The biggest killer of any reel, regardless of how good the material it’s manufactured from, is salt-water corrosion.

The new Penn Slammer III series of reels feature the IPX Sealed System, which prevents water getting into the gearbox and drag systems.

Many years ago I tested the first of the Penn Slammers, a 3500, and it was already pretty bulletproof before the IPX6 seals were even thought of. It was my ‘go to’ reel when I had guests on board and gave sterling service. It is now in the hands of a young angler and I’m sure he will get as much use out of it as I did.

The point I’m making is that these Penn reels have become synonymous with durability; the Slammer IIIs, with the sealed body and spool design, should be even more so.

First impressions are good, too: the new Penn’s gold and black livery makes them look pretty smart. And while they might be a little heavier than some of the other similar-capacity reels (the 3500 model I tested is the smallest and weighs 394g), that’s what happens when a full-metal body and side plate are featured, adding to their structural rigidity and strength.

Another worthwhile feature is these reels’ drag capability. Modern reels, like motors, are pushing out more and more grunt from smaller units. In this case the Slammer range needs to be able to fish the stronger, thinner braid lines so popular for a number of today’s angling scenarios. Consequently, its drag system now features Penn’s proprietary Dura-Drag, the same drag materials found in its International game reels. The little Slammer 3500 therefore offers an impressive 15kg of stopping power – and if you think that’s pretty amazing, its biggest brother, the 10500, has a whopping 30kg of drag pressure (try holding onto something pulling 30kg of drag – I bet you give up before the reel does!).

Seven stainless steel bearings add to the range’s potential performance, while the CNG gear technology system sees the main, pinion and oscillating brass gears individually machined to tight tolerances.

Time out fishing with the Penn Slammer III 3500 and the larger 8500 models in my hands was limited.

The bigger model was matched to a Penn Ocean Assassin twopiece surface-lure casting rod and had no trouble handling lures in the 150–200g range. Unfortunately, the target species in both the Hauraki Gulf – kingfish – and Aitutaki – trevally – proved elusive, so I cannot comment on the outfit’s performance in the field. However, it did cast and retrieve well!

Experiences with the 3500 Slammer reel proved more productive. Fitted to a 5-10kg rod and spooled with 15kg braid, it was used to great effect on some Hauraki Gulf snapper and, in particular, XOS kahawai.

The latter have been around in annoying numbers (I never thought I’d be saying that about our kahawai, which seem to be making a comeback up here) and one day I was catching them ad nauseam on soft-baits. So I cranked the drag up to give the fish no quarter (I believe the expression is ‘lock and load’), and after six or seven fish, was satisfied with the reel’s performance. It is true ‘stand and deliver’ stuff.

Another of the features I liked, and it is nothing new, is the oversized handle knob. Easy to hold onto, providing plenty of leverage, it is something you appreciate after wrestling with a number of powerful fish.

Penn appeared to lose their way a few years back, but the Penn Slammer III range supports the rapidly growing belief that the brand is back on track again. I have no hesitation in recommending the Penn Slammer III range, based on their history and the most recent feature upgrades. So no wonder it was voted ‘reel of the show’ at the recent American ICAST tackle show, the world’s largest sportfishing trade event!