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Bail Closure on Spinning Reel - Manual or Automatic?  

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Posted

Guys,

Just curious how many of you manually close your bail on your spinning reel vs how many just turn the handle and automatically close it.  99 times out of 100 I just turn the handle.  Never had any issues with this method

  • Super User
Posted

We've had this discussion before...earlier this year IIRC.

 

On my reels that allow it, I close it manually. My old Pflueger 640 that's not an option as the bail-engagement is a metal lever that clicks into a slot...so it HAS to be done with a turn of the handle.

  • Super User
Posted

On many spinning reels if you start the crank and allow it to close automatically, you will have a small amount of line twist.  No big deal.  However, doing it over and over and over again, you start what could become the mother of all line twists.  Close it manually if you are able to.  Make a habit it of it.

Posted
14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

We've had this discussion before...earlier this year IIRC.

 

On my reels that allow it, I close it manually. My old Pflueger 640 that's not an option as the bail-engagement is a metal lever that clicks into a slot...so it HAS to be done with a turn of the handle.

Sorry I must have missed the earlier discussion.

Posted

For me it has nothing to do with mechanical aspects. I don’t use moving baits on spinning. Spinning is bottom contact and finesse. If I can feel a bluegill peck at my t-rig on a semi-slack line then a bass can sure as heck feel that bail slam closed when I crank the handle. 

Posted

Manually for the last 20 years. Told to do it when I got into bass fishing by an old Potomac river guide, whose primary set up for worm fishing was spinning reels.

  • Super User
Posted

Manual always.

  • Super User
Posted
5 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

manually... AND... pull the line slightly to tighten it on the spool

 

oe

This.

  • Super User
Posted
9 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Manual. Except if I bust out the Mitchell 300!

Ya - probably the same bail-engage that my old 320 had.

 

  • Super User
Posted
1 hour ago, OkobojiEagle said:

manually... AND... pull the line slightly to tighten it on the spool

 

oe

Same for me too..

  • Super User
Posted
37 minutes ago, Hammer 4 said:

Same for me too..

Yeah, same for me, too. With some baits more than others for sure. 

  • Super User
Posted

Manually. I had to train myself to do this over a decade ago. Before that I used to love the Ka-chunk sound of the bail flipping closed by turning the handle.

 

I close it manually now to save the bail spring and prevent any line twist from closing it by the handle.

Posted

I cup my off hand loosely around the spool to control my cast (similar to thumbing a baitcaster) so its natural to just close the bail manually. Didn't even realize it had added benefits until I started reading these forums. 

Posted

Hmm.... I’ll have to start doing this. If I can remember the next time I get out

  • Super User
Posted

Like others have said I always close it manually and pull the line tight to the spool before I start reeling to help avoid line twist.

  • Super User
Posted

Always did it manually for years, because auto is to noisy. 

Posted
18 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

manually... AND... pull the line slightly to tighten it on the spool

 

oe

... AND... when I start reeling I extend my index finger and let the line bounce off my finger a few times ensuring that no loop is reeled onto the spool. It's all muscle memory now and I don't even think about it.

Posted

Every once in a while you find actually useful on YouTube. Interesting to see that auto can actually accelerate gear wear. 

 

 

Besides the wear described above, I found I got more line twist with auto close.

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