Correctly Spooling Fishing Line on Bass Fishing Reels

Correctly Spooling Fishing Line on Bass Fishing Reels

Spooling a spinning reel can be a little tricky for a beginner, but once you get the hang of it, you shouldn’t find it too complicated. However, it is not something you want to do incorrectly when you are trying to enjoy a wonderful day of bass fishing as it can take you a good part of the day to untangle the spinning reel. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you correctly spool your fishing line on a bass fishing reel.

Make Sure the Fishing Line Spool is Unspooling in a Counter-Clockwise Direction

This sounds simple, but this first step is easy to forget and will make a big difference for you. Place the spool on a flat surface and check which way it is unspooling. This will eliminate twist as it then bends with the natural curve of the spool rather than against it.

Run The Line Through the Fishing Rod's Bottom Eye

This saves you from overcomplicating the procedure as it means you can run the line through one eye rather than all of them, saving you a lot of time and effort. It is not necessary to do more than this at this point, although it is a trick that not everyone is aware of. Placing the line through the bottom eye of the spinning rod will help your reel to pull the line on to the spool.

Open The Bail

This can be a very easy part of the process to overlook, but the reel will not work if the Fishing Line does not go under the bail, and you may be left wondering why your equipment is not working properly. It is relatively easy to fix as you just need to untie the knot or cut the line and then retie the knot, but it can be a lot of hassle for something you can avoid having to do, and you certainly don’t want to waste any good fishing time doing it!

Tie The Knot Around the Spinning Reel Spool

The type of knot you use will depend on your personal preference. The more experienced you get, the more you will discover what knot works best for you. Among more experienced anglers, some prefer to use an overhand knot while others would argue that you need to use an arbor knot to do the job properly. Don’t forget to clip the tag end of the line once you have tied your knot because leaving excess line can cause you problems later.

Close the Bail and Reel

How you do this may depend on what type of line you are using. Create a natural resistance by pinching the line between your fingers as you reel it. This will force the fishing line to securely spool itself right onto the reel, leaving less opportunity for it to twist.

Avoid Overloading the Spinning Reel

It is possible to overload a spinning reel with line, but it is not a mistake you want to make as the line twists and knots chaotically if you do. It can take you most of the day to sort out the mess once you have cast for the first time, and that will ruin your perfect fishing day immediately. Make sure you reel enough fishing line onto the spool so you have approximately 1/8 of an inch of space on the bottom of the reel and no more.

Cut The Line and Tie on A Lure

Once you have the perfect amount of fishing line on your spool, you can cut the line. At this point, you can finish running the line throughout the rest of the eyes of the rod. Tie on the Lure and you are now ready to go fishing!

Catch Fish

Hopefully, you will have a wonderful fishing trip and catch lots of fish. To make sure that your trip is a success, make a point of bringing all the things you need with you. Your fishing equipment is an obvious must-have, but you should also remember to take sunscreen if it is a hot day and enough water to keep you hydrated during your trip. Although you may be eating fish for dinner, don’t forget that you might want to take some lunch and snacks.

Follow these tips to maximize the amount of time you can spend fishing and limit the time you need to spend untangling. Have a great trip!