Spinning reels have been the number one friend of fishermen ever since they were first introduced. They make any type of fishing much more convenient and easy to manage. In addition to this, they are applicable in almost all scenarios – regardless if you are going for small or gigantic types of fish. Of course, you can also choose from a wide range of products that offer different features, and are suitable for different budgets. Some of the best reels can make your life a lot easier, but you should be prepared to pay a hefty price for them.
There is one thing, though, that many fishermen underestimate – spooling their reel. If you do this improperly, it will not matter how good or expensive your reel is. A badly spooled reel will result in terrible line twists, which could decimate your chances of catching fish. In addition to this, line twists could have other bad effects – they are known to reduce casting distance, as well as to reduce the durability of the line.
So, how does one avoid this? While modern reels are incredibly advanced, and their manufacturers have made all sorts of changes to miniscule details in order to prevent line twists, it could still happen. This is why it is essential for every enthusiast angler to learn how to spool a spinning reel by themselves.
How to Spool a Spinning Reel by Yourself
Before we start, you should check some small details that could turn out to be very important. Typically, spinning reels have a specific line capacity. You can information about this on the box, or in documents typically available on the manufacturer’s website. Of course, you should also know that these specifications were measured when using a specific type of line, typically described on the aforementioned box/documents. This means that if your spinning reel can fit a set length of ten pound test monofilament, it will certainly not be able to hold as much ten pound test braid. The latter’s diameter is much more significant, and your reel will not be able to fit as much line as you’d want it to be. And, as you can probably guess, being short on line can be the reason why you miss a big catch.
While using a line spooler is a popular solution, many fishermen are still keen on doing this task manually. Regardless if you are new or experienced, we assure you that learning how to spool a spinning reel by yourself will be a very valuable thing to know. So, let’s get started.
As you can probably guess, you will need a reel and line. As an extra accessory, we recommend having a pen or pencil handy – you will find out why in a bit. Ideally, you want to also have someone to help, but don’t worry if a mate is not available – you can do it on your own.
The first thing you need to do is to unpack the line, and feed it through the eyelets of your rod, until you reach the reel. It is important to keep in mind that the line has been slightly deformed from sitting wound up since it left the factory – you can negate this deformation by keeping the line extra strung while spooling it, as well as by utilizing the extra tension that the eyelets will create.
Now that this is out of the way, you want to create a lasso on the end that is about to be connected to your reel – you can use any type of knot you want. Once this is done, loop it onto the reel, and then tighten it. The next part is a bit tricky, but you should get used to it pretty quickly. You want to get the line started on the reel with a few slow rotations. While doing this, we advise you to keep your free hand to hold & tighten the line around the last eyelet. This should further reduce the deformation that most monofilament lines experience.
Once this setup is complete, it is stile to start spooling. If you have someone to help you, then they should grab the line, and put the pencil through it – holding it in front of them. If this is not an option, then you will need to improvise in order to come up with a solution where the line is fixed, and not spinning completely freely. The easiest way to do this is with two sets of clampers, and a countertop/table. The reason why you do not want the line to move freely is because this increases the odds of issues like tangling, forming a rat’s nest, etc.
Start by pooling slow, while keeping the line somewhat strung – but do not overdo it. Once you get a few rounds in, you can speed up the process to add as much line as you want. Make sure to stop every now and then and inspect the line on the reel – you might need to roll back a bit if you notice any major issues.
Fishing Line Spooler
And if manual spooling seems like too much work for you, then you should consider getting one of the handy tools that make the process somewhat automatic. A fishing line spooler is very convenient to use, because it is small in size, and has mounting spots for the reel and the line. Once you have mounted both, and ensured that the line is somewhat strung, you can start spooling. The best part is that because of the small size of this accessory, you can use it just about anywhere – not just at home.
Fishing line spoolers are very affordable and easy-to-use, so they might be one of the most convenient fishing accessories to buy if you find yourself frequently experimenting with different lines & reels.
