Labeling Your Fishing Rods/Reels With Line Size?

[Travis Gasper]

My collection of rods and reels is constantly growing, and it’s becoming harder to remember what lb. line I have spooled up on each reel. Does anybody know a good way to label either the rods or reels to quickly and easily see what line is on it. Thanks for any input!

[NorthernBasser]

Good question. 

 

I usually have 12 rods on deck, so I know what you're saying. Trying to remember what pound line is on each rod, or if it's mono or flouro, can be tough. After a few years you'll begin to remember what reel is spooled with what, IF you never change.

 

What I've done in the past is either have the info on my phone, or keep a piece of paper in your boat, bag etc with all the info on it. 

[A-Jay]

Past few seasons I've been using a small piece of white cloth tape and a decent ball point pen.

I write the line size & type - F & M to indicate fluorocarbon or mono. (A letter is not needed for braid)

On casting reels I place it on the bottom of the reel foot (seat).

On spinning reels I put it on the inside of the spool cup.

The locations on both reels remain dry for the most part.

If there is ever a question as to what's on what reel, it's only a matter of taking the reel off and looking: or in the case of the spinner - check inside the spool. 

Taking the reel off or looking under the spinning reel spool takes a few seconds but the answer is always there. 

And there's plenty to keep track of . . . 

A-Jay

 

 

 

[ChrisD46]

Similar to above - just a piece of masking tape and a sharpie : F12 , M15 , braid is just a number (i.e. 30).

[lo n slo]

i used to label mine but stopped a few years ago for some reason. now i dont know what the heck i have on a few of those reels. i always placed my labels on the curved underside of the reel mounting base before i attach it to the rod. tape and pens always worked for me. i have a P-Touch label maker that would also work i suppose. 

[fin]

I wouldn't want to put masking tape on my rods. If you're going to use tape, I'd either use color coding electrical tape or a good quality labeling tape that doesn't leave a residue, like this stuff.

 

I'd just keep a little micrometer handy to check weight of line. You should be able to tell type of line. Do you really care what brand it is at that point? You can google 'fishing line thickness guide' to find a chart to print and keep in your boat. After a while, you'll learn the thickness.

 

This micrometer operates with just one hand, and it's tiny. I've got one and really like it. Made by Mitutoyo.

 

 

[evilcatfish]

I just know in my head what's on what, though I usually don't have more than 5 combos with me at a time

[snake95]

Hard to beat the suggestions already provided.  I asked this a while back, and frankly, haven't gotten around to implementing what I planned to.

 

I've also used a mircometer in the past for braid before I got used to it (though that's not as convenient as having something on your rod or reel).

 

You can also consider using something quick and color coded: electrical tape or zip ties: cold (blue) is your lightest line, yellow intermediate (maybe 10 or 12) and red is heavy.  I've used different scales for spinning and baitcasting.  Of course, close is good enough for me: I might want to differentiate between 10 or 20 lb braid at a glance on a spinning rod, but I won't really care if it is 10 or 12 lb mono on a baitcaster.

 

 

 

[Alex from GA]

I just keep the proper lure tied on when I respool.

[Deleted account]

I fish 12 and 15 lb BG, and heavy braid most of the time, so there is no confusing them, but a piece of masking tape or those round labels work well. I have several sets of identical rods, so I label those 1.2.3.4 directly on the bottom of the cork with a sharpie.

[junyer357]

I have been putting a wrap of white electrical tape at the base of the rod with info on pound test and date spooled. I can always tell line type by looks.  Braid is obvious, clear is flouro, and green is mono. It keep is simple with only buying green mono. 

[fishwizzard]

I have a poorly-updated spreadsheet I keep to track parts/line/maintenance times for my reels, but I do not keep up with it.  I only really use 4-5 different lines over around a dozen combos and am trying to keep working to use the smallest number of lines on all of them. 

[ww2farmer]

I am a braid to leader guy. 

 

My system:

 

Casting reels:

8:1 reels = 50lb braid (these are my frogging, flipping, punching, pitching, etc reels..)

7:1 reels = 30lb braid (these are my "All Purpose" reels)

6:1 reels = 20lb braid (these are my cranking, jerkbait, topwater reels)

 

Spinning reels ALL get 10lb braid.

 

Not real scientific, but it's simple and easy to remember for me.

[Munkin]

For me I just know what line is on what type of rod after so many years of experimenting. The closest thing I come to labeling is the color coded rod sleeves like in A-Jay's pic. Black is jig, black/red is t-rig, red is spinnerbait, blue is crankbait, yellow is spinning w/8-10lb line, and the purple is for the two sissy ML 6lb spinning rods. This makes things easy to figure out but I need to buy some more sleeves as some were lost after my last tournament.

 

Allen

[Vilas15]

The lews tournament Pro G reel (and new replacement tourney Pro LFS) have a line indicator on the spool tension knob which I always thought was kind of a cool feature. Surprised it's not available on other Lew's reels below the $200 mark.

[flyfisher]

13 hours ago, Hank. said:

I wouldn't want to put masking tape on my rods. If you're going to use tape, I'd either use color coding electrical tape or a good quality labeling tape that doesn't leave a residue, like this stuff.

 

I'd just keep a little micrometer handy to check weight of line. You should be able to tell type of line. Do you really care what brand it is at that point? You can google 'fishing line thickness guide' to find a chart to print and keep in your boat. After a while, you'll learn the thickness.

 

This micrometer operates with just one hand, and it's tiny. I've got one and really like it. Made by Mitutoyo.

 

 

that seems like a lot of extra work when you can just mark it instead of buying an additional piece of equipment and then have to use it on top of all that.

[fin]

10 hours ago, flyfisher said:

that seems like a lot of extra work when you can just mark it instead of buying an additional piece of equipment and then have to use it on top of all that.

Isn't buying an additional piece of equipment what fishing is all about?

 

Seriously though, I already have a couple micrometers for work, so it didn't cost me anything. And it's not really extra work, labeling everything could be considered extra work. Some people wouldn't want labels on their high-dollar rods, they might like this option.

 

It's not for everybody, but then labeling is not for everybody either.

[OnthePotomac]

I have a Brothers labeler and print the line weight and type in red on white 1/2 " label tape and wrap it on the rod right behind the reel on the rod hard surface.  They have proven to be water proof and come off easily when the line/reel changes on the rod.  I also keep the data on a rod/reel Word 10 chart with chart lines listing each rod and its weight, the reel and its speed on the rod, the line on the reel and date the line was spooled on the reel.  I also have a second chart showing the date the reel was purchased and the date it was cleaned/modified.

[new2BC4bass]

I've waited too long.  I know what pound test is on most of them, but not what brand....and whether or not it is mono or co-polymer.  (Unless it is Neon Tangerine.  )   Not positive on a couple with braid. I originally planned on putting it all in a notebook as I'm not concerned when on the water.  Sometimes I forgot.  Sometimes I couldn't find the notebook. 

[Travis Gasper]

Lots of great replies, thanks guys! I ended up finding a package of labels online for both line size and lure types. Of course I could have made my own labels, but I figured for $5 I would try these out. I ended up really liking them! www.tackleboxlabels.com is where’s I got them. Haven’t been able to try them out on the water to see if they hold up or not, but time will tell. We have that hard water problem up here in Wisconsin right now. 

[Elkins45]

I use a Brother pTouch label maker and stick it on the reel. I have a lot of identical reels/rods so without the label it would be hard to tell some of them apart.

 

What I really need to start doing is putting dates on them so I know how fresh it is. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Elkins45 said:

I use a Brother pTouch label maker and stick it on the reel. I have a lot of identical reels/rods so without the label it would be hard to tell some of them apart.

 

What I really need to start doing is putting dates on them so I know how fresh it is. 

I have the same labelmaker. I've gone so far as to put small labels on the inside lid of my terminal box so I know at a glance which compartment has my 1/16oz bullet weights and which has my 1/4oz; which is my 2/0 EWG hooks and which is my 4/0.

 

I'm still sorting the rest of my tackle, so haven't labeled the boxes yet.

 

Labeling the reels will provide a second check - I already have the info in Evernote and my phone is always with me.

[Elkins45]

I try really hard not to pull out my phone when I’m in a boat. Having taken one swimming after doing the boat splits, I’m not in the mood to drop one overboard.

[wasabi_VA]

+1 for using a label maker. It makes all the difference in the world for me. I use an older Brother P-touch to print a 1/2" label with the line and when spooled and apply it to the reel somewhere. I've never had an issue with the label coming off using their standard tape.

 

At first I was hesitant because I thought it looked funny, but nobody is looking at my reels. Now I have one label for the line and another for when (if) I have serviced them inside. See the spool of this spinning reel:

 

[Chance_Taker4]

I use the poorly updated spreadsheet for when I am in my house doing something and don't wanna go look in my garage. When on the water or in the garage I color code my line Fluoro is "Crystal Clear" color and Mono is "Moss Green". I only use 10# Mono, 12# Fluoro and 17# Fluoro so I can tell by feel what Fluoro is what. Braid is obvious. Oh and on my spinning reels they are all tied with 8# mono so I don't have to worry their either.  Good Luck in how you decide to organize.