Ohio Flathead Cat fisherman seeks advice on a Penn Project reel

[thorhammer]

You might look at the Penn GS 555HS.....graphite frame, alum spool, Gear ratio can be changed via gear sets form 4.25, 5.3 or 6 to 1,  plenty of capacity 600/20 and a reported 17 lbs drag with the Versa Drag system.....about the same width as a 500 JM and a tad smaller in diameter......it's kind of a sleeper and not commonly found......Bill

Bill, after I wrote about the Jiggy, because we wants a project, my 545 / 555 came to mind as well....they will flat out sling and already have carbon fiber versa drags and double dawgs in them. They were my daily king mackerel reels and are tournament ready out of the box. And no cat ever out ran a king.

[Chillydigits]

According to tracking my "project" Jigmaster will be arriving in Mount Vernon Ohio this Friday...

[thorhammer]

good call. look at it this way...if you don't like it someone else here will take it off your hands

[Benni3]

This is going to be fun 

[Chillydigits]

My new to me Jigmaster 500 arrived today, seems mechanically sound, no signs of corrosion, I will be ordering a tiburon frame.. stainless gear set.. narrow spool.. and a drag upgrade.. I can't seem to figure out how to post a picture of it. I will say it appears to have been cleaned and not regreased.

Never one to look before I leap, I picked up a Surfmaster 250 as well... It is very clean cosmetically, however it sounds like it has gear issues... It will stay in the box until I have my Jigmaster up and running..

Now I need to get some grease, oil, and anything else you would suggest to get started

[Chillydigits]

Ok let me try to post a picture..

[RowdyW]

Photo posted OK. The reel looks great. Good Luck with it.         Rudy

[mo65]

Nice Jiggy!

[Keta]

You have a nice one to start with, got photos of the 250?

[Chillydigits]

Here is my surf master

[mo65]

   That's a nice reel too. Pop the side plate off and see what type of main gear you have...it might be a nice steel gear.

[Keta]

Both look like they are in good shape externally and not having to replace parts with rash will save you some $.

[Benni3]

Nice gear I double dog dare ya

[Bill B]

Chilly, great pair of reels....good as is and only better with your planned upgrades.  You might check the thread on tools and lubricants, but I would be placing and order with
Mystic Reel Parts for the following: Cal's Drag grease for the drags, ReelX for the bearings, Penn Oil, and Penn Blue grease for corrosion protection and everything else.  The smallest sizes last me for months as I do not rebuild more than 2 reels a month.  And if it's in the budget one of Alan Tani's Penn wrench.  Don't forget to order carbon fiber drags and extra dog springs, as the springs tend to become UFO's when least expected.  

Bill

"Edited as per Moderators to correct Scott's Bait & Tackle over to their new store name Mystic Reel Parts / www.mysticparts.com"

[thorhammer]

Note your night steel spool will fit 250