Striped Bass Surf Fishing and Penn Spinfisher VI Review - Going Bailess 

Thank you John for all your great videos, and also your wisdom We all really appreciate you.

Thank you for your continuous videos Jon. I really enjoy them. I’ve started surf fishing for about a year now and I’ve had great experience trying something new. Thank you for sharing your knowledge sir.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and fishing experiences. I really appreciate and enjoy all your videos.

Back in the early 1970s I had a bail break. I removed most of it and loved fishing without it. No more half-closed bails. Even though my current spinning reels HAVE bails, I close them by hand and make sure the line is in the correct place. I do it by feel...day or night. Great video as always John! Tightest... Frank

Still running my 6500 BLS and haven't had a problem. Can't be beat for the price. I'll be getting one of these for my north shore setup.

I love the Penn Spinfisher series. I have several up to the 4500. I recently purchased two 2500 Conquest and I'm eager to try them out on a speckled trout. Great stripper video.

Hi John , I just picked up the 4500 and matched it with my ODM 9 genius 9 footer. I love it for back bays like I fish in Raritan bay. Tight lines!

All your vids are great John. Thx for putting all the time in to inform/teach. Great job on hooking up all the time. As far as bailess Penn’s, I’m a lefty with right hand retrieve. I’ve bought the 6500 SSV bailess does not work for RightHand retrievers as well, like a dedicated lefty reel like a VS 150 or 250. I couldn’t get use to the opposite flick of your index finger trying to hook the line at the initial retrieve. So, I converted the reel to bailed version. Unfortunately, Penn does not mention this issue for lefties/right hand retrievers.

Love the bailess reels! First cast ever with a Van Staal i snapped my SP. After that, it’s second nature.

Went and bought a Spinfisher VI 4500BLS after watching this video. I'm in love with it.

Hey John, Please disregard earlier question. I saw you answered this previously. Tight lines.

Hey John, Happy Holidays. I know it's been partially discussed but I'm wondering if think a Slammer 3 3500 handle would fit a Spinfisher VI of the same size? Would be a great light braid setup for blackfish/porgies. Thanks.

Hey John, Happy Thanksgiving! I was wondering if the rotor movement is also an issue with other bailess models such as the Van Staals or Zee Bass? Thanks.

I remember those rocks John. You had an Albie video and it looks very familiar haha. I was eyeing that reel up because of the size and bailless. I like the "had 500 stripers on it" rub it in John hahahaa.!! Awesome Information as always and very informative on many aspects of fishing. Thank you.

Well over 500 bass... Jesus I’ll never catch that many in my whole life

John, could you please target some cod fish for us. Thanks

When I used a bail-less reel (tsunami shield) I really enjoyed fishing with it because of the simplicity of catching the line with your finger but I had 2 major problems. First was the handle rotating on its own due to the momentum of the back cast and since there is nothing stopping it when you don't open a bail, sometimes the line roller arm would rotate around far enough to catch the line and pop goes my line and goodbye lure. The other problem was the first loop of line going on the spool crooked sometimes over the top of the spool in and around the drag system which would result in a wind knot on the next cast. This was caused by my technique and it took a bunch of trial and error before i realized what was going on and was able to change what i was doing a bit and cause the problem to happen much less often but that also added an extra level of tedium to using it so i basically just never use that reel anymore. It seemed super convenient like in this video but in practice it was just as tedious as a normal spinning reel if not more.

Is there a good place to buy the slammer 3 handle from? Best deal I could find was $50

Just got a Penn bailless reel.....I noticed that sometimes when I cast, the line will get hung up on the roller.....I've already lost a plug or two like this.....Any suggestions?

You need to do a video on how to scout out spots and to come to the conclusion that it is worth fishing that day because you are the best at it. I'm sure you get skunked once in a while but not often. Is this addressed in any of your books?

Hey John, not even fair. Wish we had steady action like that here in NJ surf. I only have success like that when I'm fishing for sunnies on a pond with my 5yr old. lol.But like you said in one of your replies it takes time spent in a area to learn it's productive possibilities during the right conditions. I fish certain piers with the same mindset.

John on the reel, the bls model is it just for heave and retrieve? Could it be used if using a popping cork? did it ever come off the retrieve finger while using a popper? Thanks

Just ordered my Spinfisher 4500bls and cant wait to test it out on the south shore! I was wondering what size Slammer 3 handle you purchased for the spinfisher 4500bls? Is it just the normal slammer 3 4500 handle or is it the 5500? Thank you for all your insight and knowledge!

Hey John, love all the surf fishing videos! I wanted to know what you think of the j-braid. My go to is the spiderwire ultracast for the smoothness and how supple it is but it can be a bit expensive. Do they share most of the same characteristics or is j-braid just all about the small diameter?

Just received my second one....Fish on

Suggestion for a video- showing more detail on your retrieve. Actually move the camera down on your hands and discuss speed, action, pops, wtc

John...Do you ever keep a striper? If so, what is the best way to treat a keeper? I’m new to striper fishing and I don’t plan on keeping fish. With that said, I would like to try bass at some point. Interested to hear your thoughts on keepers. Thank you, I’m a big fan of your books and videos!

Raw visceral experience

Do you find there's bigger fish under the surface blitz? Most people see a blitz they go right to topwater which works great and is a lot of fun but not always productive on larger fish

Would this be a good reel to put on a 9ft Tsunami 2-5 oz? I'm new to surfcasting and love your videos. Always great info

So occasionally with this reel ,the roller will swing around into the line while I am reaching back to cast, effectively catching the line during the cast once I release my finger. Any tips on ways to prevent this?

Which reel do you this is better for fishing with plugs. The Spin Fisher VI bailess or the Taumani Shield bailless.

I'm thinking about getting into surf fishing and im planning on a 10' or 10'6" rod, would you recommend the 4500 or 6500 reel?

John is that beach named after a president? I had to get one I can’t wait till spring. Funny it almost feels like spring here’s in the north east ...

Can you tell me how much more casting distance you get if using Spinfisher Long Cast Model vs same size non long cast?

Where did you pick up the slammer 3 handle? and do you know the part number for it please.

John, do you constantly have to keep tension on the line with a bailless reel?

John ! do use swivels between your braid and mono leader ?

Did you pack this with grease before using it? I have the 6500 BLS and the handle likes to spin when I cast... I noticed yours stayed put.

Just bought a SSVI4500BLS, whats a good rod to pair it with for jetty/surf fishing?

Hey John, I'm a big fan of the foam EVA knob on my Clash. Would you happen to know if I could put one on this generation of Spinfisher? Also, is a bailess kit available for the bailed versions? I'd like to have the option of switching. Thanks.

Hey John would the penn slammers 3 handle fit over onto the penn torque

Hi john Mike from Vermont are you surf fishing on Long Island in this video

Wish one day I could go fishing with you and catch one I have never caught one

John, Do you know if Penn is -or will- offer a bailess conversion kit for the 4500's?

Which handle of the slammers fit that? Would it be the same slammer handle for the 5500??

Hey John! I was wondering if you could give me your opinion about the Penn 706z Thanks!

John, which slammer 3 handle would I use for the 4500, or does it matter?

Can you share the link or info about how to order the slammer handle?

I purchased the 4500 VI bailess model this past December and I read about how many people complained that the Penn V 6500 bailess reel was anatomically out of proportion with the hand and index finger to the line roller compared to the VS or Zeebaas bailess models, I own a 200 & 150 VS bailess model and have fished them for 22 years and at first I used my index finger for catching the line during a cast until one day I used my middle finger and found it to be faster and easer to catch the line and put it on the roller during casting. I used my 4500 bailess VI for the first time two days ago and fished with it two days in a row without one miscue catching small bass on bucktails and plugs and tins and I almost never had to look at the reel after hundreds of casts to put the line on the roller, but I always use my middle finger to catch the line I think it's because the middle finger is the longest one on your hand and for me I can reach the line effortlessly and pop the line on the roller with every cast. {Happy Fishing !!!}

John, can simply remove the bail on my penn battle ll to try it?

Great vid. How would you compare the smoothness of the spinfisher vi to the slammer iii?

Hey John, Is this a simple handle conversion for all model Spinfisher VI's? I'd like to get one for my 6500 bailess. Thanks.

Where did you find the slammer 3 handle at?

Where do you pick up penn slammer handles?

Hey how are you they hove 55000

Why a palomar knot on the braid and clinch on the leader? Easier to tie? Easier to break off in a snag?

Nice bro

How would this reel be on your lami skinner rod 9’2 ?

Do you still use your Van Stall?

Do u think the slammer 3 handle will fit on a battle 3 4000

Is this Penn Spinfisher VI made in the USA, or China? Thank you.

Is there a bailess option for the slammer 3?

What a day, you were probably able to skip the gym after fighting all those fish

please let me know where it is to try

Bro? What this is Reel and size?

It's like a highlights reel

went bail less 15 years ago and ill never go back

You go catching while I'll have to go fishing.....

I don't see how bail less wheel cud be betta than wheel with bail

So in theory i could just remove the bail from my reel?

where is it so good to fish

Where on the north shore is this

Once bailes never went back to a bail

video seems sped up