PENN Wrath II Combo Review: a tough 5000-size setup that’s good, but not flawless

I’ve been using the PENN Wrath II 5000 / 7' Medium Heavy combo as my “grab-and-go” setup for about a month, mostly for inshore saltwater and a couple of freshwater catfish sessions. I bought it because I wanted something that I wouldn’t cry over if it got banged around in the truck or on the pier, but that still had enough backbone for bigger fish. On paper it ticks a lot of boxes: 5000-size reel, 20 lb max drag, medium-heavy power, and rated for 12–20 lb line with 1/2–1 1/2 oz lures.

In practice, it feels like exactly what it is: a budget PENN combo that leans more toward strength than finesse. The rod has a pretty stiff backbone with a fast-ish tip, and the reel is decent but not buttery smooth. I’ve run 20 lb braid on it like one of the reviewers and used it for spoons, swimbaits, and bottom rigs. It casts fine, not crazy long, but enough for pier and jetty work.

What stood out to me right away is that the combo feels slightly tip-heavy, which is common with cheaper graphite/composite rods and mid-tier reels. It’s not uncomfortable, but if you’re used to lighter higher-end setups, you’ll notice it. On the other hand, when you hook into something that pulls, the combo feels reassuring. I’ve dragged in a decent redfish and a chunky catfish without feeling like I was pushing it too hard.

Overall, my first impression was: pretty solid for the money, but don’t expect premium smoothness or perfect quality control. The 3.9/5 Amazon rating makes sense to me. Some people will be very happy with it, especially if they beat up their gear, and others will notice the rough edges and the occasional QC problem right away.

In terms of value, the PENN Wrath II combo sits in a pretty sweet spot: it’s not dirt cheap junk, but it’s also far from premium pricing. For what you pay, you’re getting a known brand, a 5000-size reel, and a 7' medium-heavy rod that can handle both freshwater and saltwater. If you tried to buy a comparable PENN reel and rod separately, you’d likely spend noticeably more, so as a combo it makes financial sense.

Where the value really shows is for people who need a rugged, do-it-all setup rather than something specialized. You can chase bass, catfish, inshore species, and even small sharks like one of the reviewers mentioned, all with the same combo. For occasional anglers, or as a backup rod you keep in the car, that’s a strong point. It’s also decent for someone getting into saltwater who doesn’t want to drop a lot of money right away.

On the downside, you do feel the cost-cutting: felt drag instead of carbon, basic bearings, graphite body, and sometimes sloppy quality control out of the box. The 3.9/5 average rating on Amazon reflects that mix: lots of people happy for the price, but enough negative experiences (like broken parts, shipping damage, or that reel snapping issue) to pull the score down. If you’re unlucky and get a bad unit, the value drops fast unless you return it quickly.

Personally, I’d say it’s good value if you know exactly what you’re buying: a tough, mid-level combo that does the job, not a smooth, refined setup. If you want something lighter, smoother, and more precise, you’re better off spending more on separate rod and reel. If you mainly care about pulling power and don’t mind a bit of roughness, the Wrath II combo gives you a lot of capability for the money.

The design is classic PENN: black with gold accents, nothing flashy, nothing weird. If you’ve used other PENN gear, it looks familiar right away. The reel has a graphite body with an anodized aluminum spool. The handle is aluminum with a basic knob that’s fine for most fishing but not especially ergonomic if you’re grinding all day. The overall look is clean and simple, more “tool” than “showpiece,” which I actually like for something that’s going to get tossed on rocks and boat decks.

The rod uses PENN’s Dura-Guides, which are basically solid guides without fragile ceramic inserts. That’s a good choice for a combo at this price. You lose a bit of slickness compared to nice ceramic inserts, but you also don’t have to worry about inserts popping out when the rod gets knocked around. For a pier or surf-style beater rod, that’s a practical trade-off. The guides were straight on mine, but I’ve seen a couple of reviews mentioning scratches and minor damage out of the box, so quality control isn’t perfect.

Balance-wise, the 5000 reel on the 7’ medium-heavy blank feels a bit forward-heavy. If you hold it for long periods, especially working lures, you feel it in the wrist more than with a higher-end, lighter combo. The reel seat and handle are standard fare—nothing fancy, but they hold the reel solidly and don’t loosen up mid-session. The grip is long enough for two-handed casting, which you’ll appreciate when you’re hurling 1 oz+ weights or dealing with wind on a pier or jetty.

Overall, the design is built around durability and simplicity rather than comfort and finesse. It looks decent, feels rugged enough, and doesn’t try to pretend it’s a premium setup. If you care more about a rod that can take abuse than one that feels perfectly balanced and refined, the design choices here make sense. If you’re picky about ergonomics and weight, you’ll notice the compromises.

The rod is a graphite composite, which means it’s not as light or crisp as a full high-modulus graphite blank, but it’s more forgiving and less fragile. That fits the target use: pier, jetty, inshore, maybe light surf. You can bump it on railings or rocks without instantly worrying you’ve ruined it. The blank has a decent amount of backbone with a fast-ish tip. You can feel bites from smaller fish, but it’s not a super sensitive finesse rod. It’s more about power and versatility than feel.

The guides are PENN’s Dura-Guides, which are one-piece metal-style guides with no ceramic inserts. The main upside is durability: no insert popping out, no annoying chips that ruin your line. The downside is they’re not as smooth as nice ceramic guides, especially with heavier braid. In use, I didn’t notice a huge casting penalty, but if you’re used to higher-end rods, you’ll feel the difference. For a combo that’s meant to be beat up, I think it’s a fair compromise.

The reel uses a graphite body and rotor, with an anodized aluminum spool. That keeps weight and cost down, but it’s not as rigid as a full metal body. Under heavy drag you can feel a tiny bit of flex if you pay attention, but nothing scary. The drag stack is felt, not carbon, which is normal at this price. It’s not the smoothest drag on the planet, especially at higher settings, but for 20 lb line and typical inshore or heavier freshwater use, it gets the job done.

From a materials point of view, you’re clearly not buying a premium setup, but you’re getting something that’s reasonably tough and corrosion-resistant for saltwater. The graphite and aluminum mix is standard for this range, and the combo feels like it’s built to survive some abuse rather than impress on a spec sheet. If you want super light, ultra-sensitive gear, this isn’t it. If you want something you don’t baby, the materials are well chosen.

Durability is probably the main reason to consider this combo. The graphite composite rod feels tough and a bit overbuilt rather than delicate. I’ve knocked it against pier rails, tossed it in the back of the car with other rods, and it hasn’t shown any signs of babying required. The Dura-Guides are a big plus here: no ceramic inserts to crack or pop out. For a combo that might be used by friends, kids, or as a spare “loaner” setup, that’s a real advantage.

The reel, with its graphite body and aluminum spool, has held up fine so far with basic maintenance: quick freshwater rinse after saltwater trips, and occasional light oil on moving parts. No corrosion spots yet, no rough grinding. It’s not sealed like PENN’s higher-end reels, so you still need to avoid dunking it in the surf or letting it sit soaked in salt spray. Treated like a normal mid-tier reel, it should last a while. Treated like a total beater with zero care, it’ll probably start complaining after a season or two.

Where durability gets a bit shaky is around quality control and shipping. One reviewer mentioned receiving rods with damage and missing a screw for the handle. That kind of thing matters: if you get a bad unit out of the box, your durability is obviously going to be terrible. So I’d strongly recommend inspecting everything the day you get it: check all the guides, flex the rod gently, and make sure the reel handle, bail, and drag all work smoothly. If anything feels off, send it back right away rather than trying to “live with it.”

From my experience and what I’ve seen in other feedback, the design and materials are capable of good durability, but the consistency out of the factory isn’t perfect. If you get a good copy and you rinse it after salt trips, this combo can easily be your workhorse for a few seasons. If you neglect it or you’re unlucky with QC, you’ll run into issues faster. It’s not bulletproof, but for the price, it’s reasonably tough.

On the water, this combo does what it says it will do: it handles medium to larger fish without drama. I’ve run 20 lb braid on it, like one of the Amazon reviewers, and used it for inshore saltwater (reds, smaller sharks, jacks) and heavy freshwater (catfish). The rod has enough backbone to turn fish away from structure, and the 5000-size reel with 20 lb max drag gives you enough stopping power for most stuff you’ll realistically target with a 7' medium-heavy combo.

Casting is decent. With 3/4 to 1 oz lures and 20 lb braid, I was getting good, repeatable casts off a pier. It’s not a casting rocket, but it’s absolutely fine for normal use. The fast action helps with distance and accuracy once you get used to the slightly tip-heavy feel. For lighter lures under 1/2 oz, the rod starts to feel a bit stiff, and you lose distance and feel, so I’d keep it in its rated range. Where it shines is with heavier spoons, jigs, and bottom rigs in current or light surf.

The reel’s 5.6:1 gear ratio and 36" per crank recovery are nice for covering water. You can work a spoon or swimbait at a decent pace without feeling like you’re pedaling a bike in low gear. The 2+1 bearings setup is okay: the reel is not silky smooth, but it’s not rough either. After a few trips, a rinse, and a light oil on the bail and handle, mine still feels fine. Anti-reverse engages solidly with no weird backplay on my unit.

One thing to flag is that at least one reviewer had a serious issue with the reel “snapping” on casts and losing lures. I didn’t have that happen, but that kind of complaint usually points to either a bad bail trip mechanism or user error with closing the bail by hand. Still, quality control seems a bit hit or miss, so I’d test-cast it somewhere cheap (like with old weights or cheap lures) before trusting it with your favorite $15 plug. When everything works, performance is pretty solid for the price. Just don’t expect it to feel like a high-end PENN reel.

Out of the box, the PENN Wrath II combo is very straightforward: a 7' medium-heavy, 2-piece spinning rod and a 5000-size reel pre-mounted on it. No case, no spare spool, no extras. Just the combo, some basic tags, and the usual paperwork. For the price bracket it sits in, that’s pretty standard, but don’t expect any fancy packaging or bonus gear. This is clearly meant to be a functional, no-frills setup.

The rod breaks down into two pieces, which makes it easy to throw into a car trunk or keep in a corner of the garage. The listed rod length is 7’, but the box dimensions and product page also show 43.7 inches because that’s the length of the longest section. The power is medium heavy, line rating 12–20 lb, and lure rating 1/2–1 1/2 oz. In real use, that rating felt honest: 3/4–1 oz lures cast best, and 1.5 oz is about as far as I’d push it without feeling clunky.

The reel is a 5000-size spinning reel with a 5.6:1 gear ratio and a recovery of about 36" per crank. That’s actually pretty decent for working spoons and covering water. You get 2 shielded stainless ball bearings plus 1 instant anti-reverse bearing. So it’s not super smooth, but it’s not a grinder either. Drag is felt front drag with a stated max of 20 lb. Spool capacity is generous: 225/12 mono or 420/20 braid, which lines up with what I put on it (about 300 yards of 20 lb braid with some backing).

On the whole, the presentation is very basic but practical. You’re paying for the rod and reel, not for a fancy unboxing. That fits the product: it’s aimed at someone who wants a combo that works for saltwater and freshwater without overthinking it, not a collector who cares about details like premium cases or spare spools.