Rec and Sports

How to Spool a Fishing Line onto a Reel

If you are considering a fresh spool of line, chances are that you’re wondering if you should use a pre-wrapped spool or have your local tackle shop create one for you.  The answer to this is simple – whenever you can, have it done at the tackle shop by a professional.

This method is more expensive, but ultimately the cost is definitely worth avoiding the stress of a do it yourself job.  There are a number of risk factors in completing a job such as this on your own, like tangled or twisted line, tension problems, not enough line, and/or too much line.  Thus, it’s not difficult to see why letting an expert do the work for you saves in so many diverse ways.

That said, you can buy filler spools in a wide variety of lengths, from as large as 300 yards to as small as 125 yards.  Each reel is unique, and, depending on the size line you are utilizing, will hold different lengths.  Consequently, it becomes nearly unavoidable to wind up with either too much or too little line in your reel, a real disaster.  This problem causes additional problems, and soon your reel will not function at all.

At some point, you are likely to find yourself in a situation where filling your reel becomes a necessity instead of an option.  When this happens, there are some simple steps to be aware of.  They can mean the difference between successfully filling your reel and seeing your reel fail at a most inopportune time.

Anyone who has ever wound their own line has dealt with the frustration of twisted line.  Twisted line is easily avoided if line is professionally rolled, but you can also prevent it when you’re attempting to wind your own line at home.  With a can and a pencil you can create a spool holder that will help you wind your line. Simply drill holes into the sides of the can, push a pencil (or thin stick) through the holes with your spool on it and you’ve got the perfect solution for a single person process. If you have the benefit of a second person, simply push a pencil or stick through the center of the roll of line and have them hold it while you fill your reel. These simple processes can help avoid twisted lines which can create all types of problems if you are out fishing.

From time to time you’ll find that the drag or tension in your line isn’t quite right for the fishing.  When a reel is filled in a professional shop they’ll often use internal measures to ensure that tension is maintained during the spooling process to help create drag on a line.  To ensure that a home-rolled line has the proper tension, you can use some everyday items.  Take an old phone book, place the line between the pages and then put a couple of books on top of that.  This creates just enough drag to ensure that your line is rolled with the right amount of tension allowing you load your reel snugly.

There are a few brands of line (such as Daiwa, Avet, Shimano and Van Staal) that regularly offer you with a suggested weight and length perfect for your specific reel.  Nevertheless, a rule of thumb is to always purchase too much line seeing as how under-spooling can generate more troubles than you wish to think about.  When you are uncertain as to how much line to purchase, think about purchasing a bulk spool, which is obtainable in lengths up to 1500 yards.  Remember that loading your reel incorrectly can devastate your retrieval percentage!

Without a doubt, a professionally spooled reel is nearly always preferable to one that is do-it-yourself.  Nevertheless, if you have to do it yourself, these practical tips can help ensure that your reel is loaded correctly and you can maximize your fishing experience.

There are many types of reels out on the market. Doing research to determine which one is right for you is extremely important. Some of the most popular reels out there today include Daiwa Saltiga 30T and Shimano Calcutta 400B.