Cortez Conversions JigMaster Magnum

[Crab Pot]

What colors Tom?

(Please say Orange will be one of them)

Can't wait to see pictures!

Steve

[vilters]

Great to hear, i'm in for one too, thanks!!!

[Rocket Dog]

I certainly don't need one, but I'll take a kit.

[Gfish]

Already have the Accurate version. Alota power in a smaller package.

[David Hall]

Its been a while waiting for these. I am definitely in for one. 

[alantani]

so, a buddy came by this morning to pick up a reel and asked a question.  what is my favorite star drag reel for yellowtail?  honestly, i really don't have one.  for open water, you can land a 25 pound yellowtail with 30 pound fluoro and 10 pounds of drag. i did that twice on the first cedros trip a couple of months ago.  around structure, it's different.  the traditional recommendation has been a minimum of 15 pounds of drag to keep them away from the rocks.  that means a 50 pound line class reel with a 30% drag setting of 15 pounds.  that also usually means a lever drag reel. 

for star drag reels, a general rule of thumb is that you can get a maximum of 5 pounds of drag for every drag washer that you have inside the main gear.  a good working load would be half.  so figure that a jigmaster will give you 15 pounds of drag when the star is vein popping tight.  that's enough drag to cause damage to the soft brass parts in the drive train.  figure a good working load for a jigmaster being 5-8 pounds.  but all of you knew this already. 

so now back to original question.  a good star drag reel for yellowtail?  it looks like we've got one!!!!

[steelfish]

for star drag reels, a general rule of thumb is that you can get a maximum of 5 pounds of drag for every drag washer that you have inside the main gear.

today is a good day to learn something new !

thanks Jefe for that rule of thumb, it matched 100% on my custom drag upgrade I installed on a ProGear 545 that Bryan Young sold me last march (similar to this new reel from Tom), I was able to fit 6 octagon cut drag washers on a Lee "Keta drag adapter", I could reach 28# and still room to tighten the star a bit more.
it makes sense with that rule of thumb.

that PG 545 its my new favorite reel because of the size and power but mostly because of the moho that came with it considering it belonged to Bryan.
 

[Crab Pot]

a general rule of thumb is

To keep your thumb off the spool!     

[alantani]

a general rule of thumb is

To keep your thumb off the spool!     

that, too!

[Cortez_Conversions]

Sorry for the tease and no follow thru....

I'm kind of in a quandary about how to sell these kits.

Because they are a hybrid between a JigMaster and the 113H Senator, that means you guys would technically need to have two donor reels to rob parts from.

I'm thinking that they will be sold as a true custom build to order kit/reel from my bench. The options would be a complete reel that would include loaded plates with eccentric lever, frame with clamp, spool and handle blank with either a grip from Alan Tani or one of my acrylic grips, or just loaded side plates with eccentric lever and spool.

I haven't run the final numbers yet, but I'm guessing the plate and spool kit will run about $250 and the full Monty around $350. And again, either option will have all internals assembled.

I'll get some pics up next week.

[Vintage Offshore Tackle]

Tom, are there any Jigmaster parts required aside from the eccentric and lever?

[Cortez_Conversions]

Tom, are there any Jigmaster parts required aside from the eccentric and lever?

Yes, the eccentric, eccentric jack, and eccentric spring. Not sure what else right off hand. I'll put together a full parts list if everyone decides they want the DIY option as well.

[ReelFishingProblems]

Tom,
I'd go down the DIY rabbit hole on this one.

Nick

[thorhammer]

Yeah.

[Cortez_Conversions]

Oh Yeah, the hybrid yoke.....