Penn 500 Conversion

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by PescadorPete

That guy probably has $200 in upgrades in a $60 reel. If you really want a narrow 501, the Penn kit is $65.

Or better yet $200 in parts in a reel that sold on ebay for $100.

The tib-lite handle alone is forty bucks.

I mean if you want to go the nostalgic route it's OK but for the buck your better off buying a narrow Saltist 30T, if your fishing spectra. You'll be amazed at the torque and power of that reel.

I grew up using Penns and bought my first jigmaster in 1974, that said they are way behind these newer reels in performance even when upgraded. I still fish Penn 525mags for casting Iron, Penn slammers for spinning, and internationals offshore, but in that size of conventional reel you can't beat the saltists.

Jim