Penn 704Z & 706Z will live again

[ChrisL]

Penn recently announced they will be making the 704Z and 706Z again.  They expect a release by the end of the year and a price tag of about $200.
They will be made in the USA (philly) and be made to the original spec.  Parts will be exactly the same as, and interchangeable with, the originals.
They will be releasing the 704Z bailed and 706z bailless.
They have made a few posts with info on their FB page https://www.facebook.com/#!/pennfishing?fref=ts

[IrishAyes]

 

[Pfishingruven]

Thanks for the news!  Always liked my Z series...still   use a 710.

 

[Reefsquatter]

I have a 704z that I really don't know what to do with, the only think I liked it with so far was a bait stick off the surf. Seems too heavy to plug with.

Thoughts?

[FishOn]

Penn should have never discontinued them. Think of how many used z's have been bought and sold on eBay and other fishing sites not to mention all the spare parts for them

[Bucktail]

Best thing I can say about the 704 is that it is a simple, proven design.  That is, a few parts and no frills.

I still have a black 704 that I got back in the 80s.  I liked it when it worked, but the eccentric and bail springs wound up breaking on it.  I remember standing on the beach with my hand gaff wedged between the reel and the sand spike so that the rotor wouldn't turn backwards.   Not that big of a deal, as I just went over to Betty & Nick's to get the parts, but still a pain.

I definitely prefered the original SS (skirted spool) series reels to the 700 series, but I still can't find it in my heart to get rid of it.  In fact, while picking up parts for fellinger's reels, I wound up getting some for my 704 (new drag washers, bumper, etc.) to fix her up a bit.

[FishOn]

I agree, 550ss is penns best light/med reel for my purposes. Simple and dependable