Pro Gear 454-6

[sabaman1]

PG 454 is a great dropper loop and yoyo reel for yellows. Pro gear handle goes great on Squidders, monofils and 100 surfmasters. Big change from the original tiny handles and knobs.

[Bill B]

Knobs are always personal preference. I've switched to full size knobs due to my semi crippled reeling hand. For pump and reel type of fishing, size of knob doesn't seem to matter much, but function should always be more important than form

Im a big fan of these style handles, especiallywhen pulling on big fish.  Way more leverage to pull fish sideways during the fight. 

The Penn VISX handles aren't bad, but i like the bigger handles from Alan.  The handles Ted sent are perfect.  Now need to choose between the foam and hard plastic. Bill

[Keta]

Bill's posts prompted me to dig out the Pro Gear 440 I have used to check the static water levels in wells and I am planning on fishing it this year.  I really should have been using something like a Penn 60 for this.

[jtwill98]

Pro Gear 440 I have used to check the static water levels in wells

That's an interesting use of a reel.   

[JasonGotaProblem]

Pro Gear 440 I have used to check the static water levels in wells

That's an interesting use of a reel.   

Meh, I have an Abu admiral that I use for raising and lowering my window shades.

    

[Bill B]

My son uses a True Temper 622 when flying kites.  I gave him the butt section of a broken rod to mount it on. 

[jtwill98]

My son uses a True Temper 622 when flying kites.

I thought we all did that in our youth.  It was alway fun to see how high the kite would fly, but it was limited in height by the weight of the line.   Sorry to hijack the real intent of this thread.

[Keta]

Spectra kite line gives you much more distance.

[thorhammer]

Not to worry guys, a box arrived today, courtesy of Ted (Maxed Out),  with 2 custom grips 😱, 1 shift lever, 1 ultra rare SS star, and enough albacore tuna to last the year,  if I don't hide it from the wife, maybe a week 🤣.  She already scarfed 1 while I was typing.   John (Brewcrafter) gave me an Alan Tani 8 tooth SS gear sleeve and traded a 5 stack drag stack for a Bryan Young 7 stack.

Lee (Keta) has a SS dog enroute to complete this build.

This Pro Gear is turning into a community project, reminiscent of the Nep-Tuna 349HC build many years ago.

The Ohana spirit is awesome.  I will post pictures of the build shortly.  Bill

Perfect.

[steelfish]

Not to worry guys, a box arrived today, courtesy of Ted (Maxed Out),  with 2 custom grips 😱, 1 shift lever, 1 ultra rare SS star, and enough albacore tuna to last the year,  if I don't hide it from the wife, maybe a week 🤣.  She already scarfed 1 while I was typing.   John (Brewcrafter) gave me an Alan Tani 8 tooth SS gear sleeve and traded a 5 stack drag stack for a Bryan Young 7 stack.

Lee (Keta) has a SS dog enroute to complete this build.

This Pro Gear is turning into a community project, reminiscent of the Nep-Tuna 349HC build many years ago.

The Ohana spirit is awesome.  I will post pictures of the build shortly.  Bill

thats how it rolls in the tani ohana group.
those grips looks pretty good and you will have a pretty unique drag star 

     about the wife "stealing" Ted's albacore.   

[thorhammer]

Another interesting question is what kind of reel will you build out around the PG Star, handle and sleeve...

[Bill B]

Another interesting question is what kind of reel will you build out around the PG Star, handle and sleeve...

The handle went to Lee and the star will most likely end up on the YTS I recently finished.  1 of Ted's handles will probably end up on the YTS too. 

[Bill B]

The PG is finished, thank you to all.  Handle, star, and shift lever from Ted.  He told me the SS star is 1 of very few ever made.  The polish is outstanding and really looks great as a contrasting finish.  John (Brewcrafter) and I were really surprised how light it was, could easily be confused with aluminum. Speaking of John he donated an 8 tooth stainless steel gear sleeve and traded a 5 stack drag set for a Bryan Young 7 stack.  It took a little (really a lot) of persuasion to get the sleeve on the post.  With .0004" of an inch clearance it was TIGHT, but with some TSI and 5 minutes of turning it is smooth and has no play whatsoever. Lee (Keta), after an expedition I to his shop, found a stash of unobtanium SS dogs along with some other Old But Gold parts.  I was somewhat concerned about the main gear, it appears to be brass, but after checking it with a magnet I'm guessing brass plated stainless steel.  It attracts the magnet but not like steel would.  After a liberal application of TSI 321, Penn Blue Grease, and Cal's Drag Grease this reel is ready for just about anything. The Pro Gear now joins my family of 113H class reels, 113HLW, 113H, Pro Gear 454, 113N Baja Special, and 113 Yellowtail Special.  Just need to visit my favorite Bay Area line shop for some 65# solid braid and a 50# mono topshot.

P.S. Ted the wife and her friends are putting a big hurt on the Jalapeño Albacore 🍻

[Keta]

JB Line One is just a text away Bill.

[Bill B]

JB Line One is just a text away Bill.

I appreciate the offer Lee.  I wish I had a line winder so I could spool it.