WTB 706 mods for a 704...;-)

Since I don't listen very well I had already purchased a 704z & after getting the heads up about the issues they have. I want to buy a cup,spool and a bailess setup for a 706. Any Help is greatly appreciated.

Hmm. I have a green 704 that I converted to a manual. I didnt change anything else and I havent had a problem with it in years.

You can buy a manual pickup for it for pretty cheap. J & M might even have them. That might be where I got mine, but I cant remember.

yep,,you don't listen very well, not going to find one here for sell. really doubt anybody has one here as a spare except maybe john and o'yea me.. ;D might find them from time to time on fleabay but the price will be close to a complete reel..get in touch with terry at j & m,,he may part with one but not cheap cause they are purdy.. or convert your 704 with a kit that is junk... the penn conversion kits were bad and the knock offs are really bad...

You'd be better off putting a manual on your 704 and be done with it. Like Steve said, by the time you pay for the parts you need to convert it you'd be better off just buying a 706.

And like I said,spend a couple hundred on a 706 and keep the 704 for parts.

Yeah I had already gotten it before we had our chat guys! ;-) I think a new 850with a manual will suit me fine...

An 850 with a manual is worthless,the reel must be a rotor cup style instead of a skirted spool in order to function properly.Sorry man.......The bottom line is this,either suck it up and buy a 706 for a couple hundred bucks or spend money trying to convert a reel and not be happy,then spend the money for the 706 you wanted in the first place and have several hundred invested in the end.I sell fishing tackle for a living and I've looked people in the eye a thousands of times and asked"do you want to buy once and be happy or do you want to buy twice because you weren't".

[quote author=john g link=topic=847.msg8034#msg8034 date=1333071742]
An 850 with a manual is worthless,the reel must be a rotor cup style instead of a skirted spool in order to function properly[/quote]
Why is that John? I don't see where a cupped rotor or skirted spool makes any difference. It really doesn't matter anyways the conversion kits for the Penn SS series isn't available anymore.

Well in that case I wil just stick with the bail systems I use now. I appreciate the heads up John.

I don't if know if it's the length of the reel or the length of the spool but every manual conversion I've tried on a large skirted spool reel was almost impossible to use unless you had 5 inch fingers.

That makes sense John. I've got fairly long fingers and can't stand having to reach on any reel larger than a 650SS. It also points to another reason why a 706 is superior to a 704, the larger spool and rotor cup along with the roller arm offset the way it is puts the roller with in reach of all but the shortest fingers.

[quote author=tater73 link=topic=847.msg8040#msg8040 date=1333081677]
Well in that case I wil just stick with the bail systems I use now. I appreciate the heads up John.
[/quote]
The problem with that is how the bail opens and closes on a 704. Though it is doable I will quote myself and tell you again, "there are modern alternatives that are just as adequate if not better" and in the case of a bailed 704 you can remove the words "just as adequate". I have stated before that it would be easier for you as it would be for any newb to go modern. Going after the old stuff isn't out of the realm of possibility either, but as I said before, it won't be cheap or easy. Also without a stockpile of spares and parts to fall back on, eventually using that stuff may come to end for you.

If you insist on going old school heed the advice of this tackle expert.
[quote author=john g link=topic=847.msg8014#msg8014 date=1333051199]
And like I said,spend a couple hundred on a 706 and keep the 704 for parts.
[/quote]

Now I've given you my opinion twice and referred you to some other advice that you've already gotten twice. I suggest that you ignore us both and do it your way and prove to yourself that we are telling you the truth. We are just trying to make the right choice the first time, be it modern or old school.

I use Shimano and some Newer Penn reels that have bails. I app your opinion but I think you have misunderstood from the start. Thanks John for always shooting it strait.....Love the new setup in the store!

Now I get it,YOU got your butt kicked by a girl last week and your thinking a 706 will help you out....Tell her congrats man,see y'all the next time ya make it down.

[size=12pt]Thanks John, that explains a lot![/size]
[img width=720 height=961]http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff68/sdbsmile/IMG_0262.jpg[/img]

A cheaper alternative is a mitchell 498,,fleabay usually has 1 or 2 at any given time. it is a skirted spool reel but very functionable as it is a factory pum..durable but a little heavier than a 706.. parts are scarce but treat it right and issues will be few.. i cut my teeth on a 498 when everybody but the nohope boys and #er thought 706's were ugly...back when 706's came out very few of the regulars even liked'em

Haha she defn can hold her own on the rock.... She'd have had the first limit of the year had We not gotten in a hurry to gaff her Gotyou King. I like the mechanical feel of the old reels.... I am just going to buy a 706 like John said haha.

a mitchell 498 is an old reel,been around as long as a 706

I know I'm a little behind, but I just read all y'alls posts, got a good laugh from it :)

And now I know what NOT to buy. Hopefully I can get a couple rods & reels of my own & get back down there soon. Any suggestions for a good beginner rod & reel?

Y'all don't forget a tricked out Mitchell 302 with a manual, crosswind, and upgraded drag can be bought and set up for under $100, and they are plenty tough with parts still very available and cheap. I myself prefer the 706's but if you are a bit tight on cash it is a good durable alternative. There are a lot of folks that really prefer these to the 706's.