Penn Spinfisher VI

The Monster Killer

Have you heard of Ultramen, the weird Japanese super heroes that love wearing rubber suits with a zipper at the back, who come from the Star of Ultra (also known as Planet Ultra)? If you have not, I am giving you some time to Google them or better still, watch an episode on Youtube.

Now that you know who the Ultramen are you will notice one thing; when the monster fighting army cannot handle the monsters with their puny laserguns (which is all the time) and their planes (probably made by Bandai toy makers) only managed to tickle these monsters, they call for help. Thus comes Ultraman and sometimes Ultramen (more than one) to the rescue.

The Penn Spinfisher VI.

The Penn Spinfisher VI spinning reel is like Ultraman. When the other reels in your arsenal have decided that they are not up to the game, the Penn Spinfisher VI comes to the rescue.

Penn Spinfisher VI is the latest series of reels by Penn to hit the market. They carry on the torch that has been handed over by its older sibling; the fabulous Penn Spinfisher V. The new Spinfisher VI certainly has big shoes to fill. To see if they are up to the game we took them to battle the gladiators at the LS Pond in Jugra, Selangor; home to hard fighting big tiger and dragon groupers that will not shy away from a fight.

The proven HT-100 Drag System.

Field Test

Series: Penn Spinfisher VI

Model: SSVI5500

Rod: Penn Clash

Line: Spiderwire Dura-4 Braid

Poundage: 40lb

Using fish meat as bait, we cast them out to the hungry gladiators in the pond. Our guide had only one advice for us at this point and that is to hold on tight to our rods. The fishes we are looking forward to torture our tackle with are not the run of the mill pay-pond wrestlers. These finned gladiators are the pile-drivers of the sea. They are hard fighting beasts that can easily make spareparts of lesser reels.

The marque of the saltwater fighter; Penn Spinfisher VI

As expected we were onto our first fish within a few short minutes. The fish took the bait and shot out in the opposite direction; a reaction to the tension of the line, rod, and reel. Its run was short lived as the Penn Spinfisher VI proved itself to be an overkill. Within minutes the fish was up, smiling for the camera. It was a good size fish but not strong enough to test our reel.

The next gladiator to take our bait was worthy. It shot off like a runaway train and the drag was slowly increased adding pressure to the fish. The fish fought gallantly and one can tell that the fish is a big one as it still took line on heavier drag pressure. The drag was upped further and one can see that the fish too upped its game putting a lot of pressure on the angler.

The Penn Spinfisher VI taking on lots of pressure.

Our experienced angler took it all in stride and fought well forcing the fish back towards him. The pressure was quite immense yet the Spinfisher VI held on easily without issues. It was in fact asking for more. It certainly had more to give but more was not necessary. The hard fighting gladiator was soon brought to the side still not giving up the fight but was forced into surrendering.

Drag pushed up high, the Spinfisher VI is certainly being tortured. Well, the angler is being tortured too. Fishing is a sport that builds muscles.

There were more fights lined up for the Spinfisher VI. Some smaller which put on a lesser fight of which will not be a problem for the puny laserguns of the monster fighting army in the Ultraman show. Some of which were about the same size as the hard fighting gladiator that was earlier landed. The Spinfisher VI had no issues battling them and winning the fights.

Gladiator (dragon grouper) landed and photographed.

Conclusion

My first meet with the Penn Spinfisher reel series was a few years ago when I participated in the Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge in Rompin, Pahang. That was the Spinfisher V. The reels fought very well under immense pressure as we needed to stop sailfishes and land them quick. That was where the Spinfisher series earned my respect as they did well despite the massive torture and abuse winning us the second runner up position.

It’s younger sibling, the Spinfisher VI is poised to take on the role of its older sibling and from the looks of it, it will very well do so. If you are looking for a reel to challenge the gladiators in your regular fishing hole, do head down to a tackle shop near you and checkout the new Penn Spinfisher VI.