When fishing season is in full swing, spinning reels are a great tool. People tend to love these products because they are easier to master in comparison with other fishing items. Even with its many benefits, a spinning reel has no use if it is not appropriately spooled.
In this article, we will explain how to spool a spinning reel in the most convenient manner. With our procedure, you can avoid common problems associated with spooling (line twisting and looping.) Let’s get started.
Pick the Right Line
The first step is to choose the right type of lines. If the line is not compatible according to your project, you won’t get a decent service from it. Follow our instructions below to see what line you require.
- Braided Line
The casting distance has to be large for bottom fishing. Braided lines are the ideal product to go with, therefore. You can easily create a good distance since a braided line is composed of multiple lengths of braided materials. Aside from that, the line possesses the highest strength. Hence, you won’t notice any stretch.
- Monofilament Line
Unlike the braided line, monofilament lines do have a little stretch, thanks to their single-strand lines. As a result, it is more flexible than other ones. A big advantage of the monofilament line is it won’t get out of the fish’s mouth easily. The flexibility ensures the hook stays put inside the mouth. Moreover, the monofilament line is the optimal choice if you fish with the floating bait.
- Fluorocarbon Line
Fluorocarbon lines have a few similarities with a monofilament line. However, the stretch in fluorocarbon is less intense and more balanced. Hence, it is the ideal line when you want to fish in shallow or calm water. Fishes hardly spot these lines. It makes your fishing job easy. Furthermore, fluorocarbon lines have a reactive effect on bottom contact and light bites.
Load the Reel
Before proceeding to spool the reel, it is necessary to load it first. There are various ways to do so. With the simplest method given below, you can load reels fast and without issues.
- Make Sure You Know How The Reels Turn.
A reel may turn counterclockwise or simply, clockwise. You need to understand what kind of turn your reel uses. To do so, turn the wheel a few times. It will indicate the direction you want to turn it. Once you know the function, remember it since this is how you will spool the chosen line onto the reel. On the other hand, When it is time to remove the line, turn the reel in the opposite direction.
- Flip The Small Handle To Open The Bail.
You should notice that there is a small wire handle. It is called bail. In order to open it, just flip the handle. Sometimes people forget to remove the lines that are no longer useful. You can detach it when the bail is open. After the work is done, close the bail by flipping it down.
- Set The Line Through The Guides.
The small circles on the rod are known as guides. Your job is to string the line through these circles/guides all the way to the spool. Keeping the line secure is extremely important. Thus, use the arbor knot for connecting the line to the spool. You may see a large additional line remaining. Leave a minimum of 0.64 cm of it and cut the rest.
Spool the Reel
Here comes the last step, which is perhaps the most complicated one. We are going to spool the reel this time. Though it is a bit tricky to do, hopefully, our guidelines will help you complete the task with ease.
- Put The Spool On The Floor After Closing The Bail.
Start by placing the spool on the floor. It ensures the line is correctly entering the spool. Besides that, the spool has to line up as well. It allows the line to come off in the same manner it goes into the spool. You may face an issue where the line gets twisted or does not want to line up. In that case, flip it over.
- Pinch The Line And Start Cranking The Reel.
As the title says, pinch the line. But don’t push too hard. It needs to be a 30 cm slight pinch above the reel. Make sure it is tight. Now begin cranking the reel gradually. The line should start sliding through the fingers. After cranking around 20 times, stop and check if there is any twist.
- Do Not Stop Cranking Until The Line Is Fully Loaded.
The cranking that you started in the previous step should continue. The goal is to load the line entirely. Don’t add lines in a hurry, however. It has to be done in a gradual manner so that you can ensure the line is not twisting. To be more specific, take a break after every 20-crank for the inspection.
- Stop Filling The Spool As Soon As The Distance Between Rim And Spool Is 0.32 Cm.
The right time to stop filling the spool is when it is 0.32 centimeter away from the rim. The measurement also leaves quite a long spare line. There will still be plenty left to use if you cut a large piece of the line while changing baits/lures.
- Cut The Line Near The Supply Spool Using A Line Cutter.
There should be a little line left. It comes in handy for the security of the free end. Another suggestion is putting a little tape over the end. It eliminates the chances of unraveling.
- Make Sure the Spool’s Line Is Properly Placed.
Securing the free end is necessary. When properly secured, the line won’t slip through the guides. You can use different stuff such as swivel, lure, or even a clip to secure the end.
Why are Spinning Fishing Reels a Useful Fishing Gear?
The spinning fishing reel is useful for lightweight fishing. However, it does not mean that you cannot use it for heavy fishes. As the reel is quite versatile, you can use it for both purposes. Therefore, more and more people are using these reels nowadays.
Another big benefit of the spinning reel is the ease of use. It would take only a few minutes to learn how to use the product, even for a beginner.
Why is Spooling Correctly so Important?
There is no way anyone underestimates the importance of spooling correctly. It is perhaps one of the open secrets of succeeding in your fish catching session. Mistakes while spooling result in several knots and tangled lines. When the spooling is poor, you’ll be busy untangling instead of fishing. This implies that spooling the line correctly before going fishing is essential.
What are the Three Main Parts of a Spinning Fishing Reel?
A spinning fishing reel has several parts. However, only three of them are called the main parts. Let’s explain these parts.
- Spool
The objective of the spool is to hold the fishing line. Every spool comes with an axis. You have to wrap the line around that axis.
The spool rotates via the reel’s spindle while casting or retrieving. Most manufacturers use graphite or aluminum to make a spool.
- Handle
It is essential to keep the reel and spool in the ideal spot. The handle comes in handy when you want to do so. You put pressure on it using your hands for rotating/adjusting the spool and reel.
- Bail
The semi-circular material is known as the bail. It is directly attached to the body of a reel.
It also holds a line similar to the spool. However, its primary job is releasing the line whenever you want to cast. Moreover, when you catch a fish and want to reel it in, it is going to draw the line in for you.