Penn Fathom II 20 Level Wind Line Counter

Penn Fathom II 20 Level Wind Line Counter Reel

Dropping a bait into deep-water wrecks, trolling open water, or searching for mid-water bait shoals requires absolute precision. If you are guessing your depth, you are missing fish. The Penn Fathom II 20 Level Wind Line Counter Reel is an industrial-strength workhorse engineered to eliminate the guesswork completely. Equipped with an incredibly accurate, mechanical built-in line counter, this reel allows you to find and return to the exact strike zone time after time, giving charter skippers and serious boat anglers an undeniable tactical upper hand.

Built to endure extreme abuse day-in and day-out, the chassis is constructed with a rugged Full Metal Body and matching sideplates. This rigid exterior ensures that the internal high-torque gears stay in flawless, precise alignment even when winching heavy loads under immense pressure. Inside, the legendary HT-100™ carbon fibre drag system delivers ultra-smooth, heat-dispersing stopping power to halt hard-running predators in their tracks. When the weekend is over, the brilliant Fast Gear Access Sideplate lets you easily access the main gear train for quick maintenance without shedding any internal springs or small parts.

Detailed Specifications

• Model Size: 20 (The ultimate mid-capacity boat casting and dropshot size).

• Gear Ratio: 5.5:1 (Optimized balance of high-speed retrieval and cranking power).

• Monofilament Capacity: 315 yards / 20lb mono.

• Braided Line Capacity: 645 yards / 30lb braid.

• Depth Tracking: Integrated, heavy-duty mechanical Line Counter display.

• Chassis Structure: Full Metal Body and structural sideplates.

• Drag System: Heavy-duty HT-100 carbon fibre drag washers.

• Bearings: 4+1 Shielded Stainless Steel Bearing System.

• Spool Features: Machined aluminum spool with built-in Line Capacity Rings.

• Level Wind System: Heavy-duty synchronized level wind system for uniform line lay.

Examples of Where to Use

• Precision Deep-Wreck Jigging: The absolute number one choice when targeting cod, ling, and pollack over deep-water wrecks. When the skipper marks fish holding exactly 30 feet above the structure, you can drop your artificial eel or pirk down to the precise digit on the counter, keeping your lure right in the feeding zone while avoiding tackle-snatching metalwork below.

• Mid-Water Pelagic Trolling: Ideal for pulling surface lures, diving plugs, or spoon setups for species like tope and mackerel. The line counter ensures you know exactly how many yards of line you have deployed behind the boat, creating a perfectly spaced and lethal trolling spread.

• Deep Channel Uptiding: Perfect for anchoring up in fast-flowing saltwater channels. The heavy-duty synchronized level wind mechanism ensures that thick monofilament or slick braided lines lay flawlessly flat onto the spool, eliminating any line bedding issues when cranking heavy leads through the tide.

Gerry’s Pro Tip

Pro Tip: To ensure your built-in line counter reads 100% accurately, you must calibrate it by filling the spool completely to the outer edge of the Line Capacity Rings. Mechanical line counters calculate depth based on the revolutions of a fully loaded spool diameter. If you underfill the reel, the spool turns faster, and your counter will technically over-read. If you prefer to fish with a thinner diameter braid, simply load the spool with a cheap monofilament backing line first until you reach the inner capacity ring, then top it off with your premium braid for pin-point tracking accuracy!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Does the level wind system stay engaged when casting or releasing line?

A: Yes. The Fathom II features a fully synchronized level wind system, meaning the line guide moves smoothly back and forth across the spool during both the retrieve and the drop. This completely eliminates any sharp line angles and guarantees a uniform line lay, drastically reducing friction and preventing line wraps.

Q: Is the line counter display digital or mechanical, and can it handle saltwater?

A: The line counter is a fully mechanical, traditional gear-driven system sealed behind a heavy-duty, impact-resistant clear window. Because it doesn’t rely on electronic screens or batteries, it will never fail due to flat batteries or freezing cold temperatures, and it is 100% resilient to heavy saltwater spray and rain.

Q: What is the main advantage of the Fast Gear Access Sideplate?

A: On traditional multiplier reels, doing a basic grease top-up required completely dismantling the sideplate, which risked losing tiny internal springs and anti-reverse dogs. Penn’s clever design features a dedicated hatch secured by captive screws; you simply back the screws out to slide the access panel off, allowing you to clean and lubricate the main gear train in seconds before sealing it right back up.