Is a spincast reel still a legit option?

[Team9nine]

If KVD put his name on one, they must be decent 

 

 

 

[Munkin]

I do not use one but they can be useful in the right conditions. One of the PRO's did a video years ago where he had like a 5' fiberglass rod and spincast reel. He was using the rod like bow and arrow to shoot the bait way under some docks.

 

Allen

[Pkfish49]

I'm using spinning reels now because that is what I am being taught how to use, (I was told that the drag would be awful with a spincast) but don't knock a spincast.  As a child I caught a huge pickerel with a cheap Zebco.  I don't remember the model number but seem to remember that it came pre-spooled with 8 LB test and was around $10.00.

 

I also remember how easy it was to cast by holding and releasing your thumb on the button and what a pain it was learning to cast with a spinning reel and how much the line kept cutting up my index finger.  This thread and watching some kids (earlier today) catch bass from shore using spincast reels makes me want to go out and get one! 

 

[bh91]

Didn't someone on here say the good thing about the spincast is that you can use the rod with your future baitcaster

[gimruis]

Spincast and Zebcos have their place...for beginners and children.  Its what I used when I first started as a kid and it still holds true today.  Would I use one now?  Hell no.

[Damn Yankee]

On 4/16/2017 at 11:56 AM, RoLo said:

"Is A Spincast Reel Legit?"

 

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

The "Spincast Police" are everywhere!!    

My wife landed a 6# here in lakeland on a zebco omega, so call the cops!

[greentrout]

 

[Cgolf]

6 hours ago, Munkin said:

I do not use one but they can be useful in the right conditions. One of the PRO's did a video years ago where he had like a 5' fiberglass rod and spincast reel. He was using the rod like bow and arrow to shoot the bait way under some docks.

 

Allen

 

Happy to admit that I am going to try this this summer on spinning gear with my ugly sticks. I still have a couple that I still use a lot along with my St Croix sticks. I figure the uglies will hold up well to the bow and arrow cast.

[Bucky205]

I take a lot of kids fishing and love spin-cast for that.  You can pick them up at garage sales for as low as $2.

 

[hunterPRO1]

caught my pb on a zebco 733,,, that was a 12lb 4oz bass,,, most of you guys saying they're just for kids have never seen a bass that big.

 

use what works for you, and don't worry about it, i use bait casters now because i'm much more accurate, but saying a spincast is only and option for kids/new guys just isn't true.

[greentrout]

Clark K.

Richardson, TX
Learned on a Zebco when I was a kid. Still use one today!    

 

Source >> Zebco     

 

[Ecatman1]

If I can put my two cents in I got into this bass fishing by collecting old spincast reels vintage 888 I have some old 33s even some nice 2020 from the 1980s. I get them cheap and I sit at my work bench and just take her clean them lub and I go out and fish  I catch bass just as well as anybody I pulled in quite a few 5 + Pounders. I don't have a boat and I'm hiking to shorelines  through heavy brush and I like having an enclosed reel. It works for me. And I really haven't encountered any fishing snobs usually fisherman are very nice and if you're out there they don't care what you're using.

[FishDewd]

I don't know if they many advantages other than introducing people to fishing who don't want to mess with reels a lot. Just throw and go. I caught many big fish on those before deciding I wanted to upgrade. I still have the same Zebco 33 I had when I was 9, still works great to this day. I prefer spincasts when using slip float rigs, or if I am testing out a small creek or whatnot. I'll use a shorter pole up to 6' for those purposes. But 33's or One Classics are pretty much all I will use to fish with though as far as spincasts go, although I do have an older 202 that uses a star drag which is actually a pretty good reel, but I keep it more as a collectable or memento more than anything. The 30" dock demon pulled out a huge trout from under a ratty old dock once, so I have respect for that little pole too. I can throw that one with pinpoint accuracy one-handed too, so it's a little monster in cramped areas.

[ZebcoZak]

After my father passed away a few years ago I found a few of his old 50's and 60's era Zebco 33's that I cleaned up real well. I have to say that the only down side that I have found to these things is the gear ratio.  That is it.  I have since sold all of my baitcasters and only use one on my musky and catfish rods due to the weight of the baits.  Those old 33's with full metal housings and brass gears are simple machines that just work for me.  Taking them apart once a year for a 100% clean and lube is all of about 30 minutes, and I have yet to have one fail on me in any way.  The drag is smooth and I can use them for every type of technique I try here on my local lakes and flows.  Once again, I am a tad out of luck if I ever need to BURN a crank or spinner bait back to the boat, but those situations are honestly few and far between for me.  I use them on my Aetos rods and the inital giggles and under-the-breath comments I get from those fishing around me usually turn to questions and genuine curiosity by the end of the day.  And the best part is that I pick them up for about 10-15 bucks  - aka more money for other tackle.  

 

They probably won't work for everyone, but they work for me.  I am not KVD, but I fish more than anyone else I know, typially with pretty good results.  The old Zebco 33 hasn't held me back yet.  I have caught thousands of bass/pike/walleye/catfish up to 12 or so pounds without incident.  I have a buddy who spends nearly $1,000 dollars per rod and reel set - and there aren't many things that I enjoy more than keeping up with him on a 65 year old Zebco 33.  Those days when I find them a bit better than he does I don't say a word.  I just smile. :-)

[J Francho]

I have a 30 year old 33 Classic that I still use for guests that aren't skilled anglers.

[WB4IUY]

I know this is an old topic, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in... Been fishing probably 50 years. Spin casters have some a long ways... I tried one of the Zebco Bullets about 2 years ago, and love it. Fast retrieve. They advertise something like 5.1:1 ratio, but that's only part of retrieve rate, spool dia, etc comes into play, it moves the line at 29 inches per crank revolution. Does not chew the line as some have mentioned with the older reels, probably because the line is drawn in over a pair of needle bearings. Drag is smooth and stable, is has an oscillating spool for even line distribution, 9 ball bearings, etc. My wife and I fish several times a week, never had one to fail. They handle braid perfectly, I don't see the line twist that I did on the older stuff, we catch a lot of fish and the oldest one seems as good as new. It might happen today, but in two years there's never been a blowup under the cap.  

 

Dave

[Allen Der]

8 hours ago, WB4IUY said:

I know this is an old topic, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in... Been fishing probably 50 years. Spin casters have some a long ways... I tried one of the Zebco Bullets about 2 years ago, and love it. Fast retrieve. They advertise something like 5.1:1 ratio, but that's only part of retrieve rate, spool dia, etc comes into play, it moves the line at 29 inches per crank revolution. Does not chew the line as some have mentioned with the older reels, probably because the line is drawn in over a pair of needle bearings. Drag is smooth and stable, is has an oscillating spool for even line distribution, 9 ball bearings, etc. My wife and I fish several times a week, never had one to fail. They handle braid perfectly, I don't see the line twist that I did on the older stuff, we catch a lot of fish and the oldest one seems as good as new. It might happen today, but in two years there's never been a blowup under the cap.  

 

Dave

Yeah but it weighs twice as much as a comparable bait caster.

[WB4IUY]

6 minutes ago, Allen Der said:

Yeah but it weighs twice as much as a comparable bait caster.

I don't doubt that, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for me. I often fish all day and am comfortable with it. Seems most folks like like baitcast or spinners, but I'm very happy with the Bullets.