Zebco 808 Line? UPDATE-Pics of my New-to-me Browning Wasp

[ishoot4thrills]

I have a Zebco 808 reel that I will be using for bow fishing, mainly because my kids will be using all of my AMS reels so the Zebco is all I have left!     :(         :mad:              

I have some white 80# test line on it now and it doesn't come out very well at all. I think it's the kind of line used on the bow spools that you wrap by hand. Also, I don't have very much line on it either.

Anyway, what kind of line and how much line do I need to use on the 808 for best results? I will only be shooting carp and small gar with it.

Thanks for any and all replies.

Oh, and here's the bow I recently got from a guy at work to use for bowfishing:

 

 

 

It's a Browning Wasp and 51#@28".

[owlbait]

Check out some braided line like PowerPro. The stuff I saw was yellow and worked well for the guys that used it. Good luck.

[tradsniper]

Get some 80# Spider Wire. I've been using it for a year now and I have not had any problems with it. Make sure you clean out anything that gets in the reel and oil everything when needed and most important of all... DONT FORGET TO PRESS THE BUTTON!!! I cant count on both my hands how many arrows I've lost and fish I missed because I didnt press the button. How many pounds is your bowfishing bow? If your shooting 45# or more dont worry about the arrow coming back at you when you dont press the button

[Old York]

"Also, I don't have very much line on it either."

There's your problem right there.
Re-fill with new line, enough so it doesn't
have to snake out & around the spool core and pick-up cowling so much.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Be carefull with that reel. I have had a couple detonate on me.  The front will pull off on a large fish and the drag fails.  I would reccomend investing some bucks and getting a different reel.  Great to hear your kids are into it.

[K. Mogensen]

Heard better things about the Muzzy...

[lpcjon2]

A Zebco real retrieves line via two pins that are 3/16 in length.They are designed to use mono filament and braided line will not work as well.If the diameter of the line is to thick it will not catch on the pins and any mono left on the real will have a memory.this can be taken away buy putting the spool in hot water when you are adding the line to the real.the real is designed for light tackle in fresh water,IMO I wouldn't use more than 20-30lb test in a small diameter mono.and not the oval shaped line either.

[Danny J]

Save your money and just use 30lb Mono. I use the same 30lb flo green Berkley Big Cat Trylene that I use on my Catfish road and reels for big Missourri River Flat Heads. Never had a problem. Plus if you forget to hit your release (which I still do)it will break the string if the drag isnt backed off enough so you dont have to worry about eating your arrow. A free safety feature.

[Fletcher]

Mine is spooled with 200 lb fast flihgt bowfishing line, which was the norm for an 808 a few years ago.  There is a newer 150 lb line that is supposed to shoot much better.

[ishoot4thrills]

So if I use the 200# fastflite line as opposed to the 30# mono, will I get snap-back if I forget to push the button? I'm shooting a 40#@28" recurve and I draw less than 28" but I use the AMS slides on my arrows.

Also, I haven't seen 200# fastflite but I see Muzzy has 200# braided line but it doesn't say it's fastflite. I must be missing something there, I guess. How much line do I need for the 808?

[LoweBow]

If you are using the slides you will not have issues w/ snapback....most cases are caused from tying to the rear of the arrow.

Like others have said the 200# fast flight is normal, but the 150# Muzzy Tourney line (all I use) will flow better out of the narrow neck opening of the Zebco reel.  If you plan on doing much shooting the line will pay for itself in the long run as you won't loose as many arrows.  
Whichever line you choose get a can or "Reel Magic" or some sort of sylicone spray to coat the line with.  Will make it shoot 100x better out of that reel!
I have over 20 spincast reels in boat and the Muzzy tourney line and Reel Magic are a must for me...

Here are your diff lines.

 http://www.backwaterbowfishing.com/onlinestore/cart.php?m=product_list&c=9

[mark land]

USe 200# or 150# FF or spectra line only in that reel.  The line will still break from the force of the arrow if it does get hung in the reel.  I much prefer the 150# Muzzy Tournament line as it is smaller and holds more line on the reels and really flows out well.  Do not use any mono or braided dacron line in those reels, it just does not work well. Good luck and be sure to throw the arrow out and reel back in your line before shooting each day.

[Bobby Urban]

I shoot 200lb Fastflight and I spray the inside of my reel with silicone spray before every outing.  Smooth like butta!!

Bob Urban

[ishoot4thrills]

Thanks guys! What a wealth of information!

[ishoot4thrills]

Okay, I'm bringing this post back up to show my new-to-me bowfishing bow I got recently. I edited the original post with pictures of it.

Anyway, I'll be using the Zebco 808 on it when my kids are using the AMS retriever reels.

This is what I'll be using:

 

 

Here's some pics I took recently of the bow with the AMS reel on it:

 

 


Now, I have decided to go with the PowerPro Spectra braided line on the 808. I can get it at Wal-Mart but only as high as 50#. They're out of the 65# line. Will 50# be enough?

[motorhead7963]

I got to add a post here I am a bowfisher also and I used the AMS retriever pro, I have since replaced that reel with a muzzy reel and I shoot the Brownell's FF string. Now I tie my string DIRECTLY to the back of the arrow!!!!Stay with me now, if you tie to the back of the arrow and you do not hit the bale release YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRAW YOUR BOW WITHOUT PULLING THE ARROW OFF THE STRING!!! so it is kinda like a draw check and you don't have to worry about arrow snap back!! as long as you release the bale.Any ways I recommend the FF string it will shoot out of that reel nicely I also have the 808 Magnum with the same line in it and it shoots great!!

[ishoot4thrills]

TTT