Spin Castin Reels

[Gone Fishing]

Looking for a good closed face spincasting reel for my wife to throw. I've bought a few Zebco's lately and they have been junk. She doesn't feel comfortable throwing my baitcasters and spinning gear. That's fine with me. I just want her to have a good smooth reel when she does go.

I thought some of you guides (or anybody else) might know of one.

Thanks for any info.

[steveearle]

THe word "good" kills that statement. I have never seen a good one or one that would be good for an extended period. One idea would be a spinning reel with relatively light braid to avoid loops, used with a loose drag. Just get her to flip the bail by hand not with the real handle. My $.02......

[Sam]

I agree. The only closed-face spinning reel I ever owned has been laying on the ocean bottom off California for about 40 years now, 'cause I took it off the rod and that's where I threw it. There's no tangle like getting one of those tangled up, down inside.

Open-faced spinning reels are easy with just a little practice. She'd have it with about 10 minutes casting practice in the backyard - I've got a 10 y.o. granddaughter who picked right up on using one. Just my $.02 worth, also.

[motoman]

I'm with Sam, those closed faces are pain.

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Shimano makes their Sidestab spinning real, that's $29.99. I bought a couple of them and they'd go toe-to-toe with my $100+ dollar reels.

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Or the Shimano Spirex, actually back reels to top-center, and it has a little trigger, so the line is right where she needs it on the cast. And that's not too pricey either.

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I have no interest in Shimano, I've just grown bias to them over the years.

[KansasBoy13]

Did you try the ol Zebco 33's? I used them when i was kid and my mother uses them as she sounds the same as your wife and she doesnt have a problem with them. Other than that good luck really....But I agree with Sam, open face spinning reels are usually a snap to catch onto, my girlfriend picked one up and seemed like a natural.

There is also this type of reel, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...0001000_100-1-0 ,she also uses this type and likes them just fine.

[Gone Fishing]

Did you try the ol Zebco 33's? I used them when i was kid and my mother uses them as she sounds the same as your wife and she doesnt have a problem with them. Other than that good luck really....But I agree with Sam, open face spinning reels are usually a snap to catch onto, my girlfriend picked one up and seemed like a natural.

There is also this type of reel, http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...0001000_100-1-0 ,she also uses this type and likes them just fine.

They just don't make them like they used too. She likes throwing the c-rig with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz weight so she can feel the bottom all the time. This much weight is just to much for these Zebco's. After only a few trips they get very rough.

There again this much weight is to tough for her to throw on a spinning reel also.

[TroutRinger]

I haven't used one in years, but back in the day, I used to use an Abu Garcia Abumatic. I don't recall having any issues with it until my friend stepped on it and bent the handle. It never worked the same after that, and I never bought another spincast. I recently have been taking (or strongling encouraging) my girlfriend to fish. She has been using a Zebco 2020 Prostaff and has been doing fine.

[TroutRinger]

They just don't make them like they used too. She likes throwing the c-rig with a 1/2 to 3/4 oz weight so she can feel the bottom all the time. This much weight is just to much for these Zebco's. After only a few trips they get very rough.

There again this much weight is to tough for her to throw on a spinning reel also.

I just read this post again, and you're right about the Zebco's with the heavy weight. When I used the Abu Garcia, it was often with heavy weight like you mentioned, and it did fine. The one I had was definitely a heavier duty spincast. I don't know if they still make that model though, and it was kind of expensive.

....I've been looking online and the model was Abu Garcia Abumatic 475. If you can find one like it, I think you'll be happy.

[focused fishing]

Gone Fishing,

I have one that I use for clients that can't / won't use a spinning rod. It is a Daiwa Gold Cast GC120. Holds 100 yds of 12# mono, gets used about 10 - 12 times a year, usually with 1/4 oz. - 5/8 oz. weight and has held up pretty well. Should do the trick for your mrs. Not cheap though I think I paid around $55 for it. It's the best one I have found.

EP

[crazy4fishin]

I just had to thow my $.01 in here. Thankfully my wife is a fisherperson, the good news, but she is stubborn, the bad news. She used to fish with a Zebco and had continual trouble with it. (truth be told it was more the operator than the reel)

I kept trying to tell her to swtich to a spinning reel, but of course since I was recomending it that was obviously the wrong thing to use.

Until we were with a guide on Table Rock and he only had bait casters and spinning reels.....she had to go with the spinning reel - he basically kidded her so much that she had no choice but to learn to use the spinning reel - now she wont use anything else. I ended up buying her one of the low end BPS models and it works great for her.

The moral to the story - get a friend, relative or complete stranger to make the recommend to your wife or girlfriend. Then you should be good to go.

Best of luck on your quest