Winding Line

[Phil Lilley]

I myself don't like machines... at all. I have too many guests come straight from Bass Pro with new reels and new line that was put on by a machine- the line jumps off and twists so bad you have to take it all off and start over.

I throw the spool on the ground and start winding the line. If the line starts to twist, I turn the spool over. If it twists again, I turn the spool over again... and so on. It works for me!

Oh course I'm taking about a spin cast reel.

[WebFreeman]

I myself don't like machines... at all. I have too many guests come straight from Bass Pro with new reels and new line that was put on by a machine- the line jumps off and twists so bad you have to take it all off and start over.

I throw the spool on the ground and start winding the line. If the line starts to twist, I turn the spool over. If it twists again, I turn the spool over again... and so on. It works for me!

Oh course I'm taking about a spin cast reel.

I've always stuck a pencil through the spool and put quite a bit of tension w/ my thumb and index finger, even though I think Phils method is they way the line companies tell you to do it.

I think the biggest problem is people over-filling their reals. I think the rule of thumb is 1/8 inch to the edge if the spool, but I usually lean towards a 1/4 inch on my spinning reels. That way, even if there is some twist, the line doesn't seem to be as jumpy.

(and I'm talking about spinning reels. I've haven't respooled a spincast in a long time.)

[Phil Lilley]

Yea- it seems you always lose the first 50 feet of line right off the bat, then it settles down. Right now all my reels are down to the last bit (most of the line is out on a cast and you can see the reel spool) but I'm too busy to change it.

[Andrew Schaefer]

with spinning reels, I usually have the spool on the ground with the label facing up, it seems to work with trilene, which is what I use. If I notice the line getting twisted I'll flip it over, but that usually makes it much worse. I usually over-fill my spools to as close to the lip as I am comfortable with(casts further), and then cut the line and tie it off for a while if I'm not going to fish right away. Monofilament's habit of jumping off the spool right after spooling, I think, is caused by its memory. By tying it off for a while, I think it gives the line a while to get used to the new spool. This is all just my experiences.

When it comes to putting a new fly line on, I usually spend the better part of an hour trying to untangle the mess before spooling up luckily fly line unties itself easily lol

[Wayne SW/MO]

I do 3 things and I seldom have any problems. I put the line on the spool according to the accepted system, but I then take the reel outside and lay out more line than what I will use and wind it back on the spool under a little tension from my fingers. I then take the spool off and run very warm water over the line to set it. When fishing I close the bail by hand. This last action will make a big difference by its self.

[riverrat]

One other trick I've learned is to do is either raise the rod tip or actually pull all the slack line away from the spool before turning the handle. It seems to me that most loops start from having slack between the line roller and the spool.

[Stuartwp]

I have tried the spool flipping method too and havn't noticed any improvment with line twist. I use the One of my kids holding the spool while I reel in how much line I want method. I put the reel on the rod and reel it like normal. If I do end up with line twist (and I use this later on when fishing lures twist the line up as well) I set the rod on my porch, pull all the line out in a striat line and lay it in the grass. Back at the porch I put the line in between the pages of a thick book and reel the line back in. The book keeps the tension on the line and helps work the twists out as well. It works very well if you have that much outdoor space availible.

[D3BPS]

Since I'm at the Pro Bass I could use the machine any time, but DON'T... I can't believe people pay top dollar for reels and line and then have us wrap it around their spool at 150mph rather than take it home and use the proper care to get ready for fishing.

The only way to spool line properly is by placing a pencil between your first and second toes on each foot with the spool spinning on the pencil. For spinning reels have the line come up from under the spool toward the reel and for baitcasters have it come up over the top towards the reel. To keep tension on the line I put a sock on whichever hand I'm not reeling with and pinch the line between my thumb and forefinger. Don't overfill... at LEAST 1/4" from the lip is good.

This sounds quirky and crazy, I know... but one of my favorite evenings of the year is when sometime in late winter I bring home my first round of line for the year, get down all the rods from the rack and respool the whole bunch while thinking about all the fish I'm going to try to catch in the upcoming months. The only problem is my toes start to cramp up after about six reels!!!!

[skeeter]

Closing the bail by hand on open face reels is one of the best methods to avoid line twists and resulting bird nests.

If your line is already twisted or has taken a "set" or "curl" from being on the reel all winter long, simply let it spool out behind your boat ( at low speed ) with nothing on the line and drag it a ways, you'll be amazed at the drag the water puts on it, and retrieve back onto the reel. This accomplishes two things: first it painlessly takes all the twists out of the line and, second, the immersion in the water wets the line and allows it to "relax" and lose the set most lines develop over time.

Remember ! Practice catch and release.....It'll grow on you...

[Kicknbass]

The only way to spool line properly is by placing a pencil between your first and second toes on each foot with the spool spinning on the pencil.

That's funny. I haven't heard that one. I thought that was what kids were for. When I was a kid, I remember helping my father spool line by holding the pencil. Today I have my kids hold the pencil.