Putting Line on Reels

[KP]

Some times I put line on my reels myself. Most of the time I take my reels to a shop to have line put on. I've had good jobs and bad jobs but typically better than I can do myself.

A friend of mine was going to Bass Pro Shops and I told him he should have fresh line put on his reels. Two guys working the counter where that's done talked him out of it saying he should do it him self. They also told him to throw the spool of line in the water and crank the wet line onto his reel. I've never heard of that. What are some ways you all use and could you describe your process for bait and spin cast?

[ryan the poor college kid]

i guess i have always been told to put it on the oppsite way it came off the spool... if that makes sense. that is how i have always done it. now as far as my baitcasters, well i would like to hear true tried method. any help here???

[Eyez]

When spooling spinning reels, lay the spool flat, so that the line unwinds from the spool the same direction that the bail is turning on your reel. If the line comes off from the top to the left, then your bail should be turning the same way, as you're looking at it from behind the reel. That will keep twisting to a minimum. Usually, it's label up on line spools. Let the line loose after the first couple turns of the handle, to see if the line twists up, and if it does, double check the direction that the line is coming off the spool and onto the reel. Baitcasting reels I put a pencil thru the spool, and have someone hold it, or put it in a vise or somthing, so the line comes off the top of the spool, and wind it right on. Been doing it that way ever since I can remember, always works fine.


Eyez

[Hawgeye]

The comment about spooling "wet" line I think really means pull behind the boat while reeling.

If you ever get line twists or put new line on, let out about 3/4ths of your spool behind the boat while trolling at 3-4 MPH. That will allow any twists in the line to work their way out and give you an even re-spool due to the tension of line drag in the water. Once you have let all of the line out, you can immediately reel in the line at a steady pace.

This is the first thing I do every year with every rod and reel that I have. Usually I can spool line on pretty well but it always seems to be better after doing what I mentioned above.

[John]

Eyez explained it perfectly.
I've heard of guys throwing the spool in a bucket of water or in the livewell to spool up their spinning reel. That way it finds the "natural" direction with no twist. But if you just lower your rod after winding up about 10 yards and check for twist, you'll be able to tell whether or not you have to flip the spool over on the floor.

[WAZ]

Look at the current issue of walleye insider for line winding products and techniques.

[REW]

Yes, yes, and no.
THe information that the fellow at the store was accurate, and was not misunderstood.

A unique characteristic of mono line, is that it absorbs water.

If you take a new spool of line and drop it in a bucket of water for a couple of hours, before spooling on a reel, it wil absorb all of the water that it is capable of. This meas, that as the line is spooled on the reel, it will be spooling on in a pattern, that more closely resembles the real world environment, where the line is reeled in from the water.

The advantage of this, is that the west, water soked line is more limber, has less memory, will lay flatter, and have less line twisting.


It is still a good idea, to check - with a spinning reel - the direction of the line from time to time as you spool it on, to insure that you are not putting twists on your spool. As you spool on line - from the end of the spool - drop the rod tip from time to time, to insure that the line is not coiling. If the line is coiling, them flip the line spool over - so that you pull line off the other end of the spool. This is particualrly important - if you are spooling a very small spinning reel, or a very large spinning reel - where the diameter of the spinning reel, is much different than your supply spool. The difference is spool size, is what creates the line twist as you spool line on your reel.

In the case of the bait caster - simply leave the line supply spool - suspended on an axle of some sort - and spool the line off the supply spool, and wind it onto the bait caster. No way that the line can get twisted, by using this method.

==
The other comment - about on the water use of dragging the full amount of line through the water - with no terminal tackle, is correct and right on - for getting twists out of line that has already been put on a spinning reel. This works very well.

Take care
REW

[BD]

Good post! Instead of waiting to get out on the lake to troll out the line and remove any twist that might be there; I take a walk in the hay field with the end of the line and let the grasses comb the twist out of the line when I reel it back in. For bait casters have the spool on a pencil or other axel and go from over the top to over the top.

[KP]

Thanks everyone. I love learning new stuff. Especially a return to the basics so to speak.

[Den]

i agree with all of the above for putting line on reels, i put line on in the shop, and have done it many different ways, but one thing i have found out is , it depends on the person putting the line on the reels. here is something to think about with the spinning reels in regards to wetting the line first. if you are going to use the line that day, no problem(with mono),but if the line is going to have time to dry out, it will be on the spool loose, and we all know what happens then(loops and lotsa time untangling them).if you have new line and want to put it on ahead of time just put it on the spool as stated above(same as it comes off the spool), but put a mild pressure on it so it will stay tight on the spool. if too much pressure is put on it, it will be stretching the line, and if it sets for a while , you have instant memory in the line. the same methods are used for baitcaster reels too, just make sure that you dont put it on too tight. i have seen spinning reels with plastic and,or graphite spools)that dry line was put on with a lot of pressure,that actually broke the spools, after it set for a while. this is just something to think about. it has happened to some baitcasting reels with plastic spools also. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[the legend]

My dad taught me the trick of straightening your line behind the boat when I was a little squirt, we used to do it every night coming back across the lake to the cabin, 26 years ago !!!!! wow where do the years go!!!