These reels are widely regarded as the most popular reels for bowfishing due to their heavy duty construction and line capacities. Prices range from about $25 to $60.
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necessary pressure on the line at all times, but not too much to allow arrows to pull out. Also, adding a rod attachment to the front of the reel seat allows for even more leverage when fighting fish or when pulling arrows out of the bottom.
The line used with spincast reels is a thinner diameter than that used with a retriever. The lines are typically braided with line strengths of 150# test or higher. The end of the line can be tied in a loop and inserted through the hole of the arrow without the need for a safety slide, or screw-in stopper, which is commonly referred to as “tying to the back”. These features allow for better perceived arrow flight, cleaner water penetration, and potentially better fish penetration. Additionally, the loop can be easily reversed and the arrow removed if it passes all the way through a fish on the shot.
There are plenty of line brands to choose from such as: Woody Wire, Brownell Fast Flight, Muzzy Tournament Line, Carp Cable, etc... I personally shoot 200# test Woody Wire through my Muzzy XD. I have had great success with it through many nights of repeated use.
Although there are many positives when using spincast reels, there are also drawbacks to this setup. The main drawback that I have experienced is for-getting to hit the button to release the bail and allow the line to flow during a shot. Drawing my bow while forgetting to push the button causes the arrow to fall off the string. This is more of a nuisance than anything and many consider it a wonderful safety feature because it prevents the arrow from snapping back when shot, however it has cost me a few fish as I went through the “push button” learning curve. Keeping the line wound up fairly tight and watching that it’s not wrapped around any part of the bow, or rest before pushing the button is also highly advised.
Another downfall to spincasters is that many fishermen, who may be used to shooting the heavier Dacron line used in retriever style systems, may grab the spincast line without gloves when fighting a fish, or when pulling on an arrow that is stuck in the weeds. The thinner spincast lines can easily cut your hands if you forget to wear gloves. Often, the best bet is just to hit the release button and let the line free-spool until the boat can be turned around to retrieve the arrow safely.
A spincast reel’s speed and accuracy do come at a price. With more moving parts inside of a spincast reel there’s the potential for more parts to fail, like stripped gears, anti-reverse mechanisms, etc… However, with proper maintenance and paying attention when shooting, these problems are greatly minimized. For most reels, the ease at which these components can be replaced is a great benefit and parts are usually reasonably priced and easy to find at your local archery dealer, or on the Internet.
Popular spincast bowfishing reels that are available today are the Muzzy XD, Zebco 808, and the Shakespeare TI20. Prices vary from $25 to $60 depending on the brand. The majority of my experience is with the Muzzy XD, and I absolutely would not change anything about it. They have worked very well for the conditions that I put them through. Maintenance has been easy, and the issues have been minimal. Muzzy is also working on a solution for the button problem by introducing a reel that has a lever in place of the button. When the lever is in one position the reel will free-spool, but with the swipe of a finger the reel engages and allows the line to be retrieved. Depending on the success of this reel (available in Fall of 2014), the feature may catch on and change the way spincast reels operate for bowfishing. I’m hoping to try one
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What are your options?
Muzzy XD
Shakespeare TI20
Zebco 808
spincast reels (continued from page 6)
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