How to Spool a Spinning Reel: 12 Steps with Pictures

Newer anglers often run into issues when selecting the correct type of fishing line. Should I buy this $30 braid for my spinning reel to catch bluegill out of the community pond? What about that giant spool of monofilament at the local box store for $2.99? Let’s talk about the different types of fishing line and what they do well and don’t do well. After your knot is tied, tug it tightly so it is flush with your reel. If you are spooling alone, place the purchased spool of line in a bowl of water.

This will allow you to switch to a lighter, thinner line when fishing clearer water and a heavier, thicker line when fishing in dingy water, weeds, or brush. Then, with the tag end of the knot, tie an overhand knot around the other end of the first knot. To tie an arbor knot, wrap the line around the arbor and tie an overhead knot in the standing line. Tie a second overhead knot in the tag end, just about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the first overhead knot. Pull the standing line to slide the first knot down to the spool and slide the second knot down to the first.

Chief among them is that the line tends to pile up on one side of the spool. Thread your line down the rod, starting with the first guide at the tip of your rod. Proceed all the way down to the last rod guide before your reel. Make sure that the line cleanly passes through each guide from top to bottom, and not wrapped around your rod or threaded through the brackets of your rod guides. Before you begin to tie the line to the spool, confirm that the bail is open.

How do you tie an Arbor Knot?

A reel that’s not properly spooled with line of the proper type and size is going to make you want to pull your hair out. That’s why getting this right is so critical—the alternative is misery. Now, starting with the process, the most important and foremost task in spooling your reel is to tie a knot. You must be thinking that what is a big deal in it but I have observed in many cases that people don’t tie a knot properly which, as a result, makes a lot of trouble for them.

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However, mono’s synthetic make-up forms to the shape of your spool, and it remembers this shape when the line as cast or reeled. You can combat memory with the steps above, and it will naturally reduce over extended use. Braided line is stronger and more durable when measured at the same diameter. Braided line is less forgiving to mistakes because it does not stretch and securing your knots properly is more challenging with this material. If you are itching for strength, and are willing to risk the learning curve, we recommend 10 Lb Braid to get started . Learning how to spool a spinning reel correctly is critical for a tangle free day of fishing.

How to Spool a Spinning Reel: Broken Down

It does not force the line to spool against its natural curve the line already has from being placed on the manufacturers’ spool of line. We have all cast only to watch our bait come to a screeching halt and look down to see a horrible bird’s nest coming from our spinning reel. Use line cutters to cut the line close to the supply spool. Leave a small amount of excess line to secure its free end with a lure.

Get a pair of scissors and snip the line beyond the tip’s end. Avoid clipping the line that’s hanging from the line guides under the rod. For Baitcaster rods, you’ll need to stick a pencil through the spool and have someone else hold it. Alternatively, purchase a reel spooler or make one by placing the spool on a screwdriver pushed through a cardboard box.

So to make things clear and in perfect order, here is this detailed description of the process of winding the line on the reel. You can then go about feeding this line through the first hole of the rod before attaching it to your reel spool. It is important to note that this type of rod requires a bit more experience due to the fact that the spool moves as you cast the line.

The thin stuff will twist just as easily, and you’ll be less likely to notice it. My drop shot rod goes through multiple spools of it yearly because it’s such a pain. Monofilament line was twisting while fluorocarbon was still just a twinkle in some scientist’s eye. Too much slack, especially on a windy day, can cause line to fall off of your reel and unravel because there isn’t enough pressure on it to keep your line on the spool. Worse yet, when this happens you can set yourself up for a monster wind knot, especially if you close the bail with your reel, as discussed below. 1) If you are going to fish heavier drag, it wears on you, so stamina is important.