Zebco 33 for Bass Fishing?

[airborne_angler]

Anyone else use a Zebco 33 for serious Bass fishing?

I have used one before and they cast a mile with weightless baits,no Birds nest(backlash) to worry about. Not the greatest retrieve speed but would be suited more for slow moving soft plastic baits and a very reliable reel.Wanna skip a Senko under docks and under overhanging trees? This is the reel to use. One draw back is the size,theyre kinda big and palming the reel can be a little bit of a pain. What are everyones thoughts on this reel for Bass fishing?

[Raul]

It 's true that spincasters don 't backlash but they twist the line, worse than a spinning reel, also, since they have no roller or levelwind the line is picked up by a pinnon, which causes line abrassion and with time the line also abrades the pinon which causes more line abrassion, a simple pressure drag system which lacks of enough smoothness, low IPT which I wouldn 't like in a reel for fishing baits where I want to pick up the slack fast to maintain a tight line like jigs or soft plastics ...... Nope, I wouldn 't consider it for "serious" bass fishing.

[FishTank]

I had a Zebco 33 for years and caught several bass with it but I would not use it for serious bass fishing.  I would think it would be better suited for bluegill, sunfish and maybe crappie.  Not trying to bad mouth the Zebco 33, I had mine for 15+ years, but I don't think it's the correct tool for the job.

[kybassangler]

I have caught a lot of bass using a zebco reel on a medium heavy baitcasting rod.  Plastic worms it is great because you can't move it very fast. I use a spinning reel now, but for getting the lure right where you want it thy are good. Really I would suggest to anybody learning to use plastic to start with a zebco and med heavy rod for hooksetting. then be a reel snob later.

[moby bass]

When I got back into fishing I purchased a 33 because, "I had used a spincast reel many years ago".

I caught some fish with it but quickly found it not well suited for anything of any size. Hard pulls caused the line to bury itself on the spool messing up subsequent casts.  It has now been relegated to the position of

"use this rod and reel" when young kids come over and want to fish. Not  recommended for serious fishing. I know its supposed to be Zebcos top of the line,(or nearly so), but I wasn't all that impressed with it.

[tbone31]

If it works for you......    use it!!

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

This 7 yr old with his 8 lbr thinks so!!!

He caught this all on his own, dad supported the rod from underneath for a minute but other than that, .....all him!!

Fish caught on a zebco 33 on a Zebco M action 6 ft cast for kids rod.

[roadwarrior]

It 's true that spincasters don 't backlash but they twist the line, worse than a spinning reel, also, since they have no roller or levelwind the line is picked up by a pinnon, which causes line abrassion and with time the line also abrades the pinon which causes more line abrassion, a simple pressure drag system which lacks of enough smoothness, low IPT which I wouldn 't like in a reel for fishing baits where I want to pick up the slack fast to maintain a tight line like jigs or soft plastics ...... Nope, I wouldn 't consider it for "serious" bass fishing.

Some of us would just say "NO", but Raul has very succinctly explained why that is the correct answer.

[Raul]

It 's not a matter of being a reel snob or not, it 's not a matter of being able to catch & land a fish with a Zebco 33, for that matter you don 't even need a rod or reel, a Coke bottle or a beer can spooled with line is more than enough to catch fish, hell, I 've done it and did it for several years until my dad purchased me my first rod & reel; but a coke bottle or a beer can spooled with line can hardly qualify as "serious" fishing gear.

With that same money you can purchase a so-so spinning reel and it 's going to be better than a Zebco 33.

[Taliesin]

I caught some fish with it but quickly found it not well suited for anything of any size. Hard pulls caused the line to bury itself on the spool messing up subsequent casts.

In the past I relegated my 33s to 8-10 lb test line, and a drag setting that wouldn't allow the line to bury itself.

They are decent for bluegill, crappie, and other small fish, but one good bass on it will wear it out quick.

I'm not saying it won't bring in a good fish (including 70+ lb catfish), but after you are done with that fish you almost need to restring the reel.

[MALTESE FALCON]

Raul explained it perfectly. Over the years I've had many spincast reels for my kids and grandkids. Zebco 33's, Abumatics and many others. None of them held up. Now when the kids want to learn how to fish, they learn on spinning tackle.

Falcon

[garland]

My son started out fishing at the age of 6 with one of those toy spin cast plastic outfits from Toys R Us that his uncle had given him. Second time out he caught a 5 pounder and then a 7.5 pounder. The wimpy rod was totally bent over with the tip way under water and I have no idea how the reel was able to haul the big one out of the slop we were fishing in but my son managed to get both fish into the boat (with me just about having a heart attack). Needless to say my son is hooked on bass fishing and the spin casting rig can catch large fish. I'm working on my son's spinning skills however and in the meantime a zebco 33 has replaced the cheapo but has not caught comparable fish.

[Pond Hopper]

Ive caught 2 of my 4 biggest bass on them, but you wont see me use one anymore.  They are good for beginners but there are better options for people wanting to get mroe serious.  But they will catch fish.

[fish-fighting-illini]

Hey garland does your now prob 9 yr old kid do any guiding?

LOL man that is a great story!

[blf]

Believe it or not...Jimmy Houston used Zebco 33's up until he qualified for the Classic. His dad bought him 2 Abu Garcia baitcasting reels and told him he had better start learning to use them because he was not going to let him fish the Classic with spincast reels. It is kinda like your first car, some of us just drive them a little longer than others before we move up. Nothing wrong with that. 8-)

[Taliesin]

Believe it or not...Jimmy Houston used Zebco 33's up until he qualified for the Classic. His dad bought him 2 Abu Garcia baitcasting reels and told him he had better start learning to use them because he was not going to let him fish the Classic with spincast reels. It is kinda like your first car, some of us just drive them a little longer than others before we move up. Nothing wrong with that. 8-)

There is something to think about here though. When Jimmy was fishing with his 33s, they were good, quality reels (I know, I used one for many years that my dad still uses, 34 years of use now).

Part of the problem is the impression spincast reels have on "serious" fishermen (Jimmy's dad is an example). Since serious fishermen normally don't use spincasters, companies haven't been interested in keeping the quality high.

In the last few decades spincasters have gone down in quality, with very little or no improvements in technology.

Spinning reels and baitcasters have gone through many improvements in technology and quality because "serious" fishermen use them.

It turned into a vicious circle. Since no one "serious" uses them, the companies didn't keep up the quality (or technology), so "serious" fishermen used them even less, so the companies lowered the quality, so fishermen used them even less.

The only thing left for them now is entry level fishing.

[Guest avid]

I'm glad you put "serious bass fishing" into the post.

Two comments on that.

1. Put a zebco in the hands of a six year old and tell me isn't serious about catcing a bass.

2. Children aside, they are just plain fun to mess around with.  I love pushing that button and like to use them with bobbers and nightcrawlers.  It makes me feel like a kid again.

[ejtaylor822]

I'm glad you put "serious bass fishing" into the post.

Two comments on that.

1. Put a zebco in the hands of a six year old and tell me isn't serious about catcing a bass.

2. Children aside, they are just plain fun to mess around with. I love pushing that button and like to use them with bobbers and nightcrawlers. It makes me feel like a kid again.

I'm with Avid.

My Dad has used zebco's his whole life and still does.  That's what he taught me to fish with.  I have introduced him to spin and baitcasters.  He thinks they are "nice", but, first time I turn my back he puts it down and picks that old zebco back up and outfishes me and whoever is with us.  I will occassionally cast that zebco with him.  Its nice for a 40 year old to feel like a kid again with his dad.

Go with whatever feels good and makes you happy.