Penn 500 Conversion - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

taggermike · 02-22-2010, 07:12 AM

Like tbone said, the convertions are obsolete these days and not really that help full. When they first came out there were much fewer reel options so turning your old Penn in to some sort of frankenstien was one of the best options. There are so many great reel options now that having a heavy old reel on your rod and a bag of old parts in the garage at around the same price is not needed. The converted reels work well enough and look pretty cool, to me at least, so if you want one or want to do the work your self then go for it. I own a converted "yellow tail special" that I like well enough and still get use out of. It's a nasty old Frankenstien with maroon Penn side plates, red tiburon frame, and an ice blue accurate handle. I have to think that it is a one of a kind. Mike

MarkT · 02-22-2010, 07:34 AM

You don't have to go all in. You can incrementally upgrade as you have money/interest/time. A set of Newell bars/seat or a Tiburon/Accurate frame plus a 501 spool will convert the 500 to a 501. Handle upgrade and the rest are just personal preference. For bait, bass and cuda just stick with the 4:1 gears. The 5:1 gears are weaker (smaller teeth on the gears) than the stock 4:1's. If you go with the 5:1 gears you do want to go with the Smoothie stainless yoke... the stainless gears chew up the stock brass yoke. If you really want a 5:1 reel you'd be better served by getting a reel designed for faster speed with stronger drags.

I have a YTS that started life as an old 113H with maroon sideplates. It now has a matching maroon Tiburon topless frame, Tiburon spool, abec-5 bearings, HT-100 drag washers (including one under the main gear), Newell 4:1 gears with a Smoothie stainless yoke and a ProGear power handle. It's much cooler than anything I can just walk into a tackle store and buy off the rack. Starting again now I'd just get a Penn 113HN Baja Special... it's technically superior even though it doesn't look as cool.

-scallywag- · 02-22-2010, 11:27 AM

I agree, ditch the 500's, calling them frankestiens is a little misleading, i think dinosaur is more appropriate...although your urge to disassemble and modify reels is a good one stick with the more modern, cheap reels like the sealine's, shimano's or penn 535/545's..you can get them used for super cheap on ebay, then replace the bearings and re-grease or upgrade the drags to carbontex. Then you have a reel that will put down 12-15lbs of drag for around 120 bucks AND you will be able to service it in an hr or two instead of waiting 2weeks.

As for the sealine 50 hi speed, no worries, that is a bad ass reel for heavy irons, just fill the spool up 3/4 of the way (effectively lowering the gear ratio) with your fav #40 mono and match it to a similarly rated rod....some guys don't like the hi speed cause they really like to grind irons and the 6:1 tend to spin most jiggs....i like the 6:1's, because once you get the cadence down its a lot less work (on any given winter day I may drop the iron 100-200times in 120-220ft of water). Those that say you need lower gears to reel in a 30lb YT, should probably be fishing in the bay

.
I do like the lower ratio, lever drag reels for live bait..TLD15 with #65 spectra is my favorite (that i can afford).

whitedog · 02-22-2010, 12:50 PM

You might as well throw all that penn crap in the trash! just pm me the time and place?

p.s lj is full of skunks

-scallywag- · 02-22-2010, 03:05 PM

whitedog,
I got some 500's with newell goodies that you can have...just kidding, I wouldn't do that to a friend!!!

And who you call'in a skunk?!?!?!?!?

T Bone · 02-22-2010, 03:50 PM

anyone use ceramic bearings?I think they would be a good upgrade for avets.I have had to replace bearings a few times because of corrosion on my jx2 and sx2.It hasnt happened since I been better about rinsing after fishing.

fishes · 02-23-2010, 07:36 AM

Well I'll keep the Jigmaster only because it's new and senseless to throw it out as well as do some expensive upgrade. From what I hear, they are work horses and for this reason i will run my $40 investment into the ground. As for the Sealine, I'll keep that too. I see versatility in having the two speeds on deck (4:1, 6:1) although I'm not sure when to use either, guess that's what fishing is for (figuring it out).

What stick would you recommend the Jigmaster go on? I don't have much allowance from the wife for this "stuff" but I do want something that will last. My other setup is a Sealine-X 50SHA on an OffShore Angler Extreme Live Bait 20-50# if that helps?

Thanks,

02-22-2010, 03:05 PM	#5
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	whitedog, I got some 500's with newell goodies that you can have...just kidding, I wouldn't do that to a friend!!! And who you call'in a skunk?!?!?!?!? Last edited by -scallywag-; 02-22-2010 at 04:35 PM. Reason: skunks

02-23-2010, 07:36 AM	#7
fishes Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 89	Well I'll keep the Jigmaster only because it's new and senseless to throw it out as well as do some expensive upgrade. From what I hear, they are work horses and for this reason i will run my $40 investment into the ground. As for the Sealine, I'll keep that too. I see versatility in having the two speeds on deck (4:1, 6:1) although I'm not sure when to use either, guess that's what fishing is for (figuring it out). What stick would you recommend the Jigmaster go on? I don't have much allowance from the wife for this "stuff" but I do want something that will last. My other setup is a Sealine-X 50SHA on an OffShore Angler Extreme Live Bait 20-50# if that helps? Thanks, __________________ <' )))><es

02-22-2010, 07:12 AM	#1
taggermike Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chula Vista Posts: 1,589	Like tbone said, the convertions are obsolete these days and not really that help full. When they first came out there were much fewer reel options so turning your old Penn in to some sort of frankenstien was one of the best options. There are so many great reel options now that having a heavy old reel on your rod and a bag of old parts in the garage at around the same price is not needed. The converted reels work well enough and look pretty cool, to me at least, so if you want one or want to do the work your self then go for it. I own a converted "yellow tail special" that I like well enough and still get use out of. It's a nasty old Frankenstien with maroon Penn side plates, red tiburon frame, and an ice blue accurate handle. I have to think that it is a one of a kind. Mike

02-22-2010, 07:34 AM	#2
MarkT Deep Release Specialist Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mission Viejo Posts: 94	You don't have to go all in. You can incrementally upgrade as you have money/interest/time. A set of Newell bars/seat or a Tiburon/Accurate frame plus a 501 spool will convert the 500 to a 501. Handle upgrade and the rest are just personal preference. For bait, bass and cuda just stick with the 4:1 gears. The 5:1 gears are weaker (smaller teeth on the gears) than the stock 4:1's. If you go with the 5:1 gears you do want to go with the Smoothie stainless yoke... the stainless gears chew up the stock brass yoke. If you really want a 5:1 reel you'd be better served by getting a reel designed for faster speed with stronger drags. I have a YTS that started life as an old 113H with maroon sideplates. It now has a matching maroon Tiburon topless frame, Tiburon spool, abec-5 bearings, HT-100 drag washers (including one under the main gear), Newell 4:1 gears with a Smoothie stainless yoke and a ProGear power handle. It's much cooler than anything I can just walk into a tackle store and buy off the rack. Starting again now I'd just get a Penn 113HN Baja Special... it's technically superior even though it doesn't look as cool.

02-22-2010, 11:27 AM	#3
-scallywag- Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: on the road... Posts: 598	I agree, ditch the 500's, calling them frankestiens is a little misleading, i think dinosaur is more appropriate...although your urge to disassemble and modify reels is a good one stick with the more modern, cheap reels like the sealine's, shimano's or penn 535/545's..you can get them used for super cheap on ebay, then replace the bearings and re-grease or upgrade the drags to carbontex. Then you have a reel that will put down 12-15lbs of drag for around 120 bucks AND you will be able to service it in an hr or two instead of waiting 2weeks. As for the sealine 50 hi speed, no worries, that is a bad ass reel for heavy irons, just fill the spool up 3/4 of the way (effectively lowering the gear ratio) with your fav #40 mono and match it to a similarly rated rod....some guys don't like the hi speed cause they really like to grind irons and the 6:1 tend to spin most jiggs....i like the 6:1's, because once you get the cadence down its a lot less work (on any given winter day I may drop the iron 100-200times in 120-220ft of water). Those that say you need lower gears to reel in a 30lb YT, should probably be fishing in the bay . I do like the lower ratio, lever drag reels for live bait..TLD15 with #65 spectra is my favorite (that i can afford).

02-22-2010, 12:50 PM	#4
whitedog Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 42	use what ya got! You might as well throw all that penn crap in the trash! just pm me the time and place? p.s lj is full of skunks

02-22-2010, 03:50 PM	#6
T Bone Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Redlands CA Posts: 871	anyone use ceramic bearings?I think they would be a good upgrade for avets.I have had to replace bearings a few times because of corrosion on my jx2 and sx2.It hasnt happened since I been better about rinsing after fishing. __________________ Barachit Baralah,Elohim-In the beginning,God-Genesis 1:1 "Who among you,if your son asked for a fish would give them a serpent " Jesus Matt. 7:10