Shallowminded6 Posted October 4, 2020 Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 So, looking at possibly either rebuilding or replacing my Shimano FJ 4,000s (6 of them) in the near future. Having some issues currently with drag and bearings. I have two little boys 2&3. They are taking an interest in the boat/fishing. What reels did you guys use while teaching your lil ones to fish? Kind of thinking staying away from stradics and above, Im sure they are going to take a bit of a beating and get dunked on occasion and dont want to stress over them. Just seeing if you guys had any suggestions for budget reels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boomer Posted October 4, 2020 Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 Rebuilding reels! You’re a great Dad. I remember fishing under the 12 Ave bridge in Bayou Texar (Pensacola) with a Zebco..learned a bunch about how a reel works when I was 8. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fin-addict Posted October 4, 2020 Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 At those ages I would start off with zebco style reels. JMO. Great to start them young. 😀👍 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdemott Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 Zebco, as they will break the first one of any model so you might want to limit the financial damage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurem Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 2 and 3 YO wielding a 4000 series reel? Nice! I don't know what 'budget' you are in but I have had good luck with the Daiwa Fuego LT series spinning reel. I have a 1000, 2500 and a 3000 series for over a year now and fish almost every weekend. Not a guide but a recreational fisherman. They run $100 +/- and I see them for 20% off occasionally. I match them up with a 6'6", 7', 7'6" ML (yes ML) rod and have a blast. fishing inshore Tampa bay. I buy the OHERO series rods for $70 in Tampa 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smilemaker Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 shimano makes a nice introductory reel. shimano NASCI. can be found for under $100. they are very smooth for the cost. I have several but they only get used by guests with no gear so they don't see a lot of weekly action. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted October 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 2 hours ago, lurem said: 2 and 3 YO wielding a 4000 series reel? Nice! I don't know what 'budget' you are in but I have had good luck with the Daiwa Fuego LT series spinning reel. I have a 1000, 2500 and a 3000 series for over a year now and fish almost every weekend. Not a guide but a recreational fisherman. They run $100 +/- and I see them for 20% off occasionally. I match them up with a 6'6", 7', 7'6" ML (yes ML) rod and have a blast. fishing inshore Tampa bay. I buy the OHERO series rods for $70 in Tampa Haha. My 3 y/o only wants to use what I use. Im just stoked the 2 have a large desire to be on the boat, fishing and outdoors and almost no desire for tv or inside. I got a cheap spinner at Gander for him to learn on. He is pretty accurate with the small zebco he has and can cast about 30’, but doesnt want to use it anymore. Will check those out, also need to go smaller than the 4,000 a bit. Tough for them to handle. But want to get something for them to grow into. Might be jumping the gun a bit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 2 hours ago, smilemaker said: shimano makes a nice introductory reel. geez.....that was my go to reel for quite a while (LOL) But, I"m pretty close - Penn Battle 2500's I have 4, all the same, all the same rods and line weight....this way when I pick up a different lure rigged rod, it will cast the same. dc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 Heres a piece of useless information that has nothing to do with this topic but does have to do with fishing reels.................. After World War 2 there was a factory in Texas that made bombs and bomb parts for the war effort. After the war the owner had all this equipment and machinery but the order for bomb parts obviously ceased. So the old man puts an add in the paper and basically says; If you have a product or an idea we can build it. So this other old boy from Texas has an idea for a fishing reel so he contacts him and they make a fishing reel from his design. They were so impressed with the design they agrred to start manufacturing them in large quantitys and selling them. However they did not know what to name this new reel. Well after some thought they decided to name the reel after the bomb company that was called "Zero Hour Bomb Company" thus Zebco was born! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quest4reds Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 Zebco Dock Demon combo. They make a closed spincaster and a spinning model both on a 36" glass rod. I got one for giggles and my son and I had a blast catching striper, trout and flounder with it. I pulled all the line that came with it off and put 10# braid on it, works like a champ. $20 for the combo is pretty hard to beat and the fact that it's only 36" and nearly unbreakable is a plus too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurem Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 SM6, Another thing that was fun when my son was small was to put a couple Hula hoops in the front or back yard and let them practice casting to them put a small weight or hard lure with the hooks removed). Before long they will be skipping baits under the mangroves like a pro! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Dave Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 3 hours ago, quest4reds said: Zebco Dock Demon combo. They make a closed spincaster and a spinning model both on a 36" glass rod. I got one for giggles and my son and I had a blast catching striper, trout and flounder with it. I pulled all the line that came with it off and put 10# braid on it, works like a champ. $20 for the combo is pretty hard to beat and the fact that it's only 36" and nearly unbreakable is a plus too. Thanks for sharing that! I'm getting one for my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THE OUTLAW Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 Im 55 and still fish Zebco’s They just call em Quantums now . 🇺🇸🏴☠️ 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quest4reds Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 15 hours ago, Big Dave said: Thanks for sharing that! I'm getting one for my 2 1/2 year old granddaughter. I'm heading for a long weekend fishing trip soon and I am going to do my darndest to catch a red drum on my dock demon. I figure if the reel explodes at least I'm only out $20. I'll let you know how it goes. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 5 hours ago, quest4reds said: I'm heading for a long weekend fishing trip soon and I am going to do my darndest to catch a red drum on my dock demon. I figure if the reel explodes at least I'm only out $20. I'll let you know how it goes. PLEASE keep the gopro going. I REALLY want to see a zebco go back to its original (BOMB) roots and BLOW UP! There are plenty of reds that would be more than willing to assist. Where are u going? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quest4reds Posted October 6, 2020 Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 19 minutes ago, whichwaysup said: PLEASE keep the gopro going. I REALLY want to see a zebco go back to its original (BOMB) roots and BLOW UP! There are plenty of reds that would be more than willing to assist. Where are u going? You know where. Smith Creek as usual, LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post MuddyBottomBluz Posted October 6, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 6, 2020 Every child in America deserves to catch at least one fish on a Zebco, it is a right of passage! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastflat Posted October 9, 2020 Report Share Posted October 9, 2020 Penn Battle III. They are cheap and excellent quality. You wont be to up set when one of the little ones loose it overboard. Put it on an ugly stick elite or inshore light. That way when they reel a jig or fish up to the guides the rod wont go boom. I swear Penn sells that reel to cheap. its got to be the best value in fishing. I find myself fishing with my 4000 as much as I do my Stradics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quest4reds Posted October 15, 2020 Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 Well for anyone wondering how it went with the Dock Demon on the fishing trip, it pretty much stayed stowed. Weather leading up to and during the trip had the fish scattered and tight lipped. Nobody caught any numbers or great sized fish. That being the case, I'll take it out with me next time and see if I can entice a red with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shallowminded6 Posted October 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2020 2 hours ago, quest4reds said: Well for anyone wondering how it went with the Dock Demon on the fishing trip, it pretty much stayed stowed. Weather leading up to and during the trip had the fish scattered and tight lipped. Nobody caught any numbers or great sized fish. That being the case, I'll take it out with me next time and see if I can entice a red with it. Was wondering. I think Im gna start with this for him and work him up a bit. Probably rebuild my 4000 and use them until they are ready fir something bigger and let them use them. By then I will probably have another similar thread haha. I did buy my wife the Penn Passion and have been really impressed. $120 rod and reel. Smooth reel and drag system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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