PENN Squall II Level Wind Conventional Fishing Reel review and price compare 2025
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Product overview
Brand | Penn |
Material | Aluminum |
Hand Orientation | Ambidextrous |
Color | Black Gold |
Item Weight | 0.75 Kilograms |
Bearing Material | Stainless Steel |
product features
- Fast Gear Access Side Plate
- 3+1 shielded stainless steel ball bearings
- HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
- Lightweight graphite frame and sideplates
- Forged and machined aluminum spool
product description
The PENN Squall® II Level Wind builds off the successful first generation and adds key technology to make these the best value level wind reels on the market. Now featuring PENN's® proprietary Fast Gear Access Sideplate, maintenance is more angler friendly than ever. The Squall® II Level Wind reels also feature a 3+1 shielded stainless steel ball bearing system and HT-100™ carbon fiber drag system, entirely surrounded by a lightweight graphite frame and sideplates. Available in 4 sizes from 15 to 50, with key line counter models included, the PENN Squall II Level Wind has a model for everybody.
product details
- Product Dimensions : 6.69 x 5.11 x 3.54 inches; 1.65 Pounds
- Item model number : SQLII15LW
- Department : Unisex-adult
- Date First Available : June 1, 2021
- Manufacturer : Pure Fishing
- ASIN : B096G79RYK
important information
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
Questions about PENN Squall II Level Wind Conventional Fishing Reel
Q:
left or right hand?
Answer: The ones that have LH at the end of the description is left handed currently they have the 20 and 30 in both right and left handed. The one with LC at the end of the description is a right handed reel with a line counter.
Answer: This is a right handed reel
Q:
how do i know how much dose this item handle the fish wight like how much wight
Answer: I don'nt know, have'nt used it yet, I will using it in a few weeks, fishing trip tp B.C. where they have BIG Fish.
Answer: I have caught bull redfish over 40 pounds (18 kg) and with the correct line had no problems bringing them in quickly. Also landed a bull shark 2.2 meters, no problems.
Answer: Great reel 45 to 65 lbs fish no problem. I use this reel to fish So.Cal. Long Beach area.
Answer: I fish in the Bay of Fundy- Nova Scotia for large flounder and stripe bass with 40 pound test line on this reel
Answer: I catch spanish king mackerel its about 22kg
Answer: lightly
Q:
Does this reel come with a penn rod clamp ?
Answer: I purchased 2 from different suppliers , one came with clamp, and 1 came without.
Answer: No
Answer: Yes it does
Answer: Yes it does
Q:
How far does the line come up per crank,
Answer: That would depend on how much line is out. Probably 3.5 to 4' average. This reel isn't worth buying. The line counter is junk. It hasn't a single time worked. It hangs up and stops counting at random numbers.
Answer: Off the cuff I don't know but if you refer to the specs it should tell you the rate of retrieval per turn of the handle
Q:
does this reel come with left hand reel,what size cover should i .
Answer: No the line counter only comes in right hand retrieve. The Penn medium or small cover should fit this reel
Answer: no lefty
Q:
This guy is left hand?
Answer: Yes , The LH signifies it's a left hand reel .
Answer: yes this was for a left handed
Answer: Yes, LH in the 30LH indicating left handed
Answer: Yuo.look at the level wind and lever.if you hold it facing the back of the level wind you can tell if its lf or RH. In this photo its LH.
Answer: Yes
Q:
can this reel be used on any fishing pole?
Answer: Any conventional reel pole.
Answer: This reel is junk. Gears broke on first fishing trip with a two pound fish. Don’t waste your money
Q:
what is the P/N for the left hand reel
Answer: This reel is left handed, part number SQL30LWLH... the "LH" stands for left handed.
Answer: I don't know what a p/n is, I bought this by mistake. Had to go back and get the right hand one. Make you a good deal on the LH.
Answer: SQL30LWLH
Q:
Squall lever-wind 20 and 30 for off-shore fising in oregon for salmon and for halibut. intending kraft king rods - will thes fit the reel seat?
Answer: I have my 30 on a 50-80 rod. Seats perfectly.
Answer: It should. I use on king fish and boat rods. I think reel seats are the same up to 50 and 80 lb. reels
Q:
Squall lever-wind 20 and 30 for off-shore fising in oregon for salmon and for halibut. intending kraft king rods - will thes fit the reel seat?
Answer: I have my 30 on a 50-80 rod. Seats perfectly.
Answer: It should. I use on king fish and boat rods. I think reel seats are the same up to 50 and 80 lb. reels
Q:
Penn squall 50 is only right hand or I can find it left?
Q:
Is this the left hand version or right? Your product description and picture doesn’t match
Answer: P/N SQL20LWLH is for Left hand retrieve, but product sent was P/N SQL20LW (Right hand). This is the second time they have sent the wrong product.
Answer: It's not my product, but I did purchase one for my father-in-law. It is a left hand version. Sorry for late response! Hope this helped!!
Answer: That is the left hand version.picture shows the front of the reel with crank handle on the left side
Answer: Leftie. For the wife.
Q:
Does this come with the factory seat clamp in the box?
Answer: Mine did .
Answer: Yes it does.
Q:
The model number listed is the right hand version, but the description says left hand. Which is correct?
Answer: It is a right handed reel.
Q:
Is it strong enough to fight oversize sturgeon?
Answer: With out a doubt. My dad uses his and we have pulled in one sturgeon at 92 inches and countless others close to that number. We also use it for Lingcod fishing in the ocean and Halibut.
Answer: Not sure I use it for fresh water trolling for muskies.
Q:
what size reel cover should i buy,
Answer: The Medium should fit fine.
Answer: Probably a Medium.
Q:
Right hand or left hand reel ?
Answer: Right hand, really happy with these for surf fishing.
Answer: in the description it should say. If not, Most are Rt handed. if it is Lft, it will say in bold or . . .
Answer: Right
Q:
Would this reel be good for bottem fishing for snapper,grouper?
Answer: I bought this reel for halibut, but I haven't used it for halibut yet. I'm in northern California and fish from a kayak for ling cod and rockfish (we also call them snapper). It's all bottom fishing. The reel is big, but is easy to use. The fish are mostly two to twenty five pounds, and the reel works nicely. It feels like quality. Only had it a short time, but no complaints so far.
Answer: Absolutely! We came back from the snapper season opener on June 1st and caught our limit, and about a month before we went on a trip and caught a bunch of vermilion snapper, a king fish and a jack carville. Love it! I have it on a 6ft ugly stick with 80lb test line
Answer: This reel is better suited for trolling. But it is capable of bottom fishing. I found it a bit of a pain to get the line down when bottom fishing. But i also didn't have a real heavy weight to get it down. Either way, you won't be disappointed with the reel.
Q:
How much cranking power and drag vs a Penn 209?
Answer: I would say double. I own 209s, favorite Porgy reel.
Answer: I do not know, I've never fished with a 209.
Q:
Is this right handed? Because it says left orientation!
Answer: It’s right handed.
Answer: Mine is right handed and i just bought it a couple weeks ago. But I'm not sure which vender is selling the one you're looking at vs. the seller i bought mine from.
Answer: You reel with your right hand
Answer: Remember the eyes of fishing pole are always on the bottom so yes it is a left handed reel
Answer: it's right, the lw is level wind.
Answer: It's a right handed crank.
Q:
Can this reel hold up to 100lb braided line
Answer: Oh yes its a big reel, I put 80lb braided on a SQL30lw there very well made reels very smooth and hold up I put 65lb Braided on a 20 its my light rod reel combo for Halibut here in Alaska
Answer: I didn’t like reel. Level wind broke twice
Answer: Sure, how many yards is the question.
Answer: Yes , no problem .
Q:
Does it has magnetic break?
Answer: No it does not have a magnetic break.
Answer: None
Q:
Hi, is this a good trolling reel for Spanish mackerel??
Answer: Would handle mackerel easily.
Answer: No complaints, it's been good :)
Q:
What is the gear ratio on the 15 LW ?
Answer: 4:1
Q:
Is this left or right handed ?
Answer: right
Q:
Can I get a penn sql20 lwlc in a right hand reel
Answer: Yes
Q:
What is the gear ratio
Q:
Never used a reel like this was wonder how u go about casting it
Q:
is this reel for saltwater?
Answer: Yes it can be. Just remember to rinse it completely afterwards.
Q:
Dose the reel come with a reel clamp?
Answer: It does , but don't forget that the sand gets in to it very easy ! :(
Answer: Yes,
Answer: YES
Q:
can it be set up for a left handed user?
Answer: No, but you can buy a left handed
Answer: nope have to buy left handed reel only
Answer: These reels come in both LH and RH configuration from Penn. Check the Penn website for the specific model number.
Q:
Can I use this on an 80lb pole?
Q:
Does the Squall 50 come with a line guide?
Answer: yes, has a level wind, evenly winds in your line
Answer: Yeah it does! I use this reel in Alaska. I've landed 2 halibut and plenty of rockfish with this and my 6'6 medium heavy tiger ugly stick! Great reel for the price
Answer: Yes it does
Answer: Yes it does.
Answer: Yes it does
Q:
can you reel in a 450lb 9 foot Marlon with this reel?
Answer: With the right line, you can easily reel up 612lbs blue marlin.
Q:
I am going to be doing bottom fishing for cod and haddock. might get a pretty good size halibut. would the 30lw be ok or should i buy the 50lw?
Answer: Well I am sure you will be using the heavier test line so you have to look at that for amount of line that fits on the spool, the 30lw and 50lw are about the line, otherwise I believe they are all made with the same gear set, no expert, so if 30lb test is good, the reel should be good, never caught a Cod or Halibut
Answer: I had trouble with the level wind and sent it back to be fixed after 11 months. Six months later trouble with the level wind sticking happened again fishing rockcod at 200 feet. I switched to a shimano tekota 500lc with 40 lb braided and love it. The 6000 lc is also great if you are using mono.
Answer: I live in Homer, Alaska and have caught a lot of Halibut with it, they are very nice reals smooth and just work. Loaded it up with 80lb PowerPro or Tuff line and go fishing
Answer: Buy the 50lw just in case. It is a great product, you will enjoy it.
Answer: My line reader has never worked correctly. I would go with the 50. No lw
Q:
whats the warranty
Answer: Manufacturers warranty I’ve never had a problem with penn
Answer: One year
Q:
Can you use the 20 lw for snapper with80 lb mono I know the 50lw will but I have the 20 lw
Answer: Personally I wouldn't use 80 mono if only for the fact that any fish which requires 80 # will spool you with the limited amount of 80# line you can get on it. I would also worry about how the levelwind guide handles 80# mono. 80# braid should work fine. I actually have 80# braid on mine for Thresher Sharks
Answer: Well, 80lb mono is pretty large; I don’t think it would hold enough line unless you were fishing very shallow and were ok with being spooled if a larger fish showed up hungry. Go with the larger reel, or use 80lb. braid with a mono leader or top shot.
Q:
Does the sql50lw reel include a clamp kit?
Answer: No it doesn’t.
Q:
Is this a right hand reel
Answer: No. This is a left handed reel.
Answer: It's a left handed reel
Answer: no, this is a left hand reel.
Answer: It's a left hand reel
Answer: You can get it either right or left hand. I got the left hand version and it is great.
Answer: Hi,
Answer: No the LH stands for left handed
Answer: It's left hand
Q:
that this reel can be used on the beach?
Answer: YES!! I currently have this reel mounted on a 12' Daiwa Beefstick surf rod for surf fishing to catch bat rays. Despite this being a trolling reel by design, it actually casts out very smoothly and far, easily chucking out about 8-10oz of weights and bait 80+ yards out from the shore. Anyone that tells you this reel does not cast out well clearly has not cast out with this reel themself.
Answer: it can be used wherever there is water, however a better choice for beach/surf fishing is a large salt water spinning reel on a 10' surf rod.
Answer: Sure, but it is not a good casting reel.
Answer: I would'nt, it's big and I think it would be to awkward to cast, I use mine for the day type charter boats.
Q:
Hi I´m going to go fishing from the coast and I need to trow between 100m(110y) and 150m (160y), can I achive it with this reel?
Answer: YES you can. I currently use this reel on a 12' Daiwa Beefstick surf rod for surf fishing for bat rays and can easily cast 8-10oz of weights and bait on the end of it well over 80 yards!! 160 yards probably is not realistic to cast out unless you have a really strong cast and strong enough and long enough rod to support that. But this reel casts out very smoothly, far and well despite being designed as a trolling reel.
Answer: This is not the best reel for casting, in my opinion
Answer: should be no problem we use 80 pound braid and load 250 yards on it .
Q:
What is the line rating on this reel?
Q:
About how big is this reel
Answer: About the size of an old Penn 4/0. I'd say it has a 4" or so diameter outside spool face. Nice size for a snapper reel in the gulf. I am sure it can handle much larger fish. I have several of the older Penn reels and I like this one as well as any.
Q:
Is this reel for casting or trolling?
Answer: The reel works best for trolling. Penn makes the Penn Battle series, they are Spinning reels they come in smaller sizes up to quite large sizes. They can even be used for salt water ocean fishing. You would want to use it on a spinning rod instead of a casting rod.
Answer: trolling is, but casting is little difficult.
Answer: More like bottom fishing or jigging. With the correct rod it could used for trolling
Answer: Can be used for both
Q:
Is this reel decent for casting? I want to surf fish with it.
Answer: It's definitely decent for casting when surf fishing. I was skeptical at first being a trolling reel really... But paired to my 12' Daiwa Beefstick surf rod, I can easily cast out 80+ yards with about 10-12oz of bait on the end with my Squall 30LW. And it casts surprisingly smooth too with good control. I don't recall if it has any brakes or not, but it sure feels like does on the cast with the control it has.
Answer: Short answer. No. I have issues with the reel. It needs to be sent back to Penn. Not happy with the performance.
Answer: Yes it is...! Depending on the mono or braided line you use....and use a 10 to 12 ft. Rod
Answer: Couldn't tell u sorry. It was a Christmas present.
Q:
this reels for the right hand?
Answer: cast left-handed, reel righthand!
Answer: You can buy them either right or left
Q:
How much 65 pound braid does the 20 reel hold?
Answer: 300 yards
Q:
whats the biggest line can u put in this reel?
Answer: I use 80lbs and it works fine.
Q:
Could this reel be mounted to a an 8ft Sougayliang telescoping rod?
Answer: its a little large for a telescopic rod. Better to put this reel on a med heavy to heavy actionone piece rod
Q:
Anyone use these types of reels for large freshwater/brackish fishies?
Answer: I've been using it for MahiMahi (Dolphin Fish/El Dorado) and medium size tuna with no problem. Haven't hooked a marlin on it yet.
Product reviews of PENN Squall II Level Wind Conventional Fishing Reel
Scott A. Shaver : Used it twice and the level wind gear is hosed
I took this out twice. The second time while reeling in my line to check the bait the level wind mechanism just totally failed and started making some horrible noises. Had to manually push the thing across the bar to get my line in. No I did not over crank the thing, it is simply a piece of junk. I'm in the process of removing it but having trouble getting the reel to engage to retrieve line now. In the mean time I've ordered a non-level wind, lever drag Penn Squall, hoping this isn't a POS as well. If it is, I'm done with any products having anything to do with Penn. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OU1X5C/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza
Cody B Harney : Worth the money
No real complaints here (pun). The real is solid built, has a generous line capacity and can crank in decent sized fish. I caught a 6ft blacktip from the beach with it without any fear of losing the fish. Cant cast them hardly at all though, meant for trolling. I paddled my baits from the beach with a kayak, so they worked fine for beach fishing that way.
Kadyn Hernandez : Durable, worth it, cheap
I used this for deep sea fishing for a week straight at Channel Islands in Ventura, CA. It worked so well for the week. I recommend buying this item, because it is worth the money and it is a little cheaper than the website for the same item.
DWF : Penn squall reel
Great reel. Works good.. love it.
Craig A. Heupel : Great sturgeon fishing reel
Great smooth drag for large fish long runs. Drag setting stays set.No adjustment needed during a fight. I did have to change my grip as it is a little larger than what I am use to using.
Amazon Customer : great reel
was as expected i researched the product before i ordered
Nick : Works
Not as good as my Shimano's. I ordered this because my wife needed a reel. I ordered a Left hand retrieve, but received a right hand. I didn't have time to deal with returning it because we had a fishing trip coming up so I went to the local sportsman's Warehouse and got her a left hand. We caught some nice lingcod with them they worked out great.
lonnie feller : These are the best reels are not only great in quality but super ...
These are the best reels are not only great in quality but super easy on the budget! A good majority of the guide boats in Homer ak use these reels and by far are the most popular reel in Cook Inlet for halibut, Ling, and Salmon! I have the squall 30s for my halibut.
LINE (I am using this setup for Trolling kings in homer ak and can be used for rock bass and such....lings too)
This is how I spool Braided line on my reels.
Braided line is EXPENSIVE! If you spool 300yds of braided line it will fill less than half of your reel up with line. You WANT that reel fuller to its top end in order to get the full reel and drag capabilities. On these reels one revolution of the reel handle is 3' of incoming line but if you only have half the spool filled, it will be much less than that. Fighting a fish or checking bait in 40' of water isn't that noticeable but 200' of water IS! so here is a trick to fill the reel up with only 250-300yds of expensive braided line and less than a $7 of backing material.
Use a Blood knot to tie Dacron to spool base. MAKE SURE TO TAPE THE STRING DOWN! You don't want slippage!
Start with 35yards of 80lb Dacron, moisten the string on the spool with a light oil to prevent corrosion on your reel,
spool on another 45yds for a total of 80 yds of just Dacron.... (this is the stuff i used from amazon)
Then use an Albreight Knot (google it) to fasten your braided 65lb line to finish out your spool. I buy the 1500 yard spools........ 1500yds divided by 5 reels is 300yds of braid or 1500/6= 250yds......I do 300yds and get 5 reels out of it. The Dacron 80lb comes in 400 yards so 400yds/5reels= 80yds.... I can spool each rod brand new at $34 per reel...The kicker is I only have to respool the braided 300yd portion which saves a TON of money since you only have to go to the "backing" material. Plus even if you want to respool the Dacron backing it only costs less than $7 to replace.
Braided line I used
Listen up : Good overall performance, but might need metal gears in place of some plastic
I must have gotten a few bad reels. On this one, the level wind failed fighting a 10lb shark. Only lasted one fish before I had to send it back. I also picked up a Warfare prior to this in which the clicker failed on the first trip. Hoping the replacement unit holds up.
Mark Jensen : Great reel
Solid reel for the money. Spoil does not engage when you start reeling like abu Garcia reels. You have to manually engage spool after each cast. Takes a little getting used to but seems to be better made than the China made 7000 abu garcia. If your looking for more lime capacity than a Sweden made 6500 go with the China made squal over the abu 7000. I won’t buy another 7000 they are junk
Ryan Bonds : I love this thing
I love this thing, it holds tons of line and it’s super smooth. One cool thing I found about it was that as you let line out and while reeling it in the guard travels with it at all times instead of just when it’s coming in.
Mark Jensen : Great reel
Solid reel for the money. Spoil does not engage when you start reeling like abu Garcia reels. You have to manually engage spool after each cast. Takes a little getting used to but seems to be better made than the China made 7000 abu garcia. If your looking for more lime capacity than a Sweden made 6500 go with the China made squal over the abu 7000. I won’t buy another 7000 they are junk
Mike : Reel for Montauk fish
Friend recommend this reel to me, for our recent Montauk trip for sea bass and fluke. The reel performed flawlessly, Easy to use, even for a not so experienced fisherman like myself. Great product, very happy.
T. Tate : Great Reel
Used it the entire 2019 fishing season... caught 100’s of fish with it! Performed flawlessly. Highly recommend!
tytis crawford : This is the one!! 35 in per turn
This Conventional reel made by Penn Left handretriever is remarkable!!absolutely remarkable!!So awesome that I purchased three I literally have three of these conventional reels..
euroconec : Like my expensive reels
Decent reel for the new fishermen on my sled. That is the self wind will keep the line strait. Also a low price for this quality. Like my expensive reels, this one is light. Unlike my thousand dollar rod and reels, this one is very low cost. it also seams to be built decently. Certainly the right reel to place in the hands of those who might drop it over the side. That and I have caught 80 pound bluefin tuna on the same but made years earlier Pen level wind.
Luke : Tough
Great reel have been catching big blue cats on it and it shows no sign of stoping soon
john bloom : Great real
Awesome reels, came fast and they work like they should.
Jeff : Salmon and Halibut slayer
I'd ordered 2 of these and mounted them on halibut poles, what a great combo. For the last 50 years, Penn has always been my choice of reels and I'm still impressed with their quality.
Adam : My wife loves it
I have a Penn Fathom but my wife didn't want anything too fancy and just wanted something that would work. So I want with the Squall because it was less expensive than the Fathom but it's still a Penn. I know many reviews say Penn isn't what it used to be but I found that they both work great and I haven't had any issues. Time will tell. I would highly recommend either.
Margie : Fish catcher!
Exactly what my husband asked for to catch those fish.
Amazon Customer : Beware of model code
All blanketed descriptions say left hand orientation. Some are some aren’t. Make sure you see LH in model number
DWF : Penn squall reel
Great reel. Works good.. love it.
Kris201 : So far so good for Sturgeon
I bought the 30lw for Sturgeon fishing. The price is right and it handled a 48" Sturgeon no problem. First fish caught with the reel so we will see how it holds up.
JUAN R. RAMIREZ : Great product from Penn.
I have used a Senator for many years, and will use this one too. Smooth retreaval, good handle and a very well made reel
frank capasso : Geat reel for the money!
This will make the sixth squall that I bought they are great reels I have them from 50ld down to the 12 they are great reels!!
michael d leach : Great item!
Great reel for the price, very smooth and the drag works really well. I am in the process of switching out my other reels with these.
Margie : Fish catcher!
Exactly what my husband asked for to catch those fish.
Paulo Alencar : ????
????
allan a. : Piece of junk
Parts did not fit, reel was missing screws, handle was wobbly like it had loose bearings or something. I wonder if this was a knock off because the quality was terrible.
nvr2amzd : Can't beat a Penn reel!
Perfect for the use intended. Bought two of these and they are typical high quality Penn reels. The price was excellent and the vendor shipped promptly with quick delivery.
Jeremy Dirk : Pissed that the CLICKER ISN'T WORKING!
The best reel I have ever owned! The clicker stopped working! Do not recommend if you want the clicker to remain working!!!
This is the first one i bought now my second one isn't clicking either! Mostly gar or shark fishing!
NEED THE CLICKER TO WORK!!
WLR : Defective out of the Box
Purchased this reel a few years ago. I noticed issues with the drag, not matter how much I tightened the line is still easily pulled. Other people has had the same issue.
Amazon Customer : great reel
was as expected i researched the product before i ordered
richard monahan : great reel must buy
I use the squall 15 for fluke porgy and sea bass I love tree reel I pair them with ugly stik tiger lite elite and big water. I use the 20 and 30s for striped bass best reel ever.
Steve : Super
A great reek hooked to a Ugly Stick. I have two there great
WLR : Defective out of the Box
Purchased this reel a few years ago. I noticed issues with the drag, not matter how much I tightened the line is still easily pulled. Other people has had the same issue.
Mike : Reel for Montauk fish
Friend recommend this reel to me, for our recent Montauk trip for sea bass and fluke. The reel performed flawlessly, Easy to use, even for a not so experienced fisherman like myself. Great product, very happy.
Johnny Boy : Made in CHINA. I was afraid of that......
I tried to keep an open mind about the China thing. It's a PENN right? After using the reel about ten times, it started to make loud CLICKING noises and the level wind stopped working.It's a PENN right? So now my new reel is on it's way back to Philadelphia, at my expense. P.S. I have a PENN Squidder that is 50+ years old. Never let me down. Probably put some new drag washers in and keep using it.
allan a. : Piece of junk
Parts did not fit, reel was missing screws, handle was wobbly like it had loose bearings or something. I wonder if this was a knock off because the quality was terrible.
Jim Albin : light weight for bait
I use this reel on my sabiki rod, hods a lot of line and smooth descent,
BRUCE-KAT : Won’t hold up to deep sea fishing.
Bought 2 of these. Retuning both first Fisk caught with these striped out the line leveler. These won’t hold up to deep sea fishing.
lonnie feller : HOW TO ...... BRAIDED LINE ON REELS = AK TOUGH
These are the best reels are not only great in quality but super easy on the budget! A good majority of the guide boats in Homer ak use these reels and by far are the most popular reel in Cook Inlet for halibut, Ling, and Salmon! I have the squall 30s for my halibut.
LINE (I am using this setup for Trolling kings in homer ak and can be used for rock bass and such....lings too)
This is how I spool Braided line on my reels.
Braided line is EXPENSIVE! If you spool 300yds of braided line it will fill less than half of your reel up with line. You WANT that reel fuller to its top end in order to get the full reel and drag capabilities. On these reels one revolution of the reel handle is 3' of incoming line but if you only have half the spool filled, it will be much less than that. Fighting a fish or checking bait in 40' of water isn't that noticeable but 200' of water IS! so here is a trick to fill the reel up with only 250-300yds of expensive braided line and less than a $7 of backing material.
Use a Blood knot to tie Dacron to spool base. MAKE SURE TO TAPE THE STRING DOWN! You don't want slippage!
Start with 35yards of 80lb Dacron, moisten the string on the spool with a light oil to prevent corrosion on your reel,
spool on another 45yds for a total of 80 yds of just Dacron.... (this is the stuff i used from amazon) http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0010FQTHM?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00
Then use an Albright Knot (google it) to fasten your braided 65lb line to finish out your spool. I buy the 1500 yard spools........ 1500yds divided by 5 reels is 300yds of braid or 1500/6= 250yds......I do 300yds and get 5 reels out of it. The Dacron 80lb comes in 400 yards so 400yds/5reels= 80yds.... I can spool each rod brand new at $34 per reel...The kicker is I only have to respool the braided 300yd portion which saves a TON of money since you only have to go to the "backing" material. Plus even if you want to respool the Dacron backing it only costs less than $7 to replace.
Braided line I used
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D3FR7E6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00
JB : Great for Leftys
Great reel. This is my second Squall and I have many other Penn Reels. They are durable, reel in fish and cast effortlessly. I have no issues with them at all.
allan a. : Piece of junk
Parts did not fit, reel was missing screws, handle was wobbly like it had loose bearings or something. I wonder if this was a knock off because the quality was terrible.
Alan kinnard : Good quality reel
Good solid reel. A little on the expensive side. Used for salmon trolling. We'll Have to wait and see on the durability.
Mike : Reel for Montauk fish
Friend recommend this reel to me, for our recent Montauk trip for sea bass and fluke. The reel performed flawlessly, Easy to use, even for a not so experienced fisherman like myself. Great product, very happy.
Audi : The Perfect Trolling Reel for Big Tuna
I bought two of these and used them for trolling for tuna off Southern California. So far I have caught 2 Yellowfin Tuna and one 55 lb. Wahoo with them. They are perfect for this kind of fishing. I bought the 50 because I hooked up with a large blue fin tuna with a different reel and he went for the bottom and "spooled me" so I wanted to have plenty of line and this reel can accommodate over 600 yards of braid. The action is smooth and the gearing is just right. For the price you cannot beat this reel.
Jeff T. : Good reel
One thing I like the casting drag works better than any reel I've owned,this thing will not backlash, you can hear it clicking while adjusting,turning the knob ,that being said I have other reels that will cast a little further so far so good I use it for surf fishing and have 80 pound test braided
Texas Fish : Caught Snapper on it in the Gulf of Mexico
Took this out into the Gulf of Mexico on a head boat. Excellent reel. Never had a single problem. Level wind worked great and drag was up to some healthy red, cuberra and vermillion snapper. I have thhebreel mounted on an Ugly Stik Tiger casting rod. Very nice combo.
The line lay when spooling up the rod skews slightly to one side, hence the 4/5 stars. This was very slight and did not affect the fishing abilities of the reel at all. I also do not believe it materially affected the line capacity of the reel.
I spooled the reel on the road under less ideal conditions and thought this might be the root cause of the line skewing. When I got home from the trip, I stripped the line (40# mono) and respooled the reel. I used my spooling station for the respool. I got the same imbalance/skewing the 2nd time, so I am now thinking this condition might just the way this reel works. I have no real issue with the line skewing and would recommend the reel to anyone going out on a head boat a few times a year.
you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you
-
PENN Squall II Level Wind Conventional Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
Shimano Talica Conventional Reels review and price compare
-
Echo Ion Fly Reel review and price compare
-
KastKing Zephyr Spinning Reel – Fresh and Saltwater Fishing Reel – 7+1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings – Up to 33 Lbs Carbon Fiber Drag - Oversized Stainless Steel Main Shaft – Aluminum Spool review and price compare
-
Penn Spinfisher VI Spinning Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
Abu Garcia Zata Spinning Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
Tempo Apex Spinning Reel, Ultralight Premium Magnesium Body, Super Smooth Fishing Reel with 10 + 1 BB, Powerful and Durable Reel with Strong 39lb Max Carbon Fiber Drag review and price compare
-
Goture Spinning Fishing Reel - Metal Spool 6+1BB Freshwater Fishing Reel 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 Series review and price compare
-
Penn Fathom Lever Drag review and price compare
-
Gomexus Jigging Reel SX450 Saltwater 6.3:1 Lever Drag Left and Right Hand Conventional Reel review and price compare
-
Spinning Fishing Reel 5.5:1 14+1 BB Smooth Double Bearing Powerful Lightweight Fishing Reel CNC Aluminum Spool & Handle with A Spare Spool for Saltwater or Freshwater Fishing 2000-5000 review and price compare
-
Reels Spinning Pflueger PRES6USCX President Sizeunder Spin Reel, 5 BRG. 3.4: 1 Ratio, 6 review and price compare
-
Abu Garcia Ambassadeur S Round Baitcast Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
KastKing Sharky Baitfeeder III Spinning Reel 10+1 Shielded Stainless Steel BB - Carbon Fiber Drag for Live Liner Bait Fishing Action review and price compare
-
Sougayilang Fishing Reel Spinning -12+1BB Ultralight Smooth Powerful Spinning Reels for Freshwater Saltwater Bass Fishing review and price compare
-
Sougayilang Line Counter Trolling Reel Conventional Level Wind Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
Kalex 1499519 XL2 Low Profile RH Bait Casting Fishing Reel review and price compare
-
Quantum Vapor Baitcast Fishing Reel, Size 100 Reel, Continuous Anti-Reverse Clutch, Composite Cork Handle Knobs, 7.0:1 Gear Ratio, Silver/Black review and price compare
-
Piscifun Chaos XS Round Reel - Reinforced Metal Body Round Baitcasting Reel, Smooth Powerful Saltwater Inshore Surf Trolling Fishing Reels, Conventional Reels for Catfish, Musky, Bass, Pike review and price compare
-
Sougayilang Fishing Baitcasting Reels, 8:1 Gear Ratio Super Smooth Baitcast Reel with Magnetic Braking System, 9 + 1 Ball Bearings Anti-Corrosion Baitcaster Reel review and price compare