Shakespeare Thrifty 1902 mounted on a Bristol steel rod. Had to go out to the garage to check it out before I posted. Still have the original "braided" line on it.

http://d2ydh70d4b5xgv.cloudfront.net/ima...3ce3daabb8d.jpg

https://www.google.com/search?q=bristol+metal+fishing+pole&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiet7XC_IbTAhWB5yYKHUSlCh0QsAQIQw&biw=1242&bih=565#imgrc=kJ3-BVYqjDu1iM:&spf=191

First reel that I can remember was a Zebco 202. I was 4 or 5. I thought I graduated up to a Zebco Z23 but come to find out it was basically a 202 with a different body. I lost it to about a 5ft alligator gar in the Suwannee river in Florida. Ate a red worm, took off and ripped the reel off the reel seat and through the eyes of the rod. Moved up to Zebco 33 and finally got my first baitcasting reel when I was 9 or 10. It was an Abu Garcia Black Max. Last time I saw it, it was in pieces in a ziplock bag.

Never had it, but always wanted the Ryobie "one" that was advertised one every fishing show in the eighties.

I had a zebco 77
first baitcaster was the Quantum 1310

good morning,

zebco,,,,,,,,,
i forgot the model, i was about 10 and caught my first bass on a mepps spinner in a borrow pit,,,,,,next one was a garcia 5000...that was 60 yrs ago.......

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

First Zebco 202 Bought at Gibsons in Liberal KS
Baitcaster Quantum 420MG Bought a Okie Bug in Tulsa OK

Still have them both along with the great memories they were part of.

Ryobi Vmag was my first Baitcast reel. A friend of my father gave it to me when i was 8 years old or so.

Zebco 33 with a two piece rod... Great for kid fishing... Then the first reel I bought as a college student was a ABU Garcia 6000. Red color... I wanted a 5000 but the company did not have any in stock and I was ready to fish that day... I put that 6000 on a 6' LUNKER STICK... I was ready for bear or what ever would bite...

My very first reel was a Zebco 202. My first Baitcasting reel was a Langley Level Wind Reel. My Dad told me if you can learn to throw that without Backlashing it, You can throw anything.

Me too, still got it! Works as good now as it did when it was new in 1986. Caught lots of reds, specks and flounder and even a few bass.

Zebco 202
First baitcaster was a ABU/Garcia red 1000 w/ matching 7' popping rod. Somewhere around 1984-85

I had the same reels but I also had a zebco 33.

That's a nice looking reel.

Zebco 606

That is truly awesome.

My first rod and reel was one my dad got me and my brother I believe was from one of the old Gibson stores in Sherman. It was a Ted Williams rod and reel. Yes Ted Williams the baseball great had a line fishing and outdoors equipment and we had moved up their while my dad was painting the then new Grayson County Jr. College. He used to take us camping at Texoma pretty much every weekend that summer and we would go fish for sandbass mostly but I did catch my first bass on a Herbs Dilly in a cove on that rod and reel.

The Mitchell 309 was my first decent spinning reel. I still have it and it still works but it's retired. That was in about 1975.

Gawd, they must've sold 20 million of those things. Everybody I knew had one.