For those interested in replacing those tiny trophy handles for $3 each you can buy shimano paddles and put them on your reel without modifying the reel at all. You do need to make a small modification to the $3 plastic handle so it might be smart to buy an extra or two.
You can take stock shimano paddle handles and swap them to your trophy without modification but what happens is the screw bottoms out on the plastic handle and the handle won't spin when you reel. Try it before you drill and you'll see what I mean.
The solution is to slightly drill out the shimano handle so the screw does not bottom out on the plastic instead it tightens on the reel post. BUT don't go too deep or the handle slides back and forth on the post. It's a very small margin between a handle that won't spin, one that spins free and stays tight on the reel, and one that spins but slides in and out. I don't have measurements at this time but perhaps ill post pics and try to measure later. I bought two handles one I drilled too deep its garbage now but for $3 who cares. The other one works great. I've actually gotten them pre drilled from my faveorite tackle store. I won't say who because it might not be something they do all the time but it might be worth asking a good tackle shop who sells trophy's if they have shimano paddles and if they could pre drill it for you.
Apparently you need a flat head drill bit not one that comes to a point for best results.
Remember you don't need to make the hole any wider just a bit deeper.
You can take stock shimano paddle handles and swap them to your trophy without modification but what happens is the screw bottoms out on the plastic handle and the handle won't spin when you reel. Try it before you drill and you'll see what I mean.
The solution is to slightly drill out the shimano handle so the screw does not bottom out on the plastic instead it tightens on the reel post. BUT don't go too deep or the handle slides back and forth on the post. It's a very small margin between a handle that won't spin, one that spins free and stays tight on the reel, and one that spins but slides in and out. I don't have measurements at this time but perhaps ill post pics and try to measure later. I bought two handles one I drilled too deep its garbage now but for $3 who cares. The other one works great. I've actually gotten them pre drilled from my faveorite tackle store. I won't say who because it might not be something they do all the time but it might be worth asking a good tackle shop who sells trophy's if they have shimano paddles and if they could pre drill it for you.
Apparently you need a flat head drill bit not one that comes to a point for best results.
Remember you don't need to make the hole any wider just a bit deeper.
