OHUB Review: PENN Fierce IV Spinning Reel
Keith Lusher 01.11.24
Being an avid saltwater fisherman I’ve tried out several spinning reels through the years. From “A”bu Garcia to “Z”ebco, I’ve tried all the brands. But there’s one brand that consistently stands out to me when it comes to spinning reels and it’s PENN. Some of my best reels are PENN spinning reels. And while most of these reels cost a pretty penny, I thought I would share a reel that has consistently performed well for a budget reel. Coming in at around $100 bucks the PENN Fierce IV is a great choice for those who are looking for a solid reel for a reasonable price.
I own many Fierce IVs and have never had a problem with even with the salty conditions that these reels have endured through my years of saltwater fishing. It’s even held up to being stepped on when things get chaotic during a hot and heavy speckled trout bite.
In fact. That’s a great place to start. DURABILTY. Saltwater fishing can take a toll on fishing gear, especially open-face reels. The Tough, full metal body and side plate provide the needed strength for heavy-duty saltwater fishing. The only downside to the metal reel is having to spray it with WD40 every once in a while to prevent corrosion.
Moving on to the drag system. I’ve caught bull reads and big speckled trout with this reel and the HT-100 Carbon Fiber Drag System has managed beautifully! The drag is smooth and when a fish makes a hard run the reel gives line without any sporadic jerks. Of course, the smaller reel you go with the less max drag is involved but even if you go with the smallest reel, which is the 100o series, you still have 9 pounds of drag. I use a size 2500 which has a 12-pound max drag.
Another great feature of this reel is the Superline Spool which allows me to spool up with thicker braided line and still manage to get a ton of line on it which is great for saltwater fishing.
On a down note, I will say that the Fierce IV isn’t the smoothest on the retrieve. It’s got 5 stainless steel ball bearings with will get the job done, however, there are other spinning reels that retrieve smoother like the PENN Battle II Spinning Reel which is about $50 more than the Fiece IV.
Overall, the PENN Fierce IV is a fantastic reel and is really affordable, especially for being a PENN and built specifically for saltwater! I find it’s by far the best value for the money and with all sealed bearings, this reel will hold up to saltwater conditions for years with minimal maintenance.
