Down Memory Lane: Zebco reels, Ugly Stik rods
 

On our fishing trip last week, my brother and I were talking and laughing about our first fishing rods.

My father bought us boys Zebco 202 combos when we were very young. They were green and plastic, but they caught fish and that was all that mattered. I can remember catching everything on them - bream, bass, catfish, sheepheads, croakers and even a black drum.

When we wore those out, he stepped us up to Zebco 404 combos. Now, we're talking. That was fine fishing for a seven year old boy back then. Hours and hours of freshwater and saltwater fun with our dad.

We knew we had made it to the big time when we got the Zebco 33 and the original Ugly Stik rod. The Zebco 33 was metal and shiny and the Ugly Stik wouldn't break no matter what rambunctious knuckleheads like us did to them. Wow! You couldn't tell us NOTHING! We were going fishing! :rotfl:

Now days, we're not happy unless we have a $200 rod and $200 reel - ten of them. I'm not sure we're having much more fun than we did with our Zebco reels and Ugly Stik rods.

I still like Ugly Stik rods. A little nostalgia, but I think many of the newer ones are sorely underrated. I'm thinking about getting a Zebco 33, putting it on an Ugly Stik GX2 rod and seeing what I can do with it.

Just for old time's sake. :)

http://shop.zebcobrands.com/media/ca...0C.BX61_44.jpg

I've tried a few Zebco reels for out children. The quality seems far below what they used to be and they break down quickly. I do recall some of the 70s vintage 202s and 404s lasting a long time.

I am still using Ugly Stik rods. I think we might own almost 20 of them along with a dozen Shimano, 6 Diawa, and a couple of Okuma reels.

Here is a picture of my first ever fishing rod..... It is about 60 years old and still very useable. It is 4' 6" long some kind of glass which is very flexible. Caught many a bream and small bass with that rod.

I never paid any attention to who made that rod...... until today.
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Wow G that is a great rod and Renegade this is an awesome thread. It's nice to take a look back and remember when it was simple and fun. Not saying it isn't fun now but just remembering the good old days so to speak. A hook, bobber and a box of worms down at the pond and you were happy. Looking back those fish weren't near as big as I thought they were. Don't matter though.

ABU-MATIC 170....Don't have a clue what kind of rod.....

Down Memory Lane: Zebco reels, Ugly Stik rods
 

Omega 33 and a plain old 33
two made in early 50s rod and reel is one piece

Great stuff guys :)

This is awesome I'm only 26 but I've avidly been fishing since 6 years old and I remember the 404 and my grandpa had an Abu 170 !

Memory lane sure is bringing it back. Hope the pics keep coming and thanks to those who have taken time to post !

I'm not real old but I remember my first reel as well. Zebco 33. Brand of the rod is fuzzy though. Wanna say it was something involving a rhino but I can't be sure. I do remember that the top 6 inches or so glowed in the dark though. lol


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When we were kids fishing the Zebco 202/404/33... my dad had the mack daddy Zebco's... he was smacking the fish with his Zebco 888 and his Zebco 808. When I was 8 years old I was dreaming of the day that I too could have a reel as fine as his.

This zebco one if from the mid 70's

Wow this one brings back memories.

I had the zepco's and that is all I fished with until I was about 12 then my dad have me his old Abu Garcia 5000 man I thought I was the **** with that reel.
Attachment 90028

The first rod and reel I bought was the following summer. I cut all of the neighbors yards for a month to save up enough money to buy a Daiwa procast with an ugly stick. It is funny how you can remember things like that. I was on the way to the camp in Belle River with my great grand father and he knew I had been saving up for the rod and reel. We always stopped at the Canal Villere in Morgan City to get our food for the trip. This Canal Villere has a sporting goods department. Him and my great grand mother were on the other side of the store shopping and I was looking at the reels and I was $10.00 short. He walked up and told me he would give me the extra $10 if I replaced all of the boards on the wharf when we got to the camp.
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I still have both of those reels and use them a few times every year. It if funny the memories they bring back while I'm fishing.

Still have and use the abu Garcia 170 along with the Johnson Century for bream fishing.Attachment 90030

I have 3 Zebco 33's that are 15 to 20 years old. They were bought for my sons first reels. They are rigged up and still used for sacaulait fishing to this day. They are used for at least 10 to 20 trips a year. In the past few years I have tried some of the new reels similar to them and they are all junk. Reefman I had a Centry I sold in a garage sale 20 years ago and wish I still had it. Those were the smoothest casting reels. Its a shame today's spin casting reels are now disposable and won't make a season without falling apart.

Whatttt...NOBODY HAS A PICTURE OF A POPEIL"S POCKET FISHERMAN???:eek:

Never actually owned one however.