I have always liked casting these but usually the are cheap as hell. I have been looking around and seen some up in the $50-75 range that must be way better than anything I have ever messed around with. I like the versatily in that they usually cast a mile and in my experience you can really finesse little flips and pitches better than spinning or baitcasters (for me anyways). I know most of you and myself think these are for beginers and kids but after just getting my son a "Cars" spincast and messing around with it I could see a good quality one being something I might look into.

I bought one of these several years ago to keep around for kids that don't fish.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_53795_100001003_100000000_100001000_100-1-3

I never thought it was worth the money or was as nice as the Zebco 33. None of the reel companies have devoted any resources to advance this line of technology. It is at a dead end.

I don't think a spincaster is the right tool for serious fishermen, but they all come with free line!

However, my fishing partner started guiding last year and picked up a couple of these "new" Zebcos for people that never fish. I haven't fished them, but he says they are "okay."

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_44496_100001003_100000000_100001000_100-1-3

I have always thought that "johnson" made the best spincast reels.  If you can find an old green one at a rummage sale somewhere.  I have seen some "johnson centurys" at walmart and have thought about buying them for my kids.

 I used the older Zebco 33s for a number of years and liked them except for the gear ratio. Have heard the newer ones aren't as good. Guess it's like RW said, no one is trying to upgrade them. Wasn't much help was I :-[?

                                                 As Ever,

                                                  skillet

BTW have 2 older ones that I'm going to try and get 1 good 1 out of. If I ever get around to it ;D.

I bought my wife a Diawa Procaster and it is really nice I checked Daiwa's website and they don't list the one I have but it is similar to the Goldcast and Silvercast. I have played around with it and I can pitch pretty far with it and it is a lot of fun skipping with it.

It doesn't get a whole lot of use but we have never had any problems with it. I think I got it when it was on sale for $39.99 regularly $49.99 if I am not mistaken. Cabela's has the Silvercast for $30.00 and the Goldcast for $50.00, they have a Goldcast combo for $65.00-$70.00

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat400026&navAction=jump&navCount=1&parentId=cat20166&parentType=category&cmCat=MainCatcat20166

http://www.daiwa.com/Reel/spincast.aspx

Check out the Zebco Platinum 33 series. My wife and both of my children fish with these reels and I have been very impressed with their durability.

Check out the Zebco Platinum 33 series. My wife and both of my children fish with these reels and I have been very impressed with their durability.

I'll second that. We have a couple 11's for sunfish. Very nice reels for the price.

I have an Abumatic myself.  My kids have Zebcos.  They might not be the right tool for "serious fishermen."  But during those times I don't feel all that serious, they are a blast to fish with.   There's not a lot that beats a couple of hours at the lake with my kids and my Abumatic , a few hooks and bobbers and a cage full of crickets.    

 I checked the BPS website and you kind of have to look close but they list 3 different types of Diawa procaster Spin casts's

Is that what G3 fan maybe has

Skychimp- sometimes we get all involved with this technical fishing stuff and what you describe is often what it's all about. Just having fun with the kids

I've never used any of the high end spincasters before but I believe RW is right on.  The manufacturers have never really spent any time developing this type of reel so it's really gone nowhere.  The only issues I have with using this type of reel for bass fishing is the problems these types of reels have with handling anything above 10lb test line.  Line twist and line tangling problems under the spool cover usually caused by line twist.

I remember there was a slight surge in interest in these reels after an article in Bassmaster about using them for dock skipping.

i have got my wife one of those Rhino's that you can get at Academy or Wal Mart.  Thing has held up well, and she has used it and coaught fish on crankbaits, worms , and spinner baits.  Seems pretty tough, but I am looking for her one that has a higher gear ratio, for faster retrieves.

My dad got me a Johnson Tanglefree 10 when I was little, maybe 16 years ago.  I reeled in mainly lots of rainbow trout and a meter-long 15-pound carp with that bad boy, had it for 7 or 8 years before going to baitcasting.  Still at my mom and dad's house to this day, probably barely works at all now...not that I maintained it well.  Lots of memories and fish!      

Looking back, I really should have moved on to spinning tackle sooner, never used that until a trout trip in the Bighorn Mountains last year.  IMO, it really makes more sense for most casual fishermen to learn spinning gear.  I have a cheap ultralight Shakespeare that is smoother than the old Johnson, although that was made in the early '90s.  I'm sure the new higher end models are better.      

Spincast reels used to be decent, but quality has gone down over the years.

I used a Zebo 33 for many years, but any of them made after 1980 aren't really worth it.