Spinning Reel Bail Closing - Why Manual?

[Choporoz]

I see it here and other places all the time -- google isn't my friend today.

 

Aside from ensuring that your line is running over the bail 'line guide' properly....is there any other reason that so many insist that spinning reel bails must be closed manually?

 

Seems to me that arguments about preventing line twist are flimsy, if not fatally flawed.  If the mechanisms can't take the stress, why are they designed that way?

 

Even if it is all about preventing line from getting slightly fouled on the bail, it is a relatively rare and inconsequential state, IMHO.  So, what am I missing?  Why all the insistence on closing the bail by hand when the reel is designed to do it by reeling?   

 

Maybe I'm just an old dog, but I've always reeled them closed - I've got a new (used) reel that won't close automatically about 20% of the time and it frustrates me no end....but I wonder if I shouldn't be trying to learn to make manual flipping a habit?  Any other good reasons except to compensate for a mechanical 'problem'?

[Catch and Grease]

I believe its because if you close it by reeling then line gets put back on the spool loosely and eventually your gonna cast and get the mother of all bird nests, I also heard something about it wearing out springs in your reel or something but dunno how true that it...

[F14A-B]

I learned to do it years ago, before ii became vogue. I feather my line on the outcast.. Stopping my bait where I want the splash down.. At that point, my hand is in such a position as to easily, and blindly be able to close the bail, and tug my line slightly in the event of a loose coil or 2.. It was just something I learned on my own in the 80's.. It was just a learning progression for me and nothing else really.

[J Francho]

I learned to do it years ago, before ii became vogue. I feather my line on the outcast.. Stopping my bait where I want the splash down.. At that point, my hand is in such a position as to easily, and blindly be able to close the bail, and tug my line slightly in the event of a loose coil or 2.. It was just something I learned on my own in the 80's.. It was just a learning progression for me and nothing else really.

 

I do something very similar.

 

OP, you eliminate some twist and that little bit of slack in your line that you always reel up, making you ready for the bite.

 

I'm not feathering in this video, but it shows how quick and efficient the technique is.

 

[fishballer06]

It adds line twist. But worst of all, it's very hard on the bail spring. Over time, you'll wear that bail spring out and it will need replaced.

[J Francho]

I actually haven't seen too much of the bail spring wearing out anymore.  Newer bail closing mechanisms are different, and don't rely so much on the spring to actually close the bail.  Older style reels from the 90s and earlier, another story.

[Choporoz]

Maybe there was a 'bad period'? 

 

I guess my problem is partly that I grew up in the 60's and 70's with bullet-proof Mitchell 300's that lasted 20+ years and only with reeling the bails closed.

[J Francho]

My Mitchells had bail issues.  So did my D.A.M. Quick reels.  They all came with extras, though.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

The bail spring gets compressed and decompressed with every cast regardless of whether it's tripped by cranking or closed by hand so there is wear and tear either way. Like JF said the newer designs hold up better and closing he bail manually aids in line management.

[SirSnookalot]

Closing the bail by hand IMO is easier and quicker and can help against creating a loop.  I raise my rod before I start reeling, makes the line taut.  Closing the bail by crank is not any harder on the spring than doing it manually, Penns still have spring issues. Closing by hand to avoid line twist.........a myth.  Twist is caused by the line wrapping around the spool while cranking, even braid twists.

[J Francho]

Depending on the reel, as much as half a turn of twist can be introduced between when the bail grabs the line and when the line gets seated on the roller.  Might not sound like much, but it's there. 

[flyfisher]

I have always closed the bail manually because i am feathering the line and it just makes sense to do it i guess and I rarely run into line twist issues. 

 

Also even if only a quarter of a turn of twist is introduced that is a lot of twist after a day of casting....

[F14A-B]

Seems like some reels have a gruff bail trip mechanism, isn't that more of the problem, rather than the actual bail spring? It's attached to the rotor assy. Right? I don't work on reels, so don't flame me too bad, lol..

[CWB]

I've found by doing this (and feathering the line) it makes me automatically check for any small loops in the line before closing the bails and starting to reel, and if I see one, I quickly pull it out.

Save alot of headaches on the next cast, which will inevitably be a mess. As others have said, pretty sure most bali springs are like the spring in the end of a retractable pen with a button.

Should be a lifetime part nowadays.

[Steveo-1969]

I close the bail by hand, lightly tug on the line to tighten, and let the line bounce off my finger as I start reeling.  I saw Bill Dance explain this in one of his shows to help reduce a loop on the reel or loose line.  And I can honestly say since I've started doing this I've never had a "bird's nest" off the reel.  For me it was worth doing this and now it's automatic and very quick.

[J Francho]

Seems like some reels have a gruff bail trip mechanism, isn't that more of the problem, rather than the actual bail spring? It's attached to the rotor assy. Right? I don't work on reels, so don't flame me too bad, lol..

 

There's lots of designs.  Shimano and Daiwa use a similar design.  If there's binding, it's more likely the assembly for the arm to the rotor needs some cleaning or lube.

[Choporoz]

Ok, I'm past my (not so) subtle whining about my new reel that won't flip closed 'automatically'....for now....lol

 

Does the fact that it doesn't close by reeling mean that there is something mechanically wrong that I should be concerned with if I commit to manually flipping over from now on?

[Josh Smith]

When I got my Pflueger, tripping the bail with the crank was a bit tough. It may still be; I do not know.

I am not that good with taking spinning reels apart. (Casting, yes, but I have much more practice.) I therefore just started closing the bail by hand. Now it is second nature.

Josh

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Ok, I'm past my (not so) subtle whining about my new reel that won't flip closed 'automatically'....for now....lol

 

Does the fact that it doesn't close by reeling mean that there is something mechanically wrong that I should be concerned with if I commit to manually flipping over from now on?

Like JF said, it likely just needs some attention as in cleaning and/or lubrication.

[tholmes]

I learned to do it years ago, before ii became vogue. I feather my line on the outcast.. Stopping my bait where I want the splash down.. At that point, my hand is in such a position as to easily, and blindly be able to close the bail, and tug my line slightly in the event of a loose coil or 2.. It was just something I learned on my own in the 80's.. It was just a learning progression for me and nothing else really.

 

This is exactly the method that I use. Far less line management issues this way.

 

Tom

[gramps50]

Seems a little odd at first but after a bit it becomes second nature.

[K_Mac]

I had come to the conclusion that spinning reels just weren't for me before I learned to close the bail while lifting the rod tip slightly as the bait touched down. That, and learning to feather the line to control distance has made spinning equipment an acceptable light line option for me. With a little practice it is as natural as thumbing the spool on a baitcaster.

[SirSnookalot]

I had come to the conclusion that spinning reels just weren't for me before I learned to close the bail while lifting the rod tip slightly as the bait touched down. That, and learning to feather the line to control distance has made spinning equipment an acceptable light line option for me. With a little practice it is as natural as thumbing the spool on a baitcaster.

Exactly how my dad taught me over 60 years a go when I was "little shaver".  Spinning is just so natural for me, don't want to use any thing else but a fly rod.

[PressuredLakeFisherman]

On 10/20/2014 at 9:10 AM, Choporoz said:

I see it here and other places all the time -- google isn't my friend today.

 

Aside from ensuring that your line is running over the bail 'line guide' properly....is there any other reason that so many insist that spinning reel bails must be closed manually?

 

Seems to me that arguments about preventing line twist are flimsy, if not fatally flawed.  If the mechanisms can't take the stress, why are they designed that way?

 

Even if it is all about preventing line from getting slightly fouled on the bail, it is a relatively rare and inconsequential state, IMHO.  So, what am I missing?  Why all the insistence on closing the bail by hand when the reel is designed to do it by reeling?   

 

Maybe I'm just an old dog, but I've always reeled them closed - I've got a new (used) reel that won't close automatically about 20% of the time and it frustrates me no end....but I wonder if I shouldn't be trying to learn to make manual flipping a habit?  Any other good reasons except to compensate for a mechanical 'problem'?

 

Well the fact of the matter is, they just aint made like they used to be and its really just manually closing them extends the longevity of the reel bail mechanisms. Its sad. If you want a really smooth closing reel that closes automatically look no further than the Dam Quik. Its a 100 year old reel but the old school bail mechanisms where made specifically to close automatically instead of manually. (You actually cannot even manually flip them unless you disengage a small bar, which makes them a super smooth bail flip. You can pick them up at garage sales for like 30 bucks and they are all steel bodies, I have one in a trout size (1000) (My grandfathers)  I wish he was around to fish with me but ww2 was a nasty event as we all know. Nevertheless enough of my rambling they just don't make em like they used too.

[Spankey]

On 10/21/2014 at 10:31 PM, gramps50 said:

Seems a little odd at first but after a bit it becomes second nature.

I know it comes naturally for me to do it that way. No thinking or forethought. I’m sure many guys do it that way. Probably more than not.