if you’re hooked to a long-running, hard-fighting
gamefish, you’ll certainly notice the benefits of a high-
calibre reel. The International series, for example,
provides many benefits in comfort, drag performance,
cranking ability and reliability that far outweigh the
reel’s additional size, weight and cost.
FOR SERIOUS GAMEFISHING
When designing the International series, priority
was given to strength and reliable functionality,
together with a line capacity capable of tackling high-
ratio captures. Internationals are sized to provide
a capacity of 1000m of the line class each one is
designed for – as is designated by their model name.
For example, the ‘30’ is recommended for the 30lb
(15kg) IGFA line class.
There is far more to consider than line class when
shopping for a new reel, as even within a given
brand, not all of their lever-drag gamefishing reels
will be designed for the same level of performance.
For example, within the Penn range, the International
30VISW reel holds 1000m of 15kg mono and weighs
1587 grams, while the Penn Torque 30LD2 reel holds
300m of 15kg mono and weighs 623 grams. Both are
lever-drag reels optimised for fishing the 15kg line
class, but besides their line capacities, their levels of
performance vary considerably.
With the International’s larger line capacity you can
effectively withstand the long runs of even an oversize
gamefish. Another very important consideration is
what happens to the effectiveness of your drag system
and cranking ability during a battle.
RAMIFICATIONS OF A RUN
Consider the effects of a typically long run of 300 to
500m. If using a lightweight reel you’d be in very
serious trouble or already have broken off. However,
with the International, even if you’d half-emptied
your spool, the remaining diameter leaves your drag
pressure and retrieve speed still functional.
With a smaller reel, a long run will take the spool
diameter down near the core, by which time, due
to the significantly reduced spool diameter, the drag
pressure will have automatically soared and probably
broken the line. Even if you were still connected, each
turn of the handle would retrieve hardly any line,
making you work much harder for each metre gained
and making it almost impossible to keep up with a
fast-moving fish. The retrieve rate of the reel also
influences how easy the handle can be turned against
a given load. With a mostly-empty spool you’ll find it
harder to turn the handle.
The larger handle knob of the International reels is
more comfortable to use as it can be held by the entire
hand. Its heavier/stronger construction also enables
more torque to be applied to the gearing so that more
power is transferred from you to the reel.A MORE RELIABLE DRAG
A drag system with dual drag washers adds weight
to the reel but distributes the load over a wider area,
resulting in a more consistent and durable drag.
Internationals are fitted with Penn’s proven Dura
Drag washers, made of woven carbon fibre with a
phenolic coating for durability. The application of
Penn’s Dura Lube to these carbon washers smooths the
drag and almost eliminates the start-up inertia causedAbove left:
The frame of
the VI series
Internationals is
machined from a
block of extruded
6061-T6 aluminium,
giving it great
strength and
longevity.
Above: The
shafts and gears
are precision cut
from stainless-steel,
with a heat-treating
operation added for
the pinion gears of
all models from 12VI
to 70VIS to increase
their durability.“Penn’s
Internationals
are built far
stronger and
perform at a
much higher
level.”
The gearing and
ratchet assembly of
a two-speed Penn
International 12VISX,
providing a high-
speed ratio of 5.1:1
for keeping pace with
a fast-moving fish, as
well as a low-speed
ratio of 1.8:1 when
power is required to
move a stubborn,
sulking fish.bluewatermag.com.au 71