Question about line size: The wife likes spincast reels they usually wind up being zebcos, yesterday she bought a zebco bullet mg , has anyone used one of these? Any way it comes with...

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

The wife likes spincast reels they usually wind up being zebcos, yesterday she bought a zebco bullet mg , has anyone used one of these?
Any way it comes with 10lb mono and says it can be used with braids, well I’m not ready to let her have my braid so don’t tell her that part.
Anyway I’ll have to let her borrow one of my rods but she wants to throw some 2oz spoons and some lighter umbrella rigs, now the question is, what lb test “ mono “ would you put on this thing?
Looking forward to your suggestions

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Look at he Rod. What weights is it made for? 10 LB should work IF she doesn't really snap the rod when casting.
Medium rods are normally 1-3 Oz. if I remember correctly. The rod will also have the line poundage on it.
If you go up in line weight, the reel drag will work before the line breaks.
But on a Zebco closed face reel the amount of line is NOT a lot as per an Open Face Reel or Bait caster with a large Spool. Just a thought for you. Now IF you look at say 20 LB Braid, NOT Spider Wire and how big it is compared to the 10 LB Mono, most likely you can put more line on the Zebco for her. Either Power Pro, or any of the others that have less coating than Spider Wire will work better. Just my 2 cents worth.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Uncle_T wrote:

The wife likes spincast reels they usually wind up... (show quote)

I don't think that reel is really adequate for an umbrella rig.
Usually it works better with a more substantial reel, like a baitcaster reel.
Not sayin you CAN"T use a smaller Zebco, just that it normally wouldn't be your FIRST choice.

Flytier Loc: Wilmington Delaware

Absolutely agree with Steve. Just because you CAN doesn't means you should.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Uncle_T wrote:

The wife likes spincast reels they usually wind up... (show quote)

Uncle T with a capacity of 90yds of mono if I was to try that setup I'd do this.

10 lb mono back n the rest 20lb braid maybe 30 your choice.
Reel has 12lb drag.
I hear the Bullet is pretty tough.

I put 10lb braid on a 33 after I heard you couldn't do it.
It cast great.
You won't know if you don't try.

I'm one that enjoys experimenting.
My latest go against the grain idea is light line on baitcasters.

Have one with 8lb copoly n one with 4lb copoly.
Can cast a 5" unweighted stickbait very well.

Will it work when I use it while fishing 🤔
That story will be told later👍👍.
Both reels are regular baitcasters.
Not a lite line speciality.
👍🎣🎣

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Uncle T with a capacity of 90yds of mono if I was ... (show quote)

I just enjoy pushing the envelope 👍

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

Grizzly 17 wrote:

I just enjoy pushing the envelope 👍

Well, I'm finally going to try one of the new Bait Casters. Until now all the bait casters I have used were the old Penn ones. Those now when doing boat drop and fish (Head Boats). I can cast with them but they still get backlash's sometimes.
I won't put up my Old 406 Mitchel or my old Diawa 7700 series reels for long casts and surf though.
The Mitchel back to 1970 and the 7700 to 1978. Lubed then a lot and took care of them and they still do good.
The Diawa was one of the first 20 LB drag reels back then. The 406 was one of the first High Speed reels then.
They killed so many fish over the years. LOL Even more than my old Zebco 33 back in the early 60's.
Still don't know what happened to the Zebco, maybe one of my Nephews got it. LOL

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Uncle_T wrote:

The wife likes spincast reels they usually wind up... (show quote)

I never talk much of them, more of a kids reel, get your wife a good spinning reel

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

audigger53 wrote:

Look at he Rod. What weights is it made for? 10 ... (show quote)

I’m going to let her use one of my rods I think the lure weight is 1/2 to 2oz, she does like to whip it when she casts so I think I will go ahead and put some braid on it for her

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

saw1 wrote:

I don't think that reel is really adequate for an umbrella rig.
Usually it works better with a more substantial reel, like a baitcaster reel.
Not sayin you CAN"T use a smaller Zebco, just that it normally wouldn't be your FIRST choice.

She doesn’t want to use a baitcaster she tries mine and says it’s nice and then backlashes and hands it back to me

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

saw1 wrote:

I don't think that reel is really adequate for an umbrella rig.
Usually it works better with a more substantial reel, like a baitcaster reel.
Not sayin you CAN"T use a smaller Zebco, just that it normally wouldn't be your FIRST choice.

Wouldn’t be my first choice either but she wants to do it with a spincaster so I’m going to try to make it happen for her

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Uncle T with a capacity of 90yds of mono if I was ... (show quote)

I think I’m going to put some 30lb braid on it for her let her cast it in the yard first to see if she likes it before we go out on the water

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

audigger53 wrote:

Well, I'm finally going to try one of the new Bait... (show quote)

The zebcos from the 60s and early 70s were good I remember my dad and all the family used them when I was a kid, I tore them apart when I was like 5 and put them back together and they still worked

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Uncle_T wrote:

Wouldn’t be my first choice either but she wants to do it with a spincaster so I’m going to try to make it happen for her

Well, that's what it's all about. Let her fish the way she wants to.
At some point, I would still try to get her to use an open face spinnin reel of some quality. I think she would end up likin it just fine.

Uncle_T Loc: Georgia

ranger632 wrote:

I never talk much of them, more of a kids reel, get your wife a good spinning reel

I wanted to get her one when she bought the zebco but she doesn’t want it, she doesn’t want to learn how to use them, I was going to pick her out a nice spinning combo that would do what she wanted