Spincast Reels

[detroit1]

Why do i start to laugh when i look in a catalog and see prices of these reels? $80 for a Zebco? $65 for an Abumatic? $59 for a Daiwa? Are you kidding me? The Omega is packed with 7 bearings and a 19" retrieve. 19"! The Abu has blazing speed at 22" per crank. Just curious as to why someone would even buy one. Is there a niche market for these that i am missing? Please tell me why you fish with one. Just curious....

[Marty]

I don't see anything odd about the prices. Like just about everything else, there are cheaper and more expensive versions.

When I started fishing I used a spincast and that was my equipment for the first 10 years. I enjoyed using it, but realized after that time it was time to move on.

[Fishes in trees]

I have a few mid-range priced spin cast reels. I don't use them very often, but they do have a place in my fishing tactics.

For instance, you've got a bud who hasn't fished very much ever, and a spin cast rig is easier to use than spinning gear, and you can throw 14 lb test into some pretty gnarly places. Spin cast reels make great borrowers reels, you have to work at it to mess them up.

Another instance, say you want to skip underneath docks all day long and never have a backlash, you can do that with a spin cast rig. Inches per turn isn't much of a factor because you aren't throwing all that far. Another instance, you can put a spin cast reel with 17 or so lb test on a decent pitching rod and a rookie can pitch with it.

I'm not saying that I use spin cast reels all that often, but I've got a few and they fit into a niche in my overall fising tactics.

[Darren.]

There's definitely a stigma placed on them as "simpleton" or "beginner" reels, so when you see a pricey model you (generic "you") look on in wonder at how good it could be.

My kids and I have caught some nice bass, cats, crappie, pickerel on the Abu 276U (under spin caster). My kids have pretty much graduated from these onto Shimano spinning reels, but they're great (as stated) for loaner reels.

There are plenty of fishermen who've been using these for decades who see no need to use more complicated gear. Kudos to them. Heck, periodically I'll use fiberglass or graphite long poles w/o reels! Talk about fun fishing. Sometimes I need to just let go of all the complication and return to the very basics of fishing. Just to clear the head.

For some, an $80 Zebco is just the ticket. Just my .02.

[tugsandpulls]

i have 2 the kids use and they do ok on them no muss no fuss and they bring in some decent fish

[Stasher1]

Why do i start to laugh when i look in a catalog and see prices of these reels? $80 for a Zebco? $65 for an Abumatic? $59 for a Daiwa? Are you kidding me? The Omega is packed with 7 bearings and a 19" retrieve. 19"! The Abu has blazing speed at 22" per crank. Just curious as to why someone would even buy one. Is there a niche market for these that i am missing? Please tell me why you fish with one. Just curious....

Laugh all you want, but the Omega is actually a pretty nice reel. Extremely heavy but smooth, reliable, casts well, and has a decent drag. I have a Z03 on my hiking/backpack rod, and it has taken some decent catfish.

[B@ssCrzy]

My son is 4 yrs. old and uses it. It has caught some nice fish for him. He will probably use spincast till he is 7 or 8 and then graduate to spinning reel. I like the thought of using it for skipping under docks. Great idea.

[Hyrule Bass]

i have a couple spincast reels. one of them is my "lucky reel" that i caught most of my PBs of different species on. the drag is weak but the reel is otherwise strong and made of metal not plastic. its an older model of the Shakespeare Tiger Spincast combo from Wal-Mart. i wouldnt touch the cheaper plastic models of that reel now. but the one i got has held up pretty well, at one time it was so in tune i could cast a tiny rebel crickhopper a country mile with 20lb mono. now i use 15lb on it and it still casts pretty well.

[J Francho]

I bet some saltwater guys laugh at wimpy bass gear. It's all relative.

[detroit1]

I can understand starting kids on one, and maybe having one for a non-fishing friend, but my shock was over the pricing. Does the design not allow for faster line pick-up, or is it something they just refuse to upgrade over the last 60 or so years? J- i'm not calling them whimpy...

[Stasher1]

I don't understand why you're so hung up on their retrieve rate.

Contrary to what you see on TV, it's not always necessary to horse the fish back to the boat (or bank) as quickly as possible. My current primary baitcaster (Cardiff 100A) has a retrieve rate of 24", and I haven't found it to be a problem with any technique or lure.

[Bigbarge50]

I see no reason to laugh. Woo Davies was using one for worm fishing in the 90's. MIght still use em now. I agree readily about skipping and other underhand casts. Also now everyone is all about gear rations... need super fast for this, slower for this..... why wouldn't the slow ratio of a spincaster be something that could have a place too?

I have an old johnson century that casts weightless plastics like a dream, handles spiderwire no problem, and has reeled in a 8lb bass (on a certified scale). Not too many laughs when you haul one of those our of the reeds in florida with a spincast. Now that reel has metal gears and a real drag (a star one just like a baitcasters, not a dial in the front) so might be like a lot of spincasters.... but certainly has earned respect from me.

How is flipping a bail on a spinning rod so much more of a skill then pushing a button? Never understood how spinning reels have the perception of involving so much more skill then a spincaster.

[craww]

Barge---Woo is the man. He one quite a few tourneys with those reels. If you think about it, spooling one up with some stout line and pitching with them makes sense. No pendulum effect. I'd love to see a spincast with some of the higher end features if a premium baitcaster mitigated down. Probably will never happen though, wrong demographic...

[smalljaw67]

I see no reason to laugh. Woo Davies was using one for worm fishing in the 90's. MIght still use em now. I agree readily about skipping and other underhand casts. Also now everyone is all about gear rations... need super fast for this, slower for this..... why wouldn't the slow ratio of a spincaster be something that could have a place too?

I have an old johnson century that casts weightless plastics like a dream, handles spiderwire no problem, and has reeled in a 8lb bass (on a certified scale). Not too many laughs when you haul one of those our of the reeds in florida with a spincast. Now that reel has metal gears and a real drag (a star one just like a baitcasters, not a dial in the front) so might be like a lot of spincasters.... but certainly has earned respect from me.

How is flipping a bail on a spinning rod so much more of a skill then pushing a button? Never understood how spinning reels have the perception of involving so much more skill then a spincaster.

I was going to mention the same thing. Woo Daves used his for deep worm fishing in cover, he said when you put a bullet sinker on without being pegged it would cause line twist so he didn't use spinning and because he needed the bait to fall straight down without coming away from the cover he couldn't use a casting reel as he couldn't pull line off quick enough to keep the bait near the cover so he used a good spin cast and he used it for a long time. He had one in his boat when he won the classic but he didn't use it as he was fishing tubes using a spinning outfit.

[NebraskaBasser]

My feeling... it's like using any fishing equipment, technique, etc. for the conditions. I fish mostly farm ponds from a float tube. Most of the time, the ponds are VERY heavily weeded - moss, duckweed, etc. Between the "small" water, fishing from a tube, and the cover, I rarely make long casts.

Try casting a weightless tube 20-30 yards - INTO A BREEZE - with a baitcaster spooled with 15lb or heavier line. It just doesn't work (as well). Oh, don't get me wrong, I still have my baitcasters with me... for the longer casts and/or with heavier lures (i.e. frogs). My point is... to use the "tool" that works best for the conditions I'm in.

As for the pricing... yeah, it's just like everything else. It's what you can afford (want) to pay for what works for "you". There are those that would scoff at the baitcasters I use - Pinnacle Solene and Inertia Finesse reels. They have 7 and 9 bearings respectively and either are less than $50 (on eBay)... Are they the BEST reels out there? No, I'm sure not. But is a $250 reel really 5x better...? Yeah, for some... or maybe the angler that's lucky enough to get out multiple times per week, then the cost may be justified.

BUT FOR ME, fishing simple and on a budget, I make do with what I can. BTW, the Zebco Omega is one heck of a (spincast) reel - VERY smooth and reliable, 3 pickup pins, etc. It's certainly NOT the type of spincast reels that I grew up with. And if you ever want to try a good reel without the Omega's price tag, try the Zebco 33 Platinum (5-bearings). It's a really fine spincast reel for $30-35.

Tight lines...

[Dennis324]

Glad to see some luv for the Zebcos!  I love em too!  I just bought a brand spanking new Zebco Omega Pro Z03 and am looking fwd to using it this week.  I grew up using Zebcos.  I also have a Shakespeare spinning reel, but I dont like it as much. 

 

The reason i love the Zebco is because it is very user-friendly.  I hadnt fished in 30 years and just this season the fishing bug bit me again.  I'm out of practice and there is a ton of new technology I'm having to learn.  Anyway I thought I'd buy a new spinning reel and try it out on my little pond.  I fished all day but spent at least 2 hours trying to untangle the mess that Shakespeare made.  Over and over it would get tangled.  I'm sure it was because I didnt know what I was doing.

 

But I gave up.  No fun at all.  I would much rather spend my time fishing blissfully without all the hassles that the spinning reel gave me.  If you like em, more power to ya.  But for me, I just love the Zebco. I just bought a new Zebco z03 pro online (paid $64 for it) and I dont care if some call it a toy.  I like em.  My great uncle was the best fishrman I have ever seen (in life or on tv) and he used spincast Zebcos all his life.  They worked fine for him and they work great for me.

 

Now....'lets go fishing'. 

[HeavyDluxe]

I may be wrong, but I think the fish is mostly unaware of the reel until it's hooked.  Once it is hooked, it's mainly ticked about something pulling at its mouth when it just wants to eat.

 

 

Admittedly, though, the bass is super embarrassed when he's landed and finds that the angler was using a spincasting reel.  Loses all weed cred with his buddies and stuff...

[roadwarrior]

Third post, just trying to get a rise? Okay, I'll bite.

 

My buddy Speedy Madewell is a guide on the Tennessee River, 

We carry Zebco Omegas for three reasons: The perfect reel for

people that don't fish; excellent performance for catching bait; 

nearly indestructible. 

 

On the other hand, spinning tackle is for children and people

that don't fish. If you plan to take up the sport of "bass fishing"

you will need to learn how to fish spinning gear and/or baitcasting

tackle.

 

 

[OkeechobeeAngler]

Not true. My friend/mentor Hank Morely who taught me about bass when I was a youngin used Zebco's due to his arthritis and won bass tournaments up and down the coast of Fl. 

 

Third post, just trying to get a rise? Okay, I'll bite.

 

My buddy Speedy Madewell is a guide on the Tennessee River, 

We carry Zebco Omegas for three reasons: The perfect reel for

people that don't fish; excellent performance for catching bait; 

nearly indestructible. 

 

On the other hand, spinning tackle is for children and people

that don't fish. If you plan to take up the sport of "bass fishing"

you will need to learn how to fish spinning gear and/or baitcasting

tackle.

 

 

[BobP]

I have a buddy who dotes on the old Abu underspins.  The ones that you bump a ring in front of the spool and it releases the line to your finger.  There's no reel that will make more underhand casts faster and my buddy can clean your clock in getting baits to shallow fish faster than you can with regular spinning or baitcasting gear.

[Bluebasser86]

My FIL has 2 Omegas that I helped him pick out because he wanted a couple nicer reels to fish with. The Omegas are a pretty impressive reel, cast very well and built very solidly. I've fished with them a time or two and yes they were a little slow and my accuracy was terrible with them but they cast a mile and I still was able to catch fish on them. My mom uses a Daiwa Goldcast when she fishes, she landed a 14 and 17 pound channel cat out of a pond with it so it must not be that bad. 

[HeavyDluxe]

RW can defend himself, but I think his point was that a serious bass fisher is probably going to want to diversify his equipment in order to maximize success.  So, in the same way that some of you have 4 spinning setups and 10 baitcasting setups, someone who is really wanting to grow in this support will probably want more than a spincaster.

 

I think that's a fair statement, though clearly someone can be successful without all the varied equipment (s)he could have at their disposal.  After all, you have to know how to find the fish before you can catch them....

[Loop_Dad]

I bought Daiwa Silver Cast last year, so that my daughter can use my old casting rod...

 

Bad Idea! Don't buy this reel. It was nothing but the trouble. My daugher's plastic zebco which came with 3" rod worked better than this.

[Bigbarge50]

I was right with RW till the end when her said they are for people who don't fish, and I almost never disagree with RW.  

 

As we discussed Woo Davies used a spincaster for certain situations and he certainly seemed to do a lot fishing.  

 

I agree completely that using lots of equipment is a key and to me is a ton of fun.  I own about 12 baitcasters (Diawa, Quantum, Shimano, BPS), 4 spinning (Shimano, Quantum, BPS), and 3 spincasters (Diawa, Lews, and Johnson).  I love just about all of em and think they all have their time and place and all do not make every trip, but when they do, I enjoy fishing them.  

[Dyerbassman]

Third post, just trying to get a rise? Okay, I'll bite.

 

My buddy Speedy Madewell is a guide on the Tennessee River, 

We carry Zebco Omegas for three reasons: The perfect reel for

people that don't fish; excellent performance for catching bait; 

nearly indestructible. 

 

On the other hand, spinning tackle is for children and people

that don't fish. If you plan to take up the sport of "bass fishing"

you will need to learn how to fish spinning gear and/or baitcasting

tackle.

Everytime spincasters come up, RW says the same thing...for children or people that dont fish. Stop being so ignorant. My neighbor is a 20 year army vet now in his 60's and has probably caught more fish on a spincast reel than RW and me combined. I recently purchased the new BPS Extreme Spincast reel, and its great! I regularly use spinning reels, but this reel will have a spot in my arsenal. It casts like a dream! I say, if you like spincast reels, then use em. Don't let so called experts tell you otherwise. The fish don't know the difference!