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Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/10/2015, 10:32 pm

Ok I am in the process of buying yet another surfcaster and sort of heading back to the Penn camp when it comes to surfcasters as I already use penn reels exclusively now (850SSM and Sargus 8000). I decided I wanted to give the penn prevail 13 foot 8-12KG a crack seeing I stupidly sold my 13 foot fin-nor surf rod (I will not part with my 14 foot fin-nor though I have plans for trying a penn squall 12 or 15 on it) so hopefully I made a good choice as I am wanting a rod with bigger diameter guides as I find the fin-nors guides are too small for the diameter and starting to think those rods are for overhead reels especially when my 9ft penn spinfisher which has larger diameter guides can throw baits further than the 14ft fin-nor.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Hangler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Hangler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 4/10/2015, 7:53 am, in reply to "Penn Prevail surf rods"

I use Akios reels and couldn't be more happy. I have watched slow motion videos of the line leaving the reel and entering the first rod ring, I was immediately put off small guides. Yes, ideal for multiplier type reels, but far too restrictive of open face reels, although some may claim otherwise.

I too have just purchased a new rod but this was purely for experimentation, a 12ft Shimano that I immediately butchered. I cut down the butt to about 30cms below the reel fitting, removed the foam grip and then built a new butt that is removable after the cast. The reason for this being, first it gives me a little extra length for the cast, then I can shorten the rod for the retrieve and for playing a larger fish.

Not being one to throw money away on experiments I noted a local store had a 30% discount of all fishing gear and I paid $29.00 for the new Shimano rod. If this works as I anticipate, then I will alter my two main rods, should it fail it's a nice gift for one of the grandchildren.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 4/10/2015, 12:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Those Akios reels look quite interesting I did have a shimano Aerlex 8000 when I first joined this message board it got nicknamed the curse as it would never see any action from a fish so it went on trademe but yet the penn 850ssm has had all the action even when both rods and reels have been soaking a bait at the same time, so I decided that I would just stick with a brand I know and have used since I can remember. Been spending a lot of time trying to find a retailer that stocks penn squall 12 or 15 reels as I also have a 12 foot abu garcia javelin that I bought from the warehouse back in 2007 it always casted like crap and once again when you look at the tip it has small diameter guides and closely spaced together counted around 8 or 9 guides once again I suspect the thing was built for overhead reels not eggbeaters.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

I don't use a multiplier so I am only surmising. If an angler is a really powerful caster (pendulum casting) and they are using 60lb nylon as a shock leader, I would have real concern with the size of the knot and those very small eyes.

I know there are anglers on this site who do so and probably fare very well, but casting is something that requires confidence, a large knot with small rod rings does not fit well with me.

I note the NZACA mention they are concerned about snap offs, so obviously this has happened and they have taken precautions to prevent accidents. They also require a high visibility leader so snap offs can be found and disposed of properly.

This is just a personal opinion, I will always be of the opinion correct bait presentation, with the hook point and barb well exposed and not crammed with bait, will catch more fish than long distance casting.

I know there are those who will offer a differing opinion.

Cut and Pasted from a recent NZACA newsletter.

Many fisherman in New Zealand just want to cast with their fishing gear which includes their tapered leaders. The NZACA have now brought in a casting system which allows them to do just that. There are only 2 requirements:

1. that the tapered leaders must be high vis so that if they snap off they can be easily found (so we don’t get in trouble from the grounds men)

2. the mainline must be a minimum of .25mm (approx 10lb depending on the brand of line used)

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 4/10/2015, 2:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Hangler, instead of trying to start an arguement by surmising instead of researching, why dont you try a few casts with a rod featuring the low rider guides that you seem to despise. Good sports stores will have demo rods you can try, You may be pleasantly surprised.
Fin-nor, I am not surprised that a 2007 wharehouse rod might have some issues in the way it is designed and built.
.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

I should add that some rods are designed for use with low rider guides and some just have guides that are too smll.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

No argument, Gary, I hold an opinion and I will stick with it. If you like them great. I don't and what you think about them is not about to alter my concerns one bit.

You like multipliers, I don't. You believe in distant casting, I don't. You don't like catching rays, yet you happily post pictures of you standing over them in victory. I do like catching them, I enjoy testing my light gear to the full.

We would be a funny lot if we were all made the same.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Hangler Corrections............I dont use multipliers. I use Fixed spool reels on rods with low rider guides.
Having achieved with rays, NZ eagle ray record of 48kgs on 6kgs and Pania Club record longtail ray 108.8kgs on 15 kg I have no great want to catch many more.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Yeah those rays are pricks of things last one I caught was on the 14 foot fin-nor and penn 850ssm combo at ocean beach in Kawhia was a bloody good fight but I just despise trying to deal with rays so the line just gets cut when I get enough line back in. So back to the topic question I am after opinions on the penn prevail 13ft 3 piece rod 8-12kg as I have never touched one let alone seen one in person last penn surfcaster I had was an old power stick which got flogged out of my garden shed over 10 years ago and never had another chance to own one since.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by GaryK <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=GaryK' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 4/10/2015, 9:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

If you plan on using a Squall 15 on it then the 12 foot o/head is the rod to use. The 13 and 14 are built for Fixed spools. The 13 foot is the best caster of the two.

The snapper don't know where the car park is!
Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/10/2015, 3:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Thanks for that Gary my intention is to get rods to suit both my penn 850SSM and the penn sargus 8000 the overhead will come at a later date. I Ended up going for a 13 foot prevail so can't wait for that to turn up as I got it through a vendor that sells on Trademe.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Phill <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Phill' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 5/10/2015, 10:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"
Tackle Tactics

Gary is quite correct the Penn Prevail is built for fixed spool reels not overhead. You can cast fixed spools on a free spool rod . I dispute Hanglers opinion on guides and I hardly ever have a problem with tapered leaders. A word of warning with the prevail don't thrash the cast smooth and controlled .

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Hangler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Hangler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 6/10/2015, 7:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Phil, I have made no mention of tapered leaders. What I wrote was regarding the size of the leader knot when using 60lb breaking strain leader and small eyes.

The line leaves an open face reel in a totally different way to that when leaving a multiplier. There are videos on YouTube that show the problem far better than the written word. It's my experience I have far fewer problems when the lower and penultimate lower rings are of the larger variety.

I might also add the tapering shape of the Akios shallow spool seems to keep the fast flowing line in tighter coils, especially as the line does not have to climb over the lip of the spool at a ninety degree angle to the direction of the first eye.

Someone had their brain engaged when they designed that spool, it casts beautifully.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Phill <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Phill' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 6/10/2015, 9:36 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"
Tackle Tactics

I wouldn't give the designers of the entire Akios range to much credit as they just copied other well designed reels. I must say they do there aesthetics well .
Daiwa have had reverse cone spools for years . I agree longer shallower smaller diameter spools are defanatly an advantage.
If you want reliability the Lowrider guides are by far the best .Tapered leaders are also a reliability factor.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 7/10/2015, 9:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Thanks for that Phill I only ever use the basic off the ground cast I don't get into pendulum casting etc generally I don't put a hell of alot of grunt behind my casts but things are about to change after I found a neat little neoprene finger glove to prevent the nylon cuts to the finger when things do go pear shape such as drags letting go when loading up the rod will be interesting to see how it goes.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Hangler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Hangler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 8/10/2015, 8:14 am, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Fin-nor, they cost only a few dollars, buy a Cannon casting aid from Phill, these are brilliant. No longer will you have the line on your finger so cuts are removed from the equation. I went over to Cannons late last year and instantly found why they are becoming so popular.

It will take a session or two to become fully confident with what you can achieve but you will have no regret of your purchase. Both my main rods have them fitted and they were worth every cent.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 27/10/2015, 12:04 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

The prevail is finally off layby this week so it will be in my dirty little paws by the end of the week if the courier does not stuff things up, plus there is a brand spanking new reel on its way to me it is not the spinfisher 7500 long cast I was wanting but something else that got my obsessive tackle buyers syndrome going again so once again I have another shimano reel hopefully this one does not get nicknamed the curse like the Aerlex did

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Hangler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Hangler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 2/11/2015, 6:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Is your new Shimano a 'Bait Runner'? They are lovely reels and providing you look after them, will last you for years.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by fin-nor <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=fin-nor' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/11/2015, 11:30 am, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

Definitely not a baitrunner Hangler it is the Ultegra 14000 it got its first use on sunday and was stoked with it a very smooth reel and it had me wondering when the sinker was going to hit the water the first time I casted with it, that reel is currently wearing the smaller 10000 spool that was included as a spare spool the bigger spool is going to get loaded up with 12KG at a later date.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Posted by Hangler <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/surfcasting/info/user=Hangler' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/11/2015, 12:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Penn Prevail surf rods"

It's a good feeling when you purchase a new bit of kit and it works out exactly as you wished for. You must let us know how it handles the first fish you hook up with, hopefully a large snapper for your sake.

Re: Penn Prevail surf rods

Oh did I forget to mention that oops. I did get one really good hookup only for the fish to spit the hook with only a few meters to go whatever it was it made the fin-nor double over and the ultegra was lapping it up, only fish successfully landed that day was on my 9 foot penn rock rod and penn sargus 8000 combo which had a gulp nuclear chicken jerkshad that I stuck on the hook for shits and giggles during the tide change thinking it would not work well bugger me a snapper of just over 40cm took it, it was released as I always do with the first fish landed for the day. so I think I will keep fishing two rods at the same time one with cut baits and the other with soft baits.

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