How many of you fisherman started with a Zebco?

[Radar]

I started on a Mitchell 300 and a Alcedo Micron spinning reel.

Here's the Alcedo Micron - Italy.

When I turned 16 I bought my first pick up truck and a brand new, made in France Mitchell 300 with a Shakespeare rod. Got it at western auto, I can recall that like it happened yesterday.

[Geezy Rider]

Nope started out with a Mitchell Garcia.

[bowmansdad]

I remember wearing out the white perch with my 1st spin cast in the late 50’s. I thought it was a Zebco, it had a silver cover front and back, the gear section was black with a push button to disengage the spool, the back plate had a opening to access a ball to feather the spool. I have researched it and can’t find, anyone have a clue?
I bought a Mitchell 300 when I was about 15 and literally wore it out, the bail broke in the late 90’s so I got a good 40 years out of it!

[El Paisano]

Started with a cut willow pole, bottle cork, grasshoppers for bait, and a wad of broom weed to help get the bait. Zebco 202s came along a few years later.

[asu-indian]

Used a 33 until I was 10, then switched to ABU 5000. About a year later got the 5000c. Still have the ABU's and one of the Lew's Speed Sticks.

[Lynn21]

33 baby!

[91cavgt]

Ya'll are going to laugh at me but here goes......

I'm 46 years old. Still have a zebco I use for catfishing. And to answer the O.P.'s question I started out with a zebco.

I’m not laughing. I’m 47, started with a Zebco 33 when I was a kid and still use a 33 to this day. Just recently picked up a Shakespeare rod with a Zebco 33 reel at a garage sale for $5!

[Hoggslayer]

I still use them for catching bluegill . My wife caught a 10.52 pound bass on her first cast ever, on a zebco 33.