How To Spool A Spinning Reel: Step By Step Guide
How To Spool A Spinning Reel Equipment List:
- Spinning reel
- Fishing line (usually mono or braid)
- A cloth
- Fishing rod
How to spool a fishing reel: Step-by-step
The first point to take into consideration when adding a line to a spinning reel is how much lines that reel will hold. Although most monofilament lines have a breaking strain which is measured in lbs, generally the more modern braided lines are measured in diameter, such as 0.08mm.
On the side of the spool itself will be marked the amount of line in a certain lb breaking strain or braid diameter that spool will hold.
A lot of modern-day spinning reels have a shallow spool so that the reel can be filled more easily with braid, which is a lot thinner in diameter than monofilament so a deep spool isn’t needed.
All fishing lines have a memory, so the new line needs to exit the spool in the same direction as it goes onto the reel. The reason for this is that if the line goes onto the reel in the opposite direction, line twists and tangles can occur when casting out.
The first step when adding a new line to a reel is to attach the reel to the butt section of the rod and open the bale arm. Now thread the new line through the eye on the butt section and tie around the spool with an Arbor knot, adding a small piece of tape over the knot to hold it in place.
Source: 101knots.com
If the spool of the new line is on the floor when the winding of the line onto the reel starts, the spool will jump about and roll around. New spools of line generally come with a hole through the middle so Ideally ask somebody to hold the spool by inserting a pin or screwdriver through the hole or failing that, popping the spool into a bucket or bowl will keep it from bouncing about and potential tangling.
Close the bale arm so that the reel is engaged and ready for winding. It is important to make sure that the new line is added under tension as it needs to go onto the spool of the reel nice and tight. The best way to do this is to hold the line tightly in a cloth around a foot up from the reel.
Start winding slowly just to make sure the line is entering the reel in the same direction as it’s leaving the spool, ensuring that the line is kept under tension as it’s wound on. If the line goes onto the reel slack, problems will occur during casting out as tangles in the line will occur as it leaves the reel in loops.
It’s now simply a case of winding the new line onto the reel until the spool is full. If the reel is filled too full the line will fly off the reel during the cast and cause considerable tangles. If the reel is underfilled the line will catch against the lip of the spool during the cast and cause friction which will result in a shorter cast. Ideally, the spool needs to be filled to around 2mm or 3mm below the lip.
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