Hello Crazy Alberto,
Hope your winter is going well. I agree with you on the Newells. Have the 235 and 229 they are excellent casting reels, although noisy. As the commercial goes "they are the most corrosion resistant reels". It seems that you have to grease (white lithium) the spool axle otherwise those no-lub bearings (1997 on)will seize right on the shaft. I was using 3 in 1 red can on the spool axle (pinion). The grease doesn't seem to effect the cast much at all.
This past fall watched a fellow skish/ wade with a Penn 965 International, I wonder if the reel survived the punishment?
Why abuse a somewhat pricey reel like that?
My idea involves a Penn 155L or 209M with the levelwind removed, basically the same reel. The drags are the same as the Penn 500 Jigmaster, which are also the same set up as the Newells. Plain, inexpensive reels with %$%$%$%$ings instead of bearing s that are going to seize. If you rip one Penn down they are all basically the same design. I'll keep you posted on the results of my experiment. Hopefully I'll have something good to pass along.
Probably see you at a sweetwater spot.
Good Luck,
Steve
