To anyone familiar with these reels, Are they now made in the USA or are they still being made in CHINA?

Honestly not 100% sure. I beleive all reels have some level of parts manufacture overseas. I beleive assembly and QC are all in the US however.
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Welcome aboard btw
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From what i know they are located in CT all parts arw manually checked to ensure the quality then assembled.

Customer service is A++++
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85% manufactured in the USA. The rest are sourced parts such as screws, bearings, etc
100% assembled and serviced in CT
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Thanks fellas for clarifying all this for me . I just recently purchased a Van Staal and I returned it immediately upon receiving it due to the word ( CHINA ) stamped on it.. I was under the impression that they were still made here! Boy was I wrong !!!

I recently purchased a ZeeBaas zx25!

Zee had issues in the beginning as did Van Staal. Regardless both reels would serve you well. I have one of each. A 250 and a 22 the 22 I have owned for three years with zero issue. I will have it serviced end of this season. The 250 is ironically a US model and has required service due to some failure every year.
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zeebass 85% at least made in usa and assembled in stratford ct by a dedicated staff.

Thanks fellas for clarifying all this for me . I just recently purchased a Van Staal and I returned it immediately upon receiving it due to the word ( CHINA ) stamped on it.. I was under the impression that they were still made here! Boy was I wrong !!!


The machined alum. parts of the Van Staal are made in China in a machine shop which does nothing but Van Staal and high end Quantum reels. The gears are made in the US and the seals,bearings and hardware are all from US suppliers. As far as quality of the machine work the fit and finish are far superior than any VS that came out of Ct.

I've been using a VS150 this spring. Not thrilled with it.

Light, solid little reel for sure, but the drag adjustment is less precise than the ZB (it ramps up pressure too fast), the line lay is awful even with an attempt to hump the line on the initial fill up, it is leaking oil at the main seal (I've had a ZB do this as well), but the thing I like the least is repeated line snags on the roller during casts. Unless I position the spool extended and the roller to the left I get trouble. Needing to think about and check the spool position before each cast is annoying although it probably will eventually become automatic. I've never had this issue with the other manual pickup reels I own (706, ZB25, ZB22) and I think it has something to do with the light line on the 150 and the narrow spool lip/pickup roller clearance.

Is this an issue with the larger VS reels? Is there a way around it I've not figured out?

I have a VS 150 and After putting on new line- also with the hump backing- twice I had the line get under the spool and wrap around the shaft. Did not happen last night. Anyone else ever have that happen?

Numbskull. More noticeable on the 150 than 250. When I learned to cast, I was taught always to position the spool or against the bailtrip so never noticed a difference. Will test it tonight though
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I've been using a VS150 this spring. Not thrilled with it.

Light, solid little reel for sure, but the drag adjustment is less precise than the ZB (it ramps up pressure too fast), the line lay is awful even with an attempt to hump the line on the initial fill up, it is leaking oil at the main seal (I've had a ZB do this as well), but the thing I like the least is repeated line snags on the roller during casts. Unless I position the spool extended and the roller to the left I get trouble. Needing to think about and check the spool position before each cast is annoying although it probably will eventually become automatic. I've never had this issue with the other manual pickup reels I own (706, ZB25, ZB22) and I think it has something to do with the light line on the 150 and the narrow spool lip/pickup roller clearance.

Is this an issue with the larger VS reels? Is there a way around it I've not figured out?

Never had that issue with my VS250. I agree that the line lay is poor and the drag is same as you mention. I hate the way line peels off the reel when the drag is pulled too. Always feels like it's going to get fetched up and stick.

I picked up a ZX25 after the season last year and haven't thrown it yet but the drag is definitely far superior.

I have a VS 150 and After putting on new line- also with the hump backing- twice I had the line get under the spool and wrap around the shaft. Did not happen last night. Anyone else ever have that happen?

Yup....just happened last night. Never with the hourglass.

So this season I picked up a vs200....spooled at store...humped. I
also decided I would give the same a whirl on my 150.

In the past I always put line on under pressure by hand. Both of
these humped spoolings were mechanically spooled.

What is interesting. The store spooling was so tightly packed that
after 6 outings I started getting wind knots and had to strip out
line...yet...the spool is still full....and overflowing. I really feel that
as new line seasons it gains volume and the fibers fluff out....thus
it cannot pack into the same volume on the spool...thus the wind
knots and the loose line getting it places it doesn't belong.

I own both VS and Z. Like both.... but the edge for me goes to the VS.

I've been using a VS150 this spring. Not thrilled with it.

Light, solid little reel for sure, but the drag adjustment is less precise than the ZB (it ramps up pressure too fast), the line lay is awful even with an attempt to hump the line on the initial fill up, it is leaking oil at the main seal (I've had a ZB do this as well), but the thing I like the least is repeated line snags on the roller during casts. Unless I position the spool extended and the roller to the left I get trouble. Needing to think about and check the spool position before each cast is annoying although it probably will eventually become automatic. I've never had this issue with the other manual pickup reels I own (706, ZB25, ZB22) and I think it has something to do with the light line on the 150 and the narrow spool lip/pickup roller clearance.

Is this an issue with the larger VS reels? Is there a way around it I've not figured out?

I automatically check my pickup position every cast...it is automatic
when I lift the line off the roller.... I rotate it a half turn. Not just
VS but my Z as well. I converted my Z from a double pickup to a
single because one night in high surf just the wind and waves would
push the rotor enough to cause a foul cast. I got the double not
because I wanted it but in 2008 it was what they had in inventory.

I think someone on a thread that the internal lube type and fill
level can affect how easily the rotor moves on its own. I cannot
confirm the truth of this.

I like my 150....but wish they would just design it with a bigger
crank arm, and a more robust drag. Been thinkin on getting the
bigger arm for it, but I have already spent too much this season on
goodies I don't need.

Yea, I have had the line wrap around the vs200 a few times. just my opinion I feel like it only happens usually when I'm off on the timing (late) doing the pickup of the line with my index finger, or if its into a stiff breeze and I kinda fan the cast high or wide. The line is coming off the spool without any tension connected to the plug in both cases. More with broken in line which is more supple compared to stiffer, newer, or higher test braid. Seems to happen more with the 30# than before when I had 40#

Light, solid little reel for sure, but the drag adjustment is less precise than the ZB (it ramps up pressure too fast), the line lay is awful even with an attempt to hump the line on the initial fill up, it is leaking oil at the main seal (I've had a ZB do this as well), but the thing I like the least is repeated line snags on the roller during casts. Unless I position the spool extended and the roller to the left I get trouble. Needing to think about and check the spool position before each cast is annoying although it probably will eventually become automatic. I've never had this issue with the other manual pickup reels I own (706, ZB25, ZB22) and I think it has something to do with the light line on the 150 and the narrow spool lip/pickup roller clearance.

In order to get the line lay you must start the hump right from the spool arbor but I must say I have never had any problems with the hourglass lay. As far as leaking oil is it on the spool shaft? There are only two parts of the reel that are lubed with the gear oil, the spool shaft to keep the quad seal lubricated and the A/R clutch bearing. A slight amount of oil on the shaft is not a problem and you should occasionally clean it and add a drop of 80/90wt gear oil to keep the quad seal lubed. If you are getting excessive amounts of oil on the shaft you can always send it to me and I will take care of you as you have done for me. As far as the line issues, light limp line or an over filled spool could be the problem.

I love my VS's and wouldn't trade them for anything.
Pass the fortune cookies.
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Never had an issue with the line getting snagged around a roller on the VS200. The line lay in the hour glass shape is what it is. Never ever had issues with distance. The drag knob is pretty touchy but didn't bother me. What bothered me was the feeling like the knob would fall off in the surf should I loosen it.

Never had an issue with the line getting snagged around a roller on the VS200. The line lay in the hour glass shape is what it is. Never ever had issues with distance. The drag knob is pretty touchy but didn't bother me. What bothered me was the feeling like the knob would fall off in the surf should I loosen it.

me either and I've had 2 different VS 200s

me either and I've had 2 different VS 200s

Same with my 250... I've upped the line to heavier braid and have had little issues with it..

as far as the drag... we need drag-pulling size fish first! :smash:

> I recently purchased a ZeeBaas zx25!

You'll love it!

The service from the ZeeBaas shop in CT is excellent!

Great Reel


as far as the drag... we need drag-pulling size fish first! :smash:

True