PFAS in Fishing Gear and Equipment, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Based on available materials and data in our database, Penn and Pflueger currently occupy every "Excellent" slot among graded fishing gear and equipment, with the Penn Penn Senator Combo posting the highest score we've recorded in this category at 95 out of 100. That score is a model-based estimate built from materials disclosure and public documentation, not a laboratory test, and it reflects lower concern rather than a guarantee that the product contains zero PFAS.

The rest of the graded field, a dozen Penn and Pflueger reels and combos, clusters in the 85/100 "Excellent" range. We have not yet graded a "Poor" or "Fail" product in this specific category, so this guide can't name a worst-graded fishing rod or reel from our own data. Instead, we'll show you exactly where PFAS risk tends to hide in fishing gear, generally in line coatings, waterproofing treatments, and reel lubricants, and point you to the tools to check any product not yet in our database via the PFAS Finder.

Summary comparison

Product	PFAS grade (model estimate)	Verdict
Penn Penn Senator Combo	Excellent, 95/100	Highest-scoring item in our fishing gear database, lower concern based on reviewed disclosures
Penn Penn Pursuit V Spinning Travel Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Strong estimate, no red flags found in reviewed materials data
Penn Penn Fierce IV Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Consistent with the rest of Penn's spinning combo line
Penn Penn Fierce IV Live Liner Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Same profile as the standard Fierce IV combo
Penn PENN Battle IV LE Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Limited edition build, no meaningfully different materials footprint in our data
Penn Penn Fathom Lever Drag 2-Speed Reel	Excellent, 85/100	Reel-only product, still scores in the Excellent band
Penn Penn Spinfisher VII Live Liner Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Part of Penn's most popular saltwater-ready line
Penn Penn Spinfisher VII Spinning Reel	Excellent, 85/100	Reel version of the Spinfisher VII, matches combo score
Pflueger Pflueger President Spinning Reel	Excellent, 85/100	Pflueger's flagship budget-friendly reel scores on par with Penn
Pflueger Pflueger President Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Combo pairing keeps the same estimate as the standalone reel
Pflueger Pflueger Monarch Spinning Combo	Excellent, 85/100	Consistent with Pflueger's overall pattern
Pflueger PFLUEGER PRESIDENT XT SPINNING REEL	Excellent, 85/100	Updated XT version, no drop in score versus the original President
Pflueger Pflueger President LE Spinning Reel	Excellent, 85/100	Limited edition finish, same materials-based estimate

The clear leader, Penn Penn Senator Combo

The Penn Penn Senator Combo is the standout in our fishing gear dataset, scoring 95 out of 100 on our model, well ahead of the rest of the graded field. This is our internal estimate derived from publicly available materials information and disclosure patterns, not a certified lab result, and it should be read as "lower concern" rather than proof the product is free of PFAS.

Materials and brand claims

The Senator Combo is a conventional star-drag reel and rod pairing built primarily from metal gearing, graphite or composite frame components, and a standard braided or monofilament-compatible line guide setup. Penn has not made a formal, third-party-verified "PFAS-free" claim for this product in the materials we reviewed. Where PFAS risk typically enters fishing gear, line coatings, waterproof reel seals, and grease or lubricant formulations, the publicly available documentation for this combo did not surface the same red flags we look for in weaker-scoring products elsewhere in our database.

Pros

• Highest model-based score of any fishing gear product we've graded to date
• Simple, time-tested mechanical design with fewer specialty coatings than some technical spinning combos
• Widely available and heavily documented, which supports a more confident materials estimate

Cons

• No independent, third-party lab verification of PFAS content was found in reviewed sources, so the grade remains an estimate
• Line sold separately may carry its own PFAS profile, see our fishing line guide before pairing it
• Reel lubricant and grease used for maintenance can reintroduce PFAS-adjacent chemistry regardless of the combo's base score

Runner-up tier, the 85/100 Penn and Pflueger lineup

Every other graded product in this category sits at 85 out of 100, which our model still classifies as Excellent. That includes Penn's Penn Pursuit V Spinning Travel Combo Penn Fierce IV Spinning Combo Penn Fierce IV Live Liner Spinning Combo Penn Battle IV LE Spinning Combo Penn Fathom Lever Drag 2-Speed Reel Penn Spinfisher VII Live Liner Spinning Combo, and Penn Spinfisher VII Spinning Reel, alongside Pflueger's Pflueger President Spinning Reel Pflueger President Spinning Combo Pflueger Monarch Spinning Combo Pflueger President XT Spinning Reel, and Pflueger President LE Spinning Reel.

Materials and brand claims across this tier

These products share a broadly similar construction profile, graphite or aluminum reel bodies, stainless or coated bearings, composite or graphite rod blanks, and cork or EVA foam grips. Neither Penn nor Pflueger has published a formal, independently verified PFAS-free certification for these specific SKUs in the sources we reviewed. Their scores reflect an absence of the strongest PFAS-risk indicators (like advertised "fluoropolymer waterproofing" or heavily treated fabric components) rather than a confirmed negative lab result.

Pros

• Consistent Excellent-tier scores across a wide product range suggests a stable manufacturing and materials pattern, based on available data
• Reels and combos from both brands are widely reviewed and documented, giving the model more signal to work with
• Pflueger's President line in particular has years of consistent build specs, reducing the odds of an undisclosed formulation change

Cons

• An 85/100 estimate is strong but not a perfect score, and it is still a model output, not a certified lab result
• Live liner and travel combo variants bundle in extra components (rod tubes, storage bags) that weren't necessarily evaluated with the same depth as the core rod and reel
• Limited edition (LE) finishes sometimes use different coatings for cosmetic reasons; we found no evidence this changes the PFAS profile, but it also hasn't been independently verified either way

What to avoid

Because our database does not yet contain a "Poor" or "Fail" grade in the fishing gear and equipment category, we can't point to a specific worst-graded rod or reel today. What we can do is flag the general categories of fishing gear where PFAS turns up most often in industry-wide reporting, so you know what to scrutinize even on brands and products not yet in our system.

• Fluorocarbon and treated braided lines. Some fishing lines use fluoropolymer coatings for castability and water shedding. Check our dedicated fishing line guide before assuming your line matches the low-concern profile of your rod and reel.
• Waterproofed fishing apparel and waders. Durable water repellent (DWR) finishes on jackets, bibs, and boots have historically relied on PFAS chemistry. If you're buying wet-weather fishing gear, cross-check our waterproof boots guide and general clothing guide.
• Reel grease and lubricant additives. Some specialty lubricants marketed as "friction-free" or "water-displacing" use fluorinated compounds. Brand marketing language here deserves the same skepticism as any other PFAS claim.
• Tackle boxes and soft-sided storage. Water-resistant linings and zippers can carry PFAS-based treatments; this hasn't been graded in our database yet, so treat unverified claims cautiously.
• Any product claiming "PFAS-free" without a named test standard or lab. A brand-stated claim is not the same as third-party verification. Treat unverified marketing claims as a starting point for research, not a conclusion.

Our pick

Based on available materials and data, the Penn Penn Senator Combo is our top recommendation in the fishing gear and equipment category, with a model-based score of 95 out of 100 that stands clearly above the rest of the graded field. If it's unavailable or doesn't fit your fishing style, the entire 85/100 tier from Penn and Pflueger, including the Pflueger President Spinning Reel and Penn Spinfisher VII Spinning Reel, remains a reasonable Excellent-tier alternative. None of these scores should be read as a certification that the product is free of PFAS; they represent our best estimate given publicly available materials information at the time of grading. For gear outside this list, run it through our PFAS Finder before you buy, and pair your rod and reel choice with a line vetted on our fishing line comparison page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a high PFAS grade mean a fishing reel is completely free of PFAS?

No. A high score, including the 95/100 estimate for the Penn Penn Senator Combo, reflects our model's read of available materials and disclosure data, not a laboratory test result. It indicates lower concern relative to other graded products, not a verified absence of PFAS.

Why isn't there a "worst" graded fishing rod or reel in this guide?

Our database currently only contains graded fishing gear and equipment products in the Excellent tier, led by Penn and Pflueger. We do not invent grades for products outside our dataset, so this guide focuses on general risk categories, like line coatings and waterproof treatments, that are common industry-wide sources of PFAS concern.

Is there a health risk from PFAS in fishing gear I handle regularly?

Some research has associated long-term PFAS exposure with various health concerns, but association is not the same as causation, and exposure from handling a reel or rod is different from exposure through water, food packaging, or treated apparel. If you're concerned about cumulative exposure, it's worth reviewing broader categories like whole-house filters and waterproof boots alongside your fishing gear choices.