Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel

Penn Battle II Spinning Fishing Reel Product Review

The Penn Battle II feels great right out of the box being of solid full metal housing, whilst also having an aluminum bail wire for durability and strength.

The Battle II is an excellently designed reel for saltwater anglers (especially inshore fishing, kayak fishing, and wading) out to land the larger saltwater gamefish. Coming in a variety of spool sizes from 1000 up to 8000 to suit all situations, there is a fit for all needs.

Easy to assemble the Battle II comes in 2 parts and is as simple as inserting the handle into the reel housing, holding onto the spool and turning as if to reel in a catch.

The motor portion of the reel features a rubber gasket to prevent line slippage, allowing anglers to use braided line without the need for mono or electrical tape backing.

A wider spool allows for lower line memory, and features line capacity rings, creating an easy visual cue to improve line tracking.

Featuring a HT-100 Versa-Drag carbon fiber drag system giving the reel a sleek and frictionless drag on heavy loads (increasing to 30lbs with the 8000 model). Having a higher capacity for drag (up to 20% higher than previous models) proves useful in moments when you need to stop a catch dipping for cover or to prevent from being spooled out.

I found the cranking action on the Battle II felt creamy and effortless, which I attributed to its 5 stainless steel ball bearings, which is higher than average for reels of a similar price point.

Simultaneously, it has an instant anti-reverse bearing to aid the prevention of back play. It’s worth noting the ball bearings are also sealed within the unit halting the onset of erosion and providing longevity of use.

Technical Specs

Model#: BTLII5000
Mono Line Capacity (lb/yd): 12/225, 15/200, 20/135
Braided Line Capacity (lb/yd): 20/420, 30/300, 40/240
Max Drag (lb): 25
Gear Ratio: 5.6:1
Line Retrieve Per Crank (Inches): 36”
Ball Bearings: 5+1
Weight (OZ): 19.8
Retrieve: Reversible