How many of you fisherman started with a Zebco?

[roberts]

I still have my 33 that my dad gave me. My son uses it now too.

[BBBGP]

1)Cane pole 2) Zebco 3) Abu Garcia

[jfk47]

Started with the Zebco 202, went thru several different models, had a 33 Classic at one time. then went to a Shakespeare that had multi colored line on it. Man, that was .the bomb. I loved that reel. The line would change color every couple of feet or so. I was the MAN !!!

[Man]

Started with the Zebco 202, went thru several different models, had a 33 Classic at one time. then went to a Shakespeare that had multi colored line on it. Man, that was .the bomb. I loved that reel. The line would change color every couple of feet or so. I was the MAN !!!

I think that was the "wondercast" from Shakespeare. Goodtimes!

p.s. you can never be me.

[Hardware]

I had one as a kid but didn't use much cause I wanted to use the open face like my dad.

[Hollywood]

Be sure to look at the new Zebco Bullet, Kind of a souped up Omega. My wife refuses to throw a spinning reel so she has worn out 3 Omegas. The new Bullet is built a lot better & designed to handle the salt. Put 20# braid on them & fish on.

[mclipp]

Zebco inventor was R.D. Hull, brother of my aunt Wynoma who married my dad's brother Paul. I never met him but heard many stories about him and certainly fished with Zebco reels for many years. Zebco 33 was my favorite, but for catfish, I was partial to an 808. Still have several Zebco reels but haven't used them in years.

[Phillip Fields]

Started with a cane pole, got a Zebco 66 in the mid 1950s. Went to Mitchel 300 in the early '60s.

[Philip-TX]

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

^ x2 ^.

[Capt Glenn]

I started off with a Zebco 202. It was olive green with white handles. I caught a LOT of fish with that reel. I caught lots of speckled trout trout under the lights at night and flounder off our dock. Tons of whiting, sand trout, gaftop and just about everything else. My mom and I fished every afternoon when I was in kindergarten. I got out at noon and she would put my brothers down for a nap and she and I would fish for flounder off our dock, and we caught lots of them.

[Burnadell]

Yessir! Started with a Zebco 33 bass fishing with my dad I the 50’s and eventually moved into a Garcia 5000.

[Capt Glenn]

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.

We used the 170s as well. Back in those days we didn't have baitcasters that would throw really light stuff like speck rigs very well. So when it came to fishing under the lights at night my parents used 170s. I started with a Zebco 202 but when I got older I got to move up to an Abu 170. And I caught lots and lots of trout and redfish on it. I think the biggest I saw caught on one was my mom caught a black drum that was in the 20-25# range on her 170. The drag wasn't perfect but it was better than the Zebcos.

[muzzyslinger]

The Zebco thread jogged a memory from my hometown ( which only I may find interesting).Originally the “Zero Hour Bomb Company” they started in Tulsa making downhole explosives for the oilfield.. In the mid 50’s they were approached by a guy from Rotan, Texas who had invented the first closed face spinning reel and they agreed to manufacture it. It became so popular they renamed the company Zebco, abandoned their explosives biz and tooled-up to make reels full time. I still have one my dad bought for me in 1964 when I was 8. How many of you guys caught your first fish on one?

started with a Zebco 202

[PeePaw on Fork]

Started with a cane pole

[Burnadell]

I edited my post below 3 times to: Yessir! Started with a Zebco 33 bass fishing with my dad I the 50’s and eventually moved into a Garcia 5000, and it still has my original post unedited.