Zebco 33 Rhino Tough Spincast Reel Combo

Zebco 33 Rhino Tough Spincast Reel Combo

This rod/reel combo is right in the sweet spot in which a casual fisherman can get great performance without spending too much money.

This is the reel to put in the hands of a novice-level fisherman, young or old. Most serious fishermen move up to open-face reels for their increased line capacity and smoother operation, but there is no better way to start off than with a decent spincast rod and reel like the Zebco 33, especially for younger children. If you want to spend more time with your line in the water and making memories catching fish (or at least trying to) than untangling a spaghetti bowl of line in your child’s or your own reel, then start with something like this.

I grew up fishing with a cheap Zebco closed-face reel and later got a Zebco Rhino reel. Zebco is known for making some lower-end equipment, but I think they got it right with this combo. The 33 gives you upgraded internal components and an overall higher build quality versus their cheaper models.

The Zebco 33 Rhino Tough is a two-piece rod. While one-piece rods are stronger and cannot separate (unless the rod itself breaks), they really aren’t a necessity for casual fishing. It’s hard to beat the convenience of being able to quickly break down your rod into two piece to stow it in your back seat or trunk for those who don’t drive pickups.

This is considered a lower speed reel, which in my opinion, is better for beginners or even seasoned fishermen who prefer a slower presentation of their bait. I prefer the 4.1:1 gear ratio of this reel to maximize torque while I slow roll big, heavy baits for largemouth bass over higher speed reels that give you faster performance yet often overwork the lure in the hands of a novice fisherman.

Overall, this rod/reel combo is a fine choice for someone who wants to get into fishing but wants something a notch above an entry-level model.