In this Penn Conflict II Spinning Reel Review, we’re presenting one of Penn’s lightest-weight spinning reels to hit the market.
This reel was released in 2017 and is available in the 1000-5000 range. The Conflict II is ideal for lightweight anglers looking for a high-performing freshwater reel. This is the lightest reel in the Penn family, and there is no comparison when you stack it up against some of the previous reels from Penn.
If you enjoyed the Conflict spinning reels before, you’d love this one because of its lightweight and durable design. The reel looks excellent and features a super smooth and robust HT-100 drag system. They also pair with a wide assortment of unique features to this reel, and we will dish them out for you.
The Bottom Line
- A solid choice in the medium-priced spinning reel category
- Proven HT-100 carbon fiber drag system
- A solid reel that is not too heavy
- Very durable anodized body
The Penn Conflict II is a solid choice and is available here.
The Penn Conflict II has a smooth HT-100 carbon fiber drag system proven in many other Penn models, such as the famous Penn Battle II and the much more expensive Penn Clash.
Conflict II is the lightest reel from Penn to this day, and there are several reasons for this.
First, you have the RR30 Rigid Resin body and rotor, which comprise most of the weight. This material is incredibly lightweight and durable. It’s even 20% lighter than the original Conflict. If you felt that the first generation was a bit bulky or too heavy, you’ll love the weight and feel of the newer Penn Conflict II.
If we take you inside the reel, you’ll find Penn’s CNC gears using a 7+1 stainless steel ball-bearing system with an aluminum pinion and main gear. These reels offer the ultimate in lightweight inshore fishing while still providing resistance to saltwater.
You also get the Conflict Superline Spool, which takes mono backing out of the equation due to a rubber gasket that keeps the line from slipping on the spool. You must use mono in many reels to go from the spool to the braid line, as the braid tends to slip on the spool. This solves this problem.
Something else that separates the Conflict II from the original model and most other reels, for that matter, is the lightweight braid Leveline System. The reel provides a slow oscillation system, ensuring your line lays evenly on the spool.
This feature also prevents friction on the line, and the result is one of the longest-casting spinning reels on the market today. With this feature, they recommend using a lightweight braided line only for the Conflict II.
Features
Rigid Resin RR30 Techno-balanced rotor
Penn can dramatically reduce the weight of this reel compared to the original Conflict, primarily due to the body’s design. Using their RR30 Rigid Resin, they lower the reel’s overall weight by 20%, making this the lightest Penn reel on the market today. Along with weight reduction, the Rigid Resin is also durable and long-lasting.
CNC Gear Technology
They continue to impress with their CNC-crafted aluminum pinion and main gear found in the 1000-4000 sizes. The Penn Conflict II 5000 features a brass pinion and aluminum CNC machined main gears.
These are durable and paired alongside high-quality stainless steel ball bearings. Put it all together, and you have a tremendous inshore reel worthy of large trout, redfish, and even sea bass.
HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
The carbon fiber drag system is the epitome of smooth, even when battling larger fish. Having the HT-100 Versa drag washers in the spool allows Penn to use both sides of each washer, providing the angler with higher max drags, improved range, and smoother start-ups when stacked against the original Penn. These washers receive a coating of Penn proprietary grease for longevity.
Heavy-duty aluminum bail wire
The thick aluminum bail wire is durable and long-lasting. It perfectly rounds out an already strong reel.
Superline spool
Another feature unique to Conflict II is the Superline Spool. This design eliminates the need for backing because the rubber gasket keeps your line from slipping on the spool. The result is improved line capacity and smooth retrieval and casting.
Leveline system
In addition to the superline spool, you also get the Leveline system. The feature differs from the original model by providing anglers with a slower oscillation to improve how your line lays on the spool. The line creates less friction and gives you a longer cast. Penn states that the Conflict II is the longest-cast spinning reel on the market.
Features at a Glance
- Rigid Resin RR30 Techno-balanced rotor
- CNC Gear Technology
- HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers
- Heavy-duty aluminum bail wire
- Superline spool
- Line capacity rings
The Penn Conflict II comes in six sizes, starting with the 1000 series and working up to the 5000 series. They don’t have a 6000 or anything higher, so they only recommend this reel for inshore fishing.
For the 1000 model, you get a max drag of 9 pounds and a gear ratio of 5.2:1. The reel weighs a meager 6.3 ounces and has a braided cap of 160/6, 130/8, and 110/10. You’d want to pair this reel with an ultralight rod like the St. Croix Trout Freshwater spinning rod or the St. Croix Mojo Inshore for inshore fishing.
Next, we have a 2000 model with a max drag of 10 pounds and weighing around 7.4 ounces. You’ll get a braided cap of 210/8, 180/10, and 165/15. This reel comes with a gear ratio of 6.2:1. You’ll still want to pair this reel up with a lightweight, fast-action rod to give you the most pop and the most significant level of sensitivity.
For the 2500 model, you have a max drag of 12 pounds, a gear ratio of 6.2:1, and a reel that weighs just below 8 ounces at 7.9. With a 10-pound braid, you’ll get 240 yards of line, and I’ve had much success pairing this reel with the St. Croix Mojo Inshore.
Something incredibly impressive that speaks volumes for this reel is stacking the previous Conflict up against Conflict II. The 2500 model with the same max drag and line capacity weighs two ounces more. The Conflict I 2500 weighs 9.8 ounces. As you get up in the models into the 4000 range, the reel’s weight becomes significant, but not with the Conflict II.
Even at the 4000 mark for the Conflict II, the reel still weighs less than the Conflict 2500. When they say that they took steps to reduce the weight of their premium reels, they are not kidding.
Over the years, I’ve learned more and more about my lighter tackle gear. I’ve had great success with reels like the Shimano NASCI 1000 and the Daiwa Fuego LT. I was incredibly excited when I saw that Penn would design a reel to replicate the original but at a fraction of the weight.
When I think of Penn reels, I think of them as “heavy,” Now, there is a model I do not have to feel that way about.
I prefer to fish for trout, redfish, and flounder for inshore fishing. I’m somewhat young, but I have fond memories of fishing trips with rods and reels that looked like my dad dug them out of a caveman’s chest. With the incredible growth in technology, manufacturers can make reels much lighter while making them more robust.
The Penn Conflict II is a reel that maximizes the strength and durability it provides. It doesn’t compromise your comfort and enjoyment with a big, bulky, and uncomfortable reel that feels like you have been fishing it all day, even though you just got on the water.
I favor a 10 to 15-pound braided Berkley Fireline with whatever live bait I can get my hands on. It might be more of a pain, but it pays off in the long run for me: the trout and redfish hammer finger mullet and eels like crazy around the waterways of South Carolina.
Pros
- 20% lighter than the previous Conflict
- One of the best inshore reels on the market
- Leveline system maximizes casting distance
- Proven HT-100 drag system
Cons
- Bland appearance; nothing flashy
- It is not the lightest in its class for the price
Alternatives
We’ve got some options if you’re still looking for one. Sticking with Penn, we’ll look at the Penn Battle II. This reel will save you money, but you’ll pay for it based on its weight. Each reel model weighs about two ounces more than the Penn Battle II.
Next, we have the Penn Clash. If we were comparing the Clash with the original Penn Conflict, we’d have to give it to the Clash. The whole theme of this review is weight, and even though the Penn Clash is more expensive than the Conflict II, it still weighs more by about an ounce.
With the Clash, you might see a slight improvement in smoothness during the retrieval due to an extra bearing, and you also get the leveline oscillation system and CNC gear technology.
If you want to go more affordable with your reel, you could opt for the Daiwa Fuego LT. You can get this reel for under $100; the weight is even less than the Conflict II. The Daiwa Fuego LT is smooth and offers plenty of corrosion resistance and waterproofing features, such as Mag sealing, making it one of our favorite reels.
Rolling along, we will hit you with a reel that is as light as the Penn Conflict II and more affordable. So, what’s the catch? It’s an Okuma. The Okuma Helios SX is a good-quality lightweight reel with a carbon fiber drag, eight corrosion-resistant bearings, and a lightweight carbon frame. For the price, it’s hard to go wrong, but it doesn’t have the durability and presence of a Penn reel.
The last comparison we have is the Shimano Stradic FK. This spinning reel is one of the best inshore reels priced below $200 and competes with the Penn Conflict II in the weight department. It cost slightly more than the Penn Conflict II, but it’s an excellent reel for Shimano fanboys and fangirls.
In Conclusion
The Penn Conflict II is a severe step from the previous reel. They’ve combined all of their best models into one to make this reel. While doing that, they’ve also incorporated a lot of new technology and features that make this one of the best inshore spinning reels available today at this medium price point.
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