Are the shops doing a bad job of spooling?

[Pkfish49]

I've been back to freshwater fishing since 2017 and am improving every year, but I still have beginner questions about line.

 

I don't spool myself.  I rely on local bait and tackle shops and sporting good stores.  I just had a problem with two freshly spooled reels that I seem to have with almost every new spooled reel.  I always use 10 LB mono on my 4000 series spinning reels.  I have the problem with different brands.

 

After some initial casts, I spot a a potential knot on the spool.  I open the bail, pull out the line past the problem, close the bail and then tighten the line and reel in.  After I cast out far, I may have to repeat the process a few times, but eventually the kink goes away.  The problem is that I usually run into the same issue later in the day.  I don't always catch the kink and then have to cut off some line and re-tie on my rig.  I've seen the bassresource video about straightening out line from a motorboat, but I'm mostly shore-casting these days.

 

I'm not 100% ruling out user error, but I believe I'm taking the right steps to keep my line tight.

 

What's going on?  Are the shops doing a bad job of spooling that's causing the knots?  Now that I'm a full time Florida resident, I'll be fishing a lot and don't mind investing in a spooler.  If that's the way to go, what do you guys recommend?  Should I dip my spools in something for a while before spooling?  Should I use a line conditioner?

 

I'm sick and tired of this!  What is the solution?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

[ThatZX14Fella]

Most likely not the shops fault. Could be that the spool needs either a shim added or taken out, could just be the line itself, or, a list of other things. Spinning reels are pretty finicky when it comes to line management. If everything isn't perfect, they'll throw wind knots all day.

[Cigarguy]

Shop spooling is only as good as the person spooling it.  However, it is difficult to mess that up.

 

Most shops do spool to spool.  No matter how good the shop does the spooling you still will not know how the reel manages the line until you let out some line and reel it back up.  Also even if the shop do nothing wrong and your reel manages the line perfect you might still get issues with a new line due to the character of the line itself and user idiosyncrasies.

 

Learn to spool yourself.  It is not that difficult and you get a chance to see how the line goes on the reel instantly.  The confidence gain from knowing how to respool yourself it worth it.  I too do 90% of my fishing from the bank in mostly tree/brush areas.  Having the confidence and knowledge to spool myself is important as there is no shop by the river.

[WRB]

shops get paid by the yard.

You are apparently a shore fisherman? If not simple cut off ant lures and drag 100 yards of line behind the boat a few minutes ar walking speed, the reel in the line while the boat is still moving....problem solved.

No boat it’s more complicated. Opens the bail and walk off a 100 yards on line on the lawn like a football field. Wet a towel and fold into quarters. Put the line between the middle folds and rewind the line onto your reel keeping very light pressure between your fingers by the first guides. This will untwist the linecand tightened it onto the spool.

Tom

[Michigander]

It sounds like line twist from the user.

[jimmyjoe]

16 minutes ago, Michigander said:

It sounds like line twist from the user.

 

   Could be, because he says he'll have a return of the problem later in the day.

 

   @Pkfish49, are you using in-line spinners? If so, are you using a ball-bearing swivel to reduce twist? Which brand and model of 4000-size reel are you using? Are you filling the spool full right to the lip rim?

   Help us here with some info, and I'll bet we can help you!            jj

[Michigander]

17 minutes ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Could be, because he says he'll have a return of the problem later in the day.

 

Yep, that was the information I keyed in on. If it was the shop's fault, the problem would theoretically be immediate and persistent. But the OP says it happens after a few casts and then returns later.

[BrianMDTX]

Are you closing the bail manually or by cranking the handle? Start closing manually if not doing so. 

 

After a cast, close the bail and make sure your line is tight when you start reeling in so you don’t introduce any loops. Just pull the line with your fingers a bit before reeling to make sure it the line lays good without any loops. 

[NoShoes]

I spool my big game straight off the floor and never had an issue. I don’t think you need a spooler, has to be something you’re doing. 

[Konajon]

If the spool is overfilled it can cause knot issues. Did the shop cram as much line as possible onto the spool? Try stripping some line off the reel and see if it fixes your problem.

[Smokinal]

I'll echo the best 2 possibilities here:

---using a bait that's likely to twist the line on retrieve

---Start the habit of closing the bail by hand. I started doing this years ago and no more loops or twists. Not sure why this works...it just does

[Pkfish49]

9 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

 

   Could be, because he says he'll have a return of the problem later in the day.

 

   @Pkfish49, are you using in-line spinners? If so, are you using a ball-bearing swivel to reduce twist? Which brand and model of 4000-size reel are you using? Are you filling the spool full right to the lip rim?

   Help us here with some info, and I'll bet we can help you!            jj

I'm not using in-line spinners.  I'm using the Penn Pursuit reel.  I have at least one of the model III, but most of mine are the model II.  The spoolers leave space, they don't usually fill it to the rim.

 

8 hours ago, BrianMDTX said:

Are you closing the bail manually or by cranking the handle? Start closing manually if not doing so. 

 

 

I close the bail manually.

 

Appreciate all of the advice and will not rule out user error.  I think my best idea is to go fishing with some experienced folks so they can show me what (if anything) I'm doing wrong.  I plan on doing that as soon as it is safe to do so.

[jimmyjoe]

   After thinking about what you said, @Pkfish49, I may have a tip ....... or not.  ?

   You said " .... later in the day .... ", so the second wind knot is taking some time to build up. You also said that you were closing the bail by hand. Is it possible that you are closing the bail on a half-loop of line without noticing it? That half-loop will eventually build up into a wind knot.

   There's a difference between wind knots caused by that sort of twist and wind knots caused by stuff like spinners and snapping spoons. Wind knots caused by lure action are generally within the first ten or so yards of line that you cast out; the lure is at the end of your line, the lure action is at the end of your line, and the twist is at the end of your line.

   But line twist caused by dropping a half loop off the spool will build up at the back of your line, closer to the reel.

   Have you noticed which location the wind knots occur?

 

   I dunno ........ just a thought.  ?                                     jj

[Chris at Tech]

What kind of baits or lures are you fishing?  
 

Upon retrieve, some lures keep a rather constant tension on the line, and generally that results in the line spooling well back in the reel. A Spinnerbait is a good example.

 

On the other hand, some techniques like spooks and weightless jerkbaits are generally fished with some slack in the line.  That results in your line being quite loose when it returns to the reel spool, and could result in the type of line mgmt issue you’re experiencing.

 

Try this.  Every little while, make a long cast and retrieve it with the sole purpose of tightly packing the line back on the spool.  Pinch the line between your fingers so you’re retrieving under tension.

 

I also suggest you learn to spool yourself.  Plenty of vids on that subject and it’s not at all hard.  As some mentioned above, the shop spooling job is as good as the person running the machine.  I once had a guy spool the line on in the wrong direction!

[FishTank]

I have seen some weird stuff when I have had spools done at stores.  It really depends on getting someone that knows what they are doing.  Just some examples of what I have experienced... They could spool it backwards, turn the spool over and spool it from the bottom, turn the spool sideways or stop and start the spool as it goes on.

 

As far as what you are experiencing I am not sure that it's the spooling or the line but how you are closing the the reel.  Most reels, especially big reels with full line, will make a loop as your lure enters the water.  Just pull the line tight and close the spool by hand before you start reeling in. 

 

For a line spooler.... I use this one.  I have had it about 15 years. 

 

 

[Michigander]

There's also the hot water trick for taming the line a bit in the spool. Its mostly to keep line from jumping off the spool but I have noticed a tangible benefit from it for keeping the line from self tangling.

 

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, FishTank said:

I have seen some weird stuff when I have had spools done at stores.  It really depends on getting someone that knows what they are doing.  Just some examples of what I have experienced... They could spool it backwards, turn the spool over and spool it from the bottom, turn the spool sideways or stop and start the spool as it goes on.

 

As far as what you are experiencing I am not sure that it's the spooling or the line but how you are closing the the reel.  Most reels, especially big reels with full line, will make a loop as your lure enters the water.  Just pull the line tight and close the spool by hand before you start reeling in. 

 

For a line spooler.... I use this one.  I have had it about 15 years. 

 

 

I have one of those as well, but to be honest, I only use it for baitcasting reels. When I spooled spinning reels the twists and loops were horrid. Simply placing the spool label up, running the line through the first guide and using a folded towel sprayed with water (or KVD) to dampen it and used to keep tension on the line seems to work the best for me. And bulk spools (which are smaller in diameter) are much better than filler spools. 

[mrpao]

After I spool my spinning reels, I drag my line out in my yard and reel it in with no resistance three times. That usually gets rid of most of my line twist. I will usually do this to my line every few trips depending on the line type and how much I use a certain reel.

Braid can usually go longer without having to unkink the line. Fluorocarbon is the worst at line twist.

[Pkfish49]

15 minutes ago, Florida Tabdigger said:

Try lifting your rod tip up while closing the bail (whether you do it manually or automatically). This will take slack out so your line won't get under a previous loop. If your a patient fisherman you can pull out some line against the drag (about 6 inches) after the bail is closed, but I'm not patient and just close the bail automatically while lifting the rod tip up as soon as the lure hits the water.

Ty - I'll try this.

[Michigander]

On 2/6/2021 at 11:24 AM, FishTank said:

I have seen some weird stuff when I have had spools done at stores.  It really depends on getting someone that knows what they are doing.  Just some examples of what I have experienced... They could spool it backwards, turn the spool over and spool it from the bottom, turn the spool sideways or stop and start the spool as it goes on.

 

As far as what you are experiencing I am not sure that it's the spooling or the line but how you are closing the the reel.  Most reels, especially big reels with full line, will make a loop as your lure enters the water.  Just pull the line tight and close the spool by hand before you start reeling in. 

 

For a line spooler.... I use this one.  I have had it about 15 years. 

 

 

I just put the line spool in a cargo  pants pocket, lol.

[J Francho]

I'm sure some are good and some are bad - depends on the person doing it.  I wouldn't know.  It's such a simple task, I do it myself.  I put it squarely between painting and changing your own oil in the spectrum of DIY tasks.  It takes some practice, and you definitely want the right tools.

[MN Fisher]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I'm sure some are good and some are bad - depends on the person doing it.  I wouldn't know.  It's such a simple task, I do it myself.  I put it squarely between painting and changing your own oil in the spectrum of DIY tasks.  It takes some practice, and you definitely want the right tools.

I've been spooling my own line since I was 8 - just follow the guidelines, don't overfill, and it's pretty much a snap.

[gim]

Cabelas will spool your reels at no charge. I’ve been taking about a dozen reels there every spring. You either provide the line or pick some out on the shelf. They have an electric tornado spoiler that takes minutes to spool each reel. Plus they put it on spinning reels without any line twist.

[Pkfish49]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

Cables will spool your reels at no charge. I’ve been taking about a dozen reels there every spring. You either provide the line or pick some out on the shelf. They have an electric tornado spoiler that takes minutes to spool each reel. Plus they put it on spinning reels without any line twist.

Please clarify - I'm not familiar with a shop or chain called "Cables."

 

Ty

[gim]

1 minute ago, Pkfish49 said:

Please clarify - I'm not familiar with a shop or chain called "Cables."

 

Ty

Sorry I meant to type Cabelas. I fixed it now.