Is a spincast reel still a legit option?

[Cgolf]

I was watching the old Wormin with Woo video and he talked about using a spincast reel vs a baitcaster so the bait would drop straight down like a spinning reel instead of swinging the bait back towards the boat with a baitcaster. Also said the bait would drop through surface weeds with the spincast better than a with a baitcaster. 

 

While the video is dated, the points he makes still seem to be valid. Should I get a decent spincast reel and give it a go or just continue to use my spinning reel for worming.

[dwh4784]

Spincast reels are an inferior design compared to anything else. That said, they usually come with line spooled and ready to fish for basically anyone. That's their market. I don't see any practical advantage to using one if you are comfortable using spinning or bait casting technology. I bought a fairly nice one for my son to get used to fishing (even has a star drag) and the retrieval rate is abysmal.

[greentrout]

New for 2017, Zebco, the most recognized brand in fishing, introduces the fastest version ever of the tangle-free reel they made famous. Appropriately named Bullet – it’s faster than all spincast reels, and even faster than 6.1:1 baitcasting reels, and a size 20 spinning reel.

 

Geared at 5.1:1, Bullet picks up an unprecedented 29” of line with each revolution of the handle – a handle that’s padded with unique-feeling new GripEm™ knobs. Many field test anglers reported the surface of the handle felt even a bit tackier when they’re wet, much like a wide-receivers gloves.

 

Disclaimer >> never used one. Source >> Zebco

 

Yet, I do carry one with me on specific fishing holes. Like to use them to skip under tree limbs & docks. And for an easy gentle fall around stumps & laydowns.

 

To each his own.

[The Bassman]

Spincasting has introduced a  lot of people to this sport (including me) who would have gotten frustrated otherwise.  That said, there's no denying that spinning and casting win hands down as far as efficiency and power.  If one is proficient with spinning he would do well to stay there. You can get a straight drop just fine with it.

[lo n slo]

my wife uses a 33 Classic spooled with 10# XL for t rigged worms and it works just fine for her

[TX-Deluxe]

Wind is never a factor. For amateurs it's nearly fail/foul proof.

[ww2farmer]

One of the best tournament fisherman on Conesus lake use spin cast reels to skip docks. He's whipped people using them, and has for 30 years...........so IMHO they are a viable tool in the right hands.

 

Conesus is usually ultra clear up shallow, and you have to stay WAY WAY back to skip to avoid spooking them. Some real hogs get up under those docks and using spinning gear is a way to get your heart broke. The distance you have to stay away makes it a real challenge for even the best skippers with casting gear. So he puts a spin caster on a stout casting rod, stays back, and takes our money.

[the reel ess]

2 hours ago, TX-Deluxe said:

Wind is never a factor. For amateurs it's nearly fail/foul proof.

Can't tell you how many times I managed to foul it up, mostly due to line twist, when I was a kid. And my dad didn't carry an extra spool of line so I was finished. I don't really see any major advantage they have over BC and spin gear for the advanced angler, but I see a lot of disadvantages. 

[KDW96]

1 hour ago, ww2farmer said:

One of the best tournament fisherman on Conesus lake use spin cast reels to skip docks. He's whipped people using them, and has for 30 years...........so IMHO they are a viable tool in the right hands.

 

Conesus is usually ultra clear up shallow, and you have to stay WAY WAY back to skip to avoid spooking them. Some real hogs get up under those docks and using spinning gear is a way to get your heart broke. The distance you have to stay away makes it a real challenge for even the best skippers with casting gear. So he puts a spin caster on a stout casting rod, stays back, and takes our money.

Just goes to prove,that if one chooses what works best for them,it will work. Also,if any one of the big pros have been using them,sales would skyrocket. Most companys would offer one,built better,and at competitive pricing. I bought my wife an Omega, and she does very well . I just keep fresh line on both spools,and keep it clean,never had an issue. Handles 5lb bass easy. You can get a 33 cheap,just to see if you can make use of it in your lineup. The biggest keys are keeping fresh line on. One other is to add alittle loctiteBLUE to the screw that holds the handle on,the screw works loose? The saying that they are for amatuers, well i guess Woo Daves is an amatuer ???

 

[crypt]

use what works for you........the fish don't know or even care what kind of reel you're using.what matters is that you're fishing.

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Like any tool they can have their time and place. I disagree with the straight fall reason though. I don't see the falling bait pulling line off one of these much easier than with a good casting reel and certainly not a spinning reel. 

[RoLo]

"Is A Spincast Reel Legit?"

 

Don't get caught with one in Polk County, Florida.

The "Spincast Police" are everywhere!!    

[Cgolf]

6 hours ago, KDW96 said:

Just goes to prove,that if one chooses what works best for them,it will work. Also,if any one of the big pros have been using them,sales would skyrocket. Most companys would offer one,built better,and at competitive pricing. I bought my wife an Omega, and she does very well . I just keep fresh line on both spools,and keep it clean,never had an issue. Handles 5lb bass easy. You can get a 33 cheap,just to see if you can make use of it in your lineup. The biggest keys are keeping fresh line on. One other is to add alittle loctiteBLUE to the screw that holds the handle on,the screw works loose? The saying that they are for amatuers, well i guess Woo Daves is an amatuer ???

 

 

While I agree with most of what everyone is saying, I still can't shake that one of the better worm fishermen in his time preferred them for some situations. Watching that quite old video I am learning some stuff. For those that haven't watched it, it is a pretty good video. 

[fishnkamp]

I used to see Woo at the annual fishing Expo in MD and he in deed preferred a spincast reel.

I had a coworker that chased really large catfish on the Susquehanna in PA.  He regularly chased them with Zebco 808 reels.  They held up perfectly well.  I did just sell an Omega reel and it was very nice.  I purchased it for my wife but she prefers some heavier spinning reels so I sold it.

[riverbasser]

Where I grew up in Florida a lot of guys still use 808's for saltwater red fishing. Its probably not the best but they do the trick and don't cost much to replace if needed. 

[david in va]

   I believe a Zebco 33 in like a 30 30 rifle , more fresh water fish have been caught with a 33 and more deer have been killed with a 30 30 than any thing else.

 David

[Bankbeater]

My take on it is that if you want to use a spincast reel then go ahead.  The only thing I would worry about is the quality of the reel, and how much wear and tear it can take.

[Cgolf]

1 minute ago, Bankbeater said:

My take on it is that if you want to use a spincast reel then go ahead.  The only thing I would worry about is the quality of the reel, and how much wear and tear it can take.

 

Not sure I want to, but for skipping docks this might work out pretty good. 

 

And after watching the video, it got me to thinking am I missing out by doing 97% of my worm fishing on spinning gear. 

[IndianaFinesse]

Would they work?  Yes... But what would the advantage be over spinning or casting gear?  Lures can drop vertically through the water column with spinning gear and nearly so with casting, and spin casting reels would not allow the bait to drop any more vertically than with casting.  In my mind they have little to no advantages, and many disadvantages (not saying they won't work to some degree).

[WRB]

3 hours ago, david in va said:

   I believe a Zebco 33 in like a 30 30 rifle , more fresh water fish have been caught with a 33 and more deer have been killed with a 30 30 than any thing else.

 David

True statement 50 years ago.

Tom

Spincast reels are far from fool proof, a tangle under the hood is a mess to fix. They work and a good entry level reel if you can find a decent pistol grip rod to go with it. Most folks graduate to open face spinning reels or baitcasting reels. Woo and his 808's were unque!

Tom

 

[fishnkamp]

That reel does not only work on a pistol grip rod. I had my wife's on a BPS standard Tourney Special. It actually worked quite well until I finally found an Irod spinning rod that was able to handle heavy texas rigs and jigs just right.  Then I found an even heavier rod with the perfect tip to throw frogs well.  That came from Dobyns.

[Airman4754]

I caught my first 5lb largie on a Zebco 33 with a white Mepps spinnerbait when I was in first grade. The reel completely locked up and my dad and grandpa made me hand line it the rest of the way in. 

 

I demanded an upgrade and soon after had a shiny new Daiwa Ultracast. I still have that bad boy.

[greentrout]

[dwh4784]

Spincasts are the only reels I've ever seen lose their drag and lock up completely and I've seen that too many times for how many spincasts I've actually handled. I think it's that standard topside drag mechanism though, it just gets stuck. That's why I was happy to find one with a star drag for my son (Zebco Pro Staff). We'll see how it does this year going into its second season. That one greentrout posted really looks intriguing though. Too bad it doesn't have that kind of retrieval rate AND a star drag like the pro staff.

[the reel ess]

12 hours ago, dwh4784 said:

Spincasts are the only reels I've ever seen lose their drag and lock up completely and I've seen that too many times for how many spincasts I've actually handled. I think it's that standard topside drag mechanism though, it just gets stuck. That's why I was happy to find one with a star drag for my son (Zebco Pro Staff). We'll see how it does this year going into its second season. That one greentrout posted really looks intriguing though. Too bad it doesn't have that kind of retrieval rate AND a star drag like the pro staff.

I have one that's locked up now. As for the straight fall theor, every one I ever had would get the line a little kinked and not roll off the spool like it will off a spinning reel. I know there are high quality spincast reels, but for that money, I'd buy a decent spinning reel.