Bailess 704

[beaver]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to convert an old 704 to bail less. I've never done this before, and have never used a bail less reel before so I figured I'd spend the $7 to convert a 704 before getting a VS. Oh yeah and I'm a poor college kid. Any tips, guidance, or direction will help.

Thanks,
Beaver

[FontaineRods]

you'll be happy once you do this and get use to it. never again will you lose lures to the bail snapping over and the line breaking. the Penn 704 bail-less conversion kit is pretty self-explanatory. save your old bail. the only thing you may need to do occasionally is oil the roller as they can get salt under them and stiffen up, but that's just like any 704 roller.

as for getting used to it, take your time one afternoon or morning while casting with it. you want your spool all the way up and out of the rotor cup when you cast. the roller should be towards you. pull the line off the roller, and cast away. when the lure is about to hit the water, start reeling and catch the line coming off. you pull the line towards you and the roller catches it. before you know it, it'll be second nature.

[beaver]

Thanks for the info Seawolf. Any idea where I can get the kit?

[scottw]

Beaver, I did what you are thinking about this spring, you will like the transition, the kits are a bit more that 7 bucks I think, the last I checked they were a little hard to come by and there were 2 on Ebay for upwards of 30 bucks, when you transition to a "modern" bailess.... VS, Shimano or Zee it will be another new experience in fishing enjoyment....can't beat the 704 though, had mine forever, it was a war horse and I miss it but I'm much happier now....check pennparts.com and search ebay for the kit.......

[scottw]

this was on another site

the last one I saw on ebay sold for $37.87 and that seemed a bit high to me
for what it was.

'course I don't have the kit, so

search around because the prices on these can really vary, I'll try to find the reciept from the guys that I bought mine from

I think it may have been Scott's tackle, I think they're in NJ

[scottw]

Beaver..one more thing that someone was kind enough to send me...


Penn reels & braid

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hi scottw,

The old Penn greenies/PennZ & the Penn SS reels DON'T work well with the super braids like PowerPro, Stren Super braid or whatever. Fireline IS the only option IMHO.

Line rollers on those older reels have plastic sleever underneath or nothing at all and they do not roll with the super line hence they can wear or ever worse damage your line.

Another thing to consider is those reels were made for stiff monofilament. New braids are too soft and will not lay on the spool right: shallow on the ends, reverse cone or higher in the middle. What happens there is you will get line loops coming out aka wind knots (that is what I call them when you have THREE lines coming off the spool and in the dark it is your worse night mare).

Fireline 14 is the line I would use on the Penn 710. It breaks much higher than that (over 20 lbs). Larger Penn like the 704/706 or 6500 SS and bigger the 20 lb Fireline (breaks over 30 lbs) is fine OR u can use the rope like 30 lb"


just a little more info that might save you some money when deciding on line and save some frustration from choosing the wrong one...

[beaver]

Thanks Scott. I have been looking around and haven't had much luck. If I do this will it seem like a down grade as I am used to using Stradics, Diawa SS, and Bocas from the boat? The two 704s I have are probably 30 years old and my father used them when he was my age. I know they are work horses but is this feasible even if they haven't been used in close to 20 years? I will probably convert it regardless but I'd like the input.

[beaver]

Wow check out the times on those posts. I have heard that the 704s aren't great with braid but lucky for me I'm still a mono guy. I figured something like 20lb back country or trilene big game would work well. Ya I know I'm living in the past with this mono stuff.

[scottw]

call or email the guys at Scott's...they have a website where you can get their contact # and will at least be able to tell you if they're readily available or if they've become extinct...if you are a college kid on a college kid's budget check out the Spheros 14 with the conversion kit...p.s ...those 704's are so sought after on Ebay you could probably list them as is and get a nice chunk toward a new reel


hope Chris doesn't get mad....forgot that SWE is carrying Penn's now....maybe Chris can check with the manufacturer?

[basswipe]

There is now a bailess kit for the 5000-8000 SpherosFB.Same with the Saragosa.

I will be purchasing an 8000 w/kit in the offseason.

PS. If your out there babe.....BDay/Xmas present....