PENNInternational VI Conventional Fishing Reels (All Models & Sizes)

Great reel

What a great reel for big, powerful fish! If you target fish that measure in the hundreds of pounds, and you want the best tool for the job, this is your reel. In my case, it's the reel I use when we go deep for big halibut here in Alaska. This reel holds plenty of line to get to those shelves 400 feet down where the barndoors lie, with plenty of line left over to allow for long runs that those big fish make. If you hang up and break off, losing several hundred feet of line (it happens), you don't have to hang it up because the reel holds enough line to let you keep fishing.I like the high-speed retrieve for pulling up from the deep when you need to check your bait or try something else. When you latch into a fish, though, a quick push of the button on the hub of the handle engages the more powerful lower gears, so you can really torque into the fish.That new handle design is nice, too. It comfortably fits my hand, has a nice rubbery, no-slip texture, and helps spread the stress across the meaty part of my hand so long battles are just a little bit easier.The open design of the "X" series frame (with no crossbars across the front of the spool) is helpful when there's a backlash to deal with (yeah, it still happens once in a while). These reels aren't cheap, but they're the best you can buy. Solid, reliable, and made in USA. No regrets here!Let me know if you don't anything in my review helpful.

Worked great for me, have caught several fish

The Penn International 20 VISX, is one of the best fishing reels you can buy. With proper maintenance it will last you a lifetime. One thing that did surprise me was just how big it is...you cannot think of this reel in terms of how big other manufacturers are for the given numbers. The Penn International 20 VISX, is really rated for 80 - 120 lb braided fishing line. If you want a reel for something below 80 - 100 pound tuna or similar spices you might want to consider the Penn 12VISX, or the 16VISX. The 20VISX is really too big for anything other than larger game fishing.

The price was excellent, the reel even better. Used on a bottom fishing trip, I knew it was going to overkill but I took anyway, reel was unbelievably smooth, excellent power, Flawless operation. I would buy again but a smaller model.

If you are looking for a large reel to pull in the sharks here it is. There is an adjustable screw on the side for the drag to ensure you do not apply too much drag and then bust your line. 80 lb line needs max 40 lbs drag. 20 lb line needs 10 lb drag. You guys out there trying to regear your reels to have a higher drag are wasting your money. Just use the correct amount of drag based on the line size and line size should equal the type of fish your catching. I caught a 900 lb Mako Shark on a 80 lb line with a steel leader.

Penn makes one of thd best fishing reels on the market. The Penn International series are heavy duty reels with heavy drag to slay the big fish. The reel is made of strong anodized aluminum and if taken proper care of will last for generations. I still fish a Senator 4.0 my Grandfather gave me!

I did not ever use the reel. It looks great but is huge. It's my bad for not doing more research before I bought it but with tax etc.. was over $700. So I returned it still in the box and got a $559 so it cost me $150 to see a fishing reel that was to big.