Penn Ally Rods Review – Boat Casting & Spinning Models

Penn Ally Rods feature the same basic design as the higher end Tuna Stick with tubular glass blanks and solid tips. Offering rod options with roller guides and bent-butt sections, they also share similarities with the Penn International series. All at a friendlier cost. The majority of choice exists in the casting line up, though there are 3 spinning rods in the series. Find out just how effective Penn Ally Rods can be in the following detailed account.

Penn Ally Rods

Product: Penn Ally Boat Casting & Spinning Rods.

Overall Ranking: 88 out of 100.

Price: Mid to a lower-middle range.

Company/Owner: Pure Fishing, Inc.

Website: PennFishing.com.

Intro To Penn Ally Rods

Penn prefers the sturdy power of fiberglass in several of their offshore rod series. They don’t forsake modern technology with the implementation of tubular blanks in Ally models. Adding durability, Penn fills in the hollow shaft as the rods taper towards the tip. Within the casting line up is one kite rod, three bent-butt models, and twelve stand up slick-butt options to choose from. Penn Ally Rods offer an additional three spinning models for the spinning style reel. While the selection of components isn’t as advanced as higher end Penn rods, they still bring quality to the table.

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Penn Ally Rod Models, Specs, & Features

Ally Kite Rod

• ALLYKITE39

Penn Ally Casting Rods

• ALLBW1020C70LB   • ALLBW1525C70LB

• ALLBW2040C70LB   • ALLBW2050C56

• ALLBW2050C60RS   • ALLBW2050C66

• ALLBW3080C56   • ALLBW3080C60RS

• ALLBW3080C66   • ALLBW50100C56

• ALLBW50100C60RS   • ALLBW50100C66

• ALLBW3080C60BB   • ALLBW50100C60BB

• ALLBW80250C60DD

Ally Spinning Models

• ALLBW1220S70     • ALLBW1530S70

• ALLBW3050S70

Specifications Of Penn Ally Rods

Penn Ally Kite Rod

The Penn Ally Kite Rod is a short, one-piece stick. Standing at a length of 39″, or 3’3″, the kite rod doesn’t need much as it doesn’t fight the fish. It does, however, come with a rod tip and requires a reel that manages the line to the kite. While there aren’t any line guides along the shaft of the blank, the Ally Kite Rod does include a DPS reel seat. Below the reel seat is a slick-butt and an aluminum gimble.

Above the reel seat. the Ally Kite Rod features a short handle with EVA padding in the torque style. The longer slick-butt handle below the seat employs shrink-grip. The single Penn Ally Kite model rates heavy for power, as it does need to withstand high-wind. In the case of hook-set on the kite, the angler’s mainline releases from a clip. Another hand reels the kite back in while the angler fights a giant with their own rod and reel.

Ally Casting Rods

In the Penn Ally casting series, rods break down into 12 slick-butt and 3 bent-butt models. Penn notes the bent-butt rods with a BB at the end of their model numbers. The slick-butt models range in length from 7′ to 5’6″ with both 6′ and 6’6″ options in the middle. All three bent-butt models are 6 feet in length. Rod action is fast on the 7′ models and moderate-fast on all other options except one. The extra-heavy power bent-butt model has a moderate action. Penn Ally slick-butt models all feature 1-piece blanks while the bent-butt models are 2-piece.

The slick-butt style has 12 different models featuring 4 choices in length. Each length has three rods of different power to choose from. For instance, there are two heavy power options and one medium-heavy in 5’6″ lengths. The only slick-butt rods that don’t follow this pattern are the 7 footers which offer 2 medium power options and one light. Note the switch from DPS reel seat to aluminum in the heavy power Penn Ally Rods.

Last of the Penn Ally Casting Series are the 3 bent-butt models. As it states above, they have 2 sections which lock in at the butt and are all 6′ in length. Power options are medium-heavy, heavy, or extra-heavy. The 3 bent-butt models switch from aluminum-oxide line guides to roller guides. All lower handles on the bent-butt models are sturdy metal and finish with an aluminum gimble.

Penn Ally Spinning Rods

Spinning reel anglers have 3 different rod choices in the Penn Ally series, all 7′ in length. A major difference shows in the fast rod action, something the casting models don’t offer. The 3 spinning models each offer a different power rating with choices in medium, medium-heavy, and heavy.

Penn Ally Spinning Rods feature a slick-butt style with a gimbal for the rod holders and are one-piece blanks. Notice the absence of roller guides or the use of aluminum reel seats in the heavy power option. All 3 models make use of 7 Fuji line guides which does include the tip. They feature EVA padding on split handles with the torque grip up top.

Features Of Penn Ally Rods

Solid Tip Tubular Rod Blank

While many of the modern rod blanks turn to sheets of carbon fiber, Penn Ally Rods stick with layers of fiberglass. Carbon-fiber rod blanks are popular for their strength and lightweight attributes. The rods, however, can become brittle and are more prone to snapping. Fiberglass offers durability and strength but weighs more. Penn solves the weight issue by using rod blanks formed on a mandrel. A tapered metal shaft that leaves a hollow rod blank. Penn Ally Rods fill in that hollow middle as the blank nears the tip, adding a greater amount of durability.

Fuji Aluminum Oxide Line Guides

Aluminum-oxide guides work well for mono, fluoro, and braided lines. It’s an incredibly durable material that stands up to the corrosive combination of salt and water. Anglers know the Fuji name for providing excellence in rod components. Fuji aluminum-oxide guides are present in all slick-butt casting models as well as the spinning series.

Pac Bay Roller Guides 

Another quality rod component manufacturer, Pac Bay adds its touch to Penn Ally Rods.

Anglers will find their performance roller guides on all bent-butt models.

This includes the rod tip and guides along the shaft of the blank.

Durable Carbon Or Machined Aluminum Reel Seat

Penn places DPS carbon reel seats on Ally Spinning models and the slick-butt casting rods.

These are durable seats that fasten reels with a lock-down nut.

Present on only the medium-heavy casting models, Penn Ally rods switch to aluminum on the heavier blanks.

EVA Torque Foregrips

Penn features the torque grip on the fore handles of Ally rods. Their triangular style fits better in the palm of the angler’s hand than traditional round handles. This is, of course, a matter of opinion though it takes bearing down on a heavy fish to tell the difference.

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Pros & Cons Of Penn Ally Rods

Pros

Penn Ally Rods offer value in both their ability to perform under stress and their asking price. Rod components, albeit not absolute top of the line, offer quality craftsmanship. The biggest bonus is the fact that Penn carries over their tubular rod blank with a solid tip from the Tuna Stick.

The resulting rod blanks are light in the hand and durable against rough saltwater voyages. Selection in the slick-butt casting rods is another positive, as long as that’s the style an angler is looking for. Another pro that stands out is the Ally Kite Rod.

Cons

Penn Ally Rods do have a limited number of options in the bent-butt and spinning models. There’s three of each to be precise, which may not provide what an angler needs. Though Ally rod cost and performance equal value, anglers aren’t buying Penn’s best offering. Fishermen searching for higher performance and durability might examine Penn International Rods.

Best Style Of Use

In the same manner of the International Rod series, Ally rods (bent-butts especially) are perfect for trolling open water. Slick-butt models also function well for trolling when the seat and saddle aren’t a necessity. Gimbals lock them into rod holders or select reels with harness lugs for the troll clip and lanyard. Looking for a longer powerful stick to pitch live or chunked bait? The 7′ slick-butt casting rods stand out nicely. Pair your Penn Ally casting rods with a Penn International, Fathom, or Squall reel for maximum output.

Penn Customer & Rod Support

Knowing that their customers amount to the survival of their business, Penn takes great aim to ensure a positive experience. All rods come with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and Penn provides authorized service centers around the world. Visit the Penn customer service website page which lists all contact numbers as well as frequently asked questions.

The Penn Ally Rod Round Up

88 out of 100 anglers approve of Penn Ally Rods

Penn does a service to offshore fishermen with an offering like the Ally Rod Series. They fall a short distance from what most anglers consider top of the line equipment, but are still quite effective in use. Concerns come into play for anglers battling real ocean monsters due to long-term durability. It’s better to pay top dollar when seeking the ocean gargantuan. For trolling, chunking or pitching bait, or even vertical jigging, Penn Ally Rods will stand 300-pound fish without issue. Lighter models can provide trips full of fillets to stock up your freezer.