spincast reels

[Chet C]

my wife likes the spincast reels when we fish for bass and crappie. she started off with one of my old zebco 33 prostaff about 35 to 40yrs old, casting distance is poor, so i got her a new zebco platinum, nicer reel and cast farther, so i want to get her another one, what i don't want to do is make a purchase that the reel will not cast at least as far as the platinum, hoping to find something to cast better than the platinum, was thinking of the zebco ZO2 which is slightly smaller than the zebco 33. any spincast pros out there

 

thanks

chet

[JediAmoeba]

My dad got the Zebco Omega Pro and loves it.  It is pretty smooth and casts far for a spincast.

[Linewinder]

I've been on the Zebco site recently devouring the different spincast reels there.  It seems there isn't really one that has all the best combinations of the number or bearings, the IPT (retrieve length), the weight, the size, the shape, an oscillating spool, the price, etc.  I thought the Platinum has a good balance of features.  But none will tell you how far they cast -- that depends upon you and other factors.

 

IMO, maximum distance isn't everything, but it sounds as though a respectable distance isn't coming to her.  Coiled line really degrades distance.  I think good line is key, some say braid.  I asked Zebco recently and the response was they were really designed for 10 lb mono, and that is what they recommend, but if you do try braid go with the same line diameter.  I'm sticking with mono, or mainly a copolymer monofilament. 

 

Proper line level helps too -- definitely don't overfill.  A longer rod gives a little more distance (leverage).  Speaking of rods, line slap between the reel and first guide degrades distance also -- think of that coiled line.  A closer first guide helps, as I found when rebuilding a short spinning rod last year.

 

There was a Shakespeare Synergy Classic that works well, but I don't see a peep of that anywhere now -- smooth and tight, casts good distance but probably lacks power for larger fish.  The Daiwas get a lot of comment and use.  I can cast about as far as some spinning outfits with my Zebco Omega Pro Z03, but that is heavier/bigger than the Z02.  The Pfluegers seem good (enough) as being fairly tight without bearings -- I've seen sleeved bushings in one of those in ultralight underspincast.

[zell_pop1]

Daiwa Goldcast is a good one to try.

[ike8120]

Also look at the KastKing Brutus.

[Pond fisher]

I have the Delta, Omega and Bullet.  The Bullet outcasts anything I own.  I use Berkley Trilene XL line for best casting distance.

 

Ken

[Chet C]

the only thing i see with the bullet is that it ie too big and too heavy for my wifes small hands, wonder if the zebco micro 33 would cast

 

chet

[Pond fisher]

I have a Micro 33 as well. Nice reel.  Cast comparable to 33's. Not as well as the three I mentioned above.

 

Ken

[Chet C]

2 hours ago, Pond fisher said:

I have a Micro 33 as well. Nice reel.  Cast comparable to 33's. Not as well as the three I mentioned above.

 

Ken

you mentioned Delta's what brand is that, wonder how the smaller version of the pfleuger would be, we were out yesterday and she cannot get the 1/8 oz crappie baits too far, she cannot get the hang of spinning reels,

 

thanks

chet

[J Francho]

On 6/14/2020 at 2:16 AM, zell_pop1 said:

Daiwa Goldcast is a good one to try.

This is by far the nicest spincast reel.  I have one, and it's a tank.

[Crankin4Bass]

Great to hear your wife likes to fish with you!

 

I have a Zebco Omega Pro z02 for my kid. It's casts well and is very smooth. It's been trouble free. It also comes with 2 spools and an extra dual paddle handle. This only thing I don't like about it is the button, because it has rubber cover over it. I don't know how to describe it, but just feels weird. Both spools come with cheap red Cajun line. You're going to want to change that out.

 

We also looked at the Daiwa Goldcast GC80 and that looked more solid. The Goldcast comes in three sizes. The GC80 is the smallest. The only reason we didn't go with it is because it was slightly bigger than the Zebco. I preferred the Diawa, but it wasn't for me. You might want to check them out in person. Good luck!

[Chet C]

i want to thank the groups responses here, i am trying to get my wife a one or 2 more spin casters, one especially for casting 1/8 oz jig for crappie, i am a die hard bass fisherman, but recently my wife went thru 5 chemo treatments, and it takes the hell out of a person, i don't wish chemo on anyone, after 5 chemo treatments she is cancer free after a historectmy  operation back in January, maybe a few radiation treatments yet, but it's the naurapaty  in her lower legs and feet and hands, we fished sat and sunday out of my boat, i am watching her and trying to see what i can do to improve her casting and to enjoy her fishing, a few years ago she could handle a baitcaster, maybe it it will come back,

 

thanks for your support

chet

ps recently picked up a Piscifun Phantom baitcaster. was around 78 bucks. most dealers i talk to say it's junk, maybe it's because they don;t sell them and web sales only, i have quite a few new baitcasters i purchased in the last few months, i have a new daiwa tatula 100 model or ct. but sad to say it cannot cast like the piscifun phantom, i also have the lews MP and the LFS nice reels too and they are right there with the Phantom, it it holds up i will be happy. the piscifun is the smoothest when retrieving. anyone have a phantom to give their thoughts,

1 hour ago, Crankin4Bass said:

Great to hear your wife likes to fish with you!

 

I have a Zebco Omega Pro z02 for my kid. It's casts well and is very smooth. It's been trouble free. It also comes with 2 spools and an extra dual paddle handle. This only thing I don't like about it is the button, because it has rubber cover over it. I don't know how to describe it, but just feels weird. Both spools come with cheap red Cajun line. You're going to want to change that out.

 

We also looked at the Daiwa Goldcast GC80 and that looked more solid. The Goldcast comes in three sizes. The GC80 is the smallest. The only reason we didn't go with it is because it was slightly bigger than the Zebco. I preferred the Diawa, but it wasn't for me. You might want to check them out in person. Good luck!

thanks for the reply, so if i understand you are saying the daiwa gc 80 is bigger than the platinum, seems like the zebco's are not in a race for making lightweight spin casters, i see there is a  pfleuger model under 6oz

 

chet

 

chet

[Crankin4Bass]

15 minutes ago, Chet Cognigni said:

thanks for the reply, so if i understand you are saying the daiwa gc 80 is bigger than the platinum, seems like the zebco's are not in a race for making lightweight spin casters, i see there is a  pfleuger model under 6oz

 

 

My comment was that the Daiwa gc 80 is slightly bigger than the Zebco Omega Pro zo02. Sorry, I've never seen the Platinum so I can't compare it to the Omega Pro.

 

Sorry to hear about your wife's battle with cancer. Glad to hear she is on the road to recovery. Take care.

[Chet C]

5 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

My comment was that the Daiwa gc 80 is slightly bigger than the Zebco Omega Pro zo02. Sorry, I've never seen the Platinum so I can't compare it to the Omega Pro.

 

Sorry to hear about your wife's battle with cancer. Glad to hear she is on the road to recovery. Take care.

ok thanks, going to try and find a dealer to check one out

[Chet C]

any thoughts on the

 

•  

Daiwa Minicast 40

 

•  

•  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chet C]

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

Where did you pay $78 for a Piscifun Phantom?  Those are $50 reels all day long. Also loosen up the spool tension on the Tatula SV.  The Zero adjuster is meant to be adjusted Zero (0) number of times.

next time out i am going to play with the tatula, where can i get a phantom for that price, i am thinking of another one, how did i miss that deal, oh well, i purchased it from amazon, they were about the same price on ebay, if you mean allipress or direct from china, i did not want to wait 4 weeks. but if i can get it quicker let me know

 

thanks

chet

[Chet C]

4 minutes ago, BaitFinesse said:

Aliexpress is the cheapest if you don't mind the wait.  

now that i have messed with this reel, i probably will wait and give alliexpress a shot, maybe even a cell phone.

 

chet

[Pond fisher]

The Delta is made by Zebco.  Just a little smaller than the Omega.

 

Ken

[Linewinder]

On 6/15/2020 at 12:16 PM, Chet Cognigni said:

... i am trying to get my wife a one or 2 more spin casters, one especially for casting 1/8 oz jig for crappie,... i am watching her and trying to see what i can do to improve her casting and to enjoy her fishing...

 

chet

You are a very thoughtful person and it sounds like she is an awesome lady.  Hope the best for her.

 

I'm thinking that a longer rod, if she has a short rod now, may help casting if there is one out there that is lighter, new or old.

 

I'm also thinking Berkley Solutions line.  I purposely got this for a small narrow diameter spinning spool and it has worked well there.  Both spinning or spincast reels will twist the line, and will need untwisting periodically, but the Solutions seems to handle it longer.  I've only had it about a year so I guess it'll last through the season.  Some others may have ideas on line but the idea is thin, slick and less coiling so the casts are naturally longer and she won't need to work at it as much.

 

Those Zebco cast buttons are a little strange but I got used to it.  What it is:  a rubber cover to keep dirt out, it seals around the opening, but it also slides around the internal thumb lever so it feels a little disconnected.

 

Has anyone any experience with the Abu-Garcia spincast reels?  And, I keep hearing praise for the Daiwa Goldcast (above) but I notice that it only uses a single ball bearing, while the Silvercast uses 3.  Is it better machined, different design, smoother feeling retrieve?

[Allen Der]

honestly I'd just stick with the 33 platinum.  the omega isnt much better and more than double the price. if you can get away with lighter line, 6-8lbs, the trigger under-spincast reels on a spinning rod cast much farther IMO than the regular spincast reels on a casting rod.