If you’re looking to hit the surf for some great fishing but unsure where to turn for your next rod, you’ll benefit greatly from this Penn Battalion Surf Rod Review.
The Penn Battalion is an excellent surf rod that is moderately priced yet still packed with features that will help you tackle those challenging surf fishing situations.
Penn is a big name in the fishing world, and they’ve been cranking out great products since 1932. We respect Penn tremendously for their rods and reels, and there aren’t too many products they come out with that don’t impress us.
The Bottom Line
- It is an excellent value for a medium-priced surf rod.
- Great strength and sensitivity
- Perfect for heavier bait and large, heavy plugs
- Quality construction throughout.
The Penn Battalion Surf Rod is great and is available here.
The Penn Battalion is a step up from the Penn Prevail surf spinning rod and is priced about $40-60 cheaper, but it also lacks some of the outstanding features we love about this rod.
Let’s look at some things that impress us the most about the Penn Battalion surf rod.
First, look at the blank on which the Penn Battalion surf rod is built. It’s made of graphite composite material, which means it is a mixture of graphite and fiberglass. The rod is 70% graphite with 30% fiberglass. This combination is ideal because it gives you the perfect mix of power, strength, and lightweight performance.
The graphite is lightweight and sensitive, which helps you feel the bite on such a large surf rod. The fiberglass helps complete the rod with the strength and power you’ll need to pull fish through the surf and over the sandbars.
Next, we’re looking at the gripping ability of this rod when you’re battling a fish. The grips are made of rubber shrink tube material that is ideal for surf rods.
The shrink tubes are durable, maximize the rod’s performance, and are easy to grip when your hands get wet and slippery from your last catch in the surf. You won’t have to worry about losing your grip and compromising your retrieval with the Penn Battalion surf rod.
Features
2-piece graphite composite blank
This rod features a 2-piece graphite composite blank. It incorporates the best of both worlds. With the Battalion, you get the strength and durability of a fiberglass rod (30%) with the sensitivity of a graphite rod (70%).
The rod comes in two pieces, which is optimal for transportation and protection. I generally keep my 12′ Penn Battalion surf rod tucked behind the rear seat of my pickup, so I am always ready when the opportunity presents itself.
Fuji® aluminum oxide guides
The stainless steel structure of the guides is solid and durable. They’re made with aluminum oxide, allowing the line to run smoothly through each guide without too much friction. These aluminum oxide guides provide smooth retrievals and casts for mono and braided lines.
Fuji® reel seat
The seat on this reel is durable, strong, and lightweight. It’s black with Fuji’s DPS material, encompassing stainless steel hoods for security and stiffness. You want something that won’t move around or shift during each cast, and the Fuji reel seat has a proven track record of performance.
Rubber shrink tube handles
One of the most outstanding features of this surf rod is the rubber shrink tube handles. These handles provide the maximum amount of grip during wet and slippery conditions.
When you’re fishing the surf, you’re bound to get wet at one point or another, and if you are having a good day, you are bound to get plenty of fish slime on your rod handle. To ensure that you maintain a solid grip on the rod regardless of the conditions, Penn has used this material, which is both durable and long-lasting over the life of the rod.
Features at a Glance
- 2-piece graphite composite blank
- Fuji® stainless steel and aluminum oxide guides
- Fuji® DPS reel seats
- Rubber shrink tube handles for superior grip
So, at this point, you might be wondering if this is the right rod for you. If you’re asking yourself who this rod is for, let me help you answer that question.
First, if you’re an occasional surf angler who doesn’t care much about options and features, you might prefer