[KILSONG]

I have been following the development of Zeebaas reels since they started new business.
The more I get information, the more I feel the reels are good enough for tuna jigging and popping, maybe better than existing high-level spinning reels.
For example ZX-27 has line capacity of 380 yards of 20 lbs mono or 500 yards of 59 lbs braid and max drag of 40 lbs Those figures are good enough for average tuna. The most impressive thing about the reel is ZX- 27 weighs only 19.9 oz.

Guys who jigs or throw poppers know the importance of reel weights for long hour jigging and popping.
I talked with guys who use Zeebaas reels and they all said drags of Zeebaas reels are superb.
I'd like to hear about postive and negative reviews of the reels.

This post edited by KILSONG 11:31 AM 08/18/2008

 

[Ichibahn]

Kil, I was thinking the same with you.
I was following for a while and want to get ZX-27RB soon.

 

[656995]

Kil, you may be first

Kil,

When I met you at the NJ fishing show this spring I was also doing
Recon. on these reels for a high end tackle collector.

I found them to be of exelent quality. But unfortunaly this high end collector did not provide me with funds or credit card info for me
to purchase a few of them to test.

So just from holding and winding these reels I wondered how one's hand might feel fighting a large fish with their handle design.

I've yet to read or hear of someone using one on Tuna, GT or
such fish.

Maybe you will be first

K2

This post edited by Fishhead56 07:20 PM 08/17/2008

 

[mrbill1]

I've been following the Zeebaas reels for over a year. I've almost bought one about five times. Everytime I get ready to order one, I hear about changes. So I wait. Next thing I hear is more changes, so I wait again. The changes are improvements. It's a small shop that makes quality reels. Small means little output.(12 reels per week) The demand is high and once the dust settles, I'll buy one. The quality is there, but it's a long wait to get one. Some people have waited months. I like the bailed model ZX-27RB. Even the color of the reels has changed during my wait. A knife is also in the works.

Fishhead56,
You commented to me that you thought the frame on the reel was a little small. That bothered me. I'm not a reel collector.

How do know I even have a single reel?

I have never heard but one semi-negative comment on the Zeebaas line of reels. The surf guys love them. It seems that some of the old Van Staal guys are jealous of the new Zeebaas reels.

This post edited by mrbill1 10:22 PM 08/17/2008

 

[656995]

Ha Ha.

That did not take long..

And yes all of my tackle is borrowed also..

As Kil noted the 40lb drag reel is light for

it's class, but I am no metal expert, so the strength

in the frame may be great..I am not fit to comment.

I was doing some braid\mono splicing on some of my

larger spinners an hour or so ago. They felt like boat anchors.

I've yet to pull the trigger on a TOP Shelf spinner but know this is

somthing that I need to do.

I would like to see this reel in action.

Your reel recon guy...

K2

I want one like this, is it a good one???

This post edited by Fishhead56 09:53 PM 08/17/2008

 

[bretabaker]

if i got one, i still think id prefer a bail. 40lbs of drag is plenty since most of he time, with 80lb test you'll fish low-mid 20s. if it can sustain long runs at that drag and still be very smooth, then is it a fantastic reel being so light.

what is the line cap on this reel?

 

[mrbill1]

The good news now is you can get it in silver. It looks like a Twinspin finish. The specs for the ZX-27RB which is the bailed model:

19.9 oz.
4.75:1 gear ratio
380/20 mono
500/50 braid
39.5" line return per turn
40lbs drag

This post edited by mrbill1 09:53 PM 08/17/2008

 

[Peterk814]

I have had a couple of solid surf guys get back to be about the zeebaas and I have had mixed reviews. I have played with two different models and I would have to say id rather stick with a stella for popping. The zeebaas has solid construction, but is nowhere near as smooth (drag wise and even just turning the handle) as the stella or daiwa. Another odd function is that even with the drag cranked down to 40lbs on the zb it lets out about 6 inches of line at a lower drag setting before it gradually gets to 40lbs. The drag is set on a gradual curve albiet extremely exponential. the smoothness is what turned me off the most as well as the price tag. Id rather pay the 600 for a domestic stella 18000 over the almost thousand dollar price tag for a zb. You dont need waterproofness on a boat as much as the surf and therefore that function is useless.

 

[mrbill1]

Peter,

You make a good point about the waterproof capabilities of the ZB.
I surf fish about two times a year. (when it's to rough to go out in a boat) Dunking a reel into the surf will happen. I can see where a serious surf guy would choose a ZB or VS. I almost always fish from a boat. I'm not a diehard surf fisherman. I only cast standing about knee deep in the water or standing up from the bed of a pickup truck.

I've never had a ZB in my hands. I think I will have to see and feel it before I purchase one. I'm now concerned about the overall smoothness of the reel. Thanks for the info.

 

[KILSONG]

Peter,
I heard drag of Zeebaas is superb. Zeebaas factory is in CT. I might visit there on the way to Cape Cod and test drag of the reels along with my Stella.
I don't hear surf guys complain about drag of Van Staal and I think Zeebaas's drag is better than Van Staal's.

 

[KILSONG]

bretabaker wrote:
if i got one, i still think id prefer a bail. 40lbs of drag is plenty since most of he time, with 80lb test you'll fish low-mid 20s. if it can sustain long runs at that drag and still be very smooth, then is it a fantastic reel being so light.

what is the line cap on this reel?
The thing I like Zeebaas is it has enough line capacity for tuna (300 yards of 80 lbs) and it is very light (19.9 oz).
I don't doubt the drag system of Zeebaas would fail even for tuna, but I got to check the smoothness of drag as Peter said he didn't like it. As far as I know there is zero hesitation of starting drag unlike Saltiga.

 

[Peterk814]

The drag design is not a flaw it was designed to let out for about 6inches to a ft so that when you have the drag cranked down you dont break the line esp with braid having no stretch. Its something you need to get used to. The drag is smooth after that initial let out. It would be something i need to get used to. I would in essence have to hold the spool when setting the hook to feel like i got a proper hookset.

 

[KILSONG]

Peter,
It is hard to follow what you are saying without Zeebass in front of me. I'll ask Crazy Alberto about this as he has used the reel since the initial production. Zeebaas users as well as Van Staals use them for surfishing with plugs. I don't think they like delayed hook setups.


This post edited by KILSONG 09:21 AM 08/18/2008

 

[bretabaker]

yeah 300yds of 80lb is plenty. i'll keep my stella for now since i dont want to shell out a ton of money, but this is a nice option for the future. 19.9 ounces will be great if the drags are smooth enough!

 

[KILSONG]

There is a good review of Zeebass by tackletour.com.
It is interesting that Zeebass aim at offshore fishermen and introduce Offshore Zeebass reels soon.
It is understandable that there are big demand of spinning reels by offshore fishermen for jigging and popping.

TackleTour Review

 

[KILSONG]

Someone beat me by landing a 57" bluefin with Zeebaas ZX22.

 

[Peterk814]

It is a bit hard to explain i apologize. My friend was using the reel this weekend in montauk andhooked up to a nice striper but was unable to get a solid hookset because of the feature. most users get used to it after a while. its a function built in so that you dont immediately put 40lbs of drag to a fish and risk breaking the line due to the shock. Some like that feature, i personally do not.

In any case i dont thinkt he pricetag warrants the reel over something like a z 6500 or a 18k or 20k shimano. A zb with a bail comes in over 1,000 a 20kfa only 700

 

[KILSONG]

Peter,
I talked with Rob of Zeebaas and Crazy Al,but both of them didn't understand what you said. It seems your friend didnt' use the reel properly. Anyway I am going to buy one and test myself before I recommend to others. I am not sure whether I buy the original Zeebaas or new Offshore one.

When Zeebaas reels came out first, I thought the prices were ridiculously high, but thanks to the new 2008 Stella, the prices of Zeebaas is in the same range of new Stella.

Crazy Al replied when I asked his opinion of Zeebaas.

In regards to your ZeebaaS question, I love my ZeebaaS reels and I can?t say enough positive things about it. Although it appears to fill the surfcasting marketplace niche, the ZeebaaS drag performance superseded my expectations.

Yours truly had many big ?pelagic? critters and countless trophy bass with it. If you asked me to compare ? it is safe to say that I?

ve used most of the premium reels and none compare to the ZeebaaS drag! I?ve also destroyed and ceased other premium reels and the ZeebaaS has outlasted others big time! And for those who really know me, I am also not the type to pamper my gears and I?ve taken the reel to the test (Panama, Costa Rica, Fla., etc) and I am still raving about it.

In the event you want to borrow my reels, just let me know when and you will see it first hand the power and the ?incremental? drag smoothness! I am sure you will be equally impressed.

 

[mrbill1]

Below is a copy of a reply to me from another board. My question was
"How does the overall smoothness of cranking and drag on a Zeebaas compare to a Stella"

Nothing is as smooth as a Stella.

Having said that, this is what I have to offer about a ZeeBaas.

The Zeebaas is an extremely smooth reel but the drag takes a bit of getting used to.

Last year at a show, Mr. Rob K. was showing me the drag on a ZeeBaas. it has somewhat of a "progressive" drag system meaning no matter what drag setting you are at, especially a higher drag setting, the first few inches of line will come out and smoothly build up to whatever your drags are set at.

Advantages - You don't have to worry about popping the line or breaking the rod when you do a crazy hookset since the reel will "give" a little bit of line before full drag is applied.

Disadvantages - 1. you have to pull several inches of line off the reel before you know where your drag is set.
2. When jigging, I like to have instant feedback on a fish when setting the hook. Since the first few inches of line go out regardless of where your drag is set, you might have to start your hookset with your rod tip a little lower to bury the hook.

I fished the ZB and the "progressive" drag took a bit of getting used to for me. I forgot about it also and was wondering why I had to turn the drag knob so much to get more drag. Later, I realized that my drag was really tight, and it was just the progressive drag in action.

It's smooth, but definitely not a Stella.

My $.02

 

[Peterk814]

thank you mr. bill for that post...the progressive drag system is what i was talking about Kil,

People get used to it...i would personally get annoyed, b ut to each his own.