Is The Spool Half Full? Or Is It Half Empty?

[Missourifishin]

Ok, the title of this topic is not the real question at all. The real question is... What are the disadvantages of using a bait caster that is only about halfway full of line? And how bad does it effect performance?

 

After basically mastering (or so I thought) the use of a bait casting reel, I have had two very bad trips in a row. Last week I nailed a tree with a crank bait, and the backlash was so terrible that I ended up cutting all the line out. Well, like an idiot, I did it again today. This time, rather than removing all of the line, I cut until I got down to where it's not tangled, and I'm thinking about using it as it is, in order to not waste any more line. I'm just wondering how much of an impact that could have on my fishing, being no more than 50% full spool.

 

Thanks.

 

P.S. In case anyone was going to suggest using the "thumb trick" for backlashes, I already know it and have used it successfully. These 2 incidents with the trees have been too terrible for that to work though.

[Raul]

Half empty/full ---> the spool may weight less but the line is more tightly coiled meaning that it will flow out of the reel with greater resistance, loss of energy through fiction because more line comes in touch with the surfaces ( rod guides ) --> less distance.

[Tywithay]

Less weight=less spool speed=less overall distance. It won't hurt anything, necessarily, but you're not going to reach anywhere near the full potential of the reel.

[Missourifishin]

Right. I thought I remembered hearing it decreased distance, but I couldn't remember why.

 

Thanks guys!

[F14A-B]

Yea, as usual... What ^^^^^^ those guys said....

[Jrob78]

Less line will also lower the IPT of the reel, especially at the start of a retrieve. 

[SirSnookalot]

Less line will also lower the IPT of the reel, especially at the start of a retrieve. 

This is key.

[OkobojiEagle]

Less line = less spool speed = better spool control = fewer backlashes...

 

 

oe

[shanksmare]

Less line = less spool speed = better spool control = fewer backlashes...

 

 

oe

I believe that the less line equals a smaller spool diameter which will actually equate to higher spool speeds and most likely more backlashes. At least thats been my experience. I always keep my spools full, nearly full or over full. For me I get better performance and control this way. Your experiences may dictate otherwise.

[FishTank]

For me the general rule of thumb is I fill the spool to where it is about 1/16 -1/8 inch from the very top of the spool and when it gets down to about 3/16-1/4 of an inch I change it.  It seems each reel I have, has its own sweet spot where it will cast perfectly and the backlash is less when it comes to amount of line on the spool.

[Hogsticker]

Or when you see a tree, you could just cast the other direction

[K_Mac]

Definitely half empty! Life is too short to use a half empty reel. Mark it up to experience and re-spool.

[Missourifishin]

Or when you see a tree, you could just cast the other direction

That's the plan I hadn't even hit a tree once all year, then boom, two trips in a row. Oh well, S#i+ happens.

[OkobojiEagle]

I believe that the less line equals a smaller spool diameter which will actually equate to higher spool speeds and most likely more backlashes. At least thats been my experience. I always keep my spools full, nearly full or over full. For me I get better performance and control this way. Your experiences may dictate otherwise.

 

 

Our experiences appear to be 180 degrees opposite.

 

 

oe

[Tywithay]

Less line = less spool speed = better spool control = fewer backlashes...

oe

If you're willing to cut your casting distance and IPT in half just to eliminate backlashes, I'd recommend a spinning reel or thumb training.

[OkobojiEagle]

If you're willing to cut your casting distance and IPT in half just to eliminate backlashes, I'd recommend a spinning reel or thumb training.

 

 

You are far over-stating the loss of casting distance, and slowing the retrieve speed to 16"/handle revolution didn't cause much problem with deep spinnerbaits and cranks.  Occasionally keeping up with hard charging smallmouth would bring a bead of sweat or two.

 

 

oe

[K_Mac]

OE this discussion just shows once again that there are few absolutes when it comes to fishing. I sometimes fish with a guy that never fills his reels beyond 60-70%. This has always been a mystery to me. It takes more energy to get equivalent distance and would drive me crazy. It works for him. I think the majority of us would agree that full is better though.

[OkobojiEagle]

OE this discussion just shows once again that there are few absolutes when it comes to fishing. I sometimes fish with a guy that never fills his reels beyond 60-70%. This has always been a mystery to me. It takes more energy to get equivalent distance and would drive me crazy. It works for him. I think the majority of us would agree that full is better though.

 

K_Mac... My point hasn't been that anglers "should" under-fill their baitcasters by 1/2, but that the original poster "can" fish his currently under-filled reel with little down side and probably better spool control.

 

 

oe

[shanksmare]

Back to the original post, if you have lost almost half of your line, there is no need to take all the line off and completely fill the spool. Just strip off enough line so that your 10 or 15 yards past your longest cast (when the spool is full) and tie on your new line and fill the spool from that point. You will save a lot of money just adding line from that point as need be rather than filling the entire spool. If you do this, you can get 5 or 6 refills from a 300 yard spool rather  than 2 or 3.

[kikstand454]

Back to the original post, if you have lost almost half of your line, there is no need to take all the line off and completely fill the spool. Just strip off enough line so that your 10 or 15 yards past your longest cast (when the spool is full) and tie on your new line and fill the spool from that point. You will save a lot of money just adding line from that point as need be rather than filling the entire spool. If you do this, you can get 5 or 6 refills from a 300 yard spool rather than 2 or 3.

^ this.

[Missourifishin]

Back to the original post, if you have lost almost half of your line, there is no need to take all the line off and completely fill the spool. Just strip off enough line so that your 10 or 15 yards past your longest cast (when the spool is full) and tie on your new line and fill the spool from that point. You will save a lot of money just adding line from that point as need be rather than filling the entire spool. If you do this, you can get 5 or 6 refills from a 300 yard spool rather  than 2 or 3.

I literally just smacked myself in the head for not thinking of that. Thanks

[OkobojiEagle]

Maybe you can work a deal with Bulldogfandan...

 

 

 

oe

[Missourifishin]

Maybe you can work a deal with Bulldogfandan...

 

 

 

oe

[WRB]

You actually loos casting distance because the reduced line capacity causes the spool to turn about 1/3 rd more revolutions to equal the same yardage as a full spool. The LPT is also reduced about 1/3rd, in affect reducing your reel ratio, for example 6.3:1 with 26-28" LPT is now approximately 4.3:1 with 16-18" LPT or less.

Tom