Hooking A Spinning Rod

[hatrix]

So this might seem kinda weird to ask but. When you hook you spinning rod on the keeper how to do tighten up the extra slack? Casting gear is a breeze and I can do it super quick. When I hook it on the keeper I can reach the drag star and spin it with the hand that hold my reel. Now spinning is a much different story and is no where near as fast and easy. The best and easiest way I have come up with is kinda using my side to spin the handle so I can hold the lure in place and take up the slack enough so it doesn't come off the keeper.

[long island basser]

I reel the lure just above the keeper, hook it on and then slightly loosen the spool by hand for the correct tension.

[Master Bait'r]

Buy one for like $5 and stop scratching your gear up or rolling the dice by keeping the hook where your hand goes... I know we're all pros here of course but I've heard that accidents can happen to mere mortals.

[SirSnookalot]

From the sounds of it you are loosening your drag, not necessary during an outing.  Hook your lure and reel the line so it's perfectly straight with no bend in the rod, there won't be enough tension to harm anything.  I don't use the hook keeper, braid sometimes gets hung up on it if it's windy.  I attach my lure to the first guide, I don't want to grab a hook by accident if I pick up the rod by the foregrip.  If overly concerned about the guide getting nicked, chances are less than slim, hook the lure to the guide foot, not enough tension from the drag to harm the guide.

[hatrix]

Maybe I didn't explain my question properly. What I was asking is how do you take up the slack left in the line when you hook your lure to your rod. If you don't keep a hand on them sometimes they will want to fall off. You can point your rod tip down so gravity will kinda keep the hook in place. So with casting gear it is super simple and quick for me to hang my lure on my rod. It doesn't matter where I put the lure. On the keeper on the reel whatever it may be. You only have 2 hands. One of your hands is holding the rod the other one has the lure in it. How do you reel your spinning reel to take up slack so the lure is tight? Do you get what I am asking now? On a casting rod I have the reel palmed and my fingers reach all the way behind it to the other side and I can turn the drag and hold the rod at the same time with one hand while the other hand has the lure in it. With spinning I kinda push the handle into my hip and move the rod so that the handle turns to take up any slack. What I do is maybe faster and easier then most but am wondering is there is a faster and easier way even though I cant really think of one.

[Scott F]

Before you try and put the lure on the hook keeper, reel up a bit more of the slack line until the lure is just short of the keeper. Pull the lure putting a little bend in the rod and hook up under tension. Turn the spool by hand after you are hooked up until the rod straightens out.

[dave]

Does your reel have a trigger?  Trigger release reels fall backward when you are doing what it sound like I think your doing,  putting your hook on the rod when you're done fishing.  The thing about the hip make me think I am correct.  That is going to be an inherent problem with a trigger release spinning reel.  Find that spot where it doesn't turn backwards and keep it there.  The, like others have said,  turn the spool by hand to release the reel so your line is straight and taut.

[nicksmurf111]

I reel it in so there are just a few inches slack.  I put the hook on the keeper. Then reel in more to put the bail right side up (line roller up).  Last, I turn the spool by hand to straighten out the rod.  I don't necessary mess with the drag unless I'm storing the rod, tying the line while I don't want a wind mess, or if I need a line-out clicker while taking a nap (not really for bass fishing).  The above assumes I'm using mono or flouro.

[hatrix]

Ya I really didn't think there was a easier faster way then I do it now. What I am looking for is some quick way to do it and never have to take your hands off the rod or have to do a bunch of steps. I always try to put my baits up even on deck when I am fishing and doing it on a spinning reel kinda sucks. I can do a casting reel in well. As long as it takes to click the thumb bar or sometimes not even and then reengage the reel as both of those can be done with the same hand. All my casting rods how dropshot hangers I think they are called. They come on shimano rods if that is a different hanger. I never have to unhook a bait or pop the point out and put it into a hole to hang it. I just reell them right up into the hanger and its good to go. I actually put those hangers on all my rods because every other hanger design is inferior compared to those I think.