I just finished my cortez conversions sqidder 146 this afternoon. With stock gears and cortez gear sleeve and star. my own drag washers with stock medal washers. Tiburon spool and stock handle from Mystic Reel parts.
I had to alter the upper bridge screws to fit the counter sink holes that were in the crank side of the side plate, no problem thought a simple dressing down the screw head to fit. The rest of the kit was superb and works like a dream. You have to use the spacer on the tib spool like instructed on the clicker side.
Here are a few pictures the compare the 140 squidder to the 146.
Very nice! 8)
thats a beauty Joe, congrats, now get some fish
Nicely done Joe
Cortez Conversions now carries matching shift levers that fit your squidder. A steal @$15
Very nice reel.
Looks great Joe! Very nice. The new shift lever compliments it perfectly.
Wish Tom would make one in purple.
..............Lou
Very nice. How does it compare weight wise with a stock 146?
Quote from: Maxed Out on May 16, 2018, 11:01:45 PM
Nicely done Joe
Cortez Conversions now carries matching shift levers that fit your squidder. A steal @$15
I have ordered one on your suggestion and as soon as it comes I will change it over, very nice compact reel. I was going fishing tonight but the weather is bad Rain on cold it dropped 30deg from yesterday. flooding and rain all this week, much lighting last night. I don't want to be on the water when it's that bad holding a composite rod with lighting. I will be fishing that reel when I get a brake in the weather. Maybe tomorrow If it breaks. Blues and Bass are in feeding on sand eels and peanut bunker.
Joe
Quote from: festus on May 16, 2018, 11:37:15 PM
Very nice. How does it compare weight wise with a stock 146?
Light in hand and it's perfect for plug and live bait.
Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 16, 2018, 11:44:42 PM
Quote from: festus on May 16, 2018, 11:37:15 PM
Very nice. How does it compare weight wise with a stock 146?
Light in hand and it's perfect for plug and live bait.
Joe
First off...she looks great Joe...I selected the ice blue for my CC Squidder too. I'd say with all the ss steel inside mine, and the power handle, it probably is as heavy as a stock Squidder, but with a smaller aluminum handle it could be used for freshwater fishing. Bass or musky casting easily. I'm considering trying to mod an ABU Garcia double paddle...like off a Revo...it would be awesome. Currently mine is set up for catfishing, but a reel that casts so good, it almost seems a waste to be drowning bait on it. I'd say not owning one of these reels is missing out...big time! 8)
I've fished mine a few times, I use 20lb mono so it's stock inside. Great free spool, so much smother casting, just a flick of the rod get's it going. Using just a small hook and a live anchovy, great for flying small live baits without jerking it off the hook, Might be good for pitching a live frog into a bush for a wary bass..
Mo: I fish salt all year and bait is important for a lot of fishing and plugs too, I have not tried the reel yet on plug or bait. It feels very good on the rod I have built so I have to see how it works on a med rod. I have another stick that is lighter on the rod bench but that is not ready yet, Ruth wants me to finish a 7' light rod first so she is first ;) :D I am just the guy who supply's the equipment ;D.
It's a very nice reel I hope it works out for my style of fishing.
Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 17, 2018, 03:42:15 AM
Mo: I fish salt all year and bait is important for a lot of fishing and plugs too, I have not tried the reel yet on plug or bait. It feels very good on the rod I have built so I have to see how it works on a med rod.
I put the reel on a 7ft. med/hvy inshore rod...it casts a 1 1/2oz. plug like a champ. I'll have to honestly say it's the best casting Penn...or Penn
type reel I ever swung. Tom has made a precision piece...I just plain love the reel! 8)
Good work guys, Thanks for posting!
Tom
Mike: That is similar to my rod so it should be great for me, still raining here but I'LL get out soon.
Tom: you have made a fine reel easy to work with and very smooth.
I have to thank Randy from Vintage offshore fer the great gears he sent to fit the 146 Randy was gracious in N/C for the gears and all the innards.
Joe
Made a few alterations on my Sqidder 146. I changed the shiftier to the Cortez Conversions black one also changed the crank arm and knob, added the reel mounted on my custom rod. Here are a few pictures.
Joe
Very cool,,, ;D
Those knobs are perfect match for a squidder. I like using stock Penn blades for those too. It's makes for a nice combination
Beautiful combination Joe!! 8)
Where is that knob from?
Quote from: xjchad on May 18, 2018, 08:13:20 PM
Beautiful combination Joe!! 8)
Where is that knob from?
From Pro Challenger Alan Chu. The first batch he sold.
Joe
Quote from: Reel 224 on May 18, 2018, 10:18:50 PM
Quote from: xjchad on May 18, 2018, 08:13:20 PM
Beautiful combination Joe!! 8)
Where is that knob from?
From Pro Challenger Alan Chu. The first batch he sold.
Joe
Ah, thanks!
Quote from: Maxed Out on May 18, 2018, 07:58:11 PM
Those knobs are perfect match for a squidder.
I agree...they rock on the Mag 10 and 210 also. Lookin' sweet Joe! 8)
Quote from: mo65 on May 18, 2018, 11:32:38 PM
Quote from: Maxed Out on May 18, 2018, 07:58:11 PM
Those knobs are perfect match for a squidder.
I agree...they rock on the Mag 10 and 210 also. Lookin' sweet Joe! 8)
Mike: I got the idea from your reel and I had one on a 60 reel that I haven't used and the crank arm was just a spare so I hooked up with the better looking handle. ;) ;D. So thank's for the idea.
Joe
Joe,
I have another idea I'm kicking around, and I figured your post here about the CC Squidder would be a good place to mention it. I want to try bass fishing with my 146, and I don't mean stripers. I'm talkin' large mouth bass, casting little lures all day, and needing a handle for such. I've found many handles on fleabay I can dremel the handle hole a bit and they will slip right on a Penn gear sleeve, but the "bent" drag star is another story. As far as I can tell...nobody is making these. I picked out a few rough stars from my parts crypt to sacrifice for science. Turns out modding them was easier than I figured on. I was worried the chrome may flake, but it seemed to bend just fine! The photos shows my bent star on top of an ABU Garcia Revo Rocket handle, and it looks like it should clear the CC side plate too. I won't really know until I bend the fine thread #10-505 star the reel requires, all my test dummies were the normal thread #10-60s. I'm waiting on a few handles to arrive from Hong Kong and I'll report later. 8)
Nice work mo! Your getting pretty darn creative.
I have a couple of 3 piece dies I made for doing that on Adams stars. The .125 thick SS bends no where near as easy as the stock one's though and I end up bumping it in a 40 ton press.
Keep at it Bud!
...........Lou
They sure are pretty..!!
I thought about hot rodding my Squidder 140L but decided on just servicing it and upgrading the drags and handle as I will never use it beyond 20 lb. test. I rarely surf fish but when I do it is generally for Pompano, Spanish Mackerels and small Bluefish. The stock Squidder is more than enough for these fish and it is not like there is such a hot and heavy bight that I would get worn out winding super fast with the slow gears. After all, these fish aren't big.
Mike: That looks darn nice I really want to see that setup, so when you get finished take pictures.
conch: that sqidder is good enough to fight Stipers up to 50lb so I would not worry about that.
Joe
Quote from: mo65 on May 21, 2018, 07:16:56 PM
Joe,
.......but the "bent" drag star is another story. As far as I can tell...nobody is making these. I picked out a few rough stars from my parts crypt to sacrifice for science. Turns out modding them was easier than I figured on. .......
I had to the same on star of calcutta 400TE when I installed a different handle, the star bent easily with the help of some tools and stayed firm after I bent the points of the star
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=17967.0
now it looks like one of those lowprofile highend reels 8)
Bitchin!
Joe
I got the handle mod all finished on the CC Squidder. The bent star aligns with the offset handle really well, and the cork knobs match the rod cork excellent. After some dremel work and a little needle filing I got the handle hole to fit a Penn gear sleeve good and tight. Not sure what to do about the lock screw yet, maybe someone has an idea for that. This handle will be the bees knees for bass and musky fishing, and I may even take this combo along for the Virginia Beach trip my brother and I are doing next week. Now I have to get another CC Squidder to house the power handle I took off! ;D
Nice work Moe, pretty slick set up with the star. Let's us know how it fishes with that handle.
Sweet mo! That will make short work of those long toothy critters.
If you have an standard Penn wrench around, you can cut it in a tear drop shape and drill a hole at the proper location. The only draw back is you'll have to paint it.
At least its a way out for your locking problem.
...............Lou
Lovin it brother.....for the lock screw will the nut cover for a abu or newer penn work? Bill
MO: That is a nice looking setup! You really made that reel your own, nice job!
Joe
Nice work Mo, it looks great - do you think the Revo handle and bent star would clear the bearing cap on a Mag 10? I'm thinking probably not - there isn't much room between the stock star and the bearing cap.
Mike
Quote from: mhc on June 01, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
Nice work Mo, it looks great - do you think the Revo handle and bent star would clear the bearing cap on a Mag 10? I'm thinking probably not - there isn't much room between the stock star and the bearing cap.
Mike
NO Mike...it will NOT clear the bearing cap! I've already tried this on the Mag 10 and it was a bust. What will work though...is a "straight" double paddled handle.
Thanks fellas for the screw lock ideas. Here's a link to a cheap handle that includes the screw and lock ring.(BTW Mike, this is a straight handle)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/130mm-smooth-handle-knob-fishing-bait-casting-fishing-crank/183189171081?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I'm thinking a guy could trim one of those ABU type locks to fit into a slot on the Penn screw, not sure it would actually hold the screw from backing out. To be 100% honest, there is no way this screw is backing out, it fits very tight to the carbon fiber handle blade. Anything I do with the locking setup will be mostly just for looks.
I want to thank Joe for letting us jabber about all this on his thread. I was going to post this handle thing on my own CC Squider post but it started here...and Joe asked to see the results...I just figured this was the place to keep it. 8)
Oops, sorry Joe I lost track of which thread we were on. Your set up looks great as well, it's set up a bit heavier than Mo's, with the custom acid wrapped rod and Alan C knob - the two sets show how versatile Tom's classic squidder kits are.
Mike
Quote from: mhc on June 01, 2018, 02:26:49 PM
Joe's set up looks great as well, it's set up a bit heavier than Mo's, with the custom acid wrapped rod and Alan C knob - the two sets show how versatile Tom's classic squidder kits are.
Yes sir...his set up rocks...I also had mine set up like that with the Alan C. knob and it was
tops for stripers or catfishing. This CC Squidder really is versatile. That's why I said I'll need another one, I hate to give up that killer catfishin' set up, but I wanted to try this lure casting set up too. Now the biggest problem I face is scraping up the dough for another kit...don't sell 'em all too soon Tom! 8)
Quote from: mhc on June 01, 2018, 02:26:49 PM
Oops, sorry Joe I lost track of which thread we were on. Your set up looks great as well, it's set up a bit heavier than Mo's, with the custom acid wrapped rod and Alan C knob - the two sets show how versatile Tom's classic squidder kits are.
Mike
I'm not offended by anyone for posting something that is about the same subject,as you have stated Mo and I have different setups for the same stile reel which people can view and learn about different stiles.
And yes I did ask Mo to show me how the 146 turned out and I love the look. I don't mean to get serious about posting, but if one closes his mind to others ideas then no one will get benefit. This site is all about learning about reels and possibility's that you can build.
Joe
Great looking handle it really makes the reel stand out , I wonder if three se7ens might make a run of the bent back stars if there is enough interest .
Quote from: mo65 on June 01, 2018, 12:45:14 PM
Quote from: mhc on June 01, 2018, 09:54:25 AM
Nice work Mo, it looks great - do you think the Revo handle and bent star would clear the bearing cap on a Mag 10? I'm thinking probably not - there isn't much room between the stock star and the bearing cap.
Mike
NO Mike...it will NOT clear the bearing cap! I've already tried this on the Mag 10 and it was a bust. What will work though...is a "straight" double paddled handle.
Thanks fellas for the screw lock ideas. Here's a link to a cheap handle that includes the screw and lock ring.(BTW Mike, this is a straight handle)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/130mm-smooth-handle-knob-fishing-bait-casting-fishing-crank/183189171081?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I'm thinking a guy could trim one of those ABU type locks to fit into a slot on the Penn screw, not sure it would actually hold the screw from backing out. To be 100% honest, there is no way this screw is backing out, it fits very tight to the carbon fiber handle blade. Anything I do with the locking setup will be mostly just for looks.
I want to thank Joe for letting us jabber about all this on his thread. I was going to post this handle thing on my own CC Squider post but it started here...and Joe asked to see the results...I just figured this was the place to keep it. 8)
Ive bought plenty of those handles from China. They have all different styles and sizes. A bunch of surf fishing guys use the longer handle on their Ambassaduer reels.
Those Squidders look very nice. Especially the narrow ones like shown.
Quote from: Reel 224 on June 01, 2018, 04:13:41 AM
MO: That is a nice looking setup! You really made that reel your own, nice job!
Joe
It really does look nice. Joe I like the handle you put on your rod shown earlier here... Jeff