I probably already know the answer to this question but I am going to ask to see if there is a cheap way out there to fix the problem. I bought a zebco spinning reel from wal-mart a couple of months back...not expensive...prob 30 or 40 bucks. When I first got it, it seemed like it would cast way better than it does now. I can throw the crap out of this thing and it seems like the line isnt coming off of it right and it doesnt cast nowhere near as far as it used to. Is there anything I can check or do differently to make the reel cast better or do I need to go invest in a better reel. Thanks for any advice and sorry if I waste your time. Thanks.  Also, I do a lot of finesse fishing with 3/16 and 1/8 ounce jig heads....could this be why it wont cast that far? I just remember when I first got it that it would cast a lot farther with those same jig heads on it.

Try taking it back for exchange or credit. It's probably time

to move up to spinning tackle. You can probably find a great

deal on a used Shimano Symetre or Stradic in our Flea Market

from time to time.

8-)

When I first got it, it seemed like it would cast way better than it does now.....     it seems like the line isnt coming off of it right and it doesnt cast nowhere near as far as it used to.

Sounds to me like the line is twisted up.  Either troll your line or reline the reel to correct the problem.  

RW,  he said it is a spinning reel.  

Sorry about that....the reel is a Zebco spinning reel. I may try taking it back but my wife will definitely be against me looking into new reels...lol. I may just get one and THEN tell her about it. I know it is just the quality of the reel and I need to bump up in quality. I was just wondering if there was a cheap way to fix the problem. Thanks though.

Hmmmm, a spinning reel is not like a BC where the spool spins, once the bail is open the line is pretty much free to go wherever it wants so that brings us to the line, the line may be twisted, the line may have degraded, there isn 't enough line spooled in the spool causing it to rub against the spool lip ( increased friction ).

Now, on the other hand ........ for 40 bucks you could have purchased a Shimano reel. Shimano has 40 bucks reels that are pretty good.

Get a better reel and then DONT TELL UR WIFE......! What she don't know will not hurt her.  8-)

Get a better reel and then DONT TELL UR WIFE......! What she don't know will not hurt her. 8-)

Word lol... If my wife new how much money i have spent over the last two years on Tackle I'd probably be looking for a new wife  

Respool with new line and use a swivel and leader to help reduce line twist, if fails throw reel in garbage or give it to your kid for still fishing with a nightcrawler.

ok i fell kinda stupid. i looked at how much line was on the rod....wow! was it low! so i re-spooled it last night. thanks for the advice guys. im still bumping up to a better reel soon. im looking into daiwa reels. dont know yet though.

ok i fell kinda stupid. i looked at how much line was on the rod....wow! was it low! so i re-spooled it last night. thanks for the advice guys. im still bumping up to a better reel soon. im looking into daiwa reels. dont know yet though.

A pflueger President is a nice reel for $50-60, I have two, never fished daiwa or shimano spinning reels but I have never been disappointed with the president

Even a stella will cast like crap with twisted up line.  Also those prelined combos often come with line that's too thick in Dia. to cast great...  

Seriously, troll the line and see if that fixed it...  it's a free option.  

ok i fell kinda stupid. i looked at how much line was on the rod....wow! was it low! so i re-spooled it last night. thanks for the advice guys. im still bumping up to a better reel soon. im looking into daiwa reels. dont know yet though.

A pflueger President is a nice reel for $50-60, I have two, never fished daiwa or shimano spinning reels but I have never been disappointed with the president

X2 I have used some older shimanos and daiwas, but as soon as I picked up pflueger I have not used anything else. I have the president and a micro that i use for crappie. They were on sale pretty cheap recently, but not sure if they still are. I prefer them over abu, but abu has some good ones as well for about the same price. If you need to get technical pay attention to the ratios as well and bearing system.

daiwa tierra...simply one of the best spinning reels for the money..imo its under priced...its a great reel..check it out when your ready to upgrade.