A trouble-free fishing experience is determined basically by how you put a line on your Spool of a spinning, baitcasting or spincasting reel. When you improperly spool a line, especially the nylon monofilament, you can experience twisting since it has a memory hence the development of a set in the position you spool it or in the plastic supply pool it is packaged in.
Manufacturers usually lightly spool the line on the plastic packaging spool to avoid the setting characteristic, and in top-grade lines, the spooling is less pronounced especially if it comes from the best braided fishing line or large-diameter spool. It is always better to take a line out of a big Supply Spool to avoid line coiling that is common with small spools.
The baitcasting reel line has lower chances of twisting since the spooling is done by wounding the line directly onto your reel arbor that revolves. The line on spincast and spinning reels, however, are prone to twist hence the need for correct spooling even if you have the best spincast reels. This is mainly because the reel remains stationary and moving the wrap around it puts the twist along the way.
How to tie a proper knot on a spinning reel
Once you select the fishing line suitable for the type of fishing you intend to undertake, it is crucial that you tie a proper knot to the reel. Start by running the end of your line through the fishing rod guides then wrap the tag end around your spool a couple of times. From here, tie an over-hand knot in the tagged end and wrap this knot around the main line as it gets onto the reel spool.
The next step is to tie an overhand knot in tag end of the line then slide this knot down to have it rest just above the first knot you made. Secure this knot by pulling tightly on it then trim the tag end leaving only ¼ inch of the line above the second knot to keep the knot from coming loose.
For other types of reels, place the reel onto your rod then run the line out of your supply spool passing through the rod guides from the top. To be specific, when using spincasting reels, once you have removed the hood, run the line through the hole in the hood and tie the line to the arbor then snip off the excess line after which you can re-attach the hood. For a baitcasting reel, the line-winding guide helps guide the line and firmly tie it around the arbor then snip off any excess line, and you are ready to start spooling.
Proper spooling
Once you have tied the line to the reel, it is time to spool. Place your supply spool on a flat surface so the line can balloon or spiral out of the spool during pulling. Once you thread the line through the guides and have attached it to your reel, hold the tip of the rod about 3 feet higher than the supply spool. After making about twenty twirls on your reel handle, stop and check for twisting by reducing the line tension.
Slightly lower the fishing rod tip to about a foot above your supply spool then check for twists or coils on the slack line. In the case of either you need to turn your spool upside down to eliminate the majority of the twisting that results in the course of winding the reel.
In case the other side of your supply spool has more coil or twist, just revert to the original side where the supply spool faces up.With each of these reel styles, the main trick to correct spooling is to watch the way your line comes off each side of your supply spool. Take a line off the spool side that has the least coiling then apply moderate pressure prior to it reaching the reel. This method counter-spools the line, therefore, cancelling the curling tendencies common with spooling. This trick produces the best spinning reels.
Using a pencil of an object is common since it lets the spool freely as you put the line on the reel, however, this method is not good. It may work for baitcasting reels but compounds the twisting problem on spincasting and spinning reels.
Importance of tension
When filling your spincasting, spinning, and baitcasting, it is crucial that you maintain a moderate level of tension on the reel line with your other hand while reeling with the other. The simplest way is to hold the line in between the thumb and forefinger. Without proper application of the tension, the reel will wind loosely causing overwrapped loops later when you are fishing. To make the best braided fishing line, you need to apply more tension than you would apply when reeling a nylon monofilament line. This prevents the pressure from fighting with a large catch from causing wraps of the reel line to conceal into the loosely packed spool. This process can cause the microfilament line to burn or cut your fingers as you apply tension hence the need to wear gloves.
Simple tips
Determine the direction the spinning reel turns
The line from the spool should match the direction your reel turns. Once you place the rod close to the spool and start reeling, you will see the direction your reel rotates. Pull the line of your spool and check if it comes off the same way you are reeling, if not then flip the spool to match your reel spinning direction. This may sound tricky hence the need to try it to understand.
Have the flat side of the reel facing you
By placing the spool on the ground instead of using a pencil, you can see the way it comes off. It should go into the reel the same way it was put into the plastic packaging by the manufacturer. This prevents line twist. And as you spool the reel, keep the required tension to make it go into the reel nice and tight.
Leave some space when dealing with braided lines
You should not load too much line the way you can do with mono, leave a gap of about 5 mm from the spool rim. Underfilling a spool will cause additional friction hindering performance. Winding too much line will also cause spilling off hence constant tangles.
When you have experienced enough challenges with a poorly loaded line, just accept defeat and start afresh and do it correctly with a fresh line to achieve the best spinning reels for your fishing experience.
Do not reuse the line with trouble for it will make your experience with fishing gear one you wouldn’t want to remember. Always go for a new spool and do it slowly especially if you are new to this. With experience, your hands and fingers will be conditioned to apply the right tension and spool professionally and the best way you know how.
