Whether you’re brand-new to fishing, or just need a quality reel at an affordable price, Penn is a name to trust.
Popular in the salt due to a combination of top-flight drag systems, capacious spools, and gears that deliver fight-winning torque, Penn’s line up of reels are second to none. And while their flagship models might set you back a bit, entry-level reels like the Pursuit IV are priced right for regular Joes like you and me.
But does the Pursuit IV deliver the goods?
Let’s find out!
Max drag: 12 lbs. (HT-100)
Capacity: (braid) 15/250; 20/180; 30/130
Gear ratio: 6.2:1 (35 IPT)
Bearings: 5
Weight: 11.8 oz.
Casting
To put the Pursuit IV through its paces, I paired it with a 6’6″ Ugly Stik Elite, spooled on some 20-pound Sufix 832, and hit the beach.
With the spool properly loaded with line, I found that the Pursuit IV was capable of truly long casts, allowing me to launch fishfinder rigs way, way past the breakers. Suffice it to say that I was impressed – surprised, even – by the distance I achieved with a hard snap cast.
I typically press my 3000-size spinning reels into double-duty in freshwater as well, and the Pursuit IV was more than able to provide the accuracy and trouble-free casting I expected with Damiki rigs, swim jigs, and Texas-rigged creature baits.
Drag
The Pursuit IV offers Penn’s astonishingly good HT-100 drag system, hands-down my favorite option at this price point.
Armed with ultra-durable carbon-fiber drag washers, it’s hard to imagine better performance on an entry-level reel.
It’s reliably smooth across a wide range of settings, providing steady release and constant pressure.
In hard fights with red drum, big speckled trout, and monster bass, I had no trouble whatsoever, which is precisely what I’d expect from the true workhorse of a system.
Capacity
I typically run braided line unless I’m fishing around barnacle-encrusted pilings, relying on a few feet of leader to keep my line safe from abrasion. And one thing pretty much any angler will agree on is that more line is always better.
180 yards of 20-pound braid is no joke, and you’ll be able to cast to at least a third of that with any reasonably-weighted rig in the salt.
You’ll also find that you’ve got plenty of line for cutting and retying throughout the day.
Penn’s Pursuit IV is neck-and-neck with the Daiwa Regal LT on this front, and it crushes the Shimano Sedona FJ’s comparatively paltry 140 yards of 20-pound braid.
Gearing and anti-reverse bearing
Penn equips the Pursuit IV with a 6.2:1 gear ratio that, in conjunction with its large spool, picks up 35 inches of line per turn.
That’s fast – fast enough to keep a tight line with a 24-inch speck on your hook!
It gives up roughly an inch of retrieve to the Shimano and Daiwa, but that’s not something you’ll notice on the water.
The four stainless bearings and additional anti-reverse bearing provide plenty of slick spinning, with no lag when it comes time to set the hook. And as you’d expect from Penn, this reel is definitely fight ready!
Final Thoughts
I really like the Penn Pursuit IV, and I think it competes favorably with the Shimano FJ and Daiwa Regal LT.
For my money, the HT-100 drag can’t be beat at this price point, and from reliably casting in the wind to multi-season durability, this isn’t a “cheap” reel despite its budget-conscious pricing.
If you’ve been fishing spincast reels like those from Zebco, be prepared for startling improvements in casting distance, smoothness, and durability.
Pick one up – you’ll be impressed!
