at the freespool setting, for better casting
qualities. Yes, this is an expensive reel, but it's also innovative,
well built, and incorporates Penn's best design work without the
accounting guys controlling the engineers and machinists. It's one
fine reel and will appeal to those looking for a rugged, strong,
refined reel that's made without compromise.
|
Model |
Capacity
Mono (yds) |
Capacity
Spectra |
Bearings |
Max
Drag |
Gear Ratio |
Line Retrieve
per Crank (") |
Weight
in ounces |
| 100 |
400 @ 15# |
550 @ 30# |
5 BB/1RB |
25# |
6.2:1 |
35 |
23 |
| 200 |
400 @ 20# |
450 @ 50# |
5 BB/1RB |
32# |
6.3:1 |
41 |
27 |
| 300 |
360 @ 30# |
360 @ 80# |
5 BB/1RB |
32# |
6.3:1 |
48 |
33 |
| 300LD |
360 @ 30# |
360 @ 80# |
5 BB/1RB |
32# |
6.3:1 |
48 |
33 |
Price includes FREE mono
spooling, Spectra, reel skin and shipping within USA.
Penn
International V Series Two Speed Reels
The New V
series reels from Penn incorporate several enhancements that
make them even better performers than they were over the
past decades of record setting use. The new models
incorporate Penn's more modern push button shifter, more
durable and higher capacity drags, improved ergonomics in
terms of their handle, and a few other things you'll be hard
pressed to see or feel until the time comes to put the new
reel to a real test. Let's just say, these are the best
reels Penn has ever made, and they set new standards in
terms of performance, durability and reliability.
 16VS
and VSX
Personally,
I have to admit to having a true fondness for fishing my Newell
and Penn International reels. I own my share of Avet reels and
love them too. And I lust after owning a Tiburon. When I
dream about big game fishing, there's no doubt a Penn
International is in the picture. For good reason, Penn
Internationals define the class in big game fishing.
The new Penn International V
two speed is available in two gear options.
You'll notice that the reel has now gone topless! The 16 features
an open top design for easier bait fishing and for clearing bird's
nests (that never happens to us, but for someone else it's a good
thing...). The reel is enhanced from the older model in
terms of the shift mechanism. Gone are the days of the push
button / pull handle program. It's a true push button and
twist button design for easy and effortless use. The 16's
are available in two gear options a high speed and a higher torque
version. Of course the new Penn was made with tournament
fishing in mind, IGFA 16# class, but with Spectra spooling the new
16 is a dandy 40-60# performer.
New
Penn International 30VSX & 50VSX!
WONDERFUL TIMING!
 The folks at Penn have been listening, and
they've built exactly what we've been wanting to see. It's narrow,
topless and tough! The new 30VSX and 50VSX will become one of the most desired
long range reels on the market. If you're going after 200# + tuna you'll
appreciate what these new reels have to offer.
Here are the particulars on the
reel's capabilities:
50VSX
45#'s of drag at strike
650 yds of 200# Spectra with 50 yds 130# topshot
500 yds 130# Spectra with 100 yds 80-100# topper
3.1:1 high and 1/3:1 low gear ratio
75 ounces
line retrieve per crank in low gear 14 inches
line retrieve per crank in high gear 34 inches
Four bearings, Penn's Quick Shift mechanism...
Penn 30VSX
• Penn Extreme Drag Cam (35-lb@Strike Max)
• Metal Rod Clamp
• Harness Lugs
• Application-Specific Designed Gearing
• 3.8:1 and 1.6:1 gearing
• 60 ounces
• Capacity: 450 yds 100# spectra with 50
yds 100# mono topshot
 The new Penn
30VSX & 50VSX have been
extensively field tested, here in CA aboard a couple long range boats,
as well as Mexico and the East Coast. These reels have been engineered to
achieve high drag settings while maintaining an appropriate and smooth
drag curve throughout the entire range of the drag lever. The drag is
predictable, you won't be surprised with a line-busting increase of
pressure over just a couple degrees push of the lever. The drag curve on
this reel works like it should, with a fairly consistent increase in
drag pressure all along its lever's arc. This makes the reel "angler
friendly" in operation. There are no surprises, just strong reliable
performance...made for taking advantage of the unique properties of
Spectra lines.
(pictured: 30VSX; top and below 50VSX)
In
Stock, and ready for immediate
FREE shipping!*
 The
new 80 series International incorporates all the new
enhancements Penn has been offering in their newest reels. The new Dura-Drags
will offer improved long term performance (and the old
system was darn good as it was!). There's a new more
comfortable handle, much nicer shifting mechanism, even some
freespool for guys trying to fish a bait. The new reels from
Penn are excellent, and they demonstrate just how well the
folks from Penn have been listening to fishermen!
Penn
International Two Speed Specifications
CHARKBAIT
SPECIAL OFFER
Penn
International Rigged Your
Way
There's no better way to
prepare your new International for fishing that laying on some
Izolrine Spectra with a mono top-shot.
Penn
International Single Speed Specifications
The single speed internationals are going
away...to make way for the new versions which will
incorporate some of the new features we're seeing
on the VS and VSX models.
Light Line Penn Internationals
 Penn
International 955, 965 and 975
Penn's got the pulse of the U.S. angler down
pat, like no other reel manufacturer out there.
They don't discontinue lines and bring out stuff
all that often. But, when they do
come in with a new product, you can be sure it's
the "right stuff." Penn's finally introduced the
culmination of the 900 series, the new 975.
With this introduction you now have
International quality for all your lighter line
casting needs. with the legendary
Penn International quality and performance you'd
expect from the world's most prestigious tackle
manufacturer. Now you can fish an
International International line to a
whole new world of light line fishing. The reels
are perfect for light line fishing, they're
compact, and built with the famous International
level of quality, and performance. The product
features: forged, machined aluminum frames,
spool and side plates; corrosion resistant
anodized gold finish; stainless steel high speed
gears; sealed stainless steel ball bearings;
oversized multi-disc HT 100 drags; 3 level
centrifugal brake casting control...
Take advantage of our
RIGGED YOUR WAY SPECIAL.
WE'LL RIG YOUR NEW 975LD WITH IZORLINE SPECTRA BACKING, AND
ADD YOUR TOP-SHOT. YOUR REEL WILL BE RIGGED AND READY TO
FISH!
Please order below with your spooling requirement specified.
Penn 975LD
 Penn's
lever drag 975 has a few months history now, and the performance
under pressure has been great. Folks who have bought and
fished the reel all say that it casts great, and fishes even
better. If you're looking for a 20# reel, like having a
levelwind for the application intended and wanted a lever-drag,
you're going to fall head over heels for this reel. Penn's
done a great job of producing a lever-drag with good freespool
and casting. There's no reel that's right for all
applications, but Penn sure does try to make a lot of folks
happy by offering relevant revisions to some successful themes.
The new 975LD is a great addition to an already terrific reel,
now available in three configurations (975, 975CS, 975LD).
So, what's
the CharkBait deal of the day? By "Rigged Your Way" we mean
you can go with Izorline Spectra, mono top-shot of choice, line
test of preference.
New Penn 975
CSLD!
 The
popular 975 leverdrag has a new model, just what we've been wishing
for since the reel was introduced. Now we have a topless non-levelwind
version of this terrific reel. Casting performance is excellent, drags
are capable, quality of manufacture is very good. Again the new owners
of Penn are demonstrating that they know what anglers demand, and
they're committed to building the right gear for our applications.
Beth here at our shop has a 975
that she's used for great success, even with bluefin in the 50# range.
We rigged her up with 300 yards of 30# Izor Spectra and topshot of 20#
Pline. It's been her "go to" rig for a few years now. The leverdrag
reel is even better given it's more precise drag performance! So, now
we've got an LD from Penn that offers bait anglers the type of reel
they've been requesting for several years. A quality light line
leverdrag without the encumbrance of a levelwind.
|
Model |
Line Capacity
YDS/LB
METERS/MM |
Gear Ratio |
Weight
OZ
GRAMS |
Price
Unrigged |
|
975LD |
300/15
275/0.40 |
4.4-1
|
17
480 |
$299.99 |
975CSLD
NEW Lever Drag Non-Levelwind |
300/15
275/0.40 |
| |
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