11-25-2005, 02:09 PM
[cool][#0000ff]I useta do a lot of salt water fishin' and one of the tricks I picked up for keeping line wound right was to let it out behind the boat, under power (without hook, lure, etc.). Let out about a hundred yards and then wind it back on the reel. Goes back under slight tension and all the twists are gone. This was especially helpful after bringing in a large fish on a "coffee grinder" (spinning reel). A lot of folks keep reeling while the fish is stationary or running line off the drag. That really puts twists in the line.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, you can accomplish the same thing by having someone walk line off the reel, across a grassy park, and then letting go of the line so that you can reel it back in. Use your thumb and forefinger to hold the line so that it respools under slight tension. That will get rid of most twists. Some guys like to do that two or three times, after first refilling a spool.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Another trick is to tie the end of your line to a GOOD swivel, and then attach the swivel to something stationary...with a large clean grassy area to walk back over. Let line out as you back away the length of a good long cast...or longer. Then reel the line back on the spool under tension. The swivel will take care of the untwisting of the line as you wind back down to it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It is a good practice to always spool up properly. With a baitcast (revolving spool) reel, that is a no brainer. Lay the spool of line on its side in a bowl or small box, to keep it from running away, or hang it on a horizontal peg. Then just wind the line on the reel as the line spool rotates. If you put it on a spindle, there should be something to provide tension to keep the spool from backlashing if you give it a jerk or wind too fast and then stop. You should also use the thumb and forefinger to apply some tension to the line going on the reel.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Spinning reels are the most difficult to always spool up properly, because of the rotation of the bail and the potential twisting of the line. Making sure the line spool is facing the right direction is only the beginning. Not all spinning reel spools are created equal. Different diameters will require more or fewer twists, to keep even with the twist of the line coming off the line spool.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If the reel spool is close in diameter to the line spool from which you are taking line, there will be little incidence of twist. More commonly, the reel spool is smaller in diameter and twist starts developing within a few rotations of the reel handle. If you stop reeling, and let some slack in the line, between the rod and the line spool, you will see the line kinking up. That is twist. The best remedy is to reverse the side of the spool from which the line is coming off. Reel a few more times and check again. On an ultralight spool, you may have to reverse the line spool several times before getting the level where you want it. If you have had to do that maneuver a few times, it is likely there will be some twist on your reel spool. Unavoidable. That is when you might wanna do the untwist techniques suggested above.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One last thought. It is common for folks to put too much line on both baitcast and spinning reels. Baitcasters will cast better, with fewer "professional overruns" if you leave at least 1/8 " showing on the outside of the reel spool. Spinning reels also cast better, with fewer "boil-offs", if you leave a little space between the outside lip and the topped off line level. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am amazed at how many tackle shops overfill line spools for customers who bring their reels in for new line. I understand that they want to give good value to their customers...or maybe just sell more line...but they are really creating more problems than they solve. Getting a full spool is not about getting full value. I have heard quite a few anglers complain about having to take some line off the spools after refilling to get it to cast right.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The important thing is to keep GOOD line on your reels, and to change it after a few trips. Ultimately, the line is one of the cheapest investments you make in your fishing pleasure, on a per trip basis, but it is the most crucial link between you and the fish. We have far too many BIG FISH LOST reports in which line failure made the difference between the fish of a lifetime and just another fisherman's tale.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Actually, you can accomplish the same thing by having someone walk line off the reel, across a grassy park, and then letting go of the line so that you can reel it back in. Use your thumb and forefinger to hold the line so that it respools under slight tension. That will get rid of most twists. Some guys like to do that two or three times, after first refilling a spool.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Another trick is to tie the end of your line to a GOOD swivel, and then attach the swivel to something stationary...with a large clean grassy area to walk back over. Let line out as you back away the length of a good long cast...or longer. Then reel the line back on the spool under tension. The swivel will take care of the untwisting of the line as you wind back down to it.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]It is a good practice to always spool up properly. With a baitcast (revolving spool) reel, that is a no brainer. Lay the spool of line on its side in a bowl or small box, to keep it from running away, or hang it on a horizontal peg. Then just wind the line on the reel as the line spool rotates. If you put it on a spindle, there should be something to provide tension to keep the spool from backlashing if you give it a jerk or wind too fast and then stop. You should also use the thumb and forefinger to apply some tension to the line going on the reel.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Spinning reels are the most difficult to always spool up properly, because of the rotation of the bail and the potential twisting of the line. Making sure the line spool is facing the right direction is only the beginning. Not all spinning reel spools are created equal. Different diameters will require more or fewer twists, to keep even with the twist of the line coming off the line spool.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]If the reel spool is close in diameter to the line spool from which you are taking line, there will be little incidence of twist. More commonly, the reel spool is smaller in diameter and twist starts developing within a few rotations of the reel handle. If you stop reeling, and let some slack in the line, between the rod and the line spool, you will see the line kinking up. That is twist. The best remedy is to reverse the side of the spool from which the line is coming off. Reel a few more times and check again. On an ultralight spool, you may have to reverse the line spool several times before getting the level where you want it. If you have had to do that maneuver a few times, it is likely there will be some twist on your reel spool. Unavoidable. That is when you might wanna do the untwist techniques suggested above.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]One last thought. It is common for folks to put too much line on both baitcast and spinning reels. Baitcasters will cast better, with fewer "professional overruns" if you leave at least 1/8 " showing on the outside of the reel spool. Spinning reels also cast better, with fewer "boil-offs", if you leave a little space between the outside lip and the topped off line level. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I am amazed at how many tackle shops overfill line spools for customers who bring their reels in for new line. I understand that they want to give good value to their customers...or maybe just sell more line...but they are really creating more problems than they solve. Getting a full spool is not about getting full value. I have heard quite a few anglers complain about having to take some line off the spools after refilling to get it to cast right.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The important thing is to keep GOOD line on your reels, and to change it after a few trips. Ultimately, the line is one of the cheapest investments you make in your fishing pleasure, on a per trip basis, but it is the most crucial link between you and the fish. We have far too many BIG FISH LOST reports in which line failure made the difference between the fish of a lifetime and just another fisherman's tale.[/#0000ff]
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