Embarrassing Confession

[Sword of the Lord]

From 2012-2014 I was an avid bass fisherman. I've gotten back into it this year. I picked up my baitcaster and it was like riding a bike; I knew just what to do, as if it were yesterday. However, back then and even now, I've never been able to use a spinning reel. I can't cast with it and I can't spool it, even after countless attempts. Everything I have learned has come from reading, watching videos, and trying on my own. Nobody has ever taught me. My option for light baits and finesse tactics has been the best spincast reels I can find, and it works fine...plenty of bass caught with them and no major issues. But I need to learn to use and spool a spinning reel. I'm not being the best fisherman I can be, but I just don't know what I'm doing wrong. I picked up a baitcaster and learned it very quickly, but this has been a different animal for me. I got a new spinning rod and reel yesterday and I've failed 3 times on spooling it. $10 fluoro down the drain.

[Airbornebass]

Are you not flipping the bail?  Is it going on twisted?  If so watch how the line comes off the top and onto your reel.  You need to hold line sideways when you put it on and make sure it comes off the top.

[scaleface]

Spinning reels and spincasting reels both give me a difficult time spooling them without line twist . I have the line coming off the spools correctly but it still happens . What I do is after it is spooled I walk the entire spool  off in the grass in   a straight line then reel it in . Winding through the grass removes all the twist . 

[nstec]

It would be easier to help you if you could be more specific about what's going wrong.  I'll just describe how I spool a spinning reel from start to finish.  First, I run the line down through the tip and all the guides.  Then, with the BAIL OPEN, I run the line down to the spool and tie it onto the spool with an arbor knot.  Then I close the bail.  Next I place a pencil through the center of the line spool and hold the ends of the pencil between my feet as I reel line onto the reel spool.  For spinning reels, I always make sure the line is coming off the BOTTOM of the line spool to eliminate line twist.  This is the opposite of what I do for baitcasting reels, where I make sure the line is coming off the top of the line spool to eliminate line twist.  As with a baitcasting spool, I usually leave a little bit (maybe 1/8") worth of the spool unfilled.  Hopefully this helps.  If you still have any questions about more specific problems you're having, feel free to ask.

[Sword of the Lord]

I cast right according to the vidoes, but the line always becomes a mess. When spooling, I go through all the guides, tie a knot with the bail open, close the bail, keep tension on the line with my fingers, then begin to spool, but it comes off the reel and becomes messy no matter what I do. 

[nstec]

Make sure you aren't overfilling the spool.  Try cutting off the first 10-15 yards of line and then try casting again.  What kind of line are you using?  Does it seem to have a lot of memory?

[Sword of the Lord]

3 minutes ago, nstec said:

Make sure you aren't overfilling the spool.  Try cutting off the first 10-15 yards of line and then try casting again.  What kind of line are you using?  Does it seem to have a lot of memory?

8 pound fluoro, Berkley vanish

 

It becomes messy and falls off very quickly, well before it's even half way full 

[scaleface]

16 minutes ago, nstec said:

For spinning reels, I always make sure the line is coming off the BOTTOM of the line spool to eliminate line twist.  This is the opposite of what I do for baitcasting reels, where I make sure the line is coming off the top of the line spool to eliminate line twist.

 

You're filling a spinning reel with a revolving spool ?

[MichaelCopeland]

Sounds like you may not have enough tension on the line as you reel it in. Before I close the bail to begin reeling line on is I manually wrap the line around the reel spool very tight about 4 or 5 times in the direction it spools on and hold that tension then close the bail. Holding a good amount of tension still I begin reeling to fill the spool making sure it doesn't loosen up any in the process. I leave about an 1/8" of the spool unfilled. Hope this helps.

[nstec]

5 minutes ago, Sword of the Lord said:

8 pound fluoro, Berkley vanish

 

It becomes messy and falls off very quickly, well before it's even half way full 

Oh, I thought it was coming off as you were casting.  If it's coming off in a mess before it's halfway full, it's probably twisting as it's being spooled onto the reel.  Make sure you keep an eye it on as your filling it and make sure the line spool and reel spool are oriented correctly with each other.  This can be done like I described earlier or you should also be able to do it like @Airbornebass suggested.  Whatever you do, just keep an eye on it and if the line is twisting as its going on, stop spooling and correct the issue.

10 minutes ago, scaleface said:

 

You're filling a spinning reel with a revolving spool ?

That is indeed the way I fill my spinning reels and it's never caused me any issues.  It's by no means the only way though.  The main thing with any method is just to keep an eye on it and if it starts twisting, stop and fix it.

[bassh8er]

Vanish is not a great line period.

 

Try regular Stren mono in the purple box.

[scaleface]

3 hours ago, Sword of the Lord said:

I got a new spinning rod and reel yesterday and I've failed 3 times on spooling it. $10 fluoro down the drain.

Are you  keeping tension on the line ?

[MassBass]

Study how the line is wrapped around the spool, and how it will wrap around your reel's spool. Your going do have some twist coming off the spool but just run it through your fingers and let the reel winch it on tight. Buy the best line! Invizx is good. 

[ohboyitsrobby]

I'm gonna say it's the line. Cheap fluoro and spinning equipment doesn't mesh from my experience. I'd recommend your preference of 8lb mono or a light braid. I spoil my reels the same way and only had problems when I put cheap fluoro on one. If you use braid you can always use a fluoro leader to get it to sink.

[reb67]

I always have my spool of line sitting flat down on the floor or have someone hold it so it doesn't spin so the line uncoils off the spool in stead of spinning off the spool I've never gotten line twist doing it this way.

[gim]

Bring it into a bass pro or cabelas.  They'll spool it for free without any line twist using an electronic line winder.

[Sam]

Use braid.

 

No twist and it works great.

 

Just use braid with a diameter of 8-pound mono.

 

Problem solved.

[Kyhokie]

Braid X2

[F3honda4me]

I don't use fluoro on any spinning combos. Use mono and you won't have this issue. Fluoro never works right for me on spinning reels either. If I need fluoro I'll use a fluoro leader at most. 

[Sword of the Lord]

I'll take the suggestions and advice and pick up some 30 pound braid and give it a go. 30 pound braid is about 8 pound mono so that should work. 

 

As far as mono, I only use it for certain top waters. I don't like bungee cord fishing unless I have to.

[reb67]

I switched to 30lb braid with fluorocarbon leader works great

[LxVE Bassin]

You are using flouro that's the problem. Most flouro lines aren't ideal for spinning reels. Like the guys above said,put some braid on there and you will be fine. U can use a flouro leader.

[fishnkamp]

My wife and have used a ton of different lines on spinning gear over the years.  The one line we both enjoy fishing and have for the last ten years is Berkley original fused FireLine.  We start by spooling the reel half way with 12 pound Stren Clear Blue mono. Then we attach it to the 14 pound FireLine and continue to fill the reel up till it is about an 1/8 of an inch from the lip. Do not over fill.  The FireLine can be tied directly  to your lure or a 5 foot leader can be used as well. Most of our spinning reels have the 5 foot leader attached.

 

I like the mono backing for several reasons. I fish with lots of rods on board. The mono is cheap so it cuts cost. It ties tight to the spool sop no slipping and it gives a smooth surface for the braid to wind on.

 

Sword of the Lord where are you located?  Are you anywhere near MD.  I would be happy to meet with you and help you.. I have a Berkley Line Station I have used for years, no decades to spool my reels. As someone already mentioned you spool a spinning reel off the bulk spool by having the line come off the bottom. I spool all my baitcasters by having the line come off the top of a bulk spool.  This eliminates issues.  As for casting if we are able to meet you will be casting within minutes.  Correctly casting with accuracy and distance is not an issue if you do it properly.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

4 hours ago, fishnkamp said:

My wife and have used a ton of different lines on spinning gear over the years.  The one line we both enjoy fishing and have for the last ten years is Berkley original fused FireLine.  We start by spooling the reel half way with 12 pound Stren Clear Blue mono. Then we attach it to the 14 pound FireLine and continue to fill the reel up till it is about an 1/8 of an inch from the lip. Do not over fill.  The FireLine can be tied directly  to your lure or a 5 foot leader can be used as well. Most of our spinning reels have the 5 foot leader attached.

 

I like the mono backing for several reasons. I fish with lots of rods on board. The mono is cheap so it cuts cost. It ties tight to the spool sop no slipping and it gives a smooth surface for the braid to wind on.

 

Sword of the Lord where are you located?  Are you anywhere near MD.  I would be happy to meet with you and help you.. I have a Berkley Line Station I have used for years, no decades to spool my reels. As someone already mentioned you spool a spinning reel off the bulk spool by having the line come off the bottom. I spool all my baitcasters by having the line come off the top of a bulk spool.  This eliminates issues.  As for casting if we are able to meet you will be casting within minutes.  Correctly casting with accuracy and distance is not an issue if you do it properly.

 

I live in IL, unfortunately, but the gesture is kind regardless. I tried to spool braid this morning and failed. My wife has started to laugh, and truthfully so have I because this can't be that hard. I'm doing something wrong, clearly. 

I have noticed that the spool begins to look triangular. The top of the spool has little line and it gets fatter as it goes down, which is where loose line appears.

[WRB]

21 hours ago, Sword of the Lord said:

I cast right according to the vidoes, but the line always becomes a mess. When spooling, I go through all the guides, tie a knot with the bail open, close the bail, keep tension on the line with my fingers, then begin to spool, but it comes off the reel and becomes messy no matter what I do. 

Keep tension on my line......this maybe your problem! Too much tension while the spinning reel bail winds line onto a stationary spool can put 1 twist into the line every revolution. Use very light pressure on any line when spooling a spinning reel. A wet terry cloth towel works by running the line through a fold.

FC line has a lot of memory and suggest you don't use it without a good line conditioner.

Your twisted line is lost, it's just twisted and can be salvaged. With a boat just run the line out about 50 yards and troll it 3-5 mph without anything tied on few several minutes. Slow the boat and wind the line back on.

Tom