Line Twist on Pinnacle Deadbolt

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I have a Pinnacle Deadbolt DLF 25 and I have been having a lot of trouble with the line twisting really bad. I have been using Berkely Tournament Strength Line (the gold stuff), as well as various other lines and it hasn't mattered. I've tried the different methods of flipping the spool over when putting the line on to make sure the line is coming off right when going onto the reel. I have 4 Shimano Symetre's and haven't had any problems with line twist on them, so I think it is the Pinnacle reel possibly. Has anybody else had problems with line twist on Pinnacle Reels or are there any suggestions on how to eliminate the line twist? Any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks

Mille Lacs Guy

[Roscoe]

I have had the same problems, but don't have a solution. It doesn't matter what type of line I am using, it will twist no matter what. It is frustrating when you have to throw away spools of brand new fireline. I won't be buying anymore pinnacles.

[Waterfowler]

When did you buy the pinnacle?? The last couple years they were all that way. They would twist any and all line types. Supposedly the new ones, this year's, shouldn't do this. I'm a symetre fan myself so I don't bother with the Pinnacles. Good luck finding a work around. Have you tried contacting the manufacturer directly??

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I bought the real in probably 98' on closeout; I guess now I know why it was on closeout. I haven't contacted the manufacturer directly, I don't know how they are to deal with. I will never own another Pinnacle reel or rod or anything.

[cranker']

You're not alone. Every line I've tried to spool up becomes twisted. I've e-mailed silstar twice now in less than a month and have received no response. Time to get on the horn I guess. Let us know if you find something out. Tight lines...

-cranker'

[REW]

There is a simple solution.
I suspect that you have a problem with your line roller.
Several years ago, Pinnacle was one of the first manufacturers to have a really good line roller on their bail returns.
However, I have seen a couple of Pinnacles, where the line roller was put on backward.

There is another possible problem where your line roller might be gummed up.

The line roller that I am talking about is the roller that is on the bail, on which the line rolls during retrieve.

Take the screw out of the end of the bail and remove the roller. Put the roller on the end of a pencil, and insure that it is completly free to turn. If there are any hangups at all, clean the bearing with alchol, brake cleaner, or some other quick clean solvent. After cleaning put a single small drop of good reel oil or sewing machine oil in the bearing. Don't overdo it, but don't run it dry either.

If this is one of the new style roller bearings, you will find that it is tapered to one side, and that there is a goove at the bottom of the taper.

This taper and associated groove needs to be on the side nearest the outside of the bail. i.e. where the line would naturally like to run, when retrieved.

The idea here, is that the taper, lets the line slide into the groove, and then the groove, keeps the line straight and untwisted. It works perfectly all of the time.

The groove is basically sized for the recommended line size. So you might be getting into a problem if your are running a reel, with a significantly different than recommended for that reel. For example - running a very small reel with 12 lb test, won't let the line lie in the bottom of the groove and keep the line untwisted.

If you follow these steps, I expect that all of your twist problems will go away.

P.s.
Also insure that you are putting the line on the spool correctly. i.e. put the line on from a bulk spool, with the bulk spool lying on the floor, with the end of the spool facing upwared. Periodically drop the rod tip as you are spooling on line, and if you see any twists developing, flip the bulk spool end for end, to untwist the line that you are putting on the reel.

Of course, you need to insure that you don't twist the line yourself, while fishing, be reeling against the drag without taking in line. If you do this consistently, you are simply putting terrible twists in the line that are difficult to remove.

Finally, if you do have a reel - any brand - that has a line with a lot of twists in it - detwist the line as follows. On the way out to your next fishing spot - simply take all terminal gear off the line. i.e. no snaps, swivels, jigs, hooks etc. on the end of the line. As the boat is moving along at a high rate of speed, simply let the rod first point straight back, as you feed out line. AS soon as the line gets near the water and starts to pull out line, feed all the line off the spool down to the knot and at the same time - point the rod straight up in the air. Run down the lake a mile or two - with all of the line off the reel, to the reel knot, dragging in either air or water. This extended high speed run, with no terminal gear on any line will quickly, safely remove all knots. Also the full length imersion of the line in the water, will also soften the line and remove inherent kinks in the line.

Reel the line back in and start fishing. All of your twists are gone.

If you follow the steps outlined above, I suspect that you won't get twists like this again.

I use the same Berkely tournament line - photochromic - and have had excellent results on all of my deadbolt reels with no twisting problems. I did have one of my deadbolt reels with the line roller reversed, and until I fixed the roller, I did have line twist problems.

Take care

REW

[Mille Lacs Guy]

Thanks REW for this helpful information. Your posts are always very, very informative. I will check the roller when I get home from work. I did follow the spooling instructions you gave when I spooled the reel orginally, so I suspect it may be the roller.

Thank You,

Mille Lacs Guy

[David Anderson]

I had the same problem with my Deadbolt limited. Brought it back to the store and showed them the problem, they gave me a new one. Went to Mille Lacs and casted a #7 shad 6 times before I had a tangled mess. Brought it back to Galyans and I returned it for a Stradic. End of problems. I can cast all day long without any significant twist problems. My other deadbolt (too old for returning) went on my bobber rod. Nice reel, light, but for the money I'll take a Stradic any day. I don't know if they have fixed the problem, but after going through $10.00 of line in 2 days, never again.

[Gord]

This might not be your problem, but.... one of the biggest causes of line twist is trying to reel in the fish when it is pulling drag. When your drag is slipping, every turn of the bail puts one twist in your line. I've seen lots of guys cranking like mad men while the fish is pulling drag. Their lines must get twisted up like a piece of cheap plastic rope.

[Ristorapper]

wow! nice post. I own 4 pinnacles and just won three more at the last PWT event so I've got major problems.

I was on the water reeling in lots of walleye on a brand new rod and reel(Pinnacle) today and the last ten feet of line at the end of the day was all kinked up. Will take REW's advise and check out the roller. I am very aware about reeling in when the fish is pulling drag and very seldom let that happen today. Needless to say I unhooked the bouncer and snap at the end of the day and let out all the line as REW has suggested and put the rod away for the day. Looks like maybe 7 pinnacle reels for sale at the rummage sale in August!!!!!

Thanks for the post REW but sure would not expect this out of a brand new reel. Will have to use the other two new ones soon and give them a try and maybe send them back to PWT. Kinda like take this reel and shove it. What do you expect for free?? Tight Kinky lines to all.

BW(ND)

[james_walleye]

I discovered a little trick and i use it with all my reels and have had no problems since...including with my deadbolts. After i fill the spool with line i take and peel as much line off as i can into my lawn and then reel it back in. The twists in the line seem to work their way out coming back in through the grass. Try it...it sounds dumb i know but it does help.

[Backwater Eddy]

Some very good advise their REW!

A properly functioning line roller guide and drag tension are the two things that will effect a spooling problem the most.

I also would have to agree that Shimano's "S" series spinning reels do have a very effective line roller guide system with a efficient dependable drag. If the drag is properly set and the reel is spooled up with appropriate line for the reel, it is rare to have twist excessive problems with the "S" series.

I have noticed that high abrasion resistant line can be the worse offender for twist on almost any spinning reel.

Backwater Eddy........><,,>

[Backwater Eddy]

Heck Don't sell them use them on the ice if nothing else, a great ice fishing reel if you ask me.

Just keep the line roller bearing lubed up with silicon and your set. The type of silicon lube they use on sewing machines works very well and is water resistant.

BE..><,,>