What, exactly, is a Penn "99"?

[Shark Hunter]

I'm pretty sure Andy wants to build a 99 width Jigmaster.
If he really wants an Aluminum framed 99.
George shows us how its done here.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=12312.0

[steelhead_killer]

Yes a 99 sized Jigmaster.  I don't have the tool setup here now to pull off drilling a few holes in a Tib frame.  Sounds like a project that I would have to do twice, because the first one would look like swiss cheese.

[PacRat]

Andy, You can do this with all the off-the-shelf custom parts that you listed. You would only need to drill if you were going to build an old-school Silver Beach 99 on a Tib Frame with Silver Beach side-plates. If you want to build a 99 size Jigmaster with Tom's plates and Tib frame you are good to go.

Here's a brief history of the 99 size reels which will either clarify it or completely confuse you:

Penn made a 99 model also known as a Silver Beach. Width wise it is between a 500 and a 501 also the spool diameter is the same. The left sideplate has an inner & outer ring on it and the reel also has a 1-screw take apart just like the Jigmasters. The other major difference is the main and pinion gears in a Penn 99 Silver Beach are the same as a Surfmaster with a 3:1 gear ratio. Most of the "99's" that you see today are converted 500's or 501's with either 4:1 or 5:1 gears in them, same basic reel as a Newell 332 size wise.

In southern California during the 60's and 70's, the Jigmaster 99 conversion was a favorite among the old Japanese guys that fished the day boats out of southern California.  They would pull a side plate off a Jigmaster and slap it on a 99 frame and spool.  It made a great 25 to 30 pound reel. Straight 30 pound mono was the line of choice in those days, and the 501 just didn't hold enough, while the 500 held more than was needed for albies. The 500's, drag was much better, and of course faster gears too.

The late, great Jerry Morris is credited with coining the term "Albacore Special" after mating Jigmaster 500 sideplates with a Penn 99 Silver Beach spool and frame circa 1966.

The first commercial use of the name 'Albacore Special' was a Newell kit. Carl Newell (a good friend of Jerry's) made bars, base and spool and called it a Model #99 Albacore Special.  This kit fit Penn Jigmasters to make the 99 size which is between the full 500 and the 501 sizes. On a Penn 99 Silver Beach sideplate the bar screw holes are set too wide apart (center to center) for Newell 300 Series or Jigmaster bars, but Newell 145 (Squidder) bars will fit them. Also, the base on Penn 99's have three screw holes, not two like all the other normal Penn reels of that size.

The 99 width is the size of a Newell 332 (2 1/8"), which is a very desirable size in the 300 series. Carl Also made the Newell 338 (2 7/16") which is the identical width of a Penn 500, and 322 (1 5/8") which is the same width as a Penn 501. A 99 Albacore Special is Penn 500 Jigmaster converted with Newell kit, or any of many other companies and machinist that have made frames for these fine reels.

These are amazing reels, especially when you look at the timeframe that Penn and Newell started making them. At the time these were considered the absolute best reels made.

[steelhead_killer]

Got it!  Thanks PacRat that was great!  Im clear now!  Going to build a 99 with Tom's plates and a Tib frame and spool.  The only thing I am considering now is to go with 5:1 or 4:1 gears. 

[swill88]

Thanks PacRat! 

Great info,

Steve

[MarkT]

I have heard PacRat's story about the creation of the 99 sized Jigmaster from someone who worked for Jerry at that time at the Tackle Box in Hermosa Beach. The 501 is narrow, the 500 wide and the 99 square with a spool as wide as the plates are tall.  Other '99' sized reels are Penn 99/545GS/225LD, Newell 332, PG 545/550/625/2500, Shimano TOR/TRN20, TLD15, Daiwa SLX-40/SA40/STT40/SLT40, Boss 870, Avet JX, SST-7530 are all about the same size/capacity.  This list is old and there are newer reels that fall into this category as well.  It's been a popular size for decades! I have a 99 Jigmaster, 545GS, PG 545, Tor 20, Saltiga 40, Avet JX 6/3.  They're all about the same size and fall into the 99 category.  Just like the Newell 200-series (220/229/235) are based on the 3 sizes of Squidders (146/145/140) only with 5:1 gears and Jigmaster sized drags, the 300-series (322/332/338) are based on the 3 sizes of Jigmasters (501/99/500) only with bearings and 5:1 gears.

[steelhead_killer]

I have heard PacRat's story about the creation of the 99 sized Jigmaster from someone who worked for Jerry at that time at the Tackle Box in Hermosa Beach. The 501 is narrow, the 500 wide and the 99 square with a spool as wide as the plates are tall.  Other '99' sized reels are Penn 99/545GS/225LD, Newell 332, PG 545/550/625/2500, Shimano TOR/TRN20, TLD15, Daiwa SLX-40/SA40/STT40/SLT40, Boss 870, Avet JX, SST-7530 are all about the same size/capacity.  This list is old and there are newer reels that fall into this category as well.  It's been a popular size for decades! I have a 99 Jigmaster, 545GS, PG 545, Tor 20, Saltiga 40, Avet JX 6/3.  They're all about the same size and fall into the 99 category.  Just like the Newell 200-series (220/229/235) are based on the 3 sizes of Squidders (146/145/140) only with 5:1 gears and Jigmaster sized drags, the 300-series (322/332/338) are based on the 3 sizes of Jigmasters (501/99/500) only with bearings and 5:1 gears.

Thanks MarkT for adding this gear info that helps!  So that is one reason the Newell 200 series was.is so popular, faster and better drags in a small light package!  Got it!  I am learning!  Only 20 more years and I should be ups to speed! lol

[Keta]

Do we need more confusion here.....yup.

I could not find a 99 to fish with so I built a 3:1 one out of a Surfmaster 250.

[DaBigOno]

Do we need more confusion here.....yup.

   

I could not find a 99 to fish with so I built a 3:1 one out of a Surfmaster 250.

Wow!  I have seen or heard of that one before

[Maxed Out]

   ......adding yet more confusion


   There is another "99" size reel that can be made with stock penn parts. A 99 size small senator can easily be made using a 2/0 or 3/0 senator. Add a 99 seat and 65 spool and posts and you have a 99 size senator.  

[RowdyW]

AND if you want it with an aluminum spool, just use a 190 Seaboy spool.    RUDY

[DaBigOno]

  ......adding yet more confusion
   There is another "99" size reel that can be made with stock penn parts. A 99 size small senator can easily be made using a 2/0 or 3/0 senator. Add a 99 seat and 65 spool and posts and you have a 99 size senator.  

we need more pics of this reel please 

[Maxed Out]

Sure thing, here are 2 of the 99 size senators. The 99 seat is the key to the build. Rest of parts are readily available and fairly inexpexnsive.

[speedwagon2]

steelhead_killer,
  The difference in the 4:1 and the 5:1 gears with a Jigmaster size(diameter) spool is less then 10". I have multiple "99" and standard Jigmaster sized reels.  My Newell's started out at 5:1.  My Cortez Conversion is 4:1.  I changed one of my Newell's to 3.6:1 last year.  It has a little more grunt when a heavy fish is on it.  The 5:1 and 4:1 fish about the same.  All of these reels are used mostly for live bait fishing open water.  Not much structure to worry about a bigger fish getting into the rocks.  If jigging, I would want the 5:1 gears.
  Speedwagon2

[Maxed Out]

 Mike, that is some great detailed info, with some interesting local history tossed in. Pricesless !!

  Ted