Penn 525 Mag whachamacallit! review (sort of)

[1obxnut]

The Brief:
I'm not much of a conventional person, mostly spinning, but occasionally dabble on the dark side with my 2 525mags for 3+ yrs.

The Nutz:
A friend from the UK who knows someone at Penn UK slaps on these sideplates that will be on the new 525mag--(UK market only). :mad:

The Skinny:
The new 525's mag will have a mag adjustment knob that clicks (very much like the clicker on a spinning reel's drag knob) as well as a bait-clicker. Oh! and get this, more magnets!!! :D

Test at PLO:
On a Daiwa 3pc rod.

My first cast was a big ole' birds nest (had it way too loose).

I tightened down both knobs on the reel, and filled it to the rim with fresh 14# suffix-Promix on it.

2nd cast: 3 clicks back(from full) 50yds. LOL
3rd cast: loosened the handle side knob(was turned all the way in) = 100yr guestimate.

4th cast: 2 more clicks (couldn't see it land)
5th cast: 2 more clicks (where did it gooo?, spool had to have been at least 1/3 way emptied.
6th cast: 1 more click same result and quit since I was too tired from reeling it back

I got together with another board member (he had one as well with ceramic bearings) and we threw with 6oz tourney weights. Boy did he throw, over 600'+ (he had measure up to with flags at 100' increments).
I kept playing with the knob to see where I would feel comfortable at; well like the above test at PLO, it was at 7 or 8 clicks from full mag at a dismal 450' compared to 600'+ at 11 clicks. I guess..well, I know I definetly need practice to get it to his distance level.
So as of last week, I threw in ceramics in both of the reels (one with 10w30, and left the other one alone). I will be back out on the field at a later date to see how it turns out.

Below are the pix of the reels

[terpfan]

i'm also primarily a spinning guy, i have trouble loading the rod with conventional reel. my distance dramatically decrease when using a conventional reel. do you have same problem??

[kmw21230]

i actually have a sideplate coming from the UK. It's good to see the numbers you're getting with yours... Im on vacation now, so i hope it[s at home when i get there. I also us spiining reels, but i think the difference in distance comes from using braid. I use 20lb test braid with a 60lb test cast leader. so that like using 6lb mono..
in my conventionals im using 17-20 lbs suffix.... so of course you willl see a difference...

[AL_N_VB]

JMHO-

Real time fishing spinning tackle cast - all power / quick casts
/ almost whipping the lead


Real time conventional tackle cast - slow power / slower casts / wait for the rod to load / watch were the weight is until 'laying into it'/ more technique that trying to cast with brute 'Flinstone' force. Better undersatnding of what the rod is doing in conjunction of what the caster's motion is doing.


Again -this is a bias opinion from a non-caster, but can get the bait out when fishing with a conventional:redface:

No matter what you use....as long as there's a fish @ the end of the hook...your in the + column.

BTW- that is a great looking UK Penn reel! Can't believe Shakespeare won't bring that to the US.

[1obxnut]

Terpfan,

I throw using the hatteras cast with a 5-6' drop, and throwing with a consistent 45 degree arc/angle (whatever) for both spinning and conventional.

I gotta admit that throwing a conventional is different than throwing a spinning set up in terms of speed of the cast; and yes I do think I throw farther with spinning gear as well. :confused:

I guess practice makes perfect, and then U practice some more!! :D

KMW: when will you be back, we need to hook up and soak some bait!

Ns4D: its actually a US 525mag with the UK sideplates. They won't be selling these sideplates
as an upgrade, but as a whole reel (thats what I was told):mad: .

[kmw21230]

I'll be leaving Duck, NC tomorrow morning.. Always looking for another fishing buddy..:fishing:

[1obxnut]

Duck!!! Duck!! You're 60 miles too far north! go to buxton..fish at da point or da jetties:D

[kmw21230]

yeah i know.. it's about the family this weekend.. I did go down the Buxton to pick up a LDX on sale.. Thanks JAM for holding it...

[ZZiplex]

Now there is available the 525 mag xtra and the
penn 525 supermag xtra. The supermag 525 xtra is an expensive reel.
Some people find the "old" 525 mag too fast. So this kind of reel has been improved.
Casting with the old 525 gives me no problems: I
put yellow rocket fuel in the bearing and start with the mag at very slow when I cast. When the lead is at high punt I make the reel faster by puting the mag control at fast.

[ZZiplex]

By the way: you guys can buy the avet 5.3. sx. very easily. I heard good thing about that reel. Strong and cast very good.