PENN 500 Jigmaster Questions

[rdk]

Right! So, I decided to get back into fishing again after many-many years (we used to fish mainly in St Lucia, Natal and Namibia) and was lucky enough to get my grubby paws on this beauty.
A few questions for all the PENN 500 users out there:

1. [align=left]What year is this PENN? It looks like a 1980's model Jigmaster (Note the thumbscrew on the left hand side). Apparently not many of them came out with this specific setup. Can anyone with more knowledge give me more info?[/align][/*]

1. Where can I buy service parts? Last time I used a PENN reel, parts were still freely available, but im not sure where to get service parts anymore.[/*]
2. Can anyone recommend any modifications? Can I do anything to increase the crank speed? Can I perhaps fit a stainless gear sleeve (the part where the handle attaches to)?[/*]
3. Compatibility with newer models? Is the Jigmaster compatible with newer model parts (in case no2 is a dead-end)?[/*]
4. Recommended line (how many Kg)? We always fitted 11kg. Suggestions? Also, what about braid? - I am not familiar with it at all.[/*]

Looking forward to hear from ya'll!

 

[rdk]

A pic of the other side...

 

[willem wikkel spies]

Welcome to Sealine!!!

eisch.

Noah used this reel to fish from the ark!!!

technology has moved on in leaps and bounds.

this one has the steel spool which is quite heavy and not much thumbing area.

you did get the 500 l which was a aluminum spool.

the problem is 3x fold

spares can become a problem if needed.

the gear ratio of 1:4 is very slow.
modding it, if possible might be a waste of money.

so fishing in a rocky area one cannot get the sinker and hook up in the water column to prevent getting stuck.

the drag system is very small and they do become jerky, so it might up ending in a lost fish.

it might be better in using it as a show piece.

i did fish with them in years past.
but upgraded to other reels.

the daiwa grand waves i had popped 4x spool due to braid.
so grand waves do not like tight braid.

the new BG range should be good.
i do not know of anyone popping spools on them while using braid.

the older shimano toriums was nice.
the new Hagane range should also work well.

both of the above reels do have a cranking speed of 1:6 or there about.

the thing is, to weigh up current costs of new reels to the amount of fishing trips in a year.


also consider, that reels keep on changing and new models are on the market every odd year.
so looking for spare parts can become problematic.

currently i need 3x Shimano Torium shafts, in order to do the bearing upgrades.
but Shimano South Africa do not have stock.

coming back to braid, well we only use it as backing on multipliers.
casting braid on multipliers is done, but not by many anglers.

 

[Dr halibut hoffman]

Modern multipliers are such a pleasure, I'd just get a newer one. Also the grinder revolution has made good second hand ones very cheap these days.
For a tight budget the adrenalin xmaster pro is a GREAT little, or depending on size large, reel..Can't beat it.Just grease the insides up properly where it needs to be before use as cheaper chinese stainless can rust if exposed and grease the carbon drag as can be sticky out the box..Otherwise for the price nothing can really compare, except secondhand grandwaves, SL's, saltists and BG's that come on the market from time to time..
Wierd for grinders I'd say look at shimano and no further, but their multis seem to have corrosion issues I dont get on my reels..reel seat galvanic corrosion and frame corrosion etc..but they are a pleasure to fish with no doubt and the best gears in the business.
You might find that penn is valuable to a collector for display?

 

[Limpopoking]

Welcome RDK

Really not wanting to douse your flames of enthusiasm but the old jigmaster was great in it's day but no longer. However, I've found a great way to repurpose mine. I use it for respooling my other reels under appropriate tension. I have a length of 22mm dowel with reel seats either end and I do a loose load of line onto the reel I am spooling, then wind it onto the old jigmaster, tighten up the drag and then wind under tension from the jigmaster onto my reel. At least my pensioner reel still has a purpose in life

 

[Chukudeer]

You lot make me feel old......I still fish with my old Pen 500 and an old one piece 14ft rod....been doing so for many years and have caught my fair share of fish.
42 pound mono line t(((up((

Tried the newer reels but my old educated thumb just does not want to work with them....

 

[Tackle-holic]

A bit of history can be nice though.
I wanted one of these when I was 13, only took me 33 years to get one.

 

[Tackle-holic]

Side view

 

[Arniston]

Well we all see things differently and to live in relative peace we must respect our differences.

Thank you for posting a few pics of the old classic reels. I too have a 500 Jigmaster but not in pristine condition as yours. And only with bakelite spools.

Caught many a good fish on it. I also had a Penn 49 which I caught yellowtail at at Rooikranz and Rooi Els in the Seventies.

It's like modern cars can go faster with acceleration but old Daimlers, Mercedes Benz etc had class.

Sadly the class age is dying...we need the traditionists...without them we become sterile.

 

[Thorne]

Greetings
I still use my Penn 500 Jigmaster/ Penn 505HS and Penn Mag Power990 for Shad and small ed's. I like them as I can service them myself. I use them on my old 1 piece rods. They can still rough it.
I have gone modern as well with a Diawa AG 6000 , Penn Affinity 8000 (coffee grinders), Torium 50. But these are only used for large ed's and non ed's.