Here is a thread for everyone to post up Cortez Conversions builds. I'll start by posting some Thorhammer bling for inspiration. Please post up your Cortez reels here for all to see
-Ted-
Here you go Ted. Thank you Tom!
Wow Randy, never get tired of seeing that fully converted 20/0. It's a beast and a piece of modern art !!
I have a few full Conversions, but most are in storage bins at the moment. Here is a Cortez jigmaster 500.
Nice..... Randy whats that little green gem you have there?
Quote from: Rocket Dog on March 22, 2023, 04:41:00 AMNice..... Randy whats that little green gem you have there?
That's a 146 Jose. It's in the photo for a size comparison. The red reel is a 9/0.
Here's my contribution to the thread
Love that little green reel Randy! Ted those blue ones are ice hot!
Thank you Chris. Those two of yours are my favorites. It took brass bells to roll the dice with your engraver, but they came out spectacular.
Port to starboard Jigmasters; 501(Tiburon frame), 99, and a 500. Kind of a lousy picture, but I had to edit out the hand-made stickers, I put in various places. Working reels and I like to keep track of the line and leaders.
Here's my squidders. One with the CC 146 in cobalt, an XN frame from Randy with black plates and a silver 146 with Ted's silver base
Some sexy stuff there, folks! Great idea, Ted. I'll see if I can get a few out. I counted the builds with Maxed Out and CC stuff on them the other day and it was in the dozens.
Here's my contribution to the thread:
I'm heading down to Baja for some much needed R&R and needed something new.....
Edit: Here's the build list:
Cortez Conversions:
Orange JigMaster Plate Kit
Orange 99 width Base, clamp, and cross bars
3.5" Handle Arm
3/0 size acrylic grip, Tye Dye color
Stainless steel gear sleeve
Ultimate Upgrades:
5 stack drag kit
Penn:
stock gear set and internals
Tiburon:
99 width spool
Whoa Tom!!!!!!! 😮
Orange crushed it! Love the arm.
Beautiful!
you're cheating, on a Cortez conversion bling thread, Mr. Cortez Conversion himself is not allowed to participate !! >:( >:(
Quote from: Cortez_Conversions on March 23, 2023, 03:26:23 PMHere's my contribution to the thread:
I'm heading down to Baja for some much needed R&R and needed something new.....
Edit: Here's the build list:
Cortez Conversions:
Orange JigMaster Plate Kit
Orange 99 width Base, clamp, and cross bars
3.5" Handle Arm
3/0 size acrylic grip, Tye Dye color
Stainless steel gear sleeve
Ultimate Upgrades:
5 stack drag kit
Penn:
stock gear set and internals
Tiburon:
99 width spool
oof course Im joking, AWESOME reel you build there Tom, just amazing
That Orange really pops on many levels nice reel!!
Ok Tom, I have to chime in here and ask when will those colored spacer bars be available to us regular folks ?? I'll take couple sets of each color and width (501,99,500). Please send me an invoice
Hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable trip. :fish
WOW Tom!!! 8) 8) 8)
Orange is my favorite color, and that is my new favorite reel!! Just beautiful!
You just took it to a whole new level!
Quote from: Maxed Out on March 23, 2023, 08:07:42 PMOk Tom, I have to chime in here and ask when will those colored spacer bars be available to us regular folks ?? I'll take couple sets of each color and width (501,99,500). Please send me an invoice
Hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable trip. :fish
I didn't drop in to hijack your thread with a sales pitch Ted!
Of all the really cool stuff Keith passed on to me, this one's probably my favorite. Some of you may recognize some of these components.
Like that color blue. The arm and star are from motive fab,the knob looks like striper Lou's work
Quote from: Swami805 on March 24, 2023, 02:55:44 AMLike that color blue. The arm and star are from motive fab,the knob looks like striper Lou's work
I'm told the knob was from Sal. But all I have to go on is what Keith told me. 99 jigmaster
Yeah Sal made a few, I'm sure Kieth is correct, wasn't much he didn't make
The CC reels I've built don't have a lot of bling...but they were built for catfishing...which can be tough on bling. The blue 146 is mine, and the silver one is my brother's reel. They both have steel mains and 5-stack drag kits. The green extra narrow Jiggy has CC plates...and it has all the goodies under the hood. 8)
Quote from: xjchad on March 23, 2023, 08:41:41 PMWOW Tom!!! 8) 8) 8)
Orange is my favorite color, and that is my new favorite reel!! Just beautiful!
You just took it to a whole new level!
I agree 100%! I now need an orange 16/0 in my life!
Quote from: 1badf350 on March 24, 2023, 01:33:54 PMI agree 100%! I now need an orange 16/0 in my life!
That would be out of this world!
Tom, any chance the Squidder kits will be available in orange?
I'd love to build one of your customs, but the larger ones are too big for fishing up here in north Idaho. A sqidder would be great though!!
Wow Mo that green and silver really pops.
Quote from: xjchad on March 24, 2023, 02:49:58 PMTom, any chance the Squidder kits will be available in orange?
I'd love to build one of your customs, but the larger ones are too big for fishing up here in north Idaho.
Chad!!!!
You just need to head more NORTH in North Idaho to Bonner's Ferry - about 1 1/2 hours north of you & fish the Kootenai River for White Sturgeon!!! And for that a Penn 113H all blinged out would work great.
And this summer, when things warm up a bit, take your kids to Silverwood Theme park just north of Corbin Junction - a huge amusement park your children will love.
A mile north of Silverwood is the town of Athol, ID. When last there, I texted Dominick and Gary to say "I'm in Athol today, and thinking well of them >:D "
And on your way to Bonner's Ferry, check Sandpoint on the north coast of Lake Pend Oreille. Plenty of ice cream shops for your kids to stop and enjoy.
LOTS of big fish fishing in your area, just need to look for them.
Good luck,
Wayne
Quote from: El Pescador on March 24, 2023, 05:52:39 PMChad!!!!
You just need to head more NORTH in North Idaho to Bonner's Ferry - about 1 1/2 hours north of you & fish the Kootenai River for White Sturgeon!!! And for that a Penn 113H all blinged out would work great.
And this summer, when things warm up a bit, take your kids to Silverwood Theme park just north of Corbin Junction - a huge amusement park your children will love.
A mile north of Silverwood is the town of Athol, ID. When last there, I texted Dominick and Gary to say "I'm in Athol today, and thinking well of them >:D "
And on your way to Bonner's Ferry, check Sandpoint on the north coast of Lake Pend Oreille. Plenty of ice cream shops for your kids to stop and enjoy.
LOTS of big fish fishing in your area, just need to look for them.
Good luck,
Wayne
Wayne!!!
I haven't been up to the Kootenai river yet, but I do plan on targeting sturgeon one of these days!
All the other places you've mentioned we have been to and thoroughly enjoyed!
I know there are some big fish around. In fact, the state record for pike was just broken this week. But it's hard to call any of these fish big after landing 8 foot + sevengills on the beach.
(https://i.imgur.com/FNOQTAjl.jpg?1)
I do plan on going after pike and sturgeon eventually. Hopefully this spring/summer!
Any tips and tricks would be greatly appreciated! :D
Tops on my list of Tom's products is the side-plate/frame kit's. Here's the 99 Jiggy I already posted, featuring my 2nd favorite C.C. Product; the finger adjustable tail-plate bearing cup. More of these, please, Tom!
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on March 24, 2023, 01:07:45 AMOf all the really cool stuff Keith passed on to me, this one's probably my favorite. Some of you may recognize some of these components.
That is a serious piece of fishing art right there, and to top it off it's blue!
Ooooohh man and that handle, just gorgeous!
Very, very nice my friend!
I can only hope and wish, to one day have, anything close to some of these absolutely beautiful reels, just absolutely beautiful!
I thought I saw some nice reels, until I joined the community here, wow!!!
EA
EA
Thanks to everyone for posting a few of their Cortez gems. Also special shout out to Randy Pauly for all the unique Tiburon goodies he has blessed us with.
I probably have a dozen or more with Tom & Randy's custom components. Here are a couple I dug out from storage. My albacore killing black beast 99 jigmaster, and the silver bullet 113h yts.
Stay thirsty my friends !!
Thanks for starting this post Ted, and for all of your creations. Your shift levers, bases, bars, handles and everything else have added a whole dimension to our Penn reel collections.
Thanks especially for all of your support and generosity over the years.
....and my private stash of Tom & Randy Candy....
The paper under your reels looks like something I've done with index cards. Keeping track of upgrade details, especially those done internally. After so many reels, I lose track...
Exactly right Gfish.
You nailed it G
They are hangtags from a local office supply. You can see the string on every reel. That way the info stays with each reel.
Standard width 113h with 4/1 gear set, steel sleeve,yoke,jack and dd bridge
Nice batch of reels there Ted !!!! Is that what you catch that DELICIOUS Albacore with ?? Dam that stuff is good ! Thanks Ted ! John Taylor
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on March 24, 2023, 03:47:08 AMQuote from: Swami805 on March 24, 2023, 02:55:44 AMLike that color blue. The arm and star are from motive fab,the knob looks like striper Lou's work
I'm told the knob was from Sal. But all I have to go on is what Keith told me. 99 jigmaster
That's a Sal knob.
i'm a big fan of Tom's and Ted's products. 4/0 and narrow 500 compliments of Ted, thanks!!! 3/0 XN from Keith, and am embarrassed to say i did not know he was ill, wishing the best for you Keith.
That's some nice work vilters. Black and burgundy looking mean. :d
Darn where is the like button?
Or do you just have to comment on everything you like lol!
You guys with the blue beauties are literally driving me nuts!
Some really beautiful reels here!
I have several but my all time favorite is this 4/0 YTS courtesy of Ted. His kits use the inner ring that add a little flash, great looking reel. This one the color changes slightly in different light. Thanks to Ted and Tom for making these happen
Ahh yes Sheridan, the pewter is a very unique color. It changes color according to the lighting. In low light it's pitch black. I made 4 of those kits and somehow I ended up selling all 4. I spent several hours polishing each part before anodizing and had all those parts anodized together so they'd all match perfectly. Tom allowed me to buy raw sideplates, and Randy hooked me up with Raw spools from Tiburon. 16 reels total and 5 different colors, 4 of which were pewter.
Thanks for posting, it brings back good memories
Got me a set like that too... just need the time to put it all together. Looking forward to it cause that is smoking ,Sheridan!
Gotta send Ted some pics to post here this Saturday.
Best,
Dom
It's nice to see the variety of Cortez customs. Most the inspiration for these builds came from one man, and thanks to him we are living the dream !!