zee baas

[tlapinski]

Originally Posted by JohnR

RK - Send one to Lapinski, if it passes that test you're golden

That's what I'm talking about! I think we all know my past experiences with reels; a handful of VS's, a Saltiga, and a pile of penns, all trashed. I would seriously consider a ZB if it came in a larger, 250 - 275 VS size.

The debate of "is it worth it" or "you're a bonehead" for spending that kind of cash is pointless. We have the right to speak our mind in this country, but to belittle another because of how they choose to spend their own heard earned money is childish and immature to no end. Would half of the people knocking others in this way have the marbles to say it face to face? Seriously, if you don't like something, don't buy it, don't watch it, or don't read it. It will get you nowhere to join in on the bashing at the end of the day. Be a man and walk away if it doesn't suit you.

[FormerUser]

The moment I had $1200 to spend on a reel...I wouldn't.Instead I'd go to Amsterdam fry my brain and hit the redlight district.

Then I'd come back,fish my 704s and Spheros 8000s on my cheap Batsons and Ticas(and my discounted Lami) and still enjoy fishing but with even a bigger smile on my face!

If I had enough to buy two $1200 reels.....welcome aboard Clammah!!!

[bill huki]

What about seals Dave?

[bassmaster]

kill them kill them all

[Casting Z's]

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

show yourself

What do you mean, Skitterpop?

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Casting Z's

just as I feel lucky to toss $25 plugs.

I feel lucky to put $25 plugs in wood chippers.

[Skitterpop]

1964 Zzzzebco 202 and hornpout and kivers

[JohnR]

I think we're drifting a little silly now

[Terence]

Originally Posted by dredey

i would be surprised, but does anyone in this forum own one? if so please share. van staals get alot of bashing, but in my opinion they are well worth the money. no company, as of yet, has been able to match what van staal has to offer. especially with surfcasting. with that said, and if you do own a zee baas and you stand behind it let us know what you think of it.

Dredey, I'll try to answer some of your question.
VS did get a lot of bashing initially but its less and less now that so many guys fish them. They've sold quite a few reels and the sticker shock has worn off. Now there is ZeeBaas.
Rob Koelewyn ,a surf fisherman and original designer of the great (IMO) Van Staal
reel has designed the ZeeBaas reel. They are a small operation out of Milford, CT . Rob has made quite a few changes from his old design
in terms of materials ,gaskets,gearing,finish, and the ability to change spool size while keeping the main frame the same. You can get a longer handle with a bigger knob is you have big mits or like the extra torque that a longer handle provides. It is self servicable and comes with a small set of simple tools to do this. It comes with a life time warranty. Its about the size of a VS 150 mabey a little bigger.
Rob is passionate about surf fishing and designing reels and spent the better part of 2 hours explaining the hows and whys of his reel when I met him.
I liked the concept behind his reel and think the workmanship is top notch. It lays line straight and the drag system is linear (smooth with no jumps) and precise in its adjustment. Its very waterproof.
I'm looking forward to fishing mine hard every night come spring. I've used VS 150's up untill now and look forward to comparing the two. I like the fact that ZeeBaas a small business and the product is made 3 hours from my door. I also like the fact that I can speak to the owner by picking up the phone.
To be honest, the price didnt bother me that much. I can appreciate the quality of the reel and while I can't afford Range Rover Defender or a Porshe 911 Turbo or even a new Toyota Tundra I can afford a ZeeBAas and I like fishing better than driving anyway!
These threads usually come down to the old why get a Rolex when my Timex works just fine argument and thats all just personal . Seems like guys get their panties in a bunch over fishing reels for some reason. I'm not sure why. I guess I'm from the other side of the bridge.

[tlapinski]

So, how does one become a ZeeBass tester? I know I would be interested in something a bit larger than the original model I saw last winter.

[dredey]

i have no problem spending money, if you have it, on things that are of interest to you. i was just wondering if people have the zeebass and what they think of it.

[Vogt]

I agree with Mr. Sandman, I would be affraid to use it like I use my other reels!

[Pete_G]

Being that it's all machined, I would ride that reel hard over rocks, sand, and anything else I could find. And I bet it would like it. That's exactly the sort of use it's supposed to be built for.

I bet it looks good with a few scratches in that impenetrable finish.

[wader-dad]

What it comes down to for me as a not very hard core caster is that when I am stressed about paying my mortgage, my home equity line of credit, my car loan, my car insurance, my real estate taxes and figuring out how I am going to fund 3 kids in college, I think about it may be cool to get the very best stuff. I get that feeling of being a kid again and not the dad. But ultimately, if I had something like a Zeebaas it is not going to make me happy. What makes me happy is spending the money to go to Cuttyhunk, to go to the Vineyard to go to Block, Montauk. Those trips cost money. When I am fishing these great places with my Penn reels and my Canyon bag and my $12 Cabelas fish gripper, then the stress disapears. I think it depends what you are looking for in our sport.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by wader-dad

When I am fishing these great places with my Penn reels and my Canyon bag and my $12 Cabelas fish gripper, then the stress disapears. I think it depends what you are looking for in our sport.

Don't forget the $2.99 Ocean State Job Lot "Rockland Tool" needle nose pliers 66% of them even cut braid.

[Flaptail]

$1229.00 for a fishing reel? LMAO!!!!!

In my neighborhood that equates to:

9 weeks of groceries, 3 months of oil heat, 3 car payments, 21.95 pairs of jeans, 24 restaurant meals with my wife, a root canal with x-rays, a year of my kids meal plan at Boston University, 4 new tires and a spare for my sand sled with mounting balancing and wheel alignment, 61.45 full tanks of gas for my skiff............

That much for a spinning reel is retarded. I don't care howe much, how hard or where you fish.

[fishpoopoo]

I'll be honest with you guys ... if the ZeeBaas addresses the deficiences of the Van Staal platform I will consider getting one for myself (once a larger size comparable to a VS 250 is made).

What are the improvements that I am looking at closely?

1) I think the ZeeBaas has a more scratch resistant finish.

2) The ZeeBaas drag knob is more angler friendly and looks like it won't contribute to braid birdsnests like the edged VS drag knob does.

3) I am told by some kooky persons testing this product that the ZeeBaas drag blows the legacy VS drag out of the water. This has me interested.

4) I want to see how evenly the ZeeBaas winds line on the spool. All the VS' that I used (and I've owned quite a few) had a problem of creating line bellies (= tangles/windknots, impaired casting, breakoffs).

5) SELF SERVICE!

Dollarwise, I am indifferent between buying a ZeeBaas over a Van Staal, if I plan on owning and factory servicing a VS over the course of several years.

Let's see how the features pan out.

And Flaptail, if you haven't fished a sudsy rockpile in Rhody or the Vineyard or Montauk, then you just won't have an appreciation for a truly dunkable reel.

Yes, $1,300 is a lot of money for a reel. But I would consider buying if it as close to "perfect" as a reel can get.

[TC23]

I know two things about life with 100% certitude.
#1 Life is shorter than you think.
#2 You can not take it with you!
Close friend starts is working career like we all do with not much in his pocket. Works incredibly hard and is worth about $30 mill at 60 y/o. Drops dead at 62. The money stay here, he's gone. Never got to spend it all. Buy whatever you want and if someone chides you about it tell them to screw off

[Casting Z's]

OK! Be serious now? Tell me some of you guys hate seals that much that this photo might offend someone here?

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Casting Z's

OK! Be serious now? Tell me some of you guys hate seals that much that this photo might offend someone here?

Hehehehe - enter this in search +seals +cape

[afterhours]

yup!

[Terence]

This is getting pretty funny. First the Reel, now the Seal.
Whats next, a Redsox Sucks Avatar? I swear were just a couple of surf guys from the stix in NH. We come in peace!!!!

Smuttynose IPA just happens to be our after fishing vice...Actually its our after work vice, We just don't get seals up here.

[Slingah]

BigFish loves seals

[tattoobob]

Oh boy you can tell it is February

No Comment

[spence]

Originally Posted by Terence

Smuttynose IPA just happens to be our after fishing vice...Actually its our after work vice, We just don't get seals up here.

Wow...are you two gay?

On a more serious note...give me a Zee Baas if you want a field test.

I'll let the thing sit for a month then use is once. If it doesn't break on the third cast it's got the mojo for the long haul.



-spence

[Terence]

Dont get your hopes up Spence, we're married to great women. I do know a dog groomer I might be able to hook you up with though. PM me if you want his number.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Terence

This is getting pretty funny. First the Reel, now the Seal.
Whats next, a Redsox Sucks Avatar? I swear were just a couple of surf guys from the stix in NH. We come in peace!!!!

Smuttynose IPA just happens to be our after fishing vice...Actually its our after work vice, We just don't get seals up here.

No - go with a Yankees Suck Avatar and your home free

You two just reminded me though that I need to go get some Harpoon WW before it's all sold out...

[NIB]

Hey Bernie

[Casting Z's]

Did the search.....You've got to be kidding me?

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Casting Z's

Did the search.....You've got to be kidding me?

There have been more than a few instances in the last couple years where people here have reeled in a seal bitten bass or just had the bass intercepted and eaten - some good fish too..