Blackfish Special

[Surfrat]

Hi. I am trying to build a good/useable condition Penn Surfmaster 250 with Jigmaster 501 or jigmaster parts for "Blackfish Special". This is going to be my poor man's Jigmaster/Surfmaster for Blackfish.

I am not mechanical inclined or good with painting so don't expect to see a master piece but I want to make my 1st Franken reel out of Penn parts.

I have an ugly Surfmaster 250 that needs many parts. I am waiting for new drags and a new dog to arrive. I am looking for 501 or parts to assemble the skeleton to attach the 250. Stay tune... 

[RowdyW]

It looks like the pinion gear is worn out so you will need that with a matching main gear. Need to replace the gear sleeve too. It might be better to search for a decent used 500 or 501.    Rudy

[Wompus Cat]

I would slap some good Grease on the gears ,put some drags in it and put back together  and Fish IT  .    Dog looks good to me .

[Swami805]

Great idea, is the spool shaft of a 501 compatible with 250 guts?  I have some Newell bases and bars but the spool might be tricky

[Surfrat]

Yes, the Surfmaster 250 uses the same 29L-500 or 29L-501 spool on the Jigmaster 500 or 501. I am going to use a Jigmaster 501 frame, 501/506 posts, and a 29L-501 spool to make a Surfmaster 250N. The shiny curve on the dog shows it is worned out. The left or tail ring has a crack on where it goes with the frame post. My 250 has a 13-99 pinion(still good), steel 5-60 main gear, 11-99 eccentric jack, and 13-99 pinion yoke. Some of these original parts are not on the schematic I downloaded.

I got the idea from a few members here who all use a Tiburon frame on their 250. I love how Keta, Bryan Y, and Shark hunter, and Mo65 did theirs but I am going to try.

I plan to add 4 ht100 drags, a 24-66 green handle, SS gear sleeve(can't find), and double dogs .

Blackfish season has opened but will close at the end of April here. 

[Wompus Cat]

The shiny curve on the dog shows it is worned out. The left or tail ring has a crack on where it goes with the frame post. My 250 has a 13-99 pinion(still good), steel 5-60 main gear, 11-99 eccentric jack, and 13-99 pinion yoke. Some of these original parts are not on the schematic I downloaded.

The Shiny spot is from the Bottom Washer Rubbing on it over the years . Maybe the screw which the dog fits over was loose for some time and allowed the thing to wobble in there a bit letting it Rub more than normal . Cheap part to replace but the  Shine won't affect performance unless the Shine wears off the Tip or Point that actually engages the A/R/Gear in which your Lever looks Fine . I don't think the Jigmaster spools are the same shaft diameters as the 250  Since the 250 has bushings and the 501 is a Bearing model but I may have the Jiggy's and the Squibbers  mixed up here  I dunno much bout Penns . Will learn a lot from  watching your Build........
More Power to you in your Build ..Looking forward to the End Result.    

[Gfish]

Yeah, should be an interesting project.

The 506 HS Jig master is a ball bearing model and has different(longer) spool shafts and a 5:1 main gear(smaller teeth). The 501 will be a bushing model. Also the side plates for the 501 vs the 506 will be different.

How deep do you fish for Blackfish?

[Surfrat]

I have been bottom fishing for about a week catching Blackfish (Tautog). The fish are sometimes big from 3 to 15 pound and mix with other fish so the reel needs to be strong because I have to horse them out of the rock piles or else I get stuck onto rocks or snags. So far it has worked great fishing with my other gear but I want to teach my boys and myself on building a Franken 250N "Blackfish Special" reel. 8)I am blackfishing in less than 200ft but I have to hold the rod and reel and change spool quick for I am fishing in snag territory. Jigmasters are great but non of mine have a steel gear, all bronze main gear.

[PacRat]

There's nothing wrong with a bronze main gear. Fish those Jigmasters and worry about the gears when and if they wear out. The Jigmasters have a larger drag also. Don't hesitate to use them.
-Mike

[Maxed Out]

 Like Mike said....nothing wrong with bronze main gear. The bronze is stronger than many types of steel

[Surfrat]

I only got Jigmaster 500 with bronze main gear. I read some members mentioned molybdenum steel main gear in their old Penns. I never saw in person or own one that is not bronze until now. I have caught very large fish on my jigmasters.

My new dog came and I assembled the handle side for now until I find a 501 frame. I tried a 13-500 pinion instead of the 13-99 pinion with the 5-60 main gear but the 500 pinion didnot grabbed enough. I will use the 250 handle side with my Jigmaster 500 left tail plate for Blackfish today. 

Here are pictures of the worned and new 15-60 dog comparison, 4 drags(three 4-60 and one 4-155), and a used 24-66 handle.

[bluefish69]

Check the Yoke it looks like it's wearing where the Pinion goes. This happens a lot on the Newells. You might want to try a SS Yoke.

Mike

[Surfrat]

Thank you guys for your suggestions and comments. Does anyone have parts to build or a 501 frame that you dont use? I can't find any affordable but I will pay for shipping also but can you give me a LOW price?

I want to complete this build. Thanks. 

[Swami805]

I have Penn bars and a base for a 501 I can send you.   Not new but decent shape. Send me your address

[Surfrat]

The 250 handle sideplate was giving me some problem when I swapped it to another jigmaster 500 frame. The other jigmaster handle side ring does not allow me to lock the 250 sideplate's one screw. Of the 3 jigmasters, only one fits. 

My 250 worked great on a nice whitechin blackfish when I hooked it and it tried to head into the snags. I though I hooked the bottom when I pulled then I felt a bull run...