The Spincasters

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Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 8, 2012 at 5:05pm

My favorite Microcast is the Zebco 11 Gold....I fish these often with six pound test......some of the newest spincasting reels in my arsenal......

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 8, 2012 at 5:03pm

Zebco Rhino...a nice medium action reel and I've caught many bluegill on these reels......

Comment by John Sheehan on January 8, 2012 at 8:23am

David -Thanks for your post .I guess Zebco WAS  the maker of SC reels ahead of Shakespeare.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on January 7, 2012 at 3:52pm

Nice Keeper Largemouth and Striper, both caught on the old Zebco Rhino light tackle....Lots of fun listening to the drag sing and wrestling these fish to the net....

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on January 7, 2012 at 3:14pm

As far as I can recall, ZEBCO was first in 1949. This is excerpted from Wikipedia -

"The first commercial spin cast reels were introduced by the Denison-Johnson Reel Company and the Zero Hour Bomb Company (ZEBCO) in 1949."

Shakespeare did introduce their 'Wonder' series of reels - 1953 is right for them. The early Shakespeare's were nicely refined. Castings, machined parts, fine spring works... all of these are found in these old Shakespeare reels.

The Johnson reel company of today did not start out as such. The original Johnson reel was designed by an engineer,  Lloyd Johnson, who happened to love fishing. He teamed with another man, Warren Denison to refine the design and form the Denison-Johnson Reel Co. of Mankato MN.

Their first reel, the Sidewinder model 20, was designed in the early 1950's and patented in 1953. After many improvements and working up through the model numbers, the legendary Model 100 "Century" came out in 1955. Their marketing plan back in the 50's was pretty interesting. They would provide tackle shops with "loaner" outfits - both rod AND reel. These were then given to fishermen to "test drive." When they brought them back, the shop would sell them a brand new one at the "special introductory price."

In the late 60's, billionaire Samuel C. Johnson Jr., who owned the Johnson Wax company purchased both Johnson reels and Minn-Kota motors. He incorporated these into a wide ranging outdoor products division, Johnson Worldwide Associates. Some of their brands? Beetle Spin lures, Minn-Kota trolling motors, Johnson and Mitchell reels, Camp Trails tents and backpacks, and Old Town canoes and kayaks, among others.

In 2000, Johnson Fishing products became part of the Pure Fishing family of companies. Today their products are made offshore (polite way of saying China). They're good - but nothing beats the workmanship of the early models. Which is why I love them, still.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 7, 2012 at 1:24pm

The earliest known depiction of a fishing reel comes from a Southern Song (1127–1279) painting done in 1195 by Ma Yuan (c. 1160–1225) called "Angler on a Wintry Lake," showing a man sitting on a small sampan boat while casting out his fishing line.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 7, 2012 at 12:51pm

Just found out ,production of the Push Button spinning reel began with the Shakespeare Company in 1953 the year I was born. The Shakespeare 'Wondercast 'reel. Any one have  one of these?My next question is when did the Johnson Company come out with the

ir first model? 

Comment by Dwayne Denison on January 3, 2012 at 1:19pm

John, They are listed as ul, they are just beefy rods.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 3, 2012 at 1:12pm

http://orcaonline.org/aboutorca.htm

Comment by John Sheehan on January 3, 2012 at 1:04pm

Maybe you're right Dwayne .I think I have 2 other SC poles. A Zebco and something else.I'll post it when I find it . Now, does anyone know what model this Shakespeare is Reel is? Another $2 Garage sale special .It had no model# on it.

 

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