What To Look For
Look for a Penn reel if you have a saltwater fishing habit, or if you're just a straightforward angler looking for a reliable reel. When purchasing, consider the environment you fish in. Some Penn reels are designed for more rugged use, so if your reel is going to get dirty, get one that can handle it. Also select a reel that can handle the heaviest fish you're likely to find at your favorite fishing spot.
Common Pitfalls
Buying a high-end real to learn on will not make your learning curve any easier. In fact, it may make learning a new skill such as fly fishing even harder, as advanced reels have more complicated features. No matter what reel you're looking to purchase, if it will be your learning reel, lean toward a low-end model for simplicity and reasonable cost.
Where To Buy
Penn does not distribute their reels from an online store, so you must find a good old-fashioned brick and mortar retailer. Fortunately, Penn is such a recognized brand that even small sporting goods stores should have a few reels to choose from. If you want to get hands-on experience with a range of Penn reels, your best bet is a large, specialty fishing or outdoor equipment store such as Joe's or Cabela's.
Cost
Pricing varies dramatically, depending on the reel you choose. A simple freshwater casting reel can be found for around $50, though you can easily spend more than $300 on one of Penn's International series of saltwater reels.
Comparison Shopping
Penn offers just a few models in each of their lines. Once you have decided whether you want a conventional reel, a spinning reel or a bait-casting reel, the rest of your decisions should fall into place. If you still can't decide, visit a store big enough to have an assortment of Penn reels so you can see which one fits your hand and style the best.
