Reel Input wanted...Dependable closed face spin-cast reel

[RandyFish]

I need everyone's nomination for a dependable closed face spin casting reel....I have kids, so I need to have a couple decent closed faces around.

I have had awful luck -- I get about one decent season out of them....I have purchased "higher-end" closed faces..Diawa Silver Casts, etc....and it does not seem to make a difference...By the way, I change line regularly on these

There is nothing more frustrating than getting everything organized and hearing. "Dad, my reel isn't working, again."

[Daze Off]

Randy,

I have had a variety of Zebco's over the years for the wife and kid and they seems to have done pretty well. There is always the classic 33....

Good luck - perhaps posting this message under panfish would get more response - not sure many bass fisherman use closed face spiing reels....

Daze Off

[Wayne Ek]

R.F- I would suggest the Quantum Kinetic PTi. I've used these for a number of years on my client rods (trust me these rods/reels get abused) with no problems. I'm sponsored by Quantum, so I could just send it back in if I did have a problem. I have had none... They have magnetic bail trips, no bail springs. You can find them for around $69 bucks. If you ice fish, I would suggest the size 10 which is large enough for most open water applications, but small enough to swithch over to a ice rod and give you a quality ice combo. Other wise I like the size 20's for most soft water applications.

[HawgTide]

I've had the same experience trying to get one for my wife. Finally, last year I found the best one yet, the Omega by Zebco. Last year I bought 3 different ones for her. It is far superior to any spin-cast reel that I've seen. They cost about $50 at WalMart.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wayne-thats a good spinning reel.. but the dude is looking for a spincast. Honest mistake!

I started on the ole Zebco 33.. I then had a few johnsons.. To be honest, I would follow the above advise The omega, I have heard is a pretty good one.. might be worth the money.. I myself have not tried one however... Diawa also makes a decent one.

[Wayne Ek]

Deitz- my mistake... even Quantum guy's make them once in a great while... In the other post, about red hooks... the line about short,fat,stubby fingers and bad eyes... I was not kidding.

[Chev_trucks501]

Hey Randy,

Sounds like you just have some bad luck. The Diawa Silver Cast is a good reel. Although I will nominate the Gold cast of the same brand. I participate in a lot of kids events through out the year, where we supply the gear. So naturally you can bet that the gear takes a beating. I comboed up some Gold Casts on some rods and they have performed excellent. Typically we are fishing 8 pound XL and the kids love it. The main reason I went to the Gold Cast is that kids events are about fishing and catching fish not dealing with tangles... Sounds like a Shampoo ad. Good Luck

Chev

[carlcmc]

How about teaching them to use a spinning reel?

Seriously. I taught my 7 year old daughter last year to use one through the season and she is functional with it. Can't get as good of distance as me but doess well enough to fish. This year (2 weeks ago at cabelas spring expo) i bought 3 new rods with spinning reels for the 8,6,and 5 year olds (7 year old is now 8). I plan to teach even the youngest 5 yearold boy to use the spinning reel. And THEN hopefully won't have to spend hours digging line out of those closed reels! Bound to get a few loops from time to time but thats easier to fix i think.