Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Who makes a good spincast reel?

I liked the Johnson reels.

Jesse don't do it. The bent barrel 870 is the Grail. I've seen it in action.

That said, Pat you'll have to school me on the baitcast. My wife's late father who I'm totally sure was punking me whilst fishing for bass on the St. Johns river in Fl. handed over the worst dognutted abomination of a baitcast rig. Total fail.

I really do need to come and fish with you.

Add a glass rod and pile of Mepps

Thanks.

Any brand you favor? I like Lews bait casters. Maybe they make good spinning reels ,

😀 I’m thinking at least 5k..

Even kids do better with spinning stuff...they can see how it works.

You can buy me out for a lot less than that, but you can't outshoot me with a s/s.

Clays ain’t the same as birds, buddy. We betting or not?

You damn sure can’t do it with an 870. Name the amount...

Dang Pat. I might have to file a hurt feelers report.

Sounds like a get-together to me. Amount? Lol ..I don't have any money. I was thinking more like Tee-shirt of choice. I'll post the event tomorrow.

Dave , there's an old Zebco 1 in the Classifieds now for $45 ....( search longshot3 ) . I like the old Johnsons too . I use both old classic open face & closed face , but my favorite is a closed face under the rod type Shakespeare 1756 or 1810 mounted towards the rear of a Spinning Rod with the Reel mounted underneath . This whole deal is configured like a Fly Rod but these Rods are very hard to find these days . I prefer to cast right handed , but to crank left handed . YMMV .

T-shirt? I’m moving and was hoping you’d pay pay for that. I ain’t got time for that [bleep].

Only one I’ve owned was a Zebco 202. Haven’t used one since I was maybe 7 or 8 years old.

My uncle was a spin cast guy. I remember handing him a spinning rig one day and he flipped it upside and started reeling backwards. Lol.

I’m left handed. So RH reals seemed common.

I have a couple of old Johnson Century's in like new condition. They are really nice. Perfect for the grand kids. All of my fishing tackle is vintage 60s-70s stuff in like new condition. All made in the U.S.A. too! MAGA! Sort of suspends all the good memories of growing up with that tackle.

Wouldn't have one. Spinning all the way, as LT Powell said.

Zebco 808

Handles are bisexual on spinning reels, you can change them from side to side. Shimano or Penn.

FWIW I have spinning reels, baitcasters, fly reels and a side-cast reel. I bought my wife a spincaster a few years ago, because of how simple they are to use, and it turned out to be such nice thing to use for flicking light lures that I bought myself one. Ours are both Zebco, a 202 and a Rhino 33.

There again, among my shotguns I have a SxS. Two, if you count the drilling. I like them too.

This is supposed to be fun, isn't it?

+1, I think the heyday of the top spincasters was about the 1970's. Zebco made some decent ones after that, with ball bearings, etc.

But the Johnson Century's were a no-bearing option that just felt good, and were a lot of fun to fish....and still are. I think they date back to the 1960's. The Swedish Abu 170 was also a nice reel, but heavier duty than the Johnsons. For small stuff, I'd go with the Johnson loaded with light line and for heavier the Abu 170. Abu even made some heavier models than the 170.

Another poster talked about the old Shakespeare and Pfleuger underspins, that you set into freespool by backing up the handle. Many of these were actually very well made, precision products. My grandpa used them mounted on fly rods (the white blank Shakespeare "wonder rod" versions), and I have since inherited them and use them every now and then. My problem with these was the slow retrieve. Still they are kind of cool, but better for bait fishing than casting and cranking lures.

Spin cast reels are just another tool, you just need to leverage their strong points. I have used all of the ones mentioned, and also completely restored/blueprinted multiples of each, so am familiar with them.

IMO, Where spincasters really shine is on small creeks with lots of overhanging brush. You can poke a rod tip through the brush and then just pop a button to let the bait drop. They are also good for bow and arrow casts when no backcast is possible.

Lotta fun to be had with a spincaster….