How Full Is Your Spool?

[papajoe222]

I see a lot of guys with their reels so full of line that it bulges out past the rim or higher than the edge.  I've always had problems with the line jumping off the spool even when using my thumb or forefinger. I suppose I could learn to eliminate those problems, but I don't see the need to spool an extra twenty yards when bass fishing.

Do you fill your spools to capacity and if so, what's the advantage vs. to an eighth of an inch or so og the edge?

[J Francho]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

[Matthew2000]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

Same

[Joedodge]

1/8-3/16 or so below the edged the spool give or take seems to work great with all lines

[Fishes in trees]

I generally just eyeball it.   My goal with bait casters is to get the spool as full as possible without over-filling it.  With spinning reels I leave a 1/8"to 1/16" gap between the end of the line and the lip of the spool.  If you are using the spinning reel to throw cranks, there isn't any issue to filling it up right up to the edge.

[Jeff H]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

 

How many lips do you have?

[Catch and Grease]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

Same

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I regularly receive reels for service that are so overfilled I have to strip line off to get the spool out of the frame. That would be above the second lip.

[Darren.]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

 

Ditto.

[jbrew73]

i have two quantum reels that are prone to backlash when filled to the first lip. if i pull off about 15 yrds of line they cast like a dream. my lews reels seem to cast good filled all the way to the first lip or just a bit more but as i start to lose line due to break offs or cutting it back due to abrasion damage i start to notice a slight dip in casting distance.

i guess every reel wants or needs a certain amout of line. just go with what works for you and/or your reels.

[Team9nine]

That little line they put on the spools about an 1/8 inch down is there to let you know it's time to add more line when you see it  JK - but I always overspool my baitcasters. Bugs me to no end when I grab a buddies rod/reel and the line is just 3/4 spooled - LOL. Spinning reels I tend to abide by "the guideline" a bit more because the nature of that type setup is more prone to spool issues when overfilled. Not so with baitcasters.

 

-T9

[Montanaro]

I fill to where when I hold it to eye level that the spool does not completely obstruct my view of line guide.

Line should be coming off spool about level with line guide. If line has to travel down to the line guide then you've got too much.

[F14A-B]

I slightly under fill my high speed flip/pitch trig/jig reels.. It allows room for a slack line respool, crankbait type setups, I fill proper due to tight line retrieval methods. Spinning, slightly under filled as well..

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

[SirSnookalot]

Can't say how many times on spinning gear filling to high I've dropped the lure behind me on the back cast, doesn't happen with less line.  I'd guess I'm about 3/16", don't feel the need to add line if I happen to drop down to 1/4" or so.

Line capacity is a bit over rated, you get a fish that strips you down pretty far, an extra 20 yards they'd probably take that too.

[lecisnith]

Uhhh...you don't just fill it until the line runs out...?

[papajoe222]

I haven't see any valid responses in favor of over filling the spool, IMO anyway,  I guess I'm just a graduate of the school that teaches me to judge perfornance, as it relates to expense, first. A quality spool of line, in compairison to the cost of the quality reel I'll be spooling it on, justifies it's price. Respooling when the spool gets a little low becomes a given.

[ChrisD46]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

^^This^^ ... Spinning or Bait Cast .

[Sam]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

 

X2, or a little less.

 

The reel is engineered to have "X" amount of yards per test to work at its maximum.

 

Over filling and under filling can cause less productive casts.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I fill to where when I hold it to eye level that the spool does not completely obstruct my view of line guide.

Line should be coming off spool about level with line guide. If line has to travel down to the line guide then you've got too much.

The rod builder in me makes me think you'd need a spinning guide to equal the height of the line guide coming off the reel. There will always be an angle to some degree but we design to minimize it. A little experimenting with each rod/ reel / line combo can help fine tuning for sure. 

[fishballer06]

Well right now, almost all of my spools are empty 

 

But like others, I fill them just a hair below the lip. Any fuller and I'm bound to get problems. 

[lmbfisherman]

I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.

x100

[Dogmatic]

I usually always overfill at the beginning of the season, not intentially, but because I'm not paying attention. Then I always end up stripping (and wasting) that extra line 'til I get to about an 1/8th of an inch below the lip, weather it's casting or spinning. ; )

[Felix77]

I fill the spool 50% up with backing.  Duct tape that down.

 

When I put new line on I fill it up (70-80 cranks) and I am done.  Amounts to roughly two full casts of line on at any given time.  

 

Generally ends up about 1/8 of an inch below the first lip.  If it's more I don't worry about it

[WRB]

Spinning reel, about 1/8" below the rim or even with where the spool radius starts. If you fill above the spinning reel spool radious the line will fall off.

Bait casting reel, about 1/16" below the rim.

The line must be spooled on tight*, otherwise it will pack down with use and drop another 1/16" lower capacity quickly.

The lower the spool fill on the spool, the slower your IPT line becomes. IP T or inch per turn is based on line filled to the rim.

Tom

* I use a wet towel folded and run the line between the folds for the right tension.

PS, penny is close to 1/16" thick to help you judge spool fill depth.