Curious: Have you ever been spooled while bass fishing?

[Darren.]

I think generally a 2500 size is pretty much the "agreed upon"
size spinning reel for bass fishing, but discussions have gone
to 3000 and 4000 size reels. Sometimes discussion refers to
the positive of having more line.

My question to everyone is, have you ever actually been spooled
while bass fishing (spinning or casting)?

Suppose that could be open ended, i.e., "yes, by a sturgeon" or
a 100# catfish...in which case maybe the waters fished require
larger reels with more line capacity...

I love 1000 size reels for bassing and have never had a worry 
about my line, this after many bass over 6# in sticks, laydowns,
open water, bridge pylons, grass, and so on.

Again, just a curiosity. I remember watching Larry Dahlberg get
spooled with his Curado 200 down in Mexico. Only because he
didn't tie his braid down (no backing and didn't tie to the spool)...
and it was on a cast with a weighty lure, which sailed away, LOL.

[WRB]

Larger diameter spool spinning reels are used to reduce coils in the line, not for line capacity when fresh water bass fishing.

Tom

[Darren.]

Just now, WRB said:

Larger diameter spool spinning reels are used to reduce coils in the line, not for line capacity when fresh water bass fishing.

Tom

Thanks, Tom. Braid takes care of all that for me.

I've read of some who swore by large capacity spools for bass fishing due
to the "safety" of having enough line.

I've never bought the argument, so was just curious as to whether or not
people have been spooled while fishing for bass.

[Fun4Me]

I've never been spooled by a bass.

[flyfisher]

I have never had a bass pull that much line out.  The only time i have ever been spooled in freshwater was when targeting carp with my 4wt fly rod and i was deep into my backing on three separate occasions.

[lakeannaangler]

I almost got spooled by a 40lb blue cat while on the Potomac river.

[Scott F]

I've been spooled when the line on my reel was getting low and I then tossed my lure into a tree. Broke off at the knot that tied my braid to my backing. Does that count?? Other than that, while bass fishing, I've never even been close. I don't fish for largemouth much but I can't remember many largemouth that even pulled much drag and I keep my drag pretty loose. River smallmouth often test the drag on my spinning reels, but have never pulled more than 10 or twenty yards of line.  I use small spinning reels, 10's and 20's for the most part, braid that goes 10lb at the most. If I use up enough line that I can see my backing at the end of a long cast, that reel gets retired for the day. That almost never happens either, well...once.

[Darren.]

Just now, Scott F said:

I've been spooled when the line on my reel was getting low and I then tossed my lure into a tree. Broke off at the knot that tied my braid to my backing. Does that count?? Other than that, while bass fishing, I've never even been close. I don't fish for largemouth much but I can't remember many largemouth that even pulled much drag and I keep my drag pretty loose. River smallmouth often test the drag on my spinning reels, but have never pulled more than 10 or twenty yards of line.  I use small spinning reels, 10's and 20's for the most part, braid that goes 10lb at the most. If I use up enough line that I can see my backing at the end of a long cast, that reel gets retired for the day. That almost never happens either.

That counts, Scott  

I've never been spooled, either, on my 1000s but I've had to cut
a lot of braid due to a snag or such and have cast out past my
arbor knot into the backing...which (then) was only 4lb test, so I 
was a tiny bit nervous, LOL.

[timsford]

I've never been spooled by a bass, but I have by a catfish and I've come close with stripers. I fish below dams a lot and I'm making very long casts with most of the baits I use. I also use 10 lb mono normally on my spinning reels. I prefer at least 130 yards of capacity because it's fairly easy to make a long 60 yard cast with a heavy lure and long rod and I wouldn't feel comfortable fishing for stripers or even big smallmouth in heavy current on relatively light line and drag with less line. Also the larger spool isuch more manageable with line, gives longer casts, and the larger sizes usually balance better with most bass rods, especially the longer rods most people use nowadays

[WRB]

LMB aren't physically biult to make long hard straight runs, they are shaped for fast sharp turns and simply don't have the stamina to run a hundred yards.

Tom

[davecon]

The waters I fish are brackish. As likely to catch bass as well as snook and tarpon. I use 3000 size reels for the extra line capacity. Never a problem with bass, they just don't fight that hard. I'm in a river so the tarpon, for some reason, don't pull out that much drag - they just go airborne. Snook on the other hand have come VERY CLOSE to spooling me on several occasions. Not uncommon for them to take out 150 feet of line three or four times in the same battle.

[OCdockskipper]

I haven't yet, but I am spooling some 4 lb test on a rod for when I go Saturday, so I might then.  The water clarity on my lake has improved significantly over the past few weeks and I am curious if 4 lb test will make a difference in the number of bites.

Even though most of my gear is setup with 10 lb test, I don't even get spooled by big catfish when they hijack my lures because I usually chase after them.  If I was stuck on shore it might be a different story, but there is no reason to not use your trolling motor & follow a big fish when he starts stripping line.  Plus, it seems like the big catfish usually end up doubling back & swimming to to the boat during the battle.  I often wonder if they even know they are hooked...

[Darren.]

Just now, OCdockskipper said:

I haven't yet, but I am spooling some 4 lb test on a rod for when I go Saturday, so I might then.  The water clarity on my lake has improved significantly over the past few weeks and I am curious if 4 lb test will make a difference in the number of bites.

Even though most of my gear is setup with 10 lb test, I don't even get spooled by big catfish when they hijack my lures because I usually chase after them.  If I was stuck on shore it might be a different story, but there is no reason to not use your trolling motor & follow a big fish when he starts stripping line.  Plus, it seems like the big catfish usually end up doubling back & swimming to to the boat during the battle.  I often wonder if they even know they are hooked...

Good point, and I did think about it, but shore-bound anglers
have few places to "run" the fish. At least in my tree-surrounded
waters.

[Turkey sandwich]

The only times I've been close have been big channel cats or carp in current while fishing for smallmouth on 4-6# test mono.  On those occasions, I've had some pretty crazy runs down stream.    Those times were mostly on light or ultra light gear fishing drop shotted live helgramites and those were not short fights.  Still, even fishing that light, I've never had even big smallmouth come close to spooling a small 1000 size reel, in current, on 4# test.  

[Sam]

Nope. Line usually breaks before the line is exhausted.

[Catt]

Twice!

Both times I out on the main lake of Toledo Bend.

First time I was sitting on a ridge in 18' of water when I noticed something chasing shad about as far away as I could cast. My jig just settled on the bottom when I felt the tap, dropped the rod, reeled the slack, & set the hook!

Last time I was in control of that fish, never slowed her & never turn her!

That was on a Calcutta 50; when the line snapped I had about 15 yds of line left...pretty sure it was a Stripper!

The second time also on the main lake & 15-18' of water. This time she stripped enough line I could see the silver of the spool beneath the line. Had just enough drag & rod left to eventually turn & land her...healthy little 9.46 lb Hawg.

That was on a Calcutta 100 & was the hardest fighting bass I ever hooked.

 

[bigbill]

The trick in shore fishing is being able to make longer casts. It can be pro vs con sometimes. I've had record breaking bass on long casts and lost them. But I put out a scent trail on my first cast with my Topnocker. (Bait mate bass scent) I cast it between the open channel and the submerged weed line. The current is moving away from me which is a plus.

Was using a 20 sized reel with 6lb test, a 25 sized reel with 8lb test, a 30 sized reel with 10lb test, a 40 sized reel with 12lb test.(spinning reels). I purchased the US REEL super spinning reels with the larger spool diameters but I been ill so I haven't been out with them that much. But what little I did use them they cast a few more yards with them. When the Lilly pads are near the shoreline a few extra yards could mean success. When sight fishing with action going on in the weeds. The only line I use is Excaliber Silver Thread copolymer line. I find it very flexible and very low memory. It also has less stretch.

i have upgraded to inshore/light saltwater tackle too for larger baits. I feel like a fool but it works.

[soflabasser]

No I have never had a largemouth bass spool my reel,not even close.Bass don't have much power/stamina in them and usually give up under a minute or so of total fighting time.I had a shark almost spool me once,but it was on a bass rod so that is expected(ended up catching that shark).

[bigbill]

Sorry I understand what spooling means now. I always add new line on my reels when the capacity gets low. I never hit the backing.

[tkunk]

For me, the main benefit of a bigger spool is improved casting distance. I could be wrong, but I also feel like the drag is smoother with bigger reels.  Another thing to consider is that your reel needs to be the right weight for your rod. To maximize casting distance, I'd go with 4000's, but they're too heavy for my smallie rods, most of which are 7' M power.

I've never been spooled while bass fishing.  Ocean fishing is a different story, though.  Saltwater fish can make some huge runs.

[J Francho]

Not by a bass.

[MassYak85]

I wish 

[GORDO]

I had a 6ft ml rod with a 1000 reel that I use for smallies, I normally use 6lb line but ended up buying 4 and spooled it. hooked a 5lb smallie in a river on a jighead and little grub worm. It didnt take me to my knot but darn close.

[senile1]

Never by a bass.  A crappie spooled me once.  

[Ratherbfishing]

I almost got spooled while trolling and I snagged and I could not get the boat operator to stop immediately.  But on a fish?  Never even close.