Found out something interesting today with a spincast reel...

[OmegaDPW]

My Father-in-law recently passed away and I inherited a few old Zebco's and rods. Most were catfishing stuff, but he had a 33 on a 6'0 rod. 

 

 Of course, I enjoyed cleaning the dust off and re-spooling it with some new 4lb mono- even though I figured I'd never use it. Today, my wife and daughter (16) wanted to go fishing at our local spot. I carried the Zebco to give it a shot with another UL spinning reel/rod and figured that I'd look for panfish after putting my daughter on where the bass usually hang out. 

 

 The spincast rod and reel easily beat the spinning set-up (8lb braid- slightly shorter 5'6 rod) in casting distance. I was using Creme Spoiler Shads 1/16oz in weight on both. Maybe it's not much, but I'd say on average the spincast would go at least 2-3 feet further than what I could get the spinning set-up to do with the same light bait. That just really surprised me. 

 

 Turned out to be a good day overall. I set up my kid with a weightless green pumpkin stick bait and told her to cast out, wait, reel in a bit and pop it a couple times and let it rest again. 4th cast she got a nice 2 pound bass or so. I wound up with a couple of crappies on the Zebco. I also had a nice large bass inhale one of those Creme shads and fought him to shore before he threw one more big head roll and the lure popped out. It's on me, though. I never set the hook because I was afraid the drag was too tight and I'd pop the line. The drag on the Zebco reel is iffy at best. One click it's too loose and one click the other way doesn't let any line out. 😁 Anybody know what I need to do about that? 

 

 I think I'll keep using it for a bit. One more option in the panfish stable that casts extremely well. 

 

 Happy 4th of July, everyone!

[GRiver]

I still like the ole spincast reels, they are pretty mich bullet proof. I’ve even been looking at some higher end models and replacing the truck rig.

[bulldog1935]

Zeboco 808 was an adolescent trauma for me, trying to teach my dad to fish (he let me pick my own spinning tackle).   To this day, he still can't leave a tackle store without a spool of 25-lb mono.   Grown, I put him into baitcasters - problem solved.  

Just this year, I bought Omega Pro, because at 94, my dad can't throw a baitcaster anymore.  

Beginning with Delta, higher grade Zebco oscillates spool pitch for improved line lay - just like a spinning reel- + metal gears and SiC line guide.  I found killer Amazon half-price close-out on '11-model ZO3.  Note this reel is 3 oz lighter than high-geared Bullet.  

In March, it landed the trip fish, but even with low gearing, had to pump the rod to gain line against black drum shoulders.  

I'm pretty floored with the cast distance.  When I was testing for a loaner bike-fish combo, ZO3 matched with Legit Design MM 6'8" multipiece would send 1/8 oz past 120', comparable to a BFS combo casting 3 g.  

 

[brophog]

On 7/4/2024 at 3:45 PM, OmegaDPW said:

The drag on the Zebco reel is iffy at best. One click it's too loose and one click the other way doesn't let any line out. 😁 Anybody know what I need to do about that? 

Even the newer, higher end models are still like that. The drag is smooth enough, but the adjustment range feels very binary.

[bulldog1935]

I'm pretty happy with ZO3 setting 2-1/2 to 3 lbs drag with spring balance.    

It's not easy to knock it out of adjustment, but as described, the adjustment range is very narrow on the dial.  

Best to set for the line and know what  you have.  As you can see above, it works.  

 

These 2 videos talked me into buying ZO3 earlier this year - that, and the $45 price (then) on Amazon.  

Current Amazon price is $60, and the smaller 6-lb-test ZO2 is $50.  

 

 

 

[Bazoo]

I always thought that the Zebco 33 would outcast a spinning rod. I sometimes use one, but my boy uses spincasters a lot. I always thought the difference was the fiberglass rod and how it loads up on a cast. The rods that normally accompany Zebcos are good casting rods, albeit cheap.

 

Thanks @bulldog1935.

[fin]

A particular spincaster may cast further than a particular spinning reel, but I don’t think it can be attributed solely to the fact that it is a spincaster. It’s going to be due to another factor, like spool diameter, line type/diameter, rod, etc.

 

Line coming out of a spincaster is facing slightly more resistance than a spinning reel since the line is brushing against two parts that it doesn’t brush against on a spinning reel - the front cover assembly and the spinner head assembly. I think all other things being equal, a spincaster is not going to be able to cast as far as a spinning reel.

 

 

[bulldog1935]

@fin that's why I was surprised by ZO3 - it's not supposed to cast this far.  

I know it outcasts my buddy's Bullet.  Certainly when my daughters were growing up fishing UL-1, the switch to Penn 4200SS improved cast distance for them.  

Should also be mentioned that Zebco was made for mono, and each size works best with a narrow range in matched mono diameter.  When you leave mono for threadline braid, spinning and BFS excel - you also say adieu to line memory.  But again, it's surprising how well ZO3 casts 10-lb mono and light lures in direct comparison.  

Somewhere on the forum a few weeks ago (didn't search up), another BR member mentioned he went to spincast when his baitcasters couldn't cut the distance.  

[MickD]

I'm not sure with the same line and rod (length means a lot)  the spincast would outcast the spinner, but I've always noticed that they handle heavier line surprisingly well.  When you stop and think about it, the American Tackle double guide (Microwave) works a lot like a hooded spool (spincast).  

[crypt]

I have a couple 33's that my niece and grandkids use they are at least 30 years old. work as good as new. cast a mile, no line tangling, easy to use. great reels that will never go out of style. 6 lb. mono works great on em. 

[33oldtimer]

4# line is pretty light for a 33. I like 10# but 8# will work. Too light of line on a Spincast reel and the pick up pins can miss grabbing the line. Drag is pretty bad on Spincast reels in general. I keep the drag locked down and only loosen the drag when absolutely necessary. With monofilament--and that's all you want to use on these--you have enough stretch to give you time to loosen the drag if necessary. I have some Spincast reels and enjoy the nostalgia. Zebcos is supposed to release a 75th anniversary special edition 33 this month and I'm looking forward to picking one up. But the quality of Zebco Spincast reels is just bad--50/50 that it will work properly. Either the line keeps jamming up inside of the reel, or the reel beats up the line to the point it constantly needs changing. Out of three 33 micros I ended up trashing two of them as unusable from line jamming or getting under the spool cap constantly. 

[bulldog1935]

Pretty sure those are all the reasons I didn't consider those models when I was shopping to take my dad fishing - these times are getting rare, and reliable tackle is important.  

 

My buddy Lou has landed some honking fish on his Bullet 30 - but to me, at 13 oz, you have to want to lure-fish it.  

Also can't complain about the dozen salt-finesse years we got out of UL-1 with my daughters.  

Zebco has always made a disposable reel - if you sent one in for repairs, they sent you a new reel gratis.  Their customer service was the biggest part of what you bought.  They're moving away from that now, making reels with higher function and design quality.  I seriously considered Kast King Brutus when I was shopping over the winter - all it really had was light weight.  Having direct experience with Lou's Bullet, and finding such a great price on Omega Pro, the choice was a no-brainer -  the reel has already earned its keep.  

[brophog]

8 hours ago, 33oldtimer said:

But the quality of Zebco Spincast reels is just bad--50/50 that it will work properly.

Stick with the Omega and Bullet. They’re pricy for a spincast, certainly can be an issue for people comparison shopping who will use something other than a spincast, but they’re worth the money. 
 

The biggest reason they’re so heavy is the construction. They’re literally tanks. About the only part to worry about, especially on the Bullet, is the thumbar assembly. It’s plastic and the little ears on it break with repeated stress but it’s also a 4 dollar part. Keep a couple of spares around.

[bulldog1935]

again, as I mentioned above, oscillating spool in Zebco begins with Delta, which also has brass gears (metal frame returns at Omega) - the oscillator assy is p/n's 14-A through -C

Here's 33 schematic - no oscillator

 

The point of spool oscillation - it Eliminates line dig and improves cast distance.  

[rgasr63]

20 hours ago, 33oldtimer said:

4# line is pretty light for a 33. I like 10# but 8# will work. Too light of line on a Spincast reel and the pick up pins can miss grabbing the line. Drag is pretty bad on Spincast reels in general. I keep the drag locked down and only loosen the drag when absolutely necessary. With monofilament--and that's all you want to use on these--you have enough stretch to give you time to loosen the drag if necessary. I have some Spincast reels and enjoy the nostalgia. Zebcos is supposed to release a 75th anniversary special edition 33 this month and I'm looking forward to picking one up. But the quality of Zebco Spincast reels is just bad--50/50 that it will work properly. Either the line keeps jamming up inside of the reel, or the reel beats up the line to the point it constantly needs changing. Out of three 33 micros I ended up trashing two of them as unusable from line jamming or getting under the spool cap constantly. 

Take ten yards of line off the spool from the ones that are jamming. There is also a plastic lip on the top edge of the spool sometimes you can find a nick that makes issues also. 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap from the edge of the spool is a full spool.