Baitcaster spooling issue!!!!

[Rohan Lupin]

Can anyone shed some light on this subject. 

 

Although  I have kept tension on the line while spooling my baitcaster it still bunches up on the left side of the spool. This has happened on two or three of my baitcasters. Even when I let all of the line out back to the beginning and reel it all back on with tension it still seems to bunch up to the left side. 

 

Can somebody please help me with this. It is driving me nuts. 

[S-T-R-I-K-E-R]

i had a similar problem with my quantum a while back and it seems like there are times when the guide does not move to spread the line as you load the spool.

 

[nameiztaken]

Wrong section
Anyway, this is a normal thing with my reels. Give us a picture of it, is it rubbing on anything? slightly higher line on one side is pretty common.

[Fishes in trees]

There are a couple of things that you can do to mitigate this issue. 0ne - crank your drag on the reel down tight prior to spooling.   Tension on the line - with a loose drag - can make the line bunch up somewhat one one side of the spool or another.

Two - be mindful when spooling and you can use your finger or a pencil or some other skinny tool and help the line spool on smoothly.   A little pressure on one side or the other can make it spool more level.    Spooling takes practice and be mindful when you do it.

 

A third option is to spend a few hundred dollars and get one of those electric line spooling stations like some decent tackle shops have - however there is a learning curve to that tool also and it is possible to get your line spooled on crooked using that machine.

[KDW96]

3 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

There are a couple of things that you can do to mitigate this issue. 0ne - crank your drag on the reel down tight prior to spooling.   Tension on the line - with a loose drag - can make the line bunch up somewhat one one side of the spool or another.

Two - be mindful when spooling and you can use your finger or a pencil or some other skinny tool and help the line spool on smoothly.   A little pressure on one side or the other can make it spool more level.    Spooling takes practice and be mindful when you do it.

 

THIS RIGHT HERE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT : )

[tholmes]

if the line guide is stopping or hesitating on one side or the other, you may have a worn line guide pawl and/or worm gear. Also, check to be sure that the line guide pawl cap has not loosened up enough to let the pawl drop out of contact with the worm gear. 

 

Tom

[runt4561]

I run into this issue from time to time and it can normally be resolved by holding tension on the line in front of the reel and pulling or pushing the line to the side you want it to go to. it will usually correct minor problems but it sounds like yours might be a different issue. I had a few quantums that the worm gear pawl got damaged and would do the same thing. it would hang up on one side and stack the line up like your saying. I also have seen it happen when the screw in cap that houses the pawl was loose. under the worm gear is cap that has a slot that looks like a flat head screw. try to tighten this up and see if that helps.

[Team9nine]

Leaning toward the line guide pawl as the culprit on this one, too. Remove it and see if it looks worn. Probably time to replace it.

[tholmes]

It also could be as simple as disassembling the levelwind and cleaning any gunk out of the worm gear.

 

Tom

[Rohan Lupin]

Really appreciate all the help guys. Had a very productive day on the water today. Thanks!!!

[The Bassman]

I cheat.  If I notice my line stacking to one side I loosen my drag a little and let the drag slip on the high side. I then add line on the low side as the line guide alternates.  I know it's not dead even but things even out after a few casts anyhow.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

If you're using backing the joining knot can catch and cause uneven loading. 

[OneShotOneKill]

I've spooled probably thousands of reels. Doesn't matter if its brand new out of the package or 40 years old...a $60 abu black max or a $400 shimano. sometimes the line just doesn't evenly spread. just help guide the line with your hand. when the line guide on the reel goes to full stop on one side apply some pressure to the line a little further out to the side and then follow it back across the spool and do the same on the other side. 

 

for some reason reels get finicky when spooling up and need some help. If the problem persists while you're fishing then I would take apart the small gear and pawl and check for wear.