A mistake many people make when spooling a baitcasting reel is to just wind the line onto it as fast as possible.
This is not going to produce the best results. Re-spooling a baitcasting reel might seem easy, there is a lot more to it than just winding the fishing line around the reel.
It is important to properly wind the line around the reel. If you do this too quickly you are going to end up with a tangled mess— a bird’s nest. The problem is often that people just attempt to do this on their own without any guidance or tips.
Today we want to discuss how to properly put fishing line on a baitcasting reel. It’s a bit harder than you might think, but with our pro tips and guidance, you should be able to do it right the first time.
Using a Monofilament Backer
When you use braided line in your baitcasting reel, you will want to consider using fluorocarbon or monofilament fishing line as a backer. Braided line is pretty slick and smooth.
When attached to a baitcasting spool it can slide around. This not only makes it hard to wind the spool, but can also cause problems in terms of retrieval, and with the drag of the reel.
If you have a monofilament backing line, it will hold onto the reel much easier when the line starts to run out. That being said, you won’t need a monofilament backer if you are spooling with anything other than braided line.
Also, you might want to consider using a monofilament backer simply due to the price of braided line. Filling up a whole spool with braided line can end up being very expensive.
Attaching the Fishing Line to the Reel – the Knots to Use
When putting fishing line on your baitcasting reel the type of knot you will use will depend on the type of fishing line you are using.
The knot is very important because this is what will tie the fishing line to the reel. If not tied properly, once the line runs out, the knot may come undone and send your fishing line, the hook, and the fish on the end of it right out of the reel and into the depths.
If you are using monofilament line, either as your main line or as a backer, a simple arbor knot is going to do work well.
This type of knot is very easy to learn and to tie, and it works great for monofilament fishing line. An arbor knot will also perform well if you want to use a monofilament backer. The backer will then be attached to the braided line.
The monofilament backer will be attached to the braided line. You will want to use a double uni knot to attach the two lines together.
It is a very low-profile knot that can easily pass through the guides. It allows easy casting and retrieval, plus it has tons of friction points, so it should never come undone.
Keep in mind that you will probably want to attach the two lines to each other before you begin spooling the line onto the reel.
Spooling
The most important step is the spooling process itself. This is not a very difficult task, but you need to do it properly.
We we are going to provide some crucial tips for doing this. The fishing line should be level with the reel being spooled. It is positioned so that it can rotate freely while spooling. This will go a long way in helping to lay the fishing line evenly across the spool.
Next, make sure that the line is being wound tight. When you are spooling the baitcaster reel, make sure to hold the line against the rod or reel with one finger. Apply a good deal of pressure, so that the line gets wound very tightly.
A line that is not wound tightly will end up tangling and causing you some serious issues down the road. If the line is not tight it can contribute to backlash.
Backlash occurs when the line is loose and the spool spins faster than the line as it leaves the spool. Backlash is frustrating to correct. You will have to pull off the excess line to get to a tight base. Once reaching the tight base, the spare line is reeled back in.
After you have tied the knot, ensure that the line is held tight. Begin cranking the handle slowly to spool the line onto the reel.
When it comes to baitcasting reels, make sure to spool the line up to 1/8 inches from the top and bottom of the spool.
Keep in mind that you are going to be able to fit much more braided line onto a baitcasting reel than any other kind of line. Another important point is that you never want to over spool your fishing reel.
If you add more line to the baitcasting reel than it is meant to hold, you will end up with tangles. The extra line can lead to backlash and line getting caught around the spool.
Conclusion
As you can see, putting a fishing line onto a baitcasting reel is not very difficult. It only takes a few steps, that if done correctly will prevent various problems like backlash.
Remember to use the right kind of line, tight knots, and take your time when re-spooling.