Casting

Question
I have a zebco 33 and can never seem to cast far enough using spinners. But unless I use additinal weights I seen to get a little farther. I zam fishing from the waters edge, but just cant seem to get out to beaper water.

Answer
John; Hi, I am glad to try to give you some help with your problem.  To begin with while the Zebco 33 is a fine fishing reel in it's class there are other types that far outclass it.  However, I doubt your trouble is the reel itself but something else.  My first thought would be the line.  How long has the line been on that reel?  If it is more than a year that may well be your problem.  Get yourself some new line.  For a "33" I suggest an 8lb test soft monofilament.  Don't go cheap on the line but it is also not necessary to pay an arm and leg for a line.  I would recommend a line like Trilene XL or its Stren similar priced and type line.  More later on line.

If you have a fairly new line on the reel then check to see if it is to about one eighth of an inch of the spool edge and no more.   If it has been used a lot it probably is quite a bit lower than 1/8inch, more likely 1/4 to 1/3 inch below the rim of the reel.  If so replace the line as I explain later.

If the line is good and the reel spool nearly full the line may have twists in it.  To take these out go to your back yard or other grassy place and start walking your line off the tip of your rod held high and let the line drag behind you in the grass with nothing tied on it.  Let all the line out and keep walking around in the grass for several minutes.  The grass will help pull the twists out of your line.  You can tell when they are gone by lifting your rod tip high and walking back over the line in the direction opposite that you were dragging it in the grass.  If the twists are still there the line will start to twist up between your rod tip and the grass.  If this is the case more walking is needed.  Pulling the line through water with nothing on the end of it will do the same but since you are ashore unless there is a sea wall someplace where you could walk holding the rod tip out over the water and letting the line out and then walking until the twists are gone.  If the twists will not go out of the line then you need a new one. As you reel in the line as I will explain later feel for rough spots.  If there are some you need a new line.

We will come back to line again in a moment but there is one more thing that might be causing your problem.  It is your rod.  In spin casting and spinning the rod is more important than the reel in casting light lures.  The rod is probably too short if it is from a traditional combination of Zebco 33's.  If it is less than a full six feet long it is too short for good casting.  If the one you have is less than six feet and you cannot afford a new one I will shortly give you some tips to help even with that handicap.  If you can afford a new rod get a seven foot casting rod with medium light action. The tip should be fairly light action but the butt should have enough umph to hook and land a good fish.  A good enough rod can be purchased at Wallmart or  Kmart or other such store but I would go to a smaller privately owned tackle shop.  At such a shop you will be dealing with someone who actually knows something about fishing and you can likely trust his advice. You should be able to get a good enough rod for under $20.  You do not need an expensive rod.  I don't think I have a rod that I paid more than $25 for and I catch my share of good fish.  If you like you may print this answer up and ask the tackle store man to read it.  I think he will know what I am talking about.  In WallyWorld etc. I doubt the salesperson knows didly about fishing.

Now back to your reel and line.  To begin with take the reel apart carefully noting where each spring and screw goes so you can put it back together.  I have a couple of reels (rather expensive ones) that I failed to do this with and I never could get them back together correctly.  They are in boxes in my closet for parts.  The "33" isn't really complected but if you do not make notes it can be hard to get back together just right.  Clean it thoroughly with a mild dishwashing liquid, water and an old tooth brush and lots of paper towels.  Make sure each part is completely cleaned.  Put a tiny bit (it is worse to have too much than too little)of reel grease on each gear.  Oil all bearings and other parts that move with a good quality reel oil and reassemble.  If you have doubts about your ability to do this take it to a fisherman friend or the tackle shop and watch as he cleans and lubes it so you can do it next time.  Do not put any grease or oil on the spool part of the reel where the line goes as this may cause problems with line deterioration.

Now take your reel and put it on your rod new or old.  Of course, check your rod guides to see that they are not broken, missing or damaged as this will cause both poor casting but line wear and possibly losing a big fish.  Lay the spool of new line on the floor label up and thread the line through the tip and down through the guides toward the reel.  Remove the cover of the reel and feed the line through the hole from outside to inside. Then tie an overhand knot in the end of the line and cut off the tag end as close to the knot as possible.  Now take that end and tie an overhand knot around the main line forming a slip knot.  Place the slip knot loop onto the back of the spool and pull tight but not too tight to break the line.
Then slide the cover up the line and replace it on the reel.  This next step is crucial so I will use caps.  TAKE THE LINE BETWEEN YOUR THUMB AND INDEX FINGER USING THE HAND THAT DOES NOT DO THE CRANKING OF THE REEL.  WHILE LINE IS BEING TAKEN ONTO THE SPOOL OF THE REEL AT ANY TIME FROM NOW ON MAKE SURE THERE IS SOME TENSION ON THE LINE. Begin cranking the line onto the spool keeping that tension on the line with thumb and index finger.  Do not put so much tension that your drag slips or the line bites into the layers of line already on the reel.  Just enough to keep loops from jumping up on the spool.  When casting lures or bait using a weight the lure in the water or the weight will usually keep enough tension on the line but any time there is slack in the line use that thumb and index finger.  When winding line onto the reel keep the rod tip about eye level or a little higher.  After about 20 or so cranks of the reel handle stop and slowly lower your rod tip to knee level.  The line should simply drop to the ground.  If it seems to be having twists in it turn the spool of new line over on the floor and try again.  After 20 or so cranks lower the rod again and see if the twists are gone. They should be unless you misread the first try.  Now go ahead and fill the spool to within about one eighth of an inch of the edge or lip of the spool.  Cut the line beyond the tip keeping tension on it.
Tie on a practice plug or weight to keep it under tension when the rod is not being used.  You should be ready to go fishing now and should get much better distance.

I said I would give you a few tips about using an old short rod but this applies to a new long one too.
To begin with start by holding the rod with your hand in the position you would use if you were reaching out to shake someone's hand.  The reel (this is true only of spincast reels like the "33". Casting and open face spinning reels are different) may be either on the side with the thumb of the casting hand or straight up.  Hold the rod tip about waist high or slightly higher and using your casting hand thumb push and hold the release button on the reel.  Next, using only your wrist, not your elbow or arm, bring the rod smartly up to just past your right ear if you are right handed left ear if left handed.  Just as the rod passes your ear stop it abruptly and again using only your wrist bring the rod straight past your ear.
Just as the rod passes your ear coming forward release the thumb release button and once more stop your rod when the tip reaches just about eye level.  When your lure has gone toward the target and just as it hits the water start cranking to take up any slack.  REMEMBER USE THE THUMB AND INDEX FINGER.  When the lure hits the water raise your rod tip slowly to about eye level and do your thing with your lure.  Different lures require different things be done with them.  If you are fishing with bait on bottom just let the bait sink while you slowly take up any slack.
If you will practice this method of casting both your distance and accuracy will improve.  When I was a kid of ten or so I set up some old bicycle tires at the edge of the yard and practiced casting to them using a nut or clothespin as a lure.  When I got so I could hit the tire almost every time then I started using paper plates.  I have been a pretty fair caster every since using almost any kind of tackle.

Of course some spinners are so small that they can be successfully cast only with ultra light outfits.  You may have to use a larger spinner or put a weight a foot or so up the line to have enough weight to get it out even after practicing my instructions.  Some spinners are so light they can only be used with a fly rod which is totally another story.

I hope this has helped.  I truly believe if you follow these instructions you will find your distance and accuracy increases greatly.  I thank you for calling on me to answer your question and if you have future questions don't hesitate to ask.  Remember if you don't know the answer there are no foolish questions.  Foolish or dumb answers maybe but no foolish or dumb questions.

I am
Jack L. Gaither  (JackfromSeminole)
Lake Seminole, Georgia