Zebco Slabseeker Rods (need info)

[fishjohn]

Curious if anybody has tried these rods and what they think of them. I need to buy a few more 10 and 12 foot rods and these are alot less expensive than my B&M ProStaff Trolling rods. The Zebco's are only $14.00 at Cabelas. Will be primarily slow trolling. Any input would be appreciated>

Thanks, Fishjohn

[drill instructor]

dont think they are worth it. too flemsy at the tip, if you only catch hand size crappie thats okay but for the true slabs stick with BnM. I have caught 15lb strippers on BnM poles with no problem at all.

[waxworm]

I agree. Not bad to use as a cheap jig pole for guests, kids, etc. but I have tried spider rigging them and they are just too flimsy.

[fishjohn]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I guess for the money I couldn't expect to much. I wish B&M would make the prostaff troller in a 10' version, they only come in 12, 14, and 16'ers. The lakes and rivers I fish are not very clear so the 10'ers would work for me and the 10 footers are a little easier for me to manage.

Thanks again, Fishjohn

[FalconSmitty]

here are a few comments about them.
04-11-2005, 04:27 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Zebco Slab Seekers
Hey - If anyone has the slightest inclination to buy one of these reels, I would recommend NOT doing it.
I bought 4 to give them a test drive and the first time I hooked a fish I switch the pin up before I started reeling up the line and the pin broke on my first fish.....needless to say the others never made it out of the box....I returned them all......
They didn't appear to be very high quality at all....great idea, but the quality was not up to par......
#2 04-11-2005, 04:34 PM
FishCrazed
Keeper Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Cartersville, GA
Posts: 40

I have a buddy that has 2 of the open face spinning and said they worked pretty good, i.e. no problems!

Which model did you try? Openface or spincast?
#3 04-11-2005, 05:02 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central GA
Posts: 1,529
Quote:
Originally Posted by FishCrazed
I have a buddy that has 2 of the open face spinning and said they worked pretty good, i.e. no problems!

Which model did you try? Openface or spincast?
I only tried the open-face and I was less than impressed!

#4 04-11-2005, 05:29 PM
crappster
Crappie Wall Hanger Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Valdosta, GA
Posts: 436

Lol...did you use that line that came with them? Its crap line.....I had a little ol channel cat down at the local river break it. I put power pro on both of mine and haven't had any problems. Granted I haven't had the opportunity to use the pin with the power pro, but I imagine the power pro can hold up.

#5 04-11-2005, 06:54 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central GA
Posts: 1,529

Originally Posted by crappster
Lol...did you use that line that came with them? Its crap line.....I had a little ol channel cat down at the local river break it. I put power pro on both of mine and haven't had any problems. Granted I haven't had the opportunity to use the pin with the power pro, but I imagine the power pro can hold up.

No, I immediately pulled that line off and re-strung it with some good line....be careful of that pin....I thought they were metal at first, but they are only plastic......
#6 04-11-2005, 05:37 PM
crappster
Crappie Wall Hanger Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Valdosta, GA
Posts: 436
I feel bad now GAboy....I'm wondering if I had any effect on you buying four after all that hype I was posting about me buying some. LOL. Man....I'm sorry....I'm still laughing at your post. I had no idea you had bought them and then here is your first report on them.....hehe.

#7 04-11-2005, 06:55 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central GA
Posts: 1,529
Quote:
Originally Posted by crappster
I feel bad now GAboy....I'm wondering if I had any effect on you buying four after all that hype I was posting about me buying some. LOL. Man....I'm sorry....I'm still laughing at your post. I had no idea you had bought them and then here is your first report on them.....hehe.

No sir....I would have bought them anyhow...I was just in the mood to buy something and I saw them.....I figured I would give them a field test myself....and let's just say it failed miserably in my particular application!!
Too funny!!!!
So, I take it your experience hasn't been so bad?

Dutch
Slabmaster Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bonaire, Ga.
Posts: 61
I looked at them at the Sportscenter in Perry. Felt and looked cheap, so I passed on them. Glad I did now.
#9 04-11-2005, 07:50 PM
crappster
Crappie Wall Hanger Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Valdosta, GA
Posts: 436

Well...crappie aren't going to break 10 pound power pro regardless. So yeah my experience has been good because I can mark the depth. I haven't really been fishing in that fashion though since I bought them. Probably won't do that until summer time. But I do see what you are getting at with the pin. The stress it puts on the line with that angle would cause light mono to break.

#10 04-11-2005, 09:02 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central GA
Posts: 1,529

Quote:
Originally Posted by crappster
Well...crappie aren't going to break 10 pound power pro regardless. So yeah my experience has been good because I can mark the depth. I haven't really been fishing in that fashion though since I bought them. Probably won't do that until summer time. But I do see what you are getting at with the pin. The stress it puts on the line with that angle would cause light mono to break.
No, it wasn't the string that broke, it was the actual pin that comes up!

If it was the line I wouldn't be as upset.....
#11 04-11-2005, 09:35 PM
JimmyS
Moderator Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Savannah Ga.
Posts: 505

Zebco Slabseeker
I am happy I saw your post Ga.Boy, I was going to buy one. I get took enough on other stuff . Seems like I am a sucker for everything new on the market ha ha. But I WILL stick with power pro line. Thanks for the tip on the reel. Jimmy S.

#12 04-11-2005, 09:11 PM
crappster
Crappie Wall Hanger Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Valdosta, GA
Posts: 436

Oh!!! Well then, that makes a difference. In that case I haven't had enough field testing on it then. I have caught a few fish and it didn't break, but now I wonder if I got something big on.
#13 04-11-2005, 10:17 PM
Crapbie
Trophy King Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Ocala, Fl
Posts: 261
With a price as cheap as there's its a shame they are not up to par. I to nearly bought them but deceided on buying some spin casters from walmart to go with my BPS equpiment. Maybe someone should email them and let them know about the pin breaking and stuff. How else will they learn?

#14 04-12-2005, 06:17 AM
DENNIS BOWERS
Crappie Wall Hanger Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BYRDSTOWN,TN.-dale hollow lake
Posts: 487

Thanks Ga.boy, I Was Going To Buy One For My Son---not Now!!!good Fishin To Ya!!!dennis

#15 04-12-2005, 04:12 PM
VietVet68
Trophy King Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Posts: 274

Man, you guys are killing me. Took my 4 Slab Seekers back to Gander Mountain this morning. Purchased 4 Guide Series Casting Reels for 29.95 each and some Power Pro 10/2. Hopefully this will be a good match for my BnM Pro Staff trolling rods.

#16 04-12-2005, 04:18 PM
GABoy
Crappie Grand Master Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Central GA
Posts: 1,529
Sorry guys....just wanted to save y'all the trouble.....my first fish I caught on that Slab Seeker was maybe a 1.25 lber and it broke the pin almost immediately......
I knew it had to be too good to be true......great idea, they just didn't follow through with the quality I guess.

#18 04-12-2005, 09:28 PM
VietVet68
Trophy King Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Terre Haute, Indiana
Posts: 274
Quote:
Originally Posted by Redtick
Vet68, did you buy your stuff at the new Gander Mountain in Terre Haute? I saw they were building a new store just southof I-70. I may have to check it out, I will be going through Terre Haute going south to Sullivan in a few weeks.
As far as I am concerned, you can't hardly beat a Zebco 33 for a crappie reel. I buy mine at yard sales for $5 with rods. They can easily handle the biggest crappie that ever lived and I caught a 11# channel with one that had 6# line on it Sunday morning. The picture of the cat is on another thread.

Yes! What a great store!

I had several 33's laying around, but I got the Slab Seekers because I thought the depth control feature would prove worthy for spider rigging. Then the forum brought up Power Pro line, and most of your braided line mfgs suggest not using it on spin casting reels and I really wanted to try the stuff. The one thing I have never liked about the 33's is the line twist you get when trolling over a long period of time. And I don't care if you put a dozen Sampo SS swivels in front, it will still find a way to twist. Same way with the spinning reels but to a lesser degree, therefore I opted for the cheaper casting reels for trolling.

VietVet68
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#19 04-12-2005, 09:55 PM
DmDuck
Slabmaster II Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Greensburg In
Posts: 167

Snapped the reel off the "built in " model on the first fish I hooked . Cabela's is replacing it no hassel however . I do place alot of the blame on myself , I wasn't aware my wrist was on the reel so when I flexed to set the hook I put pressure on it .

Seems the plastic is a bit brittle , and I'm not so positive I can be exactly sure I won't break it again as that's just the way I hold the pole to make it comfortable !!

Quote:
Originally Posted by DmDuck
Snapped the reel off the "built in " model on the first fish I hooked . Cabela's is replacing it no hassel however . I do place alot of the blame on myself , I wasn't aware my wrist was on the reel so when I flexed to set the hook I put pressure on it .

Seems the plastic is a bit brittle , and I'm not so positive I can be exactly sure I won't break it again as that's just the way I hold the pole to make it comfortable !!
I agree, I knew once I took it out of the box and got a good look at it that they weren't made all that well, but I figured I would give it a shot anyhow.
GABoy