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

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.

02-22-2010, 07:34 AM	#9
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.