Penn 515 Mag2 - initial thoughts

[Bluesboy12345]

I have just bought the new Penn 515 Mag2 today. It is a lot smaller than I imagined it would be.

It has made in China stuck on the base of the reel!

I loaded (maybe overloaded?) it with 15lb Daiwa Sensor with a 60lb tapered shock leader then did several practice cast with it. It went much further (easily 25% more) than my Penn 535GS (no surprise there) it was easy casting and reeling in was smooth and effortless I was very impressed with it.

I then loaded up my bait and cast out. Disaster struck the weight cracked off and I got a massive birds nest which I could not untangle!

Luckily I had my old 535 and could continue fishing I caught a small flattie and whiting so all was not lost (apart from my pride)

[big sid]

Its possibly going to be the same story as with the Penn GTI boat reels the original being USA built the new generation GT2 being produced in China,not saying everything being exported from this country is of inferior quality,but you have to wonder.
Personal thing but don't like the gold finish looks cheap looking when you compare it to your 535.
As for your last photo (birdsnest) had alot worse some of which I manage to sort out either with the reel on the rod or by changing reels in order to carry on fishing while I sit and un-tangle the line passes the time when things are quiet.

[<(Andy2009)>]

Nice one!

I have just bought the new Penn 515 Mag2 today. It is a lot smaller than I imagined it would be.

It has made in China stuck on the base of the reel!

I loaded (maybe overloaded?) it with 15lb Daiwa Sensor with a 60lb tapered shock leader then did several practice cast with it. It went much further (easily 25% more) than my Penn 535GS (no surprise there) it was easy casting and reeling in was smooth and effortless I was very impressed with it.

I then loaded up my bait and cast out. Disaster struck the weight cracked off and I got a massive birds nest which I could not untangle!

Luckily I had my old 535 and could continue fishing I caught a small flattie and whiting so all was not lost (apart from my pride)

A seen u in the shop purchasing it mate! Gud on ya. U need to get used to it first as it wil inevitably b faster than your 535. The other 515 I have reserved. I will post my thorts and evaluation on it to mate (on wednesday!)

[Bluesboy12345]

Penn 515 - Birds nest

I was unable to get the tangle out at the time (the light had gone) but when I got home I realised the problem (I think).

I had left all the magnetic settings as they were when they left the factory assuming (wrongly) they would be set up for the average user (big mistake).

The average Penn reel user is obviously smarter than me as the factory settings for the magnets were on the minimum ie completly off! It was no wonder I was surprised how far I was casting!

Maybe I was just a victim of a Chinese workers joke "Cast that you rich capitalist pig and see how you like birds nest soup"

The colours black and gold I really like as I used to own a Norton Commando in the same colours, how long the gold finish will last is another issue.

Quality wise compared to the US made 535 I can not see any difference (difficult to tell really.) I will only be able to tell after a period of time if the Chinese made 515 is any different. I hope not.

[big sid]

I'll bet if you like the black & gold look you were a fan of the F1 John Players Special racing team.
The reel/s may be 100% OK
But if by chance there not it will be the internal workings of the reels.
I'm sure Daiwa did something similar with the first slosh sold like hot cakes then when the next generation arrived the quality of materials for the gearings ect were of inferior quality there was alot of un-happy chappies.

[Bluesboy12345]

A cracking little reel

I took the new reel out today to practice I put the magnets on the maximum setting and then gradually reduced it. I did about 30 casts without a single birds nest. The magnets worked a treat I only needed to put my thumb against the spool when the weight hit the water.

The birds nest was all due to operator error.

A cracking little reel!!

[<(Andy2009)>]

Ssshhhhh!!

I took the new reel out today to practice I put the magnets on the maximum setting and then gradually reduced it. I did about 30 casts without a single birds nest. The magnets worked a treat I only needed to put my thumb against the spool when the weight hit the water.

The birds nest was all due to operator error.

A cracking little reel!!

Your making me jealous now mate! Cant wait 4 mine on wednesday. Al compare thorts when a get it.