Spooling up reels yourself

[Mikeltee]

Yea man... I spent $300 for a reel it should at least have come with some line on it. The $10 Zebco I got for my kid had line on it. I too am sick of putting line on my reels. We should all boycott the fishing industry so we can be seen for a change. Naked spools are so 2018! ?

[waymont]

Here's my rig for the last 10 years.

[Bankbeater]

4 hours ago, Khoa Vu said:

 

1. set spool on the ground

2. run the line through the last page of a heavy book (for tension)

3. run the line through first 2 guides from rod butt up to the reel. (Optional step)

4. start reeling line onto reel making sure the line is tight to avoid line digs. 

5. Add desired tension by placing foot on book. 

 

this is how i've been doing it without a spooling tool.  

The only difference is when I need more tension I add more books. 

[Johnbt]

"should at least have come with some line on it."

 

That'll happen when hooks come with fish on them.

 

[scaleface]

For baitcasting I hold the spool on a  pencil between my knees .

 

 Spinning I lay the spool flat . No matter  what , I always   get twist with spinning reels . Afterwards I walk all the line out in the lawn then reel it in . The line snaking through the grass removes  the twist .

[WRB]

3 hours ago, Mikeltee said:

Yea man... I spent $300 for a reel it should at least have come with some line on it. The $10 Zebco I got for my kid had line on it. I too am sick of putting line on my reels. We should all boycott the fishing industry so we can be seen for a change. Naked spools are so 2018! ?

If can afford $300 for a reel you should have a choice of what line you want on it. 

Lets say for example the new reel is spooled with the cheapest mono available in 10 lb test, would you be happy....no you would be ticked off because now you need to remove it.

Tom

 

[VolFan]

This topic hurts me inside - i did three reels in 10 minutes this past weekend.  No way would i outsource this to BPS for pride reasons alone much less my OCD about line.  How much do they charge to spool a baitcaster?

[Fishin' Fool]

8 hours ago, LonnieP said:

A pencil through a small cardboard box works well for me.

Yep, I've used the Tacklewarehouse boxes in the past.

[orion77]

I have this suction cup line spooler:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Mimilure-Fishing-Aluminum-Portable-Spinning/dp/B075FX926V/ref=sr_1_14?keywords=line+spooler&qid=1562805479&s=gateway&sr=8-14

 

I found the suction cup largely useless since I don't have any surface smooth enough to use it. So I drilled two small holes in the base and bolted it to a wooden surface with wood screws. I bolted it to the end of my entertainment center in my living room so I can sit on the couch and spool up. I'm sure any other wooden workbench or surface would work fine as well.

[Koz]

A pencil gripped between my toes usually does the trick.

[BassThumb]

Try using a plastic tote. That's also a good place to keep your line stored in a cool dry place. It'll last a decade like that without weakening. All you need is something in there to keep the spool standing on its end when you're spooling. I just use other boxes of line that were stored in the tote to keep the spool from tipping. The plastic tote will keep the spool spinning easily, even heavy 1- and 3-mile bulk spools.

 

Have the line coming from the top for baitcasters and from the bottom for spinning reels. Don't worry about that sticker-up vs. down, or clockwise vs counterclockwise, etc. Apply tension by slowly running it through your fingers. Apply KVD Line and Lure to a few layers on the spool as you're filling it up.

[Choporoz]

I drop the spool on the ground and turn the reel handle, reeling the line through my fingers.  Sometimes I have to go chase a spool that rolled under a car, or off the porch, but they rarely go very far.

[MN Fisher]

10 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I drop the spool on the ground and turn the reel handle, reeling the line through my fingers.  Sometimes I have to go chase a spool that rolled under a car, or off the porch, but they rarely go very far.

I put the spool in a Tupperware box on the floor to do this...then I don't have to chase the spool down.

[Glaucus]

Get 2 cardboard boxes, such as shoe boxes. Open them up. Put them side by side, touching. Take a pen. Put the pen in one of the boxes and stab through both boxes in the middle. Separate the boxes while keeping the pen stabbed through one of them. Stab through the spool with the pen. Attach the other box at the hole. Now you will have: box, spool, box, all connected with the pen. Get 2 heavy weights of some kind. Put 1 in each box so they don't move. Spool up. Cheapest of the cheap and effective.