Hi guys,
I've been a lurker for awhile and read a lot of great info here that has helped me on several of my reels. Thank you all!
I'm posting now about a reel that I just bought on ebay. It's a Penn Mag Power 990. According to what I've read here, these are great old school reels that will work well for throwing 8nbait in the surf for sharks and rays. I've been fishing mostly spinners but wanted to step into the conventional world and I thought that magged reel would make the transition easier. I also happen to be a huge fan of Penn products also. Based on what I read here I got a great deal on this thing, but now that I have it in hand it looks like it could use a little TLC. The main thing I noticed is a crack in the left side plate. I'd read about this here, but could not see it in the pictures online. Does anyone have a spare they'd be willing to part with? My plan is to tear it down, clean and re-lube it, fix/replace the side plate, and catch fish with it :D
I've pm'd Bryan about the drag set up. Is there anything else I need to do while it's apart?
Thanks!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/7175329B-A714-42BC-8C6B-B65E7530EBAE_zpsufcvvi9o.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/7175329B-A714-42BC-8C6B-B65E7530EBAE_zpsufcvvi9o.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/6068AE20-BAB9-4185-A01F-BAB15FB2F7AA_zpsupkhjtgm.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/6068AE20-BAB9-4185-A01F-BAB15FB2F7AA_zpsupkhjtgm.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/xjchad/AB675363-2FA8-4E0B-939C-2ECA99F9AD18_zpsztkoyzjp.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/xjchad/media/AB675363-2FA8-4E0B-939C-2ECA99F9AD18_zpsztkoyzjp.jpg.html)
xjchad, check your messages.
Sal
Sal, the Magpower Magician, yet again :)
Quote from: thorhammer on June 28, 2017, 08:41:23 PM
Sal, the Magpower Magician, yet again :)
No magician John, I just showed Chad where to get one. :)
Thank you much Sal! :D
I'd be talking to whomever sold it to me.
Agreed Randy, especially if its the one that was advertised in near mint condition!
...............Lou
I did see the one that said "near mint". It this is a different one.
In all fairness the seller did say "as found".
Oh well, thanks to Sal I found a new side plate for a few bucks to replace it.
Thanks for the help guys. Got it all rebuilt finally and hope to fish it soon!
Does anyone know of any cool star or handle upgrades?
(http://i.imgur.com/JkxzCyI.jpg)
i think you have the best looking handle right there!
It needs one of your knobs Alan!
Those are great reels but if you're going to fish it, you have to try one.
Which knob would that be?
Private message Alan, or do a search of the site. They are at an angle that gives you more torque, with less strain on your wrist. They are available in two sizes. I have them on 5 different reels.
Edit: with photoshop screwing with all the photos I could not find a post with a pic for you.
no, i would leave it the way it is. classic look!
Quote from: alantani on August 16, 2017, 07:22:52 PM
no, i would leave it the way it is. classic look!
I think I will Alan, thanks!
IMHO, a 113H power handle works better for retrieving.
YMMV.
you could always add a different handle and save the original, I did. I also added a stock drag star from a 113H, it's larger.
I agree with the two gentlemen above, that tiny barrel knob doesn't do it when retrieving under pressure.
Good idea to keep the original, as vilters mentioned.
Sal
Apologies in advance if I am hijacking here...
Sal, do you know of any unpublished interchangeability between the main gear of the 990 (5-990) and another reel?
Joe, Sal may have experimented with the 5-990 and know of something, but I haven't found any thing as far as cross reference.
I know you probably checked too.
Do you have something you want to try it on?
Quote from: Rancanfish on August 23, 2017, 02:14:34 PM
Joe, Sal may have experimented with the 5-990 and know of something, but I haven't found any thing as far as cross reference.
I know you probably checked too.
Do you have something you want to try it on?
Thanks. I don't have a 990 or any of its parts, but gear sleeve is shared with the 349. Likewise, the 980 has a gear sleeve in common with the 113H. I saw a 990 main gear and pinion for sale and wondered if it could be used in some other reel, to get a higher gear ratio (4.7:1 in a 990).
I'm no reel pro, just a techie with an imagination ;D
Well after fishing it A few more times, I decided that although I love the classic look of the original handle, I really wanted something with more power and comfort.
Here's what I decided to try next.
(https://i.imgur.com/zkBgjJw.jpg)
That's more like it. The original is nice, but just too small for that reel.
Sal
Two questions about the 990:
1) Will it hold enough braid for deep dropping up to 1000 feet? Scott's, correction "Mystic," lists the capacity as 325 yds/30lb mono. Might it hold 500+ yds of 65lb braid?
2) Any word yet on a 5-stack drag for this reel?
I'm totally inexperienced in deep-dropping but would like to get outfitted. Probably 990 could also work for smaller tuna, Any experience with this? I'm East Coast.
Quote from: Decker on July 12, 2018, 07:18:13 PM
Two questions about the 990:
1) Will it hold enough braid for deep dropping up to 1000 feet? Scott's, correction "Mystic," lists the capacity as 325 yds/30lb mono. Might it hold 500+ yds of 65lb braid?
2) Any word yet on a 5-stack drag for this reel?
I'm totally inexperienced in deep-dropping but would like to get outfitted. Probably 990 could also work for smaller tuna, Any experience with this? I'm East Coast.
1) I'm pretty sure the 990 will hold at least 500 yards of 65 lb. braid.
2) I sent Bryan a gear and metal drag washers awhile back, but he's been super busy so I'm not sure if he's gotten to it yet.
3) I'm inexperienced with deep drop fishing as well, but I think there's probably other reels that are better suited for the job. I do love those Mag Powers though ;D
990 will hold about 500yds 20 mono, which would be close to 500 of 80lb braid (depending on the brand). I think a 4/0 would give you more retrieve with more power due to spool size and you the other bits for it. Remember even you have a drag kit and a power handle you still have brass sleeve and gears, which aren't all that common to replace.
Quote from: thorhammer on July 13, 2018, 02:27:38 AM
990 will hold about 500yds 20 mono, which would be close to 500 of 80lb braid (depending on the brand). I think a 4/0 would give you more retrieve with more power due to spool size and you the other bits for it. Remember even you have a drag kit and a power handle you still have brass sleeve and gears, which aren't all that common to replace.
Thanks, John. That is encouraging. If I'm not mistaken, the SS sleeve for the 113H will work on the 990; stock is the 98-349 sleeve. Some 990s came with SS gears -- pretty sure mine has them. Spool diameter is definitely smaller than a 4/0, but the 990 retrieve ratio is listed as 4.7:1.
My impression of deep-dropping for tilefish (and other species) is that fighting the fish is less the problem than hoisting up weight from very deep. When I go out, I'll probably bring both a 4/0 YTS and the 990. Other than that, I'm not sure what I would use a 990 for... not surf fishing when a 980/970 will do, and I don't troll. Maybe deep-dropping is a good niche for this reel -- maybe not.
Lemme know how the sleeve works. I'm building one too :)
Quote from: thorhammer on July 13, 2018, 05:18:56 PM
Lemme know how the sleeve works. I'm building one too :)
I'm a dreamer; you're a doer ;D I never have time to do the things I dream up.
ha.....I have been in the "do" phase on that reel for over a year...but close, very close....
A good candidate for that would be that 6/0 narrow Randy made. Would hold a ton of line and good drag numbers. The small spool of the 990 with over 2/3 of the line gone would be tough due to IPT being greatly decreased. If there's any drift and scope in the line the spool diameter would get pretty small. I would think tall and narrow would be better for IPT and deep drop fishing
Quote from: Swami805 on July 13, 2018, 08:10:29 PM
A good candidate for that would be that 6/0 narrow Randy made. Would hold a ton of line and good drag numbers. The small spool of the 990 with over 2/3 of the line gone would be tough due to IPT being greatly decreased. If there's any drift and scope in the line the spool diameter would get pretty small. I would think tall and narrow would be better for IPT and deep drop fishing
Thanks, Sheridan. I don't know how to get inches-per-turn without the reel in hand, but a standard 6/0 has a listed gear ratio of 2.8:1 which is 60% of the 990 ratio 4.7:1. The high-speed SS sets go to 3.25:1, which doesn't seem like much of a difference.
I hear you about the line capacity, drift, etc. Maybe the 990 would be good for a depth of say, 500 ft. I'm determined to find a good use for that reel. I'll try measuring IPT on the bare spool, and then spool it up with 65lb braid.
I see by the numerous posts that these reels are becoming more popular. I used them in the 80's for king mackeral trolling. With 25lb mono I would catch a few Red Snapper too.
They were a rich mans reel ;D
Back in the old days we'd fish rock cod 800-1000' with a 9/0 and dacron and a 5 pound window shash weight for a sinker. 6-10 hooks and let it soak until it felt full. You could get a lot of 50lb dacron on a 9/0. Then grind it up to the surface. The limit was 15 then so you'd try to be done in 3 or 4 drops. The low gear was a plus in the 9/0,lose things would be heavy for the 1st couple hundred feet,then the air bladders would expand and almost float the sinker up. I don't know if what you fish for have air bladders,sharks and true cod don't but these weren't real cod. Wish we had spectra then. I was thinking a low gear would be easier to crank and that narrow 6/0 should hold a ton of 65lb braid. We use 30-40lb leaders in case you got hung up you could break it without tipping the boat over.
We can't fishing deeper than 360' for bottom fish here anymore so that kind of gear went the way of the doo-doo.
Just thinking of something with a tall spool and low gear for fishing that deep might be helpful.
Very cool, Sheridan. Nothing's speaks like experience. I used to have a pile
If sash weights but haven't seen any in a while. I need to put the rock cod handle you gave me to work. I think tilefish have swim bladders.
Quote from: xjchad on August 16, 2017, 02:22:57 AM
Thanks for the help guys. Got it all rebuilt finally and hope to fish it soon!
Does anyone know of any cool star or handle upgrades?
(http://i.imgur.com/JkxzCyI.jpg)
Nice reel. I have 980 model and can find how to upgrade Mag system. I like one from PMR.
Thanks Riy2018,
I sell adjustable mag kits and customized one of my kits to upgrade the mag on my 970.
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxVg5H8Q/IMG_20180328_151727124.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYKwKcTX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJm0kh9t/IMG_20180328_151746884.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgrjQ0qv)
It makes a pretty big difference and it's really nice being able to make a quick adjustment without having to find a dime or something to turn the magnet.
Quote from: xjchad on November 06, 2018, 10:36:34 PM
Thanks Riy2018,
I sell adjustable mag kits and customized one of my kits to upgrade the mag on my 970.
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxVg5H8Q/IMG_20180328_151727124.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYKwKcTX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJm0kh9t/IMG_20180328_151746884.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgrjQ0qv)
It makes a pretty big difference and it's really nice being able to make a quick adjustment without having to find a dime or something to turn the magnet.
These are a good upgrade! I was asked to test thosem prior to production and was impressed.
Keep up your great work Chad.
Sal
Quote from: Alto Mare on November 06, 2018, 11:21:20 PM
Quote from: xjchad on November 06, 2018, 10:36:34 PM
Thanks Riy2018,
I sell adjustable mag kits and customized one of my kits to upgrade the mag on my 970.
(https://i.postimg.cc/HxVg5H8Q/IMG_20180328_151727124.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/LYKwKcTX)
(https://i.postimg.cc/XJm0kh9t/IMG_20180328_151746884.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vgrjQ0qv)
It makes a pretty big difference and it's really nice being able to make a quick adjustment without having to find a dime or something to turn the magnet.
These are a good upgrade! I was asked to test thosem prior to production and was impressed.
Keep up your great work Chad.
Sal
Thank you Sal!