Penn has added an extra seal to protect the anti-reverse bearing from saltwater intrusion, the main cause for anti-reverse bearing failure in saltwater reels, and all the stainless steel ball bearings (8 plus 1 roller bearing) are also sealed. |
Penn Clash CLA 3000AU
Penn’s latest spinner is the Clash, a series of reels positioned a notch above the successful and remarkably-good-value Penn Conflict range but obviously cut from the same cloth with ported spools, line capacity rings, HT-100 drags, heavy-duty tubular aluminium bail arms, ‘braid ready’ knurled arbour spools – no need for monofilament backing – and neoprene handle knobs. More of the same, only better The Clash series of seven reels (only some models are available in New Zealand) offers a bit more bling, extra bearings and a slow oscillation ‘Leveline’ system said to all but eliminate ‘wind knots’ when casting. (‘Wind knot’ is a euphemism for the mess that results when line leaving the spool drags several additional loops of line through the guides at once, resulting in a messy clump of braid that’s usually impossible to untangle.) Clash reels are lighter than the Conflict series, reflecting their high-tech construction. Reel bodies are aluminium to keep the internals precisely aligned under pressure, and the rotors in 6000 and 8000 sizes are aluminium too; rotors on smaller reels are made from Penn’s RR30 carbon resin. Internally, Clash drive gears are CNC-cut for precision meshing and extra strength. Smaller reels feature brass pinion gears and machined (not die-cast) aluminium main gears while brass is used for pinions and drive gears in 6000 and 8000 models. Penn has added an extra seal to protect the anti-reverse bearing from saltwater intrusion, the main cause for anti-reverse bearing failure in saltwater reels, and all the stainless steel ball bearings (8 plus 1 roller bearing) are also sealed. HT-100 drag material is famously durable, powerful, reliable and smooth. It can withstand high heat and lots of pressure and the material works equally well in a 130-class big game reel or a 2500 or 3000 series spinning reel. In the Clash the drag features a large seal under the cap to exclude water, and a sealed bearing at the bottom of the spool. Penn doesn’t claim the drag is waterproof, but it’s certainly water resistant and better protected than most spinning reel drags of this size. Housed inside the drag knob, Penn’s ‘Wave Spring’ compresses as the drag knob is turned, offering a more linear drag pressure curve for a wider range of drag settings, and smoother adjustment than is possible with a conventional helical spring. On the water Precision gearing means the reel winds smoothly and quietly too – no gear noise at all. As I noted after using the Conflict 3000, I’m not sure I like the teardrop-shaped neoprene handle knob, but that’s a personal thing; I soon became accustomed to it after using the reel for a bit. I spent time with the Clash soft-baiting and micro-jigging, catching a string of snapper and a few kahawai along the way. I also lent it to friends seeking their impressions, which were overwhelmingly positive. Although it’s lightweight – even the reel post and handle are ported to save weight – the Clash feels like a good quality reel that won’t let you down. There’s no play in the handle or sloppiness in the gear train, and the drag is superb. The reel was spooled with 250-plus metres of 6.8kg Spiderwire Blue Camo-Braid fluorocarbon-coated PE line in blue, white and black. The line casts very nicely and also handles well when jigging. I liked the positive bail arm return too, whether closed manually or by winding the handle. Unlike some cheaper spin reels I’ve used, the Clash doesn’t ‘bind up’ with a big fish on the line when you try and wind the handle. Nor does the reel post flex or twist. It looks the part, too – everyone I loaned it to commented that it was a sharp-looking reel. Black and gold makes a statement, but a classy one. The colour scheme isn’t quite as underplayed as the Conflict’s black and grey livery, but it’s not flashy and I like that. Penn reels of old were about getting the job done, and the Clash also looks to be well up for whatever you want to throw at it. Features and specifications: Penn Clash CLA3000AU Aluminium body and side plates CNC-cut gears Water-shielded instant anti-reverse Brass pinion and aluminium main gear Sealed stainless steel ball bearings (7+1) Aluminium spool, ported Carbon resin rotor Leveline slow oscillation line lay Tubular aluminium bail HT-100 drag Superline spool Capacity mono (kg/m): 4/180, 6/110 Capacity braid (kg/m): 15/230 6.2:1 gear ratio Max Drag: 6kg Reel weight 289 grams Cm per handle crank (line retrieve): 89cm |