Beginner Problems With Spinning Reel

[ZJones1994]

Hey Y'all, 

            I just picked up my first spinning reel two days ago, late to the game i know, but for half the day yesterday I had no problems casting and was casting about 30 to 35 feet. Now when I flip the bail the line doesn't drop at all and when I cast it will either drop about 3 feet in front of me if i cast overhead or 4 feet to the side if I sidecast. I respooled it last night (it unspools counter clockwise) with Berkley Triline XL Smooth Casting in 8lb test (.010" line diameter). I'm pretty sure it isn't over spooled because the reel is rated for 230 yards of 8lb line. The problem was there before i changed line i just changed hoping it would help. I get some small line twists on the reel that i take care of immediately. I'm at a loss so I decided to ask here. Also the rod is just a shakespear catch more fish bass combo. 

[Sam]

Z, welcome to the Forum. Please go to our Introductions section and tell us a little about yourself in addition to posting your geographical area so we can give you specifics about local fishing.

 

Now - regarding your query.

 

If you have a combo then the line test should be OK. Look at the rod's specifications and double check the bait's weight. Is it within the rod's paramaters? And check the paramaters for your line test. I would think 8 pounds would work fine.

 

Are you opening and closing the bail with your hand? This is a must. Never close the bail with the reel's handle.

 

Did you spool the line onto the reel counter clockwise? Very important,.

 

Did you remove the spool with the line on it and go into the bathroom and run the hottest water you can over the line on the spool for about 45-seconds? This should remove the remaining line twist unless your bait turns a lot causing the line twist to reappear.

 

Did you spool the line onto the reel in a tight manner? When spooling run the line through your fingers to give it some tension or using the Berkley Spooling Station have some pressure on the big spool when spooling the line onto to your reels.

 

As I  understand your problem:   

"When I flip the bail the line doesn't drop at all." - You open the bail with your hand and the line does not come off the reel. Does it do that when you cast or just opening the bail by hand?  When you point your rod tip to 11 o'clock and release the bail by hand the bait should fall to the floor and the line come off the reel without any problem. If this does not happen either you have the line twisted around the rod or on the spool too tight.

 

 "When I cast it will either drop about 3-feet in front of me if I cast overhead; or 4-feet to the side if I sidecast." - Does the bail snap back closed during your casts? If the bail is open and you have the correct size bait and line test for the rod and no line twisting around the rod then it should sail out into the wild blue younder.

 

All I can suggest is for you to go to a fishing tackle store where the guys fish. A big box store hires people who have no knowledge of rods and reels so avoid them and go to a local tackle shop with your setup and ask them if they can figure out the problem.

 

Please let us know what you do and find out.  This is a mystery.

[Sam]

One more persective.

 

How are you casting the rig?

 

Are you throwing it over your head and stopping around noon or 11 o'clock and releasing the line via your finger?

 

A spinning rig should cast easily and I wonder if you are casting it incorrectly.

 

Just a thought.

 

Let us know.

[Silas]

Check to see if the line is wrapped around the rod at some point. 

 

Check the top guide to see if it is "nicked" in any way. 

[JunkYard814]

Sometimes when I'm fishing I have a similar problem only to notice the line is wrapped around the tip or at the bottom of the reel. I'm left their scratching my head for a few minutes before I realize. I feel pretty foolish after 

[BrianSnat]

One thing that can cut down on casting distance is using a bait casting rod with a spinning reel, but that doesn't account for the dramatic reduction in distance. Is it possible that the bail isn't opening fully?

[JunkYard814]

you can actually hook a baitcasting reel on a spinning rod?

[ZJones1994]

Hey thanks for all the replies! I ended up completely re spooling it and I think the problem was that when i spooled it I had it off the rod and must have wrapped it the wrong way which seemed right to me if i was holding it upside down.. d'oh. I also wrapped it till there was an 1/8 lip between the line and the edge. I also wrapped it with it laying face up on the ground as opposed to having someone hold it with a pencil and just letting it reel out. Then I went fishing haha. No problems with it except for a couple of times it would hit a point and stop. Then I'd unspool some and go again. No problems! Now I just need to work on my casting technique.