Those Zebco’s are a icon in fishing gear they have caught millions of fish of all sizes- I use spinning reels personally,Kast king 5500, with bait running options 65$- went out last night and my son caught a 16lb flat and I a 22lb flat he uses the same reel very happy with them,once again Dieter very informative video 👍
Dieter, you definitely qualify as a MASTER in educational instruction! One of my first spinning reels was a small Penn722 ( the funky green colored ones from the mid 1970's). In 1985 I landed a new state record shad using it. Still in operation although I.only fish with it once or thrice each year. In fresh, brackish and occasionally salt H 2. O.
I got two of the Piscifun Flame 4000 spinning reels off Amazon for about $25 each based on Dieter recommendations. I use them for catfish, white bass, stripers, etc. It's ridiculous how good they are for the cost. I like spinning reels because I can teach anyone how to cast and the large reel handles work really well for my wife and for kids as it gives them extra leverage. I grew up in Tulsa and Zebco was an icon in the region. When Zebco came out with the Zebco One reel my dad bought several and we used them for everything.
I started out fishing with a zebco and fished with spinning reels for a lot of yrs, as you say I got ate up on fishing and have level wind bait casters now that I absolutely love, your videos and advice really helped me become a better fisherman
That bait feeder feature is the best addition to spinning reels since they added a line roller. Does any one remember spinning reels without line rollers on the bail? Good episode thanks.
I really appreciate your insight on catfish fishing, and your views are always great. But I do have to disagree with you about the baitcaster being the reel for casting long distances. The spinning reels in the U.K. are much bigger than the spinning reels here in the U.S. and can cast 100 m, which is 328 ft. Most carp fishing companies like Preston Innovations, Daiwa, and Fox have long-distance powerful reels. I would love to get your thoughts on these spinning reels since they use them for the Wels catfish. But that's just my opinion, which means nothing. Please keep up the good work. 👍
Nice comparison video Dieter ! I use all three types of reels and enjoy the differences of each ! I caught a 12 lb. Carp on a Zebco 202 with 10 lb. Line on an ultralight rod when I was 14 years old ! It took almost 30 minutes to land that fish ! That was 52 years ago ! 😀🎣
The new Zebco 303's are made cheaper than the old ones. I bought a bunch for my parents, mostly mom, over the years and stopped buying them new. I kinda made it a challenge for a while to buy them at garage sales. Right now I'm doing a test of a $30 reel that someone at work gave me. It's the same size as my 4000 sized Shimano reels. So far I have gotten a couple twenty pound channel cats with it from shore
I noticed you using the Catfish Pro gear recently. I looked at the specs on that spinning reel after this video and that reel looks really nice! 22 lb drag, 5.2:1 gears, looks like a great product for the price. I'm also interested in that secondary drag mechanism.
It’s not a Shimano Stella, but no one in the catfish world is willing to pay $600 for a spinning reel either…LOL! It’s a good medium tier reel that will handle any catfish you encounter.
As someone that’s still using spinning gear, I’ve never understood the reasoning behind “advancing“ to bait casters. I don’t see any advantage in them whatsoever. If you think about surf fishermen at the beach, they’re all using spinning reels. You even see people fishing out on the ocean for giant tuna using spinning gear. I think they might have a very slight advantage when using very heavy baits but outside of that, I guess I haven’t found a reason to use them yet. Plus hearing that drag peel on a spinning reel is very satisfying 😂
@@DieterMelhorn I think so too, I’m still waiting for someone to prove to me that bait casting gear will somehow catch you more fish. But I’m also stubborn and like my spinning gear 😂
Too long to read: you're right, few additional benefits, more work to learn, without a specific need or desire there isn't a purpose to go thru it all....😅 @@xSteve1983xmy son and I are getting into fishing, I fished a little growing up but never enough to learn about fishing... Son randomly started coming home talkin bout fishing and wanting a baitcaster.... Id never heard of them I always fished with a black Ugly Stik so I thought it was a brand... 😂.... But his buddies at school use them for bass so he had $100 saved up and we went to Walmart and he got the Baitcaster Black Max...... I asked 100 questions while there to make sure he knew wtf he was getting and why he was getting it.... Of course he "wasn't getting it to copy his buddies it was REALLY the best reel..... " So I say okay it's your money go for it.... Maaaannnnn we get home and set it up and he starts casting in the yard and IMMEDIATELY on the first cast the whole goddamn spool unwound.... 😅..... He started to fix it and when I asked "what does this knob do" he didn't know and I immediately knew I had asked apparently the wrong questions at the store bc he had information/statistics on the reel but not "operating knowledge" 😂I said it looks to me like the spinner is on bearings and spins longer than the line, this knob when I turn it slows the reel down, I think you gotta adjust this so it slows around the same time as your cast hits.....I suggested some RUclips videos to help...... He didn't watch them and I did..... Of course lol...... I learned about the brake and line tension and we we spooled his reel...... I'd say we spent the next 5 evenings practicing throwing it out in the yard and getting the timing down, several (647) backlashes later he and I cast it without backlash ever. From my experience (a month) it appears that like you said already it can use heavier rigs and setups, goes way farther than our spinner reels, but the BEST part from what I can tell is the wide range of casting area you have with it.... Short medium or far, can easily toss it low to water underneath branches or foliage and have it travel way farther than the spinner.... A low side cast might get me 18-,25 feet with a spinning reel but I can sling her out there 60-70 feet with a low side cast to get up under the areas...... I enjoy the reel action and I personally think it puts less stress on the line when going directly into the spool in comparison to coming down the pole (pause if necessary😅) and curving around the bale then onto the spool....... Can use heavier line and also hold a lot more line...... Overall I only enjoy it now after a couple weeks practicing... I hated it during that period and found it absolutely fkn useless 😂 why son, why must you decide to get a baitcaster ... But bc of the variety of settings and attention paid to detail during fishing i think he enjoys it because it feels like you're doing more than just tossing a line out.... You have so much more to adjust as you change setups and rigs that you feel like you're really fishing and not wasting time if you aren't catching anything..... Just my theory..... Unless you're bass fishing into sketchy locations that require finesse and control I personally don't see the need in learning it...... I LITERALLY only learned it bc my son wanted to know and I needed to be able to teach him, and with me knowing that then expands our conversation.... And NOW that I actually know plenty about them it's enjoyable to do..... But to a person who just wants to occasionally toss a line in or actually if a person isn't specifically bass fishing in those areas I can't see a need to go thru the process, it doesn't catch more fish, you can put it in more areas to catch other fish i reckon......
Hey sometimes I used a stick just any stick I could handle with any kind of string and hook I could find. I was a very young poor kid that wanted to fish. And if my mom knew I went to the river and creeks back then by myself most the time she would have freaked out. ( Ohio River and creeks in elementary school day's)
Lol , cutting your own cane poles was a thing , even used some old tobacco sticks when fishing in the old farm pond . I used the sring from feedbags . I kept the bluegills from getting stunted and the barn cats fat . They really weren't sociable , but , they would sit lines up on either side of me , watching the float . That brought back memories .
Great video. I think you did not give the spin cast reels from Zebco enough credit. The Zebco 888 will hold 110 yards of 25Lbs mono and is rated with a 30lbs of drag. The 808 will hold 145 yards of 20Lbs line with a 24Lbs of drag. Both of those reels come with power handles stock.
My boss used a Zebco for years for sturgeon fishing. Back when he was younger it was hard to buy left handed reels except for Zebco spincast. I forgot what size it was but it was like three times the size of a normal Zebco
I use the old discontinued Cabela's Salt Striker SS80-B spinning reels for my main catfish rig setups. I have been eyeing the new Ancient Mariner Albatross 6000 though.
I have a couple Salt Striker three piece? Backpacking rods. I got sick of wrecking rods and needed something for traveling. I haven't used them in ten years
Hey Dieter I just put together a combo fiblink 7' med hvy blue rod blue ming yang cl60 reel and it came to 104 bucks. I totally needed another catfish rod lol.
@@DieterMelhorn hey Dieter I picked up a reel on temu a suoerlun gw400r for about 40 bucks. If you want to mess around and try a reel holy crap this one blows me away. The breaking is next level very smooth sexy looking little guy. Holds plenty of line brings the cats. I can't say about longevity just yet but I do take care of my stuff so we shall see. Anyways, if you get an itch check one out would love to see what you think.
@@DieterMelhorn I don't mean to blow up your chat but I wanted to share this w you. I paired the reel with a high tech camo cat hunter rod. 4 eyes and a tip not much else. No trigger no hook keeper. It's fast becoming one of my favorite rods.
What happened to you using the piscifun reels? They any good? Never heard of them till you mentioned them years back. Just now learning of the catfish pro. Keep up the great content.
I never understand why some professional guides or people who catfish use such cheap reels. But once cry once. Get a Avet, Accurate, maybe a Abu Garcia 6500 for the cheapest. I wouldn't have anything cheaper. Spinning reels, get a Shimano Saragosa or spheros, stratic at the cheapest. A diawa or a penn at the cheapest. Rule nothing under $150 you get what you pay for. Let them be your sponsors instead of cheapest junk. I get it not everyone can get these premium reels but in the long run they will be cheaper just to buy one time instead of buy 3 or 4 times or more. Plus they usually have better warranty and parts.
First, Avet and Abu Garcia are not willing to sponsor guides. Brands like Ancient Mariner, Catfish Pro and Piscifun are willing to sponsor guides. These reels have never failed me outside of a pawl wearing out, which happens with any reel. A reel really serves one purpose; to take up line...the drag is a plus. They are not winches to reel in catfish. The rod brings in the fish, and the reel takes up the line. As for warranty, the Ancient Mariner has a lifetime warranty, the Abu Garcia is no where close.
You sure you had a plastic Zebco 33 back then? Im thinking you had a 202 or 404. Ive never seen a plastic 33. And I think the zebco 33 was a staple for lots of households of different economic situations back then. I still use vintage 33's , newer Omega Pro's and Bullet for crappie and bream.Love your videos Dieter!
I'm considering the Picifun alioz 300 or 400 for my Shimano Compre musky rod. I want to use the combo for flatheads and musky on the Delaware River. Any recommendations ?
Those Zebco’s are a icon in fishing gear they have caught millions of fish of all sizes- I use spinning reels personally,Kast king 5500, with bait running options 65$- went out last night and my son caught a 16lb flat and I a 22lb flat he uses the same reel very happy with them,once again Dieter very informative video 👍
It’s cool that everyone loves the Zebcos!!
Still have my first Zebco reel from around 1968 and some old PENN 209's.
Brings back a lot of memories of fishing with my Dad.
The ol’ Penn 209…..nice.
I have two of the Penn 209s that are at least forty years old !
Dieter, you definitely qualify as a MASTER in educational instruction! One of my first spinning reels was a small Penn722 ( the funky green colored ones from the mid 1970's). In 1985 I landed a new state record shad using it. Still in operation although I.only fish with it once or thrice each year. In fresh, brackish and occasionally salt H 2. O.
You're too kind!! Just passing along what I know and have learned from others!
I got two of the Piscifun Flame 4000 spinning reels off Amazon for about $25 each based on Dieter recommendations. I use them for catfish, white bass, stripers, etc. It's ridiculous how good they are for the cost. I like spinning reels because I can teach anyone how to cast and the large reel handles work really well for my wife and for kids as it gives them extra leverage. I grew up in Tulsa and Zebco was an icon in the region. When Zebco came out with the Zebco One reel my dad bought several and we used them for everything.
For the price you grabbed them at thats a deal!
Great information I used the spincast reels 50 years ago and love the spinning reels and now trying to use the baitcasters and round reels
I started out fishing with a zebco and fished with spinning reels for a lot of yrs, as you say I got ate up on fishing and have level wind bait casters now that I absolutely love, your videos and advice really helped me become a better fisherman
I am so glad you enjoy the content!
That bait feeder feature is the best addition to spinning reels since they added a line roller. Does any one remember spinning reels without line rollers on the bail? Good episode thanks.
I really appreciate your insight on catfish fishing, and your views are always great. But I do have to disagree with you about the baitcaster being the reel for casting long distances. The spinning reels in the U.K. are much bigger than the spinning reels here in the U.S. and can cast 100 m, which is 328 ft. Most carp fishing companies like Preston Innovations, Daiwa, and Fox have long-distance powerful reels. I would love to get your thoughts on these spinning reels since they use them for the Wels catfish. But that's just my opinion, which means nothing. Please keep up the good work. 👍
I love people that disagree and make a good argument for their point of view....THANK YOU!
Nice comparison video Dieter ! I use all three types of reels and enjoy the differences of each ! I caught a 12 lb. Carp on a Zebco 202 with 10 lb. Line on an ultralight rod when I was 14 years old ! It took almost 30 minutes to land that fish ! That was 52 years ago ! 😀🎣
Thanks for the update and views 🇺🇲🇺🇦
Just starting out fishing and saw this, thanks for the information sir!
I appreciate you checking out the channel!
Another great learning video , thanks for all of your wisdom deiter hope to see tons more of it .....
I appreciate the kind words and glad you commented!
The new Zebco 303's are made cheaper than the old ones. I bought a bunch for my parents, mostly mom, over the years and stopped buying them new. I kinda made it a challenge for a while to buy them at garage sales.
Right now I'm doing a test of a $30 reel that someone at work gave me. It's the same size as my 4000 sized Shimano reels. So far I have gotten a couple twenty pound channel cats with it from shore
Let us know how it works out!
I still own an ABU Garcia 5000 and 4500C. And a Mitchell 300 spinners reel. Now a days I do most of my fishing with spinning reels.
Nothing wrong with that!
I noticed you using the Catfish Pro gear recently. I looked at the specs on that spinning reel after this video and that reel looks really nice! 22 lb drag, 5.2:1 gears, looks like a great product for the price. I'm also interested in that secondary drag mechanism.
It’s not a Shimano Stella, but no one in the catfish world is willing to pay $600 for a spinning reel either…LOL!
It’s a good medium tier reel that will handle any catfish you encounter.
Good morning Dieter , totally enjoyed video. Great information 💯💯👍👍
I appreciate you watching!!
As someone that’s still using spinning gear, I’ve never understood the reasoning behind “advancing“ to bait casters. I don’t see any advantage in them whatsoever. If you think about surf fishermen at the beach, they’re all using spinning reels. You even see people fishing out on the ocean for giant tuna using spinning gear. I think they might have a very slight advantage when using very heavy baits but outside of that, I guess I haven’t found a reason to use them yet. Plus hearing that drag peel on a spinning reel is very satisfying 😂
Spinning gear will serve you well!
@@DieterMelhorn I think so too, I’m still waiting for someone to prove to me that bait casting gear will somehow catch you more fish. But I’m also stubborn and like my spinning gear 😂
Too long to read: you're right, few additional benefits, more work to learn, without a specific need or desire there isn't a purpose to go thru it all....😅
@@xSteve1983xmy son and I are getting into fishing, I fished a little growing up but never enough to learn about fishing... Son randomly started coming home talkin bout fishing and wanting a baitcaster.... Id never heard of them I always fished with a black Ugly Stik so I thought it was a brand... 😂.... But his buddies at school use them for bass so he had $100 saved up and we went to Walmart and he got the Baitcaster Black Max...... I asked 100 questions while there to make sure he knew wtf he was getting and why he was getting it.... Of course he "wasn't getting it to copy his buddies it was REALLY the best reel..... "
So I say okay it's your money go for it....
Maaaannnnn we get home and set it up and he starts casting in the yard and IMMEDIATELY on the first cast the whole goddamn spool unwound.... 😅..... He started to fix it and when I asked "what does this knob do" he didn't know and I immediately knew I had asked apparently the wrong questions at the store bc he had information/statistics on the reel but not "operating knowledge" 😂I said it looks to me like the spinner is on bearings and spins longer than the line, this knob when I turn it slows the reel down, I think you gotta adjust this so it slows around the same time as your cast hits.....I suggested some RUclips videos to help...... He didn't watch them and I did..... Of course lol...... I learned about the brake and line tension and we we spooled his reel...... I'd say we spent the next 5 evenings practicing throwing it out in the yard and getting the timing down, several (647) backlashes later he and I cast it without backlash ever.
From my experience (a month) it appears that like you said already it can use heavier rigs and setups, goes way farther than our spinner reels, but the BEST part from what I can tell is the wide range of casting area you have with it.... Short medium or far, can easily toss it low to water underneath branches or foliage and have it travel way farther than the spinner.... A low side cast might get me 18-,25 feet with a spinning reel but I can sling her out there 60-70 feet with a low side cast to get up under the areas...... I enjoy the reel action and I personally think it puts less stress on the line when going directly into the spool in comparison to coming down the pole (pause if necessary😅) and curving around the bale then onto the spool....... Can use heavier line and also hold a lot more line......
Overall I only enjoy it now after a couple weeks practicing... I hated it during that period and found it absolutely fkn useless 😂 why son, why must you decide to get a baitcaster ... But bc of the variety of settings and attention paid to detail during fishing i think he enjoys it because it feels like you're doing more than just tossing a line out.... You have so much more to adjust as you change setups and rigs that you feel like you're really fishing and not wasting time if you aren't catching anything..... Just my theory..... Unless you're bass fishing into sketchy locations that require finesse and control I personally don't see the need in learning it...... I LITERALLY only learned it bc my son wanted to know and I needed to be able to teach him, and with me knowing that then expands our conversation.... And NOW that I actually know plenty about them it's enjoyable to do..... But to a person who just wants to occasionally toss a line in or actually if a person isn't specifically bass fishing in those areas I can't see a need to go thru the process, it doesn't catch more fish, you can put it in more areas to catch other fish i reckon......
No the 202 404 before that cane pole and what ever string you could find in the trees.👍👍
I may have to cut and cure me a cane pole and do that….
Hey sometimes I used a stick just any stick I could handle with any kind of string and hook I could find. I was a very young poor kid that wanted to fish. And if my mom knew I went to the river and creeks back then by myself most the time she would have freaked out. ( Ohio River and creeks in elementary school day's)
Lol , cutting your own cane poles was a thing , even used some old tobacco sticks when fishing in the old farm pond .
I used the sring from feedbags .
I kept the bluegills from getting stunted and the barn cats fat .
They really weren't sociable , but , they would sit lines up on either side of me , watching the float .
That brought back memories .
Hello thanks for your video. I just found your channel, I watched the abu garcia video and decided to see what other videos you had. Thanks again Mike
Great video. I think you did not give the spin cast reels from Zebco enough credit. The Zebco 888 will hold 110 yards of 25Lbs mono and is rated with a 30lbs of drag. The 808 will hold 145 yards of 20Lbs line with a 24Lbs of drag. Both of those reels come with power handles stock.
I’m gonna put them to the test!!!!
My boss used a Zebco for years for sturgeon fishing. Back when he was younger it was hard to buy left handed reels except for Zebco spincast. I forgot what size it was but it was like three times the size of a normal Zebco
@@DieterMelhorn Cannot wait to see that.
I use the old discontinued Cabela's Salt Striker SS80-B spinning reels for my main catfish rig setups. I have been eyeing the new Ancient Mariner Albatross 6000 though.
They actually still sell that reel and it is amazing
I need to try some of the Albatross 6000’s….
I have a couple Salt Striker three piece? Backpacking rods. I got sick of wrecking rods and needed something for traveling. I haven't used them in ten years
I still use the salt strikers also I have a 80 and one size down from a 80 can't remember if it's a 60 or 65 ..
@coldcreekcatfishingbillie1606 the next one down is the 65. I have one that still needs a rod. I also have multiple 50's, 40's and even a 30. Lol
My first rod was bamboo no reel just some line then stepped into a spinning reel
I need to make me a bamboo rod!
Hey Dieter I just put together a combo fiblink 7' med hvy blue rod blue ming yang cl60 reel and it came to 104 bucks. I totally needed another catfish rod lol.
Thats a good price point!
@@DieterMelhorn hey Dieter I picked up a reel on temu a suoerlun gw400r for about 40 bucks. If you want to mess around and try a reel holy crap this one blows me away. The breaking is next level very smooth sexy looking little guy. Holds plenty of line brings the cats. I can't say about longevity just yet but I do take care of my stuff so we shall see. Anyways, if you get an itch check one out would love to see what you think.
@@DieterMelhorn I don't mean to blow up your chat but I wanted to share this w you. I paired the reel with a high tech camo cat hunter rod. 4 eyes and a tip not much else. No trigger no hook keeper. It's fast becoming one of my favorite rods.
Yep my first rod was a 9 dollar zebco push button I got 7 years ago that I fished with for about a year
Can’t beat $9 for a reel!!
It was 9 for the hole combo!🤯
What happened to you using the piscifun reels? They any good? Never heard of them till you mentioned them years back. Just now learning of the catfish pro. Keep up the great content.
I love this
Thank you so much for watching!!
I never understand why some professional guides or people who catfish use such cheap reels. But once cry once. Get a Avet, Accurate, maybe a Abu Garcia 6500 for the cheapest. I wouldn't have anything cheaper.
Spinning reels, get a Shimano Saragosa or spheros, stratic at the cheapest. A diawa or a penn at the cheapest.
Rule nothing under $150 you get what you pay for.
Let them be your sponsors instead of cheapest junk. I get it not everyone can get these premium reels but in the long run they will be cheaper just to buy one time instead of buy 3 or 4 times or more. Plus they usually have better warranty and parts.
First, Avet and Abu Garcia are not willing to sponsor guides. Brands like Ancient Mariner, Catfish Pro and Piscifun are willing to sponsor guides. These reels have never failed me outside of a pawl wearing out, which happens with any reel. A reel really serves one purpose; to take up line...the drag is a plus. They are not winches to reel in catfish. The rod brings in the fish, and the reel takes up the line. As for warranty, the Ancient Mariner has a lifetime warranty, the Abu Garcia is no where close.
You sure you had a plastic Zebco 33 back then? Im thinking you had a 202 or 404. Ive never seen a plastic 33. And I think the zebco 33 was a staple for lots of households of different economic situations back then. I still use vintage 33's , newer Omega Pro's and Bullet for crappie and bream.Love your videos Dieter!
I grew up on zebco 202
A great reel isn’t it?
@@DieterMelhorn yes
I'm considering the Picifun alioz 300 or 400 for my Shimano Compre musky rod. I want to use the combo for flatheads and musky on the Delaware River. Any recommendations ?
I USE Spining Reels
They’ll catch anything!!
I just went to bass pro. The zebco bullet mx combo is 169.00. There not so affordable. The reel alone is 139.00
You went DARK 4 10 SECONDS
RUclips hates me….