Anybody use a Penn 515

[angler100]

Anybody use one? Going by the sales guff it's as good as the 525 for rough stuff and retrieve, but designed to cast distances when needed. Best of both worlds? Sounds too good to me. Fancy one though. I use a 7ht which I love, but not great retrieving through rough stuff.

[Stewart 1971]

Don't think the 515 would be much use in the rough stuff, it has a narrower spool than the 525 and line capacity is only 240 metres of 15lb line. Doubt you'd get much 25 - 30lb line on there and I don't think it would be very happy casting it either.

No the 515 to me looks like an out and out clean beach reel to compete with the 7HT Mag and 6500 CT.

[BAZACODBASHA]

As Maclolm says, the 515 has a narrower spool than the 525. I bought one about two weeks ago, and honestly can't fault it. However I only use it for clean beaches. It casts very well and smoothly. Retrieve is fast, but I wouldnt use it over heavy ground myself.
Having said that, if your fishing into kelp beds and don't need a long cast, then you could load it up with heavy line. They are built like trucks and would probabaly withstand some heavy work.
Personally though, I have mine loaded with 15lbs mono and 60lbs shock leader. When used with a suitable light beachcaster or bass rod they are a dream.

[angler100]

Sounds good. So unless you want 300m of 30lb then it's a winner. Cheers.
Fancy one, but seems a bit early for second hand. Will have to have a word with Santa.

[angler100]

Although, in my house that's me.....****!

[Stewart 1971]

Sounds good. So unless you want 300m of 30lb then it's a winner. Cheers.
Fancy one, but seems a bit early for second hand. Will have to have a word with Santa.

It's not that simple mate. Putting heavy line on a small reel does two things. First it can create a kind of flywheel effect when you cast leading to mid-cast over-runs, especially if you are trying to drop short. I found this out as a bairn when I tried to put 30lb line on an Abu 6500. But more important even just casting 80 yards will see the spool left with hardly any line. So even at 6:1 retrieve six turns of bugger all because a small spool is almost empty results in you having hardly any cranking power.

There is a very good reason why large capacity reels like the 535, Slosh 30 and Saltist 30 are favourites for rough ground. A high retreive and a big full spool gives you that all important cranking power to haul through the kelp and get your gear up and moving over rough ground. Trying to do the same with a small baitcasting reel and hardly any line capacity will be bloody hard work believe me.

[angler100]

Thanks Malcolm. What you say makes a lot of sense. To be honest I don't have a problem with 7HT on clean to light rough. It can be hard work when there is kelp about or pulling something decent in on anything but sand. Casting wise it's great, but that's what it's meant for. I think I'll start looking at the slosh 30s again.

Cheers.