Zebco 33 and 50 lb braid

[(='_'=)]

hey. my grandpa is 84 years old. he was an avid fisher 40 years ago, but hasnt touched a rod since then. 

im taking him fishing next week to El Salto, Mexico, where the chance to get a DD is better than average, and most likely he will get some 5-6# fish at least... my grandpa is too old to learn how to use a baitcasting reel, all he used back then was spinning.... but i dont want to get a spinning setup just for this trip. 

so, im thinking about seting up a couple Zebco 33s i have laying around, i have a brand new one and some older ones i could prepare for him. would that work? i know its not the best, but a friend took his son fishing there last year, and he caught up to 11# bass with a 33.... 

 

 

[J Francho]

I'd go with something like 12# CXX over the braid, never liked how braid worked in a spincaster.

[j bab]

20 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'd go with something like 12# CXX over the braid, never liked how braid worked in a spincaster.

I feel like CXX would have too much memory. I haven't tried it on a spincast though, I could be wrong

[Jaw1]

If u can pick him up an omega much better spincast reel and cxx works fine on it

[Senko lover]

If you're taking the expense to take him to El Salto, a low end spinning combo shouldn't be a huge issue. You can always use it afterwards  

[georgeyew]

I've used up to 15 lb mono on a Zebco 33. As long as your lures are more than 3/8 oz, you shouldn't have an issue casting.

Also are you going with guides? Wouldn't they have spinning set ups that you could use?

[Ratherbfishing]

To each his own but there are so many disadvantages with spincasting gear I don't even know where to begin.  Are you going to risk some good fish and detract from perhaps your last opportunity to fish with your grandpa over a few dollars spent?  At the risk of having the Zebco gestapo come after me, almost ANY spinning outfit will beat a Zebco 33.  

[R H Clark]

I would not use a 33! The drag is horrible and the retrieve is so rocky it might be hard to even detect light bites. On of those bumps cranking it could feel like or hide a strike. I don't know much about the Omega but you might also consider an Abumatic 170 paired with a good sensitive, light rod. I would spool it with Power Pro 30lb test 8lb dia. equiv. I would also take some 10 and 12 lb Trilene XL along just in case. Your grandpa is old enough that you should spend a few $$$ to set him up as good as possible for this trip.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Ive used powerpro 10# in a number of spincasters(Omega, Goldcast, brown 33) and underspins. The biggest issue is the coating on new braid that will gum the pin and housing. I sprayed my line,pin,housing with reel magic and it solved that issue. So if going with the 33 use it a while with the braid to get it worn in some.       Goggle or youtube-------  Zebco 33 catches 50 lb blue catfish

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Braid and spin casters don't play well together. I like the spinning tackle suggestion but your insistent on spin casting 15# XL treated with kvd will handle decently. 

[buzzed bait]

8 hours ago, Senko lover said:

If you're taking the expense to take him to El Salto, a low end spinning combo shouldn't be a huge issue. You can always use it afterwards  

i'd mostly agree, but the OP already lives in Mexico so his expense vs. you and I is minimal...  

all here are concerned with the catching, if i were you, i'd just be concerned with having a good time with your grandpa.  i'd give anything to fish with either of mine again....  i'd do it with a coke can and zebco monofilament if that's what it took to go with them again....

[GetBent]

If you have hopes of a double digit bass would the drag system by strong enough on a 33?

[roadwarrior]

The Omega is a much better reel.

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

Set the brakes fairly tight on a casting reel and they're almost impossible to backlash. Casting distance would suffer, but if you're in heavy timber you won't be casting far anyways. 

[(='_'=)]

thanx everyone for your input!!

thats correct, we live in Mexico and are towing our boat, so we are expecting the trip to be less than $300 per person.... and money is not the issue (not that i have a lot of it), but rather the availability and possibility of getting another combo now.... here where i live we dont have a dedicated fishing store, the only fishing tackle shop is less than 500 sqft, so it doesnt carry a lot of selection, basically just plastic worms and crankbaits... a lot of my tackle i order from basspro, cabelas or academy and then i have to drive 3 hours to pick it up in Texas... but now (we are leaving on thursday), theres no time for that.... 

you hit the nail in the head Buzzed Bait, all we are concerned is having a good time, it could be the last time we can spend on the water... thats why i want to make it as trouble free as possible to him... i was thinking about tightening the brakes on one of my baitcasters, but ill have to see how that works... the other option is to use 17-20 lb on the Zebcos... i dont think i would want to go with less than 17#, as the fish are big in there and a lot of fishing is done on flooded timber, going with less would result in a lot of lost lures and fish... im using 50# braind on my worm and spinnerbait rods and 17# for crankbaits... we are fishing for 3 days, most probably he wont stand 3 full days in the boat, so this is just for when he feels like fishing... im also taking a very light setup for him to catch some panfish, he really enjoys that... i know, i dont understand how one could fish for panfish in a place with so much and so big bass, but thats what he enjoys, so....

 

 

 

 

 

[Yudo1]

I would think 15 copoly would be fine.  I'd put the reel on a MH rod.