The $64,000 Question Here!!

[Jack]

I KNOW that SOMEONE has a super secret way to spool a spinning reel where the line does not FOUL while casting!!

I just can't be the only one with this problem! I have seen it happen 10,000 times to me and other folks!

You have a rod/reel that you have cast 1000 times with NO problems, and then on cast 1001, it is like you cast a HUGE fuzz ball of line!! The sheer physics of how this can happen is almost unexplainable!!

Now before you answer, let me posts some "solutions" I have tried over the years!

***The line has to be spooled on the reel in the same direction it comes off the spool.

***While fishing Venice, LA an old fellow would take and let the bare line spool off behind the boat while the boat was at full speed, the line in the water, with the speed of the boat, would pull the line off the reel, he would then reel in the line.

***Was told to NEVER reel a spinning reel in while a fish was stripping drag, this is what caused the line to knot up/foul on a cast. Pull up, reel down, never reel on pressure.

***Spool the reel and let it "sit" for a couple of days before use, it will take the "memory" out of the line.

***Spool the reel with a "pressure line spooler". This will avoid all line twist.

***Spool the reel, then pull the full length of line out with nothing on the end, reel in with pressure.

***And then there is the "Conspiracy Theroy"!~! It is a PLANNED malfunction from the folks that make fishing line! To increase sales! They do not want a line that will last an entire season!

May the power of the Internet help me solve this problem! Because 45 years of fishing and spooling spinning reels has not given me the wisdom to do solve the riddle.

I can't just be me! Surely somebody, somewhere, can explain this phenomenon!

Thanks in Advance for any and All possible solutions!!emoWorthy

 

[Guest]

Solution: Reel Magic. I didn't think that it worked, but I asked LB about it, he said it did, so I bought some. I haven't had a lot of problems with the bigger spinning reels, but the line does have a lot of memory. I sprayed some of this stuff on there, let it sit for 2 mins, and I promise ya, the first cast, the memory was there still, but on the second cast, the memory wasn't nearly as bad. By the 3rd and 4th cast, the memory was gone.

I always spool my spinning rods going opposite of how the reel is going. My Avocet pulls line onto the reel going counter-clockwise, so, I lay the line so that it's coming off clockwise. Doing it that way reduces a lot of the problems, at least for me.

Then, I have in the past, tied a lure onto the end of the line, pulled it out the entire length that was spooled on, and kept pressure on the line to stretch it out. Stand there for a few mins, take in the scenery, and then reel yourself back to where you hooked the hook.

I honestly believe, though, that if you give the Reel Magic a try, you will see vast improvements.

 

[Pointer 78]

I can fish an entire day with a spinning reel and not have a problem. Line twist is an inherent part of the mechanics of a spinning reel. All we can do is limit the amount of line twist. There are some tricks that I use.

1. Trolling with the line behind your boat is an excellent idea. It probably reduces line twist more than anything.
2. After making a cast, CLOSE THE BAIL WITH YOUR HAND, grab the line and pull it away from the reel. Oftentimes there will be a loop on the reel even when it's closed by hand.
3. About every 10th cast, allow the lure to hang free and let it spin. I hold the rod up as high as I can with the lure just out of the water. This takes only 20 seconds to do this.
4. Some swear by REEL MAGIC. I don't use it but it's worth a try.
5. The smaller the spool, the more likely it is to twist the line and the tighter the coils.
6. Use a line with as little memory as possible.
7. Few spinning reels handle larger diameter lines well. I use 10# test 90% of the time and never go above 12#.

 

[MadBomber]

 2. After making a cast, CLOSE THE BAIL WITH YOUR HAND, grab the line and pull it away from the reel. Oftentimes there will be a loop on the reel even when it's closed by hand. </p>

Two problems work together to cause the "fuzz-ball".  Excessive twist in the line and a loop that sticks out from under a layer of line.  I believe the loop is caused by slack in twisted line.  Line coming off the spool during a cast drags across the loop and pulls the layer off.  This is a "slough" (rhymes with rough).</p>

Drumking got me started closing the bail by hand and it helps a lot.  I close the bail and lift my rod tip to take out the slack.</p>

The best way I know of to untwist the line is to let the bare line out behind a moving boat.</p>

When spooling new line, the line should come off the supply spool the same direction it goes on the spinning reel.  Usually it's label side up.  After spooling on 10 yards or so, drop your rod tip and see if the line twists up.  If so, turn the supply spool over.  I still like to let out a new load of line behind the boat so the line is packed on tightly.</p>

The thing about cranking the handle while a fish is pulling drag is true.  All you are doing is imparting twist into your line.  </p>

If you want to use "reel magic", that may help.  If you want to save some money, go to Wally World and buy a can of spray silicone. That's all "reel magic" is.</p>

That's my .04 worth.</p>

 

[rsimms]

You could always just sit at home on the couch... my line never seems to twist when I don't use it. Otherwise... twist happen! emoLaugh "Line maintenance" just goes with the territory...

 

[Guest]

A couple thinggs come to mind here. First Reel Magic is spray silicone with one major difference. The stuff you buy at Wally has a scent and Reel Magic is unscented. Secondly the cheaper lines will twist and hold the twist more than a premium line like P-Line. Since I went to P-Line the twist factor is nonexistant.

Cheez

 

[EricM]

I understand your frustration! I finally got in touch with Ande, the manufacturer of the line that I use, because not only was I having the twist problem, but while using ultralight spinning equipment on non-ultralight fish, I was getting breakage after hours of fighting a fish and it was never a knot or even near the fish. It turns out that the design of the spinning reel simply creates line twist. You must occasionally use one of the above mentioned methods to relieve that twist before it causes problems. The larger the spool, the less twist. Some of the more expensive spinning reels utilize newer technology to help reduce the twist, but not eliminate it. However, my breakage problems could not be solved because the hours of gaining line and losing it again gives you no opportunity to relieve the twist, and that twist weakens the line and causes it to break. I finally special ordered a 7' ultralight casting rod and put a smooth Shimano casting reel on to match it, and the 4 lb test has held since. My best so far is a 37 lb blue cat on 4lb, took about an hour to land. I actually fought a HUGE blue cat for 8 hours and 10 minutes one afternoon/night, but didn't have enough light to net it the 5 times I got it to the boat. I finally lost it in a shallow snag. I'm not sure who was more relieved, me or the fish. So anyway, as RSimms said, twist happens!

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#ff0033">Richard, you are so right....but here is what the Fat Albert does when he spools new line on a spinning reel...do like MB said.  Then I go outside, tie the end of the line on a pole in the carport, walk down to the mailbox.  While holding on to the reel and line I stretch the heck out of the new line.  This removes the memory then I calmly reel the line back on with pressure while walking back up to the house.... If you stretch the memory out about every other trip you have less problems....been doing that fer a long time....that's my .02 worth...

</font>

 

[Liveliner]

You can watch your line as you are spooling your reel. Watch the line directly above the spool it came on . It should appear limp with minimal twisting. If you see the line starting to twist up, stop and flip the spool over and crank on some from the other side. It will go back to the relaxed line appearance. If it starts to tighten up into smaller twist flip it again.

I have noticed that certain spinning reel designs twist the line more than others. The smaller the diameter the spool the more it will twist.

Ever so often, I think that it is a good idea to let your line peel off your reel and then crank the bare line back onto the reel.

You are very right on the line twisting when you crank with the drag slipping.

 

[Andrew]

One of the biggest problems if not the main one is when someone puts too much line on the reel. Don't ever fill a spinning reel to the edge with line. Your just asking for trouble. On smaller reels stay atleast 1/8 back from the edge and larger reels 1/4 inch. Also the design of the spool itself will cause line tangles. When spooling line let it come off the spool counter clockwise and using reel magic will greatly reduce memory in mono, and is great at relaxing fluorcarbon and braids. Spray it on before you throw the line and and spray some on as you reel the line back in.

 

[flip1up]

FA is right again. I like to flip alot, if I see memory in my line when I start flippin, I tie it off to a dock and turn the trolling motor away and give the line a good stretch. Works great, especially in cold weather. I started doing this several months back after reading a thread that Al mentioned this. If wisdom comes with age, he ought to be a VERY smart dude emoPoke emoBigsmile

 

[Fat Albert]

flip1up - 3/17/2007 12:25 AM FA is right again. I like to flip alot, if I see memory in my line when I start flippin, I tie it off to a dock and turn the trolling motor away and give the line a good stretch. Works great, especially in cold weather. I started doing this several months back after reading a thread that Al mentioned this. If wisdom comes with age, he ought to be a VERY smart dude emoPoke emoBigsmile

</p>



<font color="#ff0066">Thanks Flip,  I think....my body is just getting older not my brain...LOL</font></p>

 

[dunk]

i agree with fa on this one and also the flip the spool over a few times while spooling up as for the reel magic don't waste your money on the name. flip over a can of wd-40 exact ingredients word for word and 3 bucks less.emoSun

 

[drumking]

Andrew M answered the main culprit IMHO. Overfilling the reel will cause more problems even if the line is not twisted. Twisted line causes problems too, but as FA pointed out, that can be corrected in just a few minutes in your driveway. I would add to that that I tie the end of the line to a swivel so that the line can untwist if necessary while I hold tension and reel it back onto the reel. Closing the bail with the handle will insure that 1 loose coil will go onto the reel everytime that you close it. After a certain number of casts, if you aren't paying attention, the dreaded birdnest comes off and you have a mess.

Flipping the bail closed with the forefinger just before it reaches its target will eliminate most of the loose line. There is enough bow in the line that closing it with the finger about 2-3 feet short of target will be just about right. It will land on target with the line stretched taut and ready for the retrieve. I always look at and pull on the line at the reel before starting the retrieve if I see any evidence of looseness.

I use WD-40 to spray on my line to help in the elimination of memory. I have tried the silicone sprays from Walmart and it leaves a stain on my hi vis yellow line that I don't like. I don't get that stain with WD-40. I have never tried Reel Magic, but my friend has and he swears by it. Too expensive for me and WD-40 does the trick for me. BTW, my friend who uses the Reel Magic, has more tangles than you can shake a stick at, but it is because he always overfills his reel. I have tried to tell him this, but some people just don't hear what you are saying.

I have fished for days without a tangle. Taking just a little bit of time and using some common sense will eliminate almost all problems. The only time that I have even a slight problem is when I get slack and don't pay attention, especially when the wind is blowing and I'm 2/3 aggravated anyway. If you will listen up, then you will make many more casts to crappie, bass, bluegills, etc. (you get my drift) and a whole lot less picking out birdnests etc. All those tangles will wear your line out a whole lot more than fighting fish will. emoBigsmile
emoGeezer Do I get the $64,000?

 

[Jack]

Thanks for all the help!!

From reading the responses I have figured out a few mistakes, and a few new tips!

I guess I am GUILTY of putting to much line on my reels.

Never stretched the line after spooling.

Never held the jig up and let it free spin to remove twist.

Never close the bail with my hand always use the reel, and never pull some line out after each cast.

Stretch the line while using a swivel to remove the twist! (Now that is a good one!!)

Headed to Weiss in the morning to fish with my 30 year long duck hunting/crappie fishing buddy!

His boat and all of his fishing gear is still at duck camp in Crockett's Bluff Arkansas on the White River!

I just took all of my rods and strecthed the line with a swivel, used some wd-40, and took off about 20 yards of over- spooled line.

I did not do any of the above on the rods I spooled up for Tommy....aka Dago!!

I can just hear the "Itailian" get fired up as he has a huge fuzz ball!!

This is not a practical joke on a long time friend, just an experiment on different spinning reel spooling techniques!!


emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh

Again, thanks for all the tips!!emoThumbsup

And Drumking, where do you want me to send the $64,000 check???emoUpsmile emoGeezer emoUpsmile

 

[drumking]

Jack - 3/17/2007 10:41 PM



And Drumking, where do you want me to send the $64,000 check???emoUpsmile emoGeezer emoUpsmile

Just send it to TT for our picnic expenses. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[DoubleB]

Soaking the line in water overnight before spooling seems to help as well....

 

[TennesseeTalker]

HMMMM .. I musta been sleepin' when this thread was written because its the first time I've seen it!!! What a good one it is! After crackerfest 2007, DK knows I'm also the queen of line maintenance. Sure did enough of it that day. For all the reasons mentioned above.

By the way Jack .. where is the picnic $$$????



TT

 

[Liveliner]

After re-reading all this, I truely think that the biggest problem is the slack line laying on the spool after a cast. There are two very different problems that occur with spinning gear. One is line twist and the other is loose line on the spool during the retrieve.

When the bail flips and starts retrieving line, it creates a loop. The next cast takes the looped line come off in a wad that mades the mess. I do not think that there is any line installation practices that can help avoid this occurance. I have noticed that the problem is almost non existant with larger diameter spools loaded with limp small diameter line. The problem gets gradually worse as the spools get smaller and the line gets stiffer. That is where Line Majic helps. It keeps your line soft letting it stay flatter on the spool.

I have developed a good habit of raising my rod tip after engauging the bait to pull the slack from the spool.

If your line gets all twisted, as it so often does, you can see your line twist and loop betweem your rod guides or in front of your rod tip. I do not think that the two problems are related at all. The line twisting is related to all the reasons discussed in this thread. However to me the biggest hinderance to me is the loose line on the reel spool that jumps off in a wad on the next cast.

Pay attention to your line on your spool after a cast and see if that helps.

 

[Guest]

Very good discussion above, but one cause that has not been mention is the roller bearing. If you have a cheap roller bearing or one that is not working correctly, you will get line twist. Also certain presentations can cause more line twist than others, such as inline spinners and soft plastic jerkbaits (flukes) especially when it gets that catfish roll going on the retreive.