Thread: Penn VSS6500BLS??

Does anyone out there use the Penn Spinfisher VSS6500BLS? I am looking to buy one and instead of reading reviews elsewhere I wanted to get the opinion of true fishermen that I can trust. Any input would be greatly appreciated

This is the 'bail less 6500'.
I have never seen anyone fishing with one, but when we had one in the store I noticed it suffers from the same malady as all universal anti-reverse bail less reels;
that is the roller arm stops wherever you stop turning the handle and is rarely directly underneath your index finger making it difficult to control the 'line on-line off' function of a bail less reel.

JMFO

I also noticed they are "Out of Stock" which leads me to believe they have been discontinued by Penn...
PENN Spinfisher® V Spinning | PENN®

Just my own experience, but I had a bail less spinning reel awhile ago and gave it up fairly quickly...just never seemed to work as promised. Don't remember the brand, though...

I love my 706Z's,....hoarded up 5 when they were discontinued. A little old skool, but works for me.

I talked to J&M and they are not discontinued but he did say he would have to order it. I wanted a 706z but being that I am left handed and reel with my right hand my options are slightly limited. Pier#r, do you have any suggestions on a reel that can be reeled right handed that is bail less that would be better?

Find a 707 or 707z (they sometimes come up on eBay).
They are not 'true left-handed' but seem to work fine.

Or get a 705 and put a manual bail kit on it ;-)

Originally Posted by goodoleboy12

I talked to J&M and they are not discontinued but he did say he would have to order it. I wanted a 706z but being that I am left handed and reel with my right hand my options are slightly limited. Pier#r, do you have any suggestions on a reel that can be reeled right handed that is bail less that would be better?

You might try and find an old Garcia 303 with manuel bail.

I do believe I will go with the 705 I hadn't even thought of that one. I knew the 706's didn't come left handed and the 705 never crossed my mind. I found one on ebay for 110$ is that about normal for that model to go for? It already has the bail kit on it.

If you are left handed you need the rotor to turn counter clockwise. Try to find an old Mitchell.

FYI the Penn 706Z was discontinued for years, but was recently brought back into production primarily for Upper Gulf Coat and Striper fishermen.