How many of you fisherman started with a Zebco?

[Pushbutton2]

ZEBCO 404 and a Phluger Rod

[hopedale]

Caught many fish on a cane pole before i graduated to a Zebco 202. Great rig, and a lot of good times.

Yep, same here. Was really fond memory of my Grandpa taking me to the creek with my own cane pole.

[7sdad]

My first was a Zebco 202 and at the time I thought they were the best ever made.

[Bayouboy]

Zebco 202, 404, 808, then a Zebco 33 with steel gears after I found a $10 bill on the floor in Piggly Wiggly

Z 33 was the chit!!!

[Bowhica]

Man I can still hear that signature click, metallic sound of the line moving passed the round metal teeth when casting and the zing of the drag when pulling in a fish. Reeling, getting no where and turning the drag the wrong way in a panic with your thumb. 202 on an ugly stick from Montgomery Wards and a rubber band powered balsa wood airplane for entertainment.

[kruppa24]

Started on zebco, my daddy had a garage full of them!

[jdg13]

I know there were more but the one I remember having as a kid was the "Red Rhino" combo. The salt killed the reel, but I'm pretty sure the rod is still at my parent's somewhere.

[HoustonHunter94]

I am from Tulsa and did not know that bit of backstory on Zebco. I still have my original one from somewhere around 1983 or 1984 timeframe. Still on the original rod as well. I caught a nice bass on it a year or so ago, what good memories. First try at posting pics on the new site, they are on there, don't know why so small. Still learning.

[SaltwaterSlick]

My first reel was a Shakespeare South Bend 77. My dad bought us 3 of 'em, one for me, mom and him... We wore those suckers out catching bream and goggle-eyed perch in the slough on our property... Then we discovered "drum fishing" behind the dam at Damb B reservoir (think it's called Steinhagen now or something like that)... We used those South bends like winches pulling those drum up the concrete wall on each side of the dam spillway... My dad never got into Zebco for some reason... not sure why. I've bought a few 33's over the years. Still have 2 or 3 of 'em. Even started my son and daughter with 202's (his was a Snoopy model. Hers was a My Little Pony model)...
My South Bend is long gone, but I still have the rod... It's an old Shakespeare and most of the cork is gone... That dang rod is over 60 years old!!

[Slick8]

I started with the ABU Garcia Abumatic 170.

My dad was of the opinion that it was more durable with a beefier drag to handle those 15-17 inch redfish I was fond of. And, if I hooked into a bigger fish it could handle it far better. He was right, that reel served me until I learned to use a bait caster and I still have it today.

[ElfEyes]

I did, heck that's all my mother and father have used to this day

[Man]

I went to Conroe this past weekend for 3 days and only took 5 zebco 404's. Filled the cooler with cats and perch. Still use them when its convenient.

[mikebyrge]

I used some Zebco reels growing up but my Grandpa (mom's dad) was partial to the Abu 170's those are what I remember most...he had more money than we did

We do have a new Zebco Omega reel that I setup for my daughter to use a few years ago that is really nice.

Still use an old 170 rig sometimes that my mom gave to my dad back in the late 60's. With fresh line that thing will cast an 1/8oz white-bass jig a mile!

[SaltwaterSlick]

I started with the ABU Garcia Abumatic 170.

My dad was of the opinion that it was more durable with a beefier drag to handle those 15-17 inch redfish I was fond of. And, if I hooked into a bigger fish it could handle it far better. He was right, that reel served me until I learned to use a bait caster and I still have it today.

That's what I switched to when the old Shakespeare wore out! Have my grandsons using them now for catfishing in a friends farm pond that is stocked with blues that are in the 15-20# range. They do just fine. I loaded them up with 40# spiderwire... cast a mile and good drag!

[BowhunterB]

zebco 202,zebco 33,used 808 wade fishing the bays back in the day

This lineup for me.