Free Spool Problem with new Dropshot Setup. Help!

[bunz559]

Just picked up a Stradic FL 3000 and a Destroyer Adermine for drop shotting. Prior, all my spinning setups had no problems with free spooling off the front of my boat. All I had to do was open the bail. But with this new setup, if I'm trying to vertical fish, as soon as I open the bail the flouro line begins to unwind off the spool tangling itself at my feet instead of following the weight through the guides. 

 

Could it be my weight is too light? I tried a few different sizes. 1/4 ounce being the heaviest, and same problem with all. I tried having my tip at different angles with no luck (shouldn't have to.) I was running 15lb PP Super Slick to 8lb FC Sniper if it makes a difference. Never had this issue with any drop shot setup. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Love the action of the rod and the reel feels nice but if this is a design flaw, it's no bueno. 

[Tim Kelly]

If you're running straight fluoro, welcome to the joys of fluoro on spinning reels. Go back to braid to leader and it will all work fine. If you want to stay with straight fluoro you'll probably need to take some line off as the spool's probably over filled for fluoro and you'll have to feather the line off the spool with your finger to manage it.

[mrpao]

Sounds like the spool is over filled to me.

Or the leader knot is not going through the guides smoothly.

[garroyo130]

Could just be spooled on backwards. Unfortunately fluoro doesn't seem to be affected by KVD Line & Lure too much. Id cut leader and retie. 

[Hower08]

To much line on spool. Also may not have been put on spool tight enough. Troll the line behind your boat for a few.minutes between 3 and 5 mph with no lure on it. This will remove all line twists. Reel the line back in with boat still under power this will ensure a tight wrapping. And also if your using line with alot of memory spray it down with reel magic or some other line conditioner the night before you go fish  

[bunz559]

Thanks for all the input folks! FYI, I am running braid to leader. I think the over lined spool might be the problem. Ordered the reel spooled with line so maybe dealer over spooled it. Will definitely cut a few yards off and see where that goes. 

[livin2fish]

Others may differ but I like the line to be about 1/8" from full spool.  Guess you are running a long leader that winds onto the spool.  A shortened leader that does not wind into the spool will (correction, may) stop the springing fc.

[LCG]

I also have the FL 2500 with 20lb braid to 6lb leader, knot outside the spool. Spool is filled with 1/8" gap. Was throwing a 1/16oz weight and a very small worm. No issues at all. 

 

 

[Sam]

Go with braid with a mono backing to stop it from slipping.

You can add a leader if you want but it is not necessary.

[livin2fish]

On 3/23/2020 at 1:29 AM, bunz559 said:

But with this new setup, if I'm trying to vertical fish, as soon as I open the bail the flouro line begins to unwind off the spool tangling itself at my feet instead of following the weight through the guides

Ahh, vertical fishing.  Are both lines, the PP Super Slick, and the Sniper the exact lines you were using successfully before?  If you were successful before, with different line, that is what I would go back to.  1/16 oz isn't much weight to overcome inertia and the friction through the guides on a straight drop. A good spool on a good 3000 spinning reel should not cause problems.  More often it has to do with the line.  Not necessarily "bad" line, just the wrong line. 

Over night thought.  For a vertical drop presentation, with a 1/16 oz jig on a 6 foot leader and a 7 foot rod just have most of the leader out through the end of the top guide, then you will have the weight of the jig and the weight of the leader to start your vertical drop.

[basser27]

Could be overfilled spool, line on backwards, or both. I recommend a 6-8lb soft mono or braid to leader

[bunz559]

20 hours ago, livin2fish said:

 Are both lines, the PP Super Slick, and the Sniper the exact lines you were using successfully before?  If you were successful before, with different line, that is what I would go back to.  1/16 oz isn't much weight to overcome inertia and the friction through the guides on a straight drop.

Thanks for the advice. The Super Slick is new to me. Prior, I was using Power Pro Spectra. Figured I'd try something new. 

20 hours ago, basser27 said:

Could be overfilled spool, line on backwards, or both. I recommend a 6-8lb soft mono or braid to leader

I am assuming the over spool may be the problem. This reel I did not spool myself. Went home and took about 10 yards off. Will try again this weekend. Thanks much! 

[bunz559]

Just following up. It seems like the spool was over filled. I took off about 15 or 20 yards and no problem now. Thanks to all! 

[WRB]

If the shop put the line too loose and over filled the spool you end up with problems.

You already cut off line to resolve the problem. I was going to suggest walking the line off or with a boat letting the line runn off about 1/2 the spool and rewinding it back onto the reel. This usually tightens the line enough to reduce the spool being over filled.

I always do this when a shop fills my reels with line.

You can't put braid on backwards, it doesn't have enough memory to be an issue and rewind resolves that issue for all types of line.

Tom

PS, good line conditioner helps line management.

[bunz559]

18 minutes ago, WRB said:

PS, good line conditioner helps line management.

Hey thanks for the advice Tom! Great information there!