Penn Battle III Review: Updates, Specs, Pros, & Cons
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
It’s reel review time!
One of the most popular reels in the country is the Penn Battle, and they recently came out with their third iteration, the Penn Battle III.
They’ve made some big upgrades to this new reel and we’ve got Salt Strong COO, Mark, breaking them down for you in this video.
You’ll also learn:
- What Penn’s strongest feature is (and how they made it even better this year)
- Why this reel is smoother and more durable than some of Penn’s past reels
- The specs of this reel
- And more
Check it out below!
Penn Battle III Review [VIDEO]
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Click here to get the Penn Battle III
Penn has really stepped their game up by switching from a cast gearing system to CNC-cut gears, which makes for a smoother, more durable reel.
The HT-100 carbon fiber drag system is well-sealed to prevent saltwater from getting in it, and it’s still got that great drag-screaming sound when you have a big fish on.
The spool has markers underneath it to help you know how much line you have left (in case you’re in danger of getting spooled) and the rubber bands around the arbor make it braid-ready (although we still recommend backing your reels with mono).
Penn Battle III 2500 Specs:
- Drag: 12 lbs
- Gear ratio: 6.2:1
- Line capacity (braid – yds/lb): 240/10
- 5+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearing system
- Weight: 9.7 oz.
Penn Battle III 6000 Specs:
- Drag: 25 lbs
- Gear ratio: 5.6:1
- Line capacity (braid – yds/lb): 490/30
- 5+1 sealed stainless steel ball bearing system
- Weight: 20.8 oz.
Conclusion
This newest version of the Penn Battle is a great option for inshore anglers who want a proven, everyday reel.
You can get the Penn Battle III from our shop here.
Have any questions about this reel?
Have you owned a Penn Battle before?
Let us know down in the comments.
And if you know someone who’s looking for a new inshore spinning reel, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
P.S. Want access to our best fishing spots and tips, plus discounts to our online tackle store? Click here to join us in the Insider Club!
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Quick question. Just won the Battle III 2500 from Salt Strong!! Can’t wait to try it out in a few weeks. Typically I buy reels with a reverse switch to let line out when I’ve reeled in a fish and need to re-bait the hook. So… no reverse switch I see on this models so do I just strip out line like I do with a fly reel?? Flip the bail?? This seems simplistic but curious.
Great question! Yes, an anti-reverse switch on a reel causes more harm than good for most Saltwater Anglers. It’s an intrusion point for Saltwater to make its way into a reel, so many Saltwater-focused products are being designed without this feature. Yes, the best thing to do is just pull line out from the reel to give yourself a little bit of slack when the fish is boatside, or you need to re-rig. It takes a little getting used to if you are conditioned to use this reverse feature, but it’s a much better option.
Thanks for your answer. Really appreciate your feedback!!
The Penn Battle 3 is so good i just got another 1. Pumped the Ambers/ Doggies at the Seychelles drop off and landed a bus GT. Love these reels!!
Why are there no Penn reels in your store now? I purchased a Battle III DX based on your recommendation but had to get it through Amazon.
In a sentence, Penn has decided they do not want to support our 25,000 members if we continue to give member discounts…
As you probably know, we aren’t the biggest fans of Penn internally (because we don’t feel it’s the best reel for the money) but we’ve always kept a couple of their most popular models in stock due to some member requests. But that had to end recently because Penn apparently did not like the fact we were enabling Members to get reels at a discount through our Insider Membership. Apparently, a few too many tackle stores complained that it “wasn’t fair” that Salt Strong members could get a better deal…
We’ll be happy to personally recommend a different reel for whichever price point you have in mind. Just let us know what type of fishing you’ll be doing along with what size fish you’ll be targeting most, and we’ll be happy to send over some good options.
Note: In case you haven’t yet seen the “Inshore Equipment Cheat Sheet”, make sure to check it out because it shows the best reels, rods, lines, and lures that we’ve found so far for consistently catching inshore slams without overspending: https://www.saltstrong.com/fishing-tip/fishing-equipment-cheat-sheet
Tight Lines and thank you so much for your support.
I’d like to know what your opinion of the Shimano NASCI 2500 HG is and how it would stack up against the Penn Battle III DX?
In your statement above to Simeon Cessna, you stated that you’d recommend a reel based on price point and what size of fish he’d be targeting. I primarily fish for Bass and Walleye in the Mid-West. What do you recommend at a price point of around $100 – $120?
I have the Penn Battle III 5000 and am extremely disappointed. It has no button or switch to allow you to unreel line. The spool only turns in one direction. I would never have purchased it online had I known.
Uh, what? Flip the bail? Im confused.
Just loosen the drag for a minute?
I have the penn battle 6000 le and I lost the bearing cover, I’m trying to find a suitable replacement part if anyone can help
Hey Sixto, I would suggest contacting Pure Fishing directly for any replacement or spare parts for your reel. I have heard recently that they are easy to work with and will do whatever they can to help an angler get back on the water: PENN Warranty – Pure Fishing®
Does the penn battle 3 4000 allow you to have it underwater?
No, the Battle 3 reels are not fully sealed, so we highly recommend keeping it out of saltwater.
What’s difference in Penn Battle ll vs Battle lll ?
Hey i have a question! What size reel should i use for sharks in the surf 5 feet plus? i have a couple of spin fisher 5000s i use for bull reds but i wanted to get a new combo for some sharks. Thanks!
Having just bought The 8000 size loaded with 80lb braid to go with my penn ocean assssin 6-8 I am very impressed with the quality & value for money. The reel & braid cost as much as the competitors reel alone plus some.
It handles large pelagics, sharks etc with ease & is super smooth to use.
The loud spool clicks is a great improvement, omission of reverse lever, line indicators on the spool, wind in handle & knob, sealed bearings & great aesthetics.
I was fairly one eyed about one Japanese companies reels but Penn have changed my mind.
I’m very disappointed with this poor review of the Penn battle iii reels.
The removal of the selective anti-reverse lever is not even addressed.
Guessing when they added the anti reverse bearing it became pointless to have the selector.
For most anglers, that selector switch is a useless feature. I’m glad it’s gone.