AllOutdoor Review: Penn Battle IV

Dwelling next-door to the perfect striped bass fishing on this planet at this time limit implies that while you get an opportunity to check striper gear, you are taking it. And final season, simply earlier than the striper run began on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada, that meant I had the enjoyable of working the newest Penn Battle IV rod/reel combo. After a season of chasing bass throughout Atlantic Canada, I feel I’ve a reasonably good thought of what the rod is sweet at—and a powerful appreciation for its robust factors, in addition to a recognition of its limitations.

Fishing Protection on AllOutdoor

Miramichi’s striper run picks up steam on the finish of Might. Once I began seeing experiences of excellent fishing on the river, I known as up my brother-in-law and we took my hatchback north alongside wet forgotten highways to park close to Purple Financial institution. With no thought of the place to attempt first, we simply walked down by way of the woods by way of an empty constructing lot to the river, in sight of the Sunny Nook bridge.

The First Journey – Penn Battle IV Rod & Reel Combo

The Battle IV combo (mine got here with a 4000-series reel) is ideal for this sort of journey, as a result of it simply matches right into a small automobile for an hours-long drive throughout the province. The three-piece seven-foot rod that comes with the combo will sit inside an included gentle, zipper-up carry case (with room to your reel and an additional spool, t00). No fear about breaking your rod’s tip as a result of it’s too lengthy to slot in your Nissan Versa Notice. See a promising-looking fishing gap, and you’ll pull over to the aspect of the street, shortly pull your rod out of its case (with the reel nonetheless fitted to the deal with) and also you’re in enterprise in a short time.

I skirted piles of building particles to the river’s edge, noting proof that different anglers had been right here lately. My brother-in-law adopted my lead and tied on a 4-inch Lunkerhunt Bait Shifter Shad, with 3/8-ounce jig head. The Battle IV is rated for a 1/4- to 1-ounce lure, and I discovered over the summer season that I most popular to fish on the heavy finish. I spent lots of time casting a 1 1/4-ounce Atom Striper Swiper and located the combo dealt with that properly, however in the direction of the top of the season I had principally shifted to a 3/8-ounce model of that lure.

That night time on the Miramichi, getting a bit extra weight on the terminal sort out would have helped us solid a bit additional in the direction of the river’s middle. However contemplating the quantity of seaweed and different junk we needed to clear on our retrieve, there was no level in fishing one thing that may sink shortly to backside and no level dragging one thing by way of all of the slop floating on the highest both. The rain was pushing lots of trash downstream, and apart from, we each discovered the Lunkerhunt lure was completely matched to our rod’s motion and energy (my brother-in-law was working a brand-new Penn Wrath combo).

The Journey Continues…

Any time you drive a protracted option to attempt a randomly-picked stretch of river, there’s a little bit of apprehension at first. What if there are not any fish right here, and also you’ve wasted your time? However it didn’t take lengthy for us to get our first rating on the board after I had a striper hit onerous. The fish was small, on the finish decrease finish of the native 50-65 centimeter slot restrict (20-25.5 inches, roughly). However I stored him, since you by no means know if the primary one you catch could be the one one of many night time.

I needn’t have frightened. The remainder of the night was fish after fish, they usually stored getting bigger and bigger as time went on. As darkness lastly pushed us out, we had gotten to the purpose the place virtually each single fish was over the scale restrict, and we each went dwelling with our restrict of 4. We might have in all probability stored 40, if it was authorized.

The Remainder of the Season – Penn Battle IV – Rod & Reel Combo

It was the primary time my brother-in-law ever skilled the enjoyable of the Miramichi striper run, and I frightened I’d given him an unrealistic expectation of the fishing up there. To not fear; we returned the subsequent morning with a few different associates, and regardless of fishing likely-looking spots all up and down the river, none of us had a lot as a nibble. That’s the best way striper fishing goes in Miramichi.

I ran the Penn Battle IV on each different striper fishing journey for the remainder of the spring and summer season and obtained very well-acquainted with it. It was a pleasure to fish this combo for stripers on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Most stripers on this area fall throughout the 50-65 centimeter slot restrict, or at the least they’re not too far outdoors it, which implies you’re unlikely to get a fish on that’s too huge for the gear. I felt the combo was completely fitted to the fish I focused on journeys alongside the Northumberland Strait and Prince Edward Island’s north shore seashores. It was not overpowering on the smaller fish, though it actually dealt with the schoolies with nice ease.

Penn Battle IV – Rod & Reel Combo

Issues may need gotten extra difficult if I’d hooked an enormous one on the St. John River’s Reversing Falls, although (extra precisely recognized by its alternate identify of Reversing Rapids; there’s no true waterfall right here).

I spent a few evenings fishing the rip from shore, and whereas my neighbor who fished with me obtained some motion, I didn’t. Whether or not it was a alternative of baits or just luck of positioning in the appropriate place alongside shore, I don’t know.

What I do know is, the Battle IV combo was much more gratifying device for flogging the water than the opposite 12-foot rod I introduced. However I questioned: If I’d caught a real big striper on the falls, would I nonetheless really feel that manner?

The veteran Reversing Falls fishermen that I do know will take a 5000-series or 6500-series reel and a for much longer rod than what’s issued with the Battle IV combo, as a result of they need gear that may deal with an enormous fish. I do know some guys who run with 30-pound braid there, and that’s what I spooled up; Penn recommends use of 10-17 pound mono with this rod or 10-30 pound braid, and line capability on the Battle IV 4000-series reel is about 185 yards. For a lot of the fish at Reversing Falls and positively most fish within the Gulf, that’s lots.

Heavy Hitters

However I do know different fishermen who received’t sort out Reversing Falls with any lower than 50-pound braid, they usually prefer to have a pair hundred yards of it on their reel. When a 40-pound striper, or greater, takes your plug and makes use of the present as a lift, they will strip off lots of line earlier than you can begin to work them again. The biggest-ever striper caught in Canada was a 63-pounder at Reversing Falls. Whereas the 40-pounders or 50-pounders are uncommon, I do know a number of fishermen who’ve caught them. It pays to be prepared.

Reversing Falls is an excessive outlier, although; the overwhelming majority of stripers caught in Atlantic Canada lately are the Gulf inhabitants, and the overwhelming majority of these fish won’t ever, ever pressure this rod. In truth, the motion is nearly excellent for the striped bass of the Miramichi. In comparison with greater gear, the three-piece Battle IV’s 7-foot size is lots simpler to handle when scrambling alongside a slippery river edge, and simpler to handle in a crowded boat too, even if you happen to’re giving up casting distance.

Remaining Ideas

A 12 months in, the rod is not any worse for put on and I count on to get years of service from it. The chrome steel one-piece Dura-Guides won’t ever have the annoyance of inserts getting broken or misplaced. The cork deal with offers nice grip in moist situations, and nonetheless appears nice after a season of fishing. The graphite clean ought to guarantee long-term sturdiness, too.

The reel additionally held up properly. It has minimal “Penn Wobble”—my identify for the marginally off-center feeling you get when cranking a few of Penn’s cheaper reels (the Wrath collection, specifically). I’ve rinsed it out rigorously after each fishing session, and Penn says the Hydro Armor sealing system and HT-100 carbon-fiber drag system will imply long-term sturdiness as properly.

I’ve no crystal ball, so I can’t say whether or not they’re proper. However I do know that after a season of fishing estuaries, it’s simply as easy as after I began, an actual pleasure to make use of and completely balanced to the rod.

At time of writing, Penn lists this combo for $239.99. I reckon that’s particularly reasonable, and you’ll in all probability avoid wasting money if you happen to look forward to a sale. See extra particulars here.