SPINFISHER VI review, THE TRUTH! V is BETTER AND CHEAPER! 

Jesse - Thought I would comment on your video as to exactly how and why the Spinfisher VI is an upgrade in a lot of ways, as it seems most of the points were missed. The Spinfisher VI was developed off the proven platform of the Slammer III, not just a rebranded Spinfisher V. I hope this info helps! -Ben at PENN 1.) Gears - CNC gears do not only have tighter tolerances than a standard zinc gear, but the solid aluminum and brass gear material are much more resistant to wear against heavy loading. Sizes 2500-5500 use aluminum and the 6500-10500 sizes use brass which is stronger for the higher loads they need to withstand. These are the same design as the Slammer III, however the Slammer III uses brass on all sizes because of the much higher drag pressures. Spinfisher V used a cast zinc gear. 2.) Drag - This was not a cost cutting measure at all. We moved the drag to a top stack so that it would allow us to save weight in a key location. In fact, the smaller sizes only lost about 5lbs of drag, while our larger sizes actually gained 5-10 pounds of max drag. Our max drags are still more than most anglers use for each size reel, and if you do need more, the Slammer III has you covered. Drags are still sealed like the Spinfisher V. 3.) Sealing - Here is where you missed a main point. Yes, we still use a perimeter body seal around the gear box like the Spinfisher V, but we have also added several seals to be able to reach IPX5. First, we have compression seals between the main gear bearings and the sideplates to stop water intrusion around the handle, a main shaft seal (main area of water entry into any spinning reel), as well as a hydrophobic labyrinth seal under the rotor. These were all upgrades over the Spinfisher V. 4.) Weight - We were able to cut out between 2 to 3 ounces from each size. This was done using a combination of moving the drag stack to the top, as well as moving to a carbon rotor on the smaller size reels (not to be confused with plastics used on entry level reels). Material advancements have made it possible to use carbon materials in places where only metal was used in the past, without sacrificing performance.

Hi there, I've been servicing my penn spinnfisher and slammer 3 and now they have some slight rotor back play as the roller bearing engages.Takle advisors had the same problem with his. Any advice will be great thank you from Jake.:)

Just subscribed, been looking and looking for a great long lasting reel and came across this spin v. I got a daiwa bg 4000 and returned it after testing it. What would you recommend as a 3000 or 4000?

Hello great info. What Penn reel,you Fierce 3 or Spinfisher would match well with a Tsunami 2 Trophy 9ft. Thanks, Andy

I have a doubt in my mind. I've ordered a spinfisher 5 - 10500 from ali express 2 days back. Is there a chance of getting duplicate product?

hi!. well, you say that the new model is not as good as expected!.... Have you tried one of medium size as lethal80, spheros sw10k or cabo80? and big as lethal100? thanks!

Hi. Can u suggest for me between spinfisher V 4500 n 5500 for fishing gt

Hi.. compare with daiwa bg magsealed ,which one better?

what daimeter line u spool on it and how many meters? 4500series

Do you happen to know whether the spools are the same for the 5 and 6 (are they interchangeable)?

Cool video! Been trying to decide between the v and vi in the 55 series. The price difference is about $65 on Amazon. I think you helped me decide. Liked and subscribed! Thanks!!

Which penn model when we roll the line it light than other penn model

Good video. Does this info hold up after 3 years. Of course now it seems harder to find the V. Also, I fish the Freeport, TX area, mostly inshore saltwater for specks, redfish and flounder, which Penn would suit me best? Or what reel of any brand is best. I am liking the Penn Spinfisher information I have seen. I have never used one yet, usually use Curados

The biggest thing I noticed is that it is "possible" for Saltwater to creep into the reel by way of the screws that hold the side plate. The screws holding the side plate on the Spinfisher V are INSIDE the gasket compared to the Spinfisher VI, where the screws are outside. I still think that both are great reels, and with proper maintenance, each will last a long time. I have the Spinfisher IV 6500LL here in Florida and I really enjoy the reel.

whenever i decide to buy a penn i'll go to this channel to watch 😁

After closely evaluating my ssv6500ll reels to the new ssvi6500ll, I have to agree with you. Although I did decide against a new VI, I did pull the trigger on a new Slammer 3 7500 size. That should help put the brakes on a big flathead and shake off a little river water/mud. Thanks for keeping it real brother. Tight lines. 🎣❤️ I do head out to port A/Rockport, TX usually once a year. Let’s get on some reds sometime.

Thanks for the honest review. Where can I find the Penn Spinfisher 5 for $69.98? At that price I'd be a buyer today! Thanks

Here in Indonesia, many pro says that spinfisher V is better than the VI. Just bought the VI 5500 LC , and they said I should pick up Slammer III instead of The VI... Nice & comprehensive vid, Bro ...

OK, I have a lot of Penn Reels, my first ones were bought in 1982. A 320SS, 330SS,430SS, 5500SS, 650SS , 850SS and 5500SSV, 3200SSVI, 6500SSV, and a 320 GTI . Ive never had any problems with any of my reels at all. Most were made in " The USA ". My 320SSVI i bought when they first came out. No wories I live in Daytona Beach , FL . five min .from the beach and fish often. Surf and the " ICW " Halifax River. As far as the "DRAG SYSTEM " goes, there is NO "Slamer" drag . All Penn Reels ''SS" have the " H-T 100 tm " drag system. SS,SSV, SSVI. The "Slamer III " have penolic-coated carbon-fiber washers. This one is " sealed to IPX6 " specs. The other SS reels are " IPX5 ". There are very few Penn SSV's left. They are a bit less money and ar as good as the "Newest" SSVI's. I don't work for Penn or any dealer. I'm just a long time user of Penn Reels and Rods. Thank you, Tom , Daytona Beach , Florida.

Bought the V 5500 Black Friday weekend for $79 at Basspro shop and just bought the 4500 today on the Penn sight for $69, do I really need another reel? Who cares this is a great deal😁😁

From owning both I’ve to agree and disagree. Is the 5 a great feel and most likely more reel than the average angler needs in a spin reel? Yes. That being said do I think the 5 is better quality than the 6? Absolutely not, it’s sealed far better (yes you submerged your rod once or twice over 3 years, let’s look at the internals in a decade after countless submerging, side by side torture test my money is on the 6 any day of the week) gearing/internals were made of better material with better build quality, that can be put through bigger loads, higher friction (have to account for years of this shit) also, the 6 has as much max drag as I could ask for and seems a consistent drag level (no faults to me from what I can see/feel) to each their own. I love both reels Both are worth the money, if I had to chose I’d go 6 just because from what I see it’ll last much longer.

After seeing this video You change my mind about the spinfisher v however my heart is set on the slammer! Can you please do a review on which is better. thank you

Hey there i have watched some of your videos about penn reels, month ago a big fish took my rod with evrything to the sea, i could not run for it because i was in port area, i found my rod after a month on the shore 😅 penn spinfisher VI 5500 worked like new, if you want i can send you video for review

How is that penn pursuit3 holding up? Is it the new budget reel from penn?

Have two 8500 “work horses.” One is a V and one is VI. And I just bought two 10500 V. That’ll tell you something. Thanks for the info. What part of Sth Tx?

I’ve had 2 penn slammers for around 10 years? Not quite sure when I got them and pretty sure they are the of slammers. No gaskets at all, only just serviced the the other day for the first time as one took a drink. Both still like new but well used.

Can you review the van staal vr 50 I think they're overrated I've had three of them all different sizes seems like every year they have to get serviced now they're telling me the vrs are not made to be dunked the new ones are sounds to me like van stalls trying to sell another product

Totally agree, have 24 of the V series on charter boat. They have performed faultlessly for over 500 charters. Only problems have been bail arm bits, broken by novice anglers not releasing some line after winding it hard to the rod tip. Other charter boats supposedly upgraded, and were very disappointed with the V1, which is not as reliable

With respect i would disagree. I dont think the V is inherently better than the VI. I do think that PENN used some cost cutting measures in some areas but that was so they could push those resources to other parts of the reel. 1.For the drag system I'm not really pushing my drag that high because the rest of the reel wont take it. 2 .It is definitely better sealed overall 3 .Amazon is selling combos really cheap now (but sill more expensive than the V) 4.The VI gears are much better especially 6500 and up (The V drag can hold up to big fish but the gears cant over long use in my experience) 5. Its lighter 6. Better balanced(imo) However 1.I prefer the drag sealing on the V 2.The extra seals don't make it submersible and the V sealing was adequate 3 .Phone companies pay alot for ipx testing put the cost into the final product so tested definitely mean more $$$ but untested doesn't necessarily mean worse sealing(tsunami shield isn't IPX tested but damn its sealed). 4. Even if i dont use it the drag system is better on the V Better bang for your buck? Sure V is better but not by much rn. Is the V inherently better than the VI? No because if you are pushing that drag to the max those gears wont take it and you should get a Slammer III Best, Kyle

It depends. The VI has the good all brass gears but only in the 6500 models up. The VI has better sealing. The V (on my 6500) has the better Slammer drag system but located at top of spool. It actually feels better and much more adjustable and smoother than in this configuration. The bailess 6500 V is painful ergonomically though. I really like the size and weight and concept of the VI 5500 in long cast version but the gears are aluminum and they don't make it bail less. The Slammers are awesome but the spools are sooo tiny. As a surf caster I have gone to Spinfisher VI long cast in 6500 for heavy plugging. It has all brass gearing and the long cast spool. It very smooth and tight. An awesome reel. Too bad no bail less model though.

So instead of the Pursuit 3 should I just get the Spinfisher 5?

I see the 5 only comes in a 3500. Is that too big for us freshwater bass fishermen? Is this the reel that sells for $69.98? Thanks.

I have 2 SSV5 8500 Penn Combos. Those things are tanks. Also have a few vintage Penn bait casting reels. At this time I don't have any reason to buy any new spinning reels as my SSV5's have never failed. A few in the 3500-4500 range may be in my future though. Something I can freshwater fish with and not feel like I am casting with a light pole :D

Wayull... I have me a circa 1980 5500ss. Still kickin'! But I used it almost exclusively for surf and jetty. Striped bass and bluefish up here in New England. Time for an upgrade, and I was tossing between the Spinfisher VI and the Shimano Stradic FL. And max 4500 size, as I'm doing mostly inshore now. And no question, the V is a lot less coin than the VI. So now I have a dilemma (thanks fer nuthin'! JK!). To say nothing of selecting a good rod for a 4500 (St. Croix is a little pricey, but I'm up for other ideas). Great vids, just subscribed.

I have a 5 and I love it spinfisher 5 is my reel caught bullreds no problem still gonna use it no matter what good video.

One thing to note, the spinfisher 5 the sideplate screws are on the inside of the rubber gasket where the spinfisher 6 the screws or outside the gasket, just something to think about

What size penn spinfisher v model is good for a 12ft spinning rod 🤔🤔🤔

I can't agree better, l have almost every reel you mentioned. One thing in fresh water the conflict ll, clash ll,is very light and durable reel 2500,4000,and 1 5000.l have 4 spinfishers.The 3500,2 4500 and 1 5500Vs. 1 think everyone is missing is the pursuit lll, it's great for the $ and will surprise you with a HT 100 drag..Rather have it then a BG,Shimano.But since l have 4 spinfishers v reels,and 8 pursuit 3 I'm set pretty good. For me it's PENN V, Pursuit lll .Fresh and salt covered.

New subscriber here! Hey Jesse, I thought I could give you some valuable feedback on the Spinfisher V 7500. I bought this reel brand new in 2016 and I may have used it 50 to 75 times up to this year. I take exceptional care of my gear and to give you an idea just how well, I have never even had a $30 reel seize up from salt water. With that said, this Spin Fisher has served me well however I took it out shark fishing Tuesday night and for the 1st time I really locked down on the drag fighting a 100 lb Sandbar shark. On his initial run I probably only around 7 lbs of drag before I started to feel uneasy about the feel of the drag so I backed down to the point where it was a smooth release. Now my concern is this reel hasn't been used enough for the carbon washers to act like they're worn even though the reel is 7 years old. With a rating of 35 lbs of drag it should have no problem handling 7 to 10 lbs of drag. Now maybe I did something to cause that I don't know but I just spoke to someone from France that was using a Slammer III 8500 for 200 to 300lb Bluefin Tuna. The max drag on the 8500 is 50lbs. I also have this reel, the 8500 and he claimed the reel handled the 1st fight with his drag locked down to 25 to 30 lbs. After that it wasn't working as well handling that kind of pressure. I did the drag test on this reel and I noticed it was reaching it's max at around 30 lbs. So basically I'm finding out where these reels have their limitations. I'm not disappointed with these reels especially the Slammer but I just thought I'd have more use for the Spin Fisher 7500 before I bought it. The HT-100 and Dura drag is a decent system but I wouldn't recommend constant hard use of this drag system if you're expecting a fair amount of longevity.

I have two v4500 and think that the handle is weak in comparation with the rest of the reel. I just have that feeling

Is the surfblaster 3 a good surf reel

If you are going to challenge one of the most popular mid-price point spinning reel platforms and an excellent ICAST performer with the VI, you have to tear these reels piece by piece and see the differences... clear clear differences in gearing durability, in sealing (main shaft seal, sealed bearing at the AR clutch, etc.) and the variety of models like the live liner, the long cast, and way way better line lay than is found on the V.... it's just bad reel maintenance to not take your reel apart and work on it, especially with the ease that Penn gives you to do so... big supporter of the channel, like your videos, just think you missed it with your incomplete review on the VI

Slammer 3 vs saragosa vs spinfisher 6 6500 for jetty action??!

Thanks for the eye opener.

How do you rate the 7500lc Penn.

Is the slammer 3 quite a bit better ? it feels much smoother to me

What's the difference between a 850 and 8500

Nice video ,I have one no complains! Very good reel for under $100

No matter what Penn says, the Spinfisher V was built on the Slammer III platform and the Spinfisher VI is built on the same platform as the Battle. In a nutshell, Spinfisher V is a stripped down Slammer III and the Spinfisher VI is a dressed up Penn Battle.

great, now can you talk about cheap and good braided line?

Thank you for your display of information. It saved me time from having to do the research !

Iv'e found this sometimes they change tackle without keeping the quality!!!!

I appreciate your honesty. It takes guts to share an opinion like that. Penn fanboys getting butt hurt, lol. I've got a spinfisher 6 6500, I like it alot. I think the CNC gearing is worth an extra cost but not to the extent that they are charging. The Battle 3 finally got CNC gears but a 6000 is like 135 dollars. Why not get a Daiwa BG for 90 dollars? The fierce 3 is almost as much as a BG. Thats ridiculous. I have 3 fierce 2 liveliners. Only reason I bought them is that is the lowest you can go for a live liner. They need to hear this kind of feedback. I wanted to buy a battle 3 but no way at that price point. BG all day for that price.

All look great but look like toys compared to the early Spinfishers. 2nd and 3rd generation made in Philly. No solid BRASS main gears , tiny bearings as well - great video but 😎

Good review. Thank you for the information. I'll pass this info onto my clients.

The only reel that I like as much as the spinfisher is the Diawa bg. It is a lot smoother than the spinfisher and a little lighter. It is also $77 for the 3000 size at Walmart. It is worth a try if you have never used one.

And how can I buy one from you for $89

Thanks for the info, good video,

All I got from this was that the 6 has better gears and better sealing with a slightly inferior drag. And that you really really like your 5. I think saying one is vastly superior is just wrong. It depends heavily on what the fisherman values from the reel.

Whats your opinion about the slammer 3 ?!

My Penn spinfisher vi’s have been workhorses. I admit I’m a Penn fan boy because I can open them up take them apart clean and lube etc. Diawa is pretty clear that they don’t want you taking them apart. Shimano is of course a great reel but I love my Penn’s.

You have an opinion on the Shimano oc baitfeeder? Looking to buy one but then I found the Spinfisher and now I’m torn

Thanks for great info boss

Cnc gears are cut from a solid block of metal in a cnc machine. A lot of gears are cast metal.

I caught sailfish and bunch of kings on spinfisher 5 5500 and it handled them easily

i think so too and never even seen one or held one just from looking it up i also have different penn reels , great video.

I think the point that you put about cost sais it all the 5 seems a lot cheaper and a hell of a lot of people out there don't need to spend the extra cash for the fishing they do I've spent 1000 s 0n reels when really I didn't need to the diving industry s the same You think more cash means better and it's not always true You were well worth listening to and I believe honest KEEP IT UP MR AMERICA DUDE

Nice videos man y’all are always honest and give good reviews based on use not sponsorship. Keep it up and I’ll keep watching.

Once you get over a certain level the fishing is a fashion show. Spot on !

thanks mate..but 6 looks more handsome..thanks for the explaination..good day

Where abouts in South Texas?

Ok, the only thing that looks “better” on the five is the Slammer type drag. My 8500 vi has 30 lbs of drag, more than enough. So is the v better? I don’t think so. Better value for the money, probably.

I might get the 3500 and the 8500! The 3500 for small fish and the 8500 for the big fish!

5 or 6 . Spinfisher is Rhino rell .. salam dari Indonesia . 🙏

Wish I saw this before I bought the spinfisher 6 5500. Smh

Wow crazy !! Glad im still running the SF V

Ill take a brass gear and aluminum gear over a cast zinc gear any day

got one for black friday (2017) and i like it. good to know these facts.

I couldn’t agree more. I love the v and paid $84 for the 4000 combo and absolutely love it.

I have a spin fisher 6 and I’ve never had a problem with it

The V is more or less on par to the VI in price in Australia, crazy

The PENN VI 6500 has CNC gears and the body is sealed and the PENN V does not have any of that.

One more question do you recommend the slammer 3

U like the daiwa BG

Slotcityfishing better where is the reel spinfisher v or spinfisher vi?

Power reel brooo

Dude have you even tried a VI? I have a V and VI and the VI drag is way smoother, way smoother gearing. You say you only care about how the reel feels while fishing yet you didn't try the VI??

Always honest! Thanks!

2500 is the reason to buy

"solid alloy handle" your reel handle please...rather than pin jointed...small improvement but major on 2020 and years to come....

Thanks so much brother

I talk closely with one of the Penn reps local in my area and trust me the only thing the 5 has over the 6 is they are cheap now ....glad you like your older 5 but it doesn't make it a better reel....

Thanks for Good reviews dude, the hand gestures is a bit annoying though

I repair reels and have seen many V's with stripped gears, due to the grey "pot metal" they are made from. If you aren't after big fish, it won't matter, but if you want to catch Amberjacks (same family as Kingfish here in NZ), big sharks or tuna, I would go for the Vi, due to the gears. Take out the gear on a V, then compare it to a Vi. Pot metal makes me feel sick. It's like the stuff die-cast toy cars are made from. CNC brass gears will not easily strip and slip past each other eventually, like cheap pot metal gears will, when often put under big loads. It doesn't really matter with smaller reels (since the fish targeted don't have the horsepower), hence the SF 5500 and below use ali, not brass, and the 6500 and up use brass. I would personally say, if you want a large spinner for powerful fish and need the bigger sizes, go the Vi, but if you are after a smaller reel, the pot metal gears in the V's will be fine. The V do have better drags though, squeezing the spool from on top and below. Just get a Slammer III or even better, find a Torque 1 or 2 at a good price. A used one of them, is far better than a new SF V, Vi or Slammer III. If you are wondering my credentials, I have over 100 spinning reels of every make/price point, and service and repair them for a job. I don't like blowing my own horn, but when it comes to reels- I know my shit. Kia ora from NZ.

Penn spinfisher vi VS Penn Battle 3 ?

I disagree. Cnc gears, higher waterproof rating and drop in weight is more important than the 5lbs of drag that they reduced. Close out sale price of the spinfisher v is a great deal though but wont be available forever. 🤙 tight lines

That down vote somone has buyers remorse.

Jesse, Not much good to say about review as you missed a lot of V vs VI changes... body screws moved outside of seal etc. and BTW a reviews and opinions are good for us reviewers looking for products but your lighting and videos and speech could use a bit of polishing and I'm just an old Tennessee hillbilly living in Bama these days, just saying... check out Tackle Advisors channel for production tips...

2050 spinfisher XXVI ipx9000. Water tight on Neptune. Gotta have it

Thanks man... I will be choose SSV to buy it,i feel more stronger than SSVI... Best regard from indonesia....