Pick one up, put her in free-spool and give that anodized aluminum spool a spin with your thumb mine was going strong for almost 30 seconds with no line on the reel, which is an impressive display of its harmonic balance and disparate parts all coming together into one functional unit.
PENN FATHOM 2 40 FULL
Even though I usually prefer a lever drag reel for jigging, casting and bottom dropping for precise drag control, the power (via a user-adjustable VersaDrag system that can dial in 25 pounds of full drag), smoothness (six stainless steel ball bearings) and ultra-fast 6.0:1 retrieve ratio that takes in an impressive 40 inches of line with every crank of the reel’s power handle has made me a believer of the FTH25N and her entire family approach. What attracted me instantly to the FTH25N was the “narrow spool” layout of this “N” model, which is equipped with the same larger side plates and drag disks as her two bigger sisters (the FTH30 and FTH40), but achieves this in a much more compact and balanced package. The model I field-tested, the FTH25N, was the “middle” child of a family of five, which also includes the smaller FTH12 and FTH15 reels, as well as the larger FTH30 and FTH40. The first thing you will notice about Penn’s new Fathom star drag reels is their striking black and gold coloration and strong, sturdy feel, which are compliments of the beefy anodized aluminum frame and side plates.