Customer Reviews

Penn Jigmaster Reel

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Simply one of the best reels a person can buy for the price! A wonderful "one size fits all" saltwater fishing tool, as effective for cod, blackfish, snapper, and grouper as it is for stripers and bluefish. A "quick swap" feature allows a person to change their spool of line easily to meet the changing conditions which sometimes occur while out on the water. An added advantage is that the reel can be serviced at most tackle shops with no problem unlike more "exotic" equipment, though quite honestly, usually a little WD-40 and gear oil will keep it running fine for years before it needs a major overhaul.

As a kid,I bought a Penn 500 Jigmaster in 1969 for $13 of my hard-earned lawnmowing money and I expect to pass it on to my son. It has been used for deep-sea fishing with up to 3 lb sinkers, live bait fishing from Southern California partyboats, pier fishing, salmon trolling and coastal rock and jetty fishing. I added extra spools for versatility, as it was my only saltwater reel for many years. So impressed was I with its durability (the drag washers have been replaced once) that I bought 2 more Penn levelwind reels,(the 209 and the 10) all made in the USA. Unlike most reels, the Jigmaster has a quick-take apart feature (one finger operated screw) that make cleaning and changing spools very easy. Also, there are several oil ports take make lubrication a cinch. Despite the lack of sophisticated features like multiple ball bearings, I have not had a problem with wear. The drag can be set very tight for use with heavy sinkers or diving planes. The Jigmaster is overkill for most salmon and beginners may find a levelwind reel easier to use. But when I go for halibut and lingcod this spring, the Jigmaster will be back in action. What other reel can you buy new spools for 40 years after the original purchase?