Spincast Reels

[Jeff H]

I know one guy who wouldn't use anything else for skippin' docks.  He kept 2 spincast rigs in his boat, if ya saw one on the deck you knew for sure what he'd been doing.

 

Like every other kid, I started with them, used them until I was about 11 yrs old I think?  Don't miss them at all.

[dave]

When I bought my latest boat from another guide,  he unloaded a ton of old tackle on me along with it.  About twelve or more spincasting reels of various brands and qualities. (some quite nice)  At local fishing flea markets in two winters,  I have sold all but three.  Not one to an inexperienced angler or a kid,  all to guys that use them for a specific purpose.

 

One guy last weekend said the he uses them to "sling shot" baits into small openings.  He pulls some line out about a third the length of his rod,  holds in the button,  points his rod at the target,  pulls the bait toward him and "shoots" the bait into the spot by releasing the button.

 

He claimed he could hit a dinner plate at 35 feet.

[new2BC4bass]

I know one guy who wouldn't use anything else for skippin' docks.  He kept 2 spincast rigs in his boat, if ya saw one on the deck you knew for sure what he'd been doing.

 

Like every other kid, I started with them, used them until I was about 11 yrs old I think?  Don't miss them at all.

 

Not every kid.  Cane pole when five.  Next year a Mitchell 300 that was with me way past 11 years old.    Looking back my Dad probably went without cigarettes for a while in order to pay for it.

[Thornback]

Although I use bait casters loaded with #40 braided and fish with wild shiners, I keep a Zebco 33 spin caster loaded with #10 fluoro in my boat. I use it when I want to throw a light weight lure (which is rare). Years ago I started with the Zebco spin caster and have caught a ton of bass with them. At least they are easy to use, easy to clean and lube. The only advice I give -- try different rods and reels -- then go with what you like best that produces.

[BobP]

I went fishing with a buddy who used an old Abu 507 spincast reel to cast to bedding smallmouths.  I used a modern spinning reel.  He fired 3 casts to my one throughout the day and waxed my butt.  The old Abu worked just fine.  What's not to like?

[bigbill]

We were poor and the affordable zebco kept me fishing. Zebco reel $5?

I never forget my roots.

[Jeff H]

We were poor and the affordable zebco kept me fishing. Zebco reel $5?

I never forget my roots.

I don't think anybody forgets their roots, but most of us don't get tangled up in them either.

[scaleface]

Even though I used  baitcasters, for years i did not use spinning reels. Instead I used Johnson Centuries , upside down on spinning rods  with the spool retrieve switch reversed. Its the only reel I know of that would do this. 

[Ecatman1]

Hey how are you guys I have to pipe in and let you know that I am that guy that uses nothing but spincast reels I get them at the Goodwill and I refurb them and I enjoy fishing with them I'm also that guy that doesn't have a boat so I'm hiking to shorelines in tight cover and it's nice Pole to use in that situation and yes they're simple but I've caught some 5 + Pounders that would make you smile and yes summer cheap summer high quality my favorite happens to be the prostaff 20/20. But I've caught 5 + Pounders believe it or not on a cheap Zebco 404. They have 15 pound test line and I can drag these bad boys through the weeds and these rods and reels of held up like I said I'm not a snob I do acknowledge the other reels more advanced but I enjoy fishing with these rods that I grew up with and that I maintain and repair and fix I guess I'm the stalled but I can catch any fish anybody else can and I have pictures to prove it.

[TylerT123]

44 minutes ago, Ecatman1 said:

Hey how are you guys I have to pipe in and let you know that I am that guy that uses nothing but spincast reels I get them at the Goodwill and I refurb them and I enjoy fishing with them I'm also that guy that doesn't have a boat so I'm hiking to shorelines in tight cover and it's nice Pole to use in that situation and yes they're simple but I've caught some 5 + Pounders that would make you smile and yes summer cheap summer high quality my favorite happens to be the prostaff 20/20. But I've caught 5 + Pounders believe it or not on a cheap Zebco 404. They have 15 pound test line and I can drag these bad boys through the weeds and these rods and reels of held up like I said I'm not a snob I do acknowledge the other reels more advanced but I enjoy fishing with these rods that I grew up with and that I maintain and repair and fix I guess I'm the stalled but I can catch any fish anybody else can and I have pictures to prove it.

Have you ever fished a spinning or baitcaster?

[Fishinthefish]

I'm one of those elitist pain in the ***** mentioned above repetitively. Sold all of my manufactured rods and reels, I'm planning on rebuilding everything custom through Mike at DVT, cheapest reel I own now is a Chonarch MGL etc etc. I'm an elitist because, well I have no valid reason I just love the quality rods and reels in my hands. Don't let anyone keep you down from using what you want to. At the end of the day, no one really knows what they're doing while fishing. That's why it's not called catching.

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, Ecatman1 said:

Hey how are you guys I have to pipe in and let you know that I am that guy that uses nothing but spincast reels I get them at the Goodwill and I refurb them and I enjoy fishing with them I'm also that guy that doesn't have a boat so I'm hiking to shorelines in tight cover and it's nice Pole to use in that situation and yes they're simple but I've caught some 5 + Pounders that would make you smile and yes summer cheap summer high quality my favorite happens to be the prostaff 20/20. But I've caught 5 + Pounders believe it or not on a cheap Zebco 404. They have 15 pound test line and I can drag these bad boys through the weeds and these rods and reels of held up like I said I'm not a snob I do acknowledge the other reels more advanced but I enjoy fishing with these rods that I grew up with and that I maintain and repair and fix I guess I'm the stalled but I can catch any fish anybody else can and I have pictures to prove it.

Welcome aboard! I was like you, caught LOTS of bass and

other fish with spin casters. In fact, I preferred under spin

reels! Still do, for guests and so forth.

 

I say go for it! You refurbish 'em, fish 'em, and catch 'em  

 

Thread Revival!!

[WRB]

Back in the early days of tournament bass fishing we used pistol grip rods that Spincast reels could be used interchangeably with bait casting reels so rods were plentiful.

Today quality pistol grip rids are few and far between.

Basil Bacon won a B.A.S.S. Event using Zebco 808 spin cast reel for example.

My sons first rod-reel combo had a trigger spin Zebo Omega reel and he managed to land a 26 lb channel cat on his light outfit, not something you use to catch big catfish.

Spin cast reels have marginal drags compared to either spinning or baitcasting reels.

Use whatever works, to me spin cast reels are a good entry level reel that most anglers put away after learning to fish.

Tom 

[Ecatman1]

Yes I have I fish a baitcaster  prostatic 110 Zebco and I did enjoy it you could see why people do prefer these but in my situation it worked out better that I had an enclosed reel. But in the situations with overhang vegetation and Hiking through heavy brush it just seemed a better fit for me to use spincast and I never had to worry about bird nesting or getting my cast absolutely perfect.

[thinkingredneck]

I think people forget the learning curve required with the old bait casters.  Some would birds nest if you looked at them hard, it seemed.

 

I can remember the day when I graduated from a cane pole to a Zebco.  I thought I was the man.  I had never seen any other kind of reel"in person."  I was later excited to get my first spinning reel.  Thought I belonged on the show with Marlin Perkins.   I now use different reels for different situations.  I sometimes use a Johnson century reel when crappie fishing.  Nostalgic for me.  My Grandfather was so proud of his.  I can still remember him taking it out of the box.  Yeah, we were poor, like most of our friends, but didn't know it.

 

My wife won't use anything but a spjncast.  She can use a spinning reel, but doesn't like it.  I bought her the highest end Zebco they make.  That thing is super smooth.

 

The last thing I will say is that more deer are killed each year with a 30-30 than any other gun.  Best choice?

[livin2fish]

Taught my grandson to fish, age 4, with a Zebco 202, then a Zebco Omega.  One day we were both fishing with plastic worms and he was out-fishing me from the back of the boat, in size of bass and numbers.  Only difference, that I could figure, was that his retrieve speed was about 1/2 that of mine.  That day the fish apparently were not in a chasing mood.  For winter fishing, maybe I would catch more fish on a spincaster, since the bait would be in the strike zone longer.  It is extremely difficult for me to slow down using baitcasting or spinning.

[the reel ess]

A hand line can be used to catch bass too. A cane pole for that matter. But time passed them by. If all I had was a Zebco I'd still fish.