Spooling Up Your Reels

Fishing with old line is a costly mistake. After use, abuse and exposure to the elements, weathered line is weak and thereby unreliable. The best, and least expensive, insurance against broken lines and lost trophies is learning how to change line properly, and doing it frequently.

Baitcasting Reels: Line on baitcasting equipment is loaded by winding it to the top of the reel spool. Monofilament manufacturers load their spools the same way. To prevent line twist when transferring line from the supply spool to the reel, take line from the top of the supply spool and load it to the top of the reel spool. To do this, simply slip a pencil through the center of the supply spool and have a friend hold  it. Keep the supply spool in a vertical position, aimed at the reel. Keep tension on the line as it's reeled on, so the spool  is filled evenly without loops or loose coils. Simple as that.

Spinning Reels: Spinning reels are a bit tricky to refill because they operate on a different principle than baitcasting equipment. Instead of winding line on a revolving spool, a person uses a revolving bail which winds line around a spinning reel's fixed spool. To avoid line twist, load a spinning reel as described. Hold the label of the supply spool toward the face of the spinning reel spool and take in 15 cranks of line while keeping tension on the line. Next, move the reel toward the supply spool to see  if the slack line twists. If it does, eliminate twisting by reversing the supply spool before loading the rest of the reel.

Spincasting Reels: Spincasting reels are loaded in the same manner described for spinning reels, with one difference. Stop periodically and remove the reel face to be certain the reel isn't over filled. Too much line on a spincasting reel will cause it to jam and tangle. 

With all reels, fill the spool about 1/8th inch from the rim. Less line will make casting difficult, if not impossible. More line will cause the line to backlash or jump off the spool in loose coils. Experts say line twist is the most frequent complaint anglers have about their line. Actually, the twist is a result of some mechanical action that occurs after line is take from the supply spool. A few line twisting factors include: improperly spooling line, fishing with lures that spin line on retrieve, or retrieving fouled lures. If new line is twisted, you can untwist it by dragging it in the water behind a boat. In a few minutes the line will return to its original condition. Today's fishing lines are better than ever, though they can't be expected to last indefinitely. Changing it regularly and correctly, and you will spend more time fishing and less time making up excuses for the big one that got away.