To prevent saltwater intrusion and corrosion inside the reel, the Battle IV includes its new Hydro Armor seal system that adds pivotal seals into the reel. Built with a full metal body, it’s a reel that was designed to handle everything from inshore to offshore fishing.
Available in sizes ranging from 1000 to 10000, I went with the 2500 which is ideal for freshwater application. It is an extremely versatile size that allows me to target most freshwater game fish. Along with the new Hydro Armor seal system, it also features PENN’s CNC Gear technology and an HT-100 carbon fiber drag system for consistent performance in tough conditions.
Even the most casual angler has at least heard of the Ugly Stik brand, but realistically owns at least one of its rods. At ICAST 2024, the iconic fishing brand released the fully redesigned and updated Ugly Stik GX2. Known for its unmatched durability, the new GX2 has an updated reel seat with an exposed blank for better feel and increased sensitivity along with new Ugly Tuff one-piece stainless steel guides for reduced line fray. A durable shrink tube handle was also added for increased comfort during extended periods of use.
Eager to try out both the Battle IV reel and the GX2 rod, I did my best cupid impression and brought these two together and I’ve been having angling success ever since. The PENN reel starts at $129.95 with the GX2 coming in at $49.95. This pairing works great and has become my new go-to combination rod and reel.
