You will have most likely gathered that I have had a growing obsession with Penn spinning reels over the last few years, and specifically their Slammer range. My obsession with these reels grew a whole lot more when they brought out the 2500 size Slammer IV last year, indeed in many respects the Slammer IV 2500 has become my perfect spinning reel for the majority of the lure rods I might turn to for my bass fishing. I know it’s heavier than the equivalent Shimano or Daiwa, and I also accept completely that turning the handle on a Slammer isn’t quite like churning soft butter, but when you are out fishing in the real world and not sitting at home oohing and aahing over stuff like this then it doesn’t matter at all to me.

PENN SPINNING REELS

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PENN SPINNING REELS //

I accept the quirks of the Slammer range of spinning reels because I so like how good they feel to fish with - on the 2500 especially you need to drop the line level a bit, it’s not nearly as light as say the Shimano Vanford 4000, and although the Slammers get smoother over time (go fishing more!), they are never quite going to be “buttery-smooth”. They are not meant to be those kinds of spinning reels, but I also happen to think that at least some of these ever lighter spinning rods we use happen to benefit from a bit of extra weight down the butt end. I have strapped all manner of different spinning reels to that outstanding Savage Gear SGS6 8’3’’ 12-42g lure rod that I reviewed the other day - check here - but to me it feels like the best setup when it’s got the (heavier) Slammer 2500 on the butt-end of it. I know this is all personal and we all like different things, but I would also urge you not to obsess about the lightest possible rod and reel outfits and instead at least have a go at a rod and reel combination which at first glance might not make perfect sense.

Anyway, I don’t know how much you follow the fishing tackle trade and all its goings on here and abroad, but at the recent iCast tackle show over in the US, Penn launched their new and extensive and not cheap Authority range of spinning reels. If you know nothing about the tackle trade outside of the UK then you won’t have any idea about how big a deal Penn is in the US especially as a fishing tackle company, but even as somebody who does understand a lot of this, I won’t mind admitting to being a bit surprised at Penn launching a range of spinning reels which could well be about double the price of the current Slammer IV range when these new Authority spinning reels hit the shelves worldwide. This is a serious launch for Penn in global terms and I have no idea how much the UK and Irish markets mean to them with regards to an expensive range of spinning reels like this, but at the very least I guess they are going up against Stellas and Saltigas and Van Staals in terms of global sales and where specialist gear like this has a strong foothold.

I have a lot of contacts within the tackle trade and I heard about these upcoming Authority spinning reels a fair while back but was obviously sworn to secrecy. I was actually sent one of the early Authority 2500 samples earlier in the year but there was something simple which needed to be changed which became apparent and which has been sorted. It’s part of the testing process and I fed my findings back to the grownups for evaluation, but even after a brief period with this reel I was itching to get my hands on a finished version and seriously get it out fishing. As the title of the blog post says, a Penn Authority 2500 is winging its way to me as I write this.

In terms of lure fishing for bass here in the UK and Ireland it’s fairly obvious that spinning reels like this new Authority 2500 or 3500 aren’t going to break a sweat as regards coping with the relatively small size of our quarry, but to me that’s not really the point. A Shimano Stella and all its loveliness is far more reel than a bass needs as such, but then so is an Epic Berlingo when compared to a top of the range Mercedes. I will let you guess which way round I think that one should go, but you get my point. It’s not just about the sensible practicalities and what the reel can rather easily cope with on the actual power ability when it comes to the bulk of our fishing. Nope, to me it’s what we want to and can afford to fish with, and how the reel copes with the saltwater environment over a proper length of time. I note with these new Authority spinning reels that there’s a hell of a lot of emphasis being placed on how durable and smooth and waterproof these things are (but being sensible and practical, the Slammers are as well). Uber-lightweight these Authority reels are not, but then Penn doesn't tend to worry about really light spinning reels when it comes to the saltwater environment, and with how much I like their Slammer reels and how they sit on the rods I use, I am in the same boat. From my notes here the Penn Slammer IV 2500 weighs 326g loaded with line and the Penn Authority 2500 weighs 345g loaded with line. Note that this was a pre-production Authority 2500 so I will weigh the new one when it gets here and I have loaded it up with my favourite 20lb/0.165mm/PE#1 Sufix 131 braid. For comparison purposes the Penn Slammer IV 3500 weighs 411g loaded with line. Here are a load of specs and info which I have managed to find on these reels:

The Authority is the new PENN standard. Focusing on best-in-class gear feel and sealing, these reels will have a size and gear ratio for every scenario. The Authority will elevate PENN to a new premium category where it has not played. Featuring an IPX8 sealed body and spool, with a best-in-class stainless steel gear train, these reels far surpass the durability and performance required.

• IPX8 Sealed Body and Spool Design

• Full Metal Body, Sideplate, and Rotor

• CNC Gear Technology with Stainless Steel Main and Pinion (Fully Supported pinion tail and spool shaft)

• Sealed Slammer drag system with Dura-Drag

• 12+1 Stainless steel bearing system

• Leveline Slow Oscillation System

• Hypalon knob on the 2500

• 2500 retrieve speed: 5.7:1

• 3500 retrieve speed: 5.7:1

STAINLESS STEEL CNC MAIN AND PINION GEARS

An ultra-durable stainless steel gear train combines with a fully supported pinion tail and spool shaft to withstand the heaviest loads. State of the art Computer Numerical Control technology machines gears out of a solid piece of metal, ensuring exact alignment, smooth long-term performance and cranking torque rigidity when trying to get that last wind on a hard fighting fish.

IPX8 SEALED BODY, SPOOL, DRAG ASSEMBLY AND HANDLE

Independently verified by the International Ingress Protection Rating, the Authority is approved for ZERO water ingress during 30 minutes of submersion at 1 metre of depth whilst reel components are stationary.

12+1 SEALED STAINLESS STEEL PREMIUM BEARING SYSTEM

Our smoothest reel yet with maximum bearing support for the heaviest of drag loads.

HYDROPHOBIC LINE ROLLER BEARING

High grade sealed stainless bearing with a special coating that helps to bead water away from this highly exposed and crucial part of any spin reel for dependable long-term performance.

SEALED SLAMMER® DRAG SYSTEM WITH DURA-DRAG™

Silky smooth Dura-Drag™ carbon fibre washers eliminate hesitation even under extreme drag settings, and are impregnated with a Phenolic bonding agent to reduce wear and water intrusion.

I will know a lot more in due course when I get this Penn Authority 2500 out fishing in the real world. I don’t know what the UK RRP will be, but it’s not going to be cheap, and of course I understand and accept all the arguments for and against this much reel for this much money and so on. I can get my hands on one to take out fishing though, and I would hope that at least some of you here have a passing interest in a spinning reel like this. In due course I will report back and give you my thoughts and opinions. In the meantime though the Slammer IV 2500 remains my go-to spinning reel, and in purely practical terms/what does our actual quarry really need, you and I both know that the Slammer is more than enough reel for hauling in our lovely bass. When was that ever the whole point though? Who here hasn’t got at least a “few” more bass lures than they will ever actually need? You all have a good weekend and please take it easy in the sun………………

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