The most significant influences on purchasing this reel were the all-metal body and the IPX5 rating. All of my fishing is done wading in the bays along the gulf coast, and sometimes I’ll get waist-deep or more. It’s nice to know that the occasional dunk in the saltwater won’t ruin my reel (until I can rinse it off with fresh water, of course). To determine the reel you need, you need to consider the size of fish you’re targeting and the size of catfish in the area.

On the other hand, the Battle III series has the advantage that it can be used for both freshwater and saltwater fishing. In fact, you can use some of the same reel sizes equally well for both scenarios. Gear and methods used for testing

PENN SPINFISHER VI 8500 LIVE LINER FIXED-SPOOL REEL

This is a great reel used by countless anglers for both freshwater and saltwater applications, which is why we included it in our review of the best spinning reel under 100 dollars. And at the other end of the scale, the bigger sizes are great for heavy saltwater spinning or surf fishing, and some of the sizes in the middle can be used for both equally well. The bail arm is much lighter/narrower than I expected it would be. Something chunkier seems more fitting for the Spinfisher. It will prevent waves, splashes, dirt, and sand from blowing in general use, but it shouldn’t be dropped in the sand or submerged.

For those interested, stripping down and re-greasing with a top-quality grease will certainly cause a marked improvement. Penn Spinfisher VI SSVI4500LL Live Liner is fitted with Penn’s Live Liner ‘baitrunner’ mechanism. The combination of this free spool system together the legendary strength of the Spinfisher model gives you a tough performing reel which is equally at home on both boat and shore.

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The lines are great, and there’s nothing garish or flashy, even though the gold kind of screams; look at me, especially in the larger models. refer to the "Usually ships in X" details on the 2nd line of the above status, which are unique by brand