Is a spincast reel still a legit option? 2024
cgolf reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
my wife uses a 33 Classic spooled with 10# XL for t rigged worms and it works just fine for her
TX-Deluxe reply :
Wind is never a factor. For amateurs it's nearly fail/foul proof.
ww2farmer reply :
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 reply :
On 4/16/2017 at 8:45 PM, 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 reply :
On 4/16/2017 at 9:25 PM, 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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
"Is A Spincast Reel Legit?"
Don't get caught with one in Polk County, Florida.
The "Spincast Police" are everywhere!! 
cgolf reply :
On 4/16/2017 at 11:12 PM, 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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
On 4/17/2017 at 7:26 AM, 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 reply :
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 reply :
On 4/17/2017 at 6:02 AM, 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 reply :
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.
Mosster47 reply :
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 reply :
dwh4784 reply :
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 reply :
On 4/17/2017 at 12:52 PM, 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.
Team9nine reply :
If KVD put his name on one, they must be decent 
Munkin reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
Didn't someone on here say the good thing about the spincast is that you can use the rod with your future baitcaster
gimruis reply :
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 reply :
On 4/16/2017 at 11:56 PM, 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 reply :
cgolf reply :
On 4/18/2017 at 4:15 AM, 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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
Clark K.
Richardson, TX
Learned on a Zebco when I was a kid. Still use one today!
Source >> Zebco
Ecatman1 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
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 reply :
I have a 30 year old 33 Classic that I still use for guests that aren't skilled anglers.
WB4IUY reply :
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 reply :
On 9/28/2019 at 8:10 PM, 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 reply :
On 9/29/2019 at 4:24 AM, 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.
related Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
most viewed Fishing Rods Reels Line Knots topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.