The Zebco 404 SE

     My Dad proved me wrong. But before he proved me wrong, I caught a fish.

     Another beautiful summer evening at the Mouth of King's Creek, my new favorite 15 minute hideout. My Bro, Dad, and myself ventured down the to do a little angling. I was working a lime green chatter bait, something that still did not know what a fish felt like. That soon changed when I brought in two small white bass. Not thrilled about the size but two small white bass are better than two small nothings.

     My Brother wasn't having much luck. My Dad was getting bites but nothing solid.  He was fishing on the bottom with a big ol' nasty hook and a worm throughout. Suddenly he got a bite, more-or-less an attack. Immediately the fish took off deeper into the river. My Dad's line is at a stalemate, the drag needs adjusted. But his reel doesn't have a great drag, or much of anything else for that sake. He is using a Zebco Push Button 404 SE.

He has a regular spincast reel but always resorts back to the Zebco. I always think, there's goina be that time where he hooks a big one and then he'll be screwed. Well, he hooked a big one, but he wasn't screwed. He played this fish like there was a camera crew set up filming his show: The unknown would take off; he'd release the button for more line; fish would tire; he'd yank the pole back and play a game of inches and feet for the rest of the fight. Finally, the fish was his.

He caught a huge Freshwater Drum on an old little reel with a skinny little line, proving it's not about the rod, it's about the fisherman who's holding it.