Penn Fierce III Live Liner Combo $80 on Bass Pro

Price is right, has anyone ever used the Live Liner feature before?


https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/penn-fierce-iii-live-liner-spinning-combo?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=BPS%7CShopping%7CSmart%7CFishing%7CGeneral%7CNAud%7CTopPerf%7CNMT&gclid=CjwKCAiA85efBhBbEiwAD7oLQPxBRb9456WQ32RfSpRpSQP-_aaDcepYfEvopkXSXtt133jgeng4jhoC2FAQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Looks interesting. Haven't seen a free spool feature on a spinning reel before.  Would definitely make for a very versatile setup.  If you try it, let us know how it goes!

Shimano used to make a nice rear drag bait-runner spinner like that.  Maybe still do, dunno...

I recently bought a Fierce 3 with no free line in the 6000 size for crab snares on a 12' rod. Probably should have gotten a slightly larger size it feels like the reel gearing is straining a bit on retrieval when there's a decent sized crab on but I use it off cliffs so might be fine from the surf. Seems like a decent reel for the price......not fancy.

As far as the free line feature, I have the older Shimano Bait Runner 3500 with this feature, it's really useful when feeding a light bait rig out into a rip or for setting the drag super light. You essentially have two drags so you can have it light on the switch and a heavy setting on the spool. Only thing I don't like about this reel is the shank that leads to the foot in the reel seat is thinner and flexes under load, no good for crabbing.

The Shimano reel is much nicer and smoother and has lasted many years unfortunately the Penn feels more janky and less smooth although the frame is stronger. I doubt the Penn will last nearly as long as the Shimano but I use them for different things so that's to be expected.

Having never seen this kind of reel before, I did a little more digging.

So, not quite what I was thinking it was, but seems like a good choice for fishing from a pier.  In the summer my son and I fish from the pier often, usually catching sharks and rays - this would be perfect for that.

I was hoping it would allow a free spool, for jigging applications. Seems like it would probably still work for that, but certainly not it's intended use, and I'm not sure how long one of these would hold up to that.

Shimano does still make a baitrunner:

https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/p/shimano-baitrunner-oc-spinning-reel-15shmubtrnnr4000cree/15shmubtrnnr4000cree?clickid=zCtSY0UlCxyNUMlyiRTkcSZJUkA3aSSh1TgSXs0&irgwc=1&camp=AFF:mediapartner:ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK::95333::315573:Venture%204th%20Media%E2%80%8A%E2%80%8A

Thanks for the feedback y'all.  Will do more research on it.

Thanks for the feedback y'all.  Will do more research on it.

I've been looking more into it. Piscifun makes a nice looking budget option, $50ish on Amazon, us comes with a second spool. I e been happy with other reels from them, and think I will give this one a try too, prob in the 4000 size.