Folks first thanks for the info on my last question on Zebco 33 reels. I forgot on my old Zebco 33 reel it had the metal foot not like the new ones now with all the plastic. Well I was able to find 5 excellent shape older metal foot Zebco 33 reels on eBay. The guy cleaned them all up and oiled them. Said they are in excellent shape. I should get them by Saturday in mail. These reels are for girlfriends Grandkids. 4 girls and 1 boy ages 3 to 9 right now. I live in in Muscatine Iowa. Mississippi River goes right through town plus 4 other rivers within 30 miles and some small lakes. They will be fishing here with me when visiting 2 or 3 times a year than most of their time fishing at there home in Indiana. So kids will be fishing with bobbers most of the time for panfish with me but as they get older and understanding fishing we will be bank fishing for catfish in the rivers off the bottom. My question is I plan on putting 8 maybe 10 pound test line on reels but was thinking about adding a 20 pound braided leader couple feet long on the end just in case they hook into a big catfish (10 pounder plus very common ). You think I am asking for trouble doing this with kids Reels learning how to fish ? I can just picture getting snagged with that kind of rig up and cannot break the line to get un-snagged Ha ha ha. I use that type of set up on my big catfish Bait caster rigs but even bigger test line. Maybe just put 8 pound test line on Zebco 33 reels and call it good. Your thoughts.
Thanks. Marty

Awesome Martyd!

The kids won't forget the experience

If the drags work right, they'll be fine. I've landed some big carp back when with Zebco 202's .

I still like the old 33s also!

I would probably just stick to trilene XL in a 8 or 10 pound mono and keep the drag light , just not sure how braid would work on a closed face like that , I know if you get too heavy of mono they don't cast well too much memory in the line

Fantastic gift that hopefully sticks with them their entire life, good on you!! Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of children and adults learned fishing with the 33. Millions of tons of fish I would guess, have been hauled out of every creek, river, and lake in North America with that little gem. Early on I would keep it simple without the heavy leader, just one more thing to have to deal with. Keep it simple and enjoyable, no need to complicate things right away, if you are lucky they will have a lifetime to do that with this hobby all by themselves. Wishing you the best of luck and take plenty of pictures.

Use a lighter hook on the 33's and can straighten hook on a snag and not loose all the terminal tackle. Would rather the line break then get a kid pulled in by a big cat.

Yep. I think I Will forget the leader. I was only going to use a 20 pound braided line on the last 2 feet. It would never get in spool. But I think it would be a little over kill. Now you wait one of the kids will hook into a 50 pound flat head. Sone one catches one every weekend in Muscatine Iowa in Mississippi River. Thanks fir the help. Marty

Great deal! I honestly don't know how many Zebco 33 reels I have. Been collecting them for a long time. Check the handles, the flat sided hole, and make sure the nut is tight. Give the inside of the front cover a coat of car wax for better casting. Understand how the cover lock screw works. A dab of light grease on the gears along with oil on the handle shaft. I was taught to clean them inside with kerosene and a artist paint brush. Re grease a few drops of oil and go fish. I said before, I have one I got new at 10 or so years old that still fishes almost 50 years later.

Those 33s were great reels . hard to beat the old ones.

as just a leader and put snap swivels on each main line , then braid would make more sense

that way you have easy to change rigs and stronger line at the hook if they get a big cat.