Thread: Zebco Omega Pro

No need to be embarrassed! Whatever works and is catching you fish, Zebco makes good stuff

I have a couple of them .
When I get frustrated with my BFS combos , I pull the baitcasting reels and replaced them with Zebco Omegas .
One of these days I’m going to try some braid on mine , I’ve read they’re ok to use braid .

How do you like them overall?

Originally Posted by peshtigost

How do you like them overall?

I cut my teeth on Zebco 33’s .
It took a few years before I made the transition over to “open face” reels .
The way the 33 was attached to the foot , would work loose in about a years use .
We would try to JB weld them in place , but it wouldn’t last long .
So I have a history with closed face reels .

But once I went totally ultralight , the spinning equipment rules . The drag, which to me , is the most important part of a reel , is far superior in most spinning reels over open face reels .
I have three Omegas and the drags are different on each one .

The Omegas are the best closed faced reels available IMO .
I use them now for something different.
I like the slower gear ratios the closed face reels have .
Nothing wrong with them , they have a following.

I wish Zebco could/would make one with the same quality of the Omega , but with a clicking star drag and weigh in around six ounces.

I don't anything about the Zebco reels but that Johnson Century was the first reel I ever purchased myself back in the 60's and still have it. Really liked the johnson reels growing up, had their Citation, Commander and 710 as well. Still have a couple left , been giving them to grand kids to use. You can fish the Century with a spin cast rod or spinning rod by just turning the line spool over. Caught a lot of big carp as a kid with those reels. Great memories.

Have Zebco's and like Jim the first reel I ever bought with my lawn mowing money was a Johnson Century!! I used 33's, One Classic and even have some old 202's and 404's and somewhere a couple of 606's. If it makes it easier to fish them in the winter go for it!! Fishing is supposed to relaxing!!

we use a few in these parts ,women's and kids rods mostly , pretty durable and easy to use and cheap ....not a bad deal if you ask me

I grew up Johnson reels because that is what Virgil Ward used. I still us spincast reels when pinpoint accuracy casting is required. I can cast around heavy timber and undercast under docks with the best of them with a spincast setup. They certainly have place in my arsenal.