Fin-Nor PR12HS Primal Lever Drag Conventional Reel

Fin-Nor PR12HS Primal Lever Drag Conventional Reel

Price: $199.99
Model
TD Code
RetrieveGear RatioLine Per Handle TurnMono Capacity
(lb test/yds)
Braid Capacity
(lb test/yds)
BearingsMax DragWeightPrice
PR12HS
FIN-0419
Right Hand7.3:145in14/45050/440730lb14.1oz$199.99 USD
Fin-Nor Primal Lever Drag Reels are small and light weight reels. The focus of these reels is light tackle and braided line usage. They are made with heavy duty all aluminum construction along with a powerful MEGADRAG system for the toughest species.

  • Super Strong Sealed MegaDrag Achieves 15lbs at Strike and up to 30 lbs max with ultra smooth performance
  • Heavy duty stainless steel gears
  • MegaShield: Keeps reel protected and corrosion free
  • MegaLock Anti-Reverse: For extreme stopping power with pawl-and-ratchet back-up clutch for that boost of confidence
4.5 Stars based on 19 reviews
By Guillermo
sonora mx
Great & light reel
March 11, 2022
its a great & ligth reel, in my first drop with it, catch a nice 20lbs grouper with jig, good fight, fast and strong.
Pros
  • light
  • strong
  • fast
Cons
  • noup
By Carlos
SoCal
Better than my lexa
August 6, 2021
This thing has serious power holds more line and has more drag than my lexa and it’s even smaller. Landed 30-35lb California yellowtail easy
By Tim M.
West Babylon N.Y.
Un-reel super light 30# drag
June 16, 2021
So light you can hold it all day. Super smooth, casts great. Can't beat this reel for the price . gotta love Fin-Nor!
Pros
  • super light, smooth. Great price.
Cons
  • 0
By BH
FL
Solid lil' reel
May 10, 2021
I purchased this as my "entry level" in the slow-pitch jigging realm... Finally got to test it out this past weekend. Fun, solid reel on a light rod, and jigged up a bunch of "endangered" red snappers. The complaints of stiff / clunky engaging from free-spool / gear / max drag are legit, but not enough to be a game breaker.... esp at this price. May be better suited for a style when you're not constantly engaging the gears.
Is this reel as nice as an avet / accurate/ ocean jigger... of course not, but it's a pretty good value, so we'll see how it holds up over time, and after my 1st use, I'm happy with the purchase
Pros
  • weight / power
Cons
  • Stiff to engage / release gears
By Timothy M.
West Babylon N.Y.
nice reel
May 6, 2021
light weight, great drag.
Pros
  • Great drag, light, very smooth.
Cons
  • Had to order another handle because the knob was loose.
By David
Dover, MA
Quality issues
May 5, 2021
The spool rubs on the clicker ring when you tilt the reel to the left (side with the clicker button) when in free spool. Maybe it’s just mine.
By Jeff
Oceanside CA
Good value
May 4, 2021
These are a great buy. Love the performance
Pros
  • Steady, solid and performs well.
Cons
  • None
By Luke
Marion, Massachusetts
Great Reel for a Great Price
April 30, 2021
I got this reel thinking it would be for Tuna Jigging however it was more designed for inshore fishing (my fault for picking the wrong size). This compact reel holds a lot of line for its overall size. The 12HS has such a fast retrieve and will be great for ripping jigs off the bottom. I returned it because I messed up on my end with the sizing but if I was looking for a reel of that size, I would be more than content.
By davek
Pacific Ocean
Great reel
April 29, 2021
So far so good. Smooth drag, does what it's supposed to.
By Mick
Maine
Quality reel
April 29, 2021
Looks like a well built reel, especially at the price point. When compared to the Avet SX, this reel seems to have everything that does and even has a touch more drag.
Pros
  • Drag
  • Price
By Rich k.
California
Great reel
April 28, 2021
Compact, great price
Pros
  • Compact.
Cons
  • Drag could be better and handle could be bigger
By Rich k.
California
great start up reel
April 28, 2021
Great price for a small teel
Pros
  • Small, great price
Cons
  • Not much of drag
By Charles
Babylon, NY
Fin-Nor PR10HS
April 28, 2021
I purchased this reel on sale. The price was great. Tackle Direct web sight is easy to navigate. This reel had good reviews.
Pros
  • Light weight
  • Heavy duty
  • Well made
Cons
  • None
By currtis
Vallejo, CA
Awesome Little reel
April 14, 2021
I have had a 12 hz and ls for a couple years and they have never let me down with what ever I throw at it from oversized Sturgeon to striped bass
Pros
  • Smooth casting a lot of drag
By FISHNFF
West Coast
Difficult to engage drag from freespool
April 8, 2021
I own dozens of lever drag reels of different sizes and makes. By design, when you move the lever from freespool, you engage the drag cam. As you continue to move the lever forward the drag pressure increases.

On this Fin-Nor PR10HS Primal Lever Drag Conventional Reel, there is considerable effort needed to engage the drag cam. Meaning it’s very difficult taking the reel in and out of gear. Very difficult. And I am only running 10# of drag. If you get anywhere near the reels Max drag rating, I cannot imagine it possible to use the reel, as that resistance going in and out of gear increases as you adjust the drag preset higher.

I purchased 5 of these, but will return the unused 4.

Price was too good to be true. Fin-Nor in name only. Drag seems smooth. Freespools nicely. Nice handle. Feels balanced and ergonomically correct, just drag issue. For my use bottom fishing I can be in and out of gear over 100 times a day. I put it away after trying to work through reels shortcoming. Wont work for me.
Pros
  • Nice handle
  • Good freespool
  • Nice size
  • Smooth drag
Cons
  • Very very difficult engaging gear from free spool
4 Questions & 5 Answers
Cipriano Olivo
from CA asked:
January 23, 2018
Does this reel come with bracket
1 Answer
Hello Cipriano, the Fin Nor Primal does not come with a reel clamp bracket.
Submitted by: Bernie on January 24, 2018

Nick
from South Jersey/ Tampa asked:
March 24, 2021
Im looking to use this reel for light trolling off of Jersey and down in Florida on the gulf. As well as, bottom fishing in both locations. What rod would you recommend? 
1 Answer
As long as you're light trolling, this reel should be fine. 
Submitted by: William Larkin on March 24, 2021

Anthony A Humes
from East coast asked:
February 2, 2020
Will this reel fit the 12ft longitude by okuma
1 Answer
Unfortunately we do not have that rod or the reel in-stock to check at the moment. 
Submitted by: Rebecca Redington on February 5, 2020

Michael Rosenquist
from Ottawa, ON asked:
March 6, 2019
Will this reel (Fin-Nor PR12HS), fit on the Tsunami Travel Kayak rod (TSTBC 703H)? 

I saw on a review somewhere that they might not fit on all rods, due to a larger (wider) reel seat.

2 Answers
s
Submitted by: Andrew Montagna on March 14, 2019
Yes, this reel fits fine on the reel seat.
Submitted by: Rebecca Redington on March 26, 2019

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