Baitcaster braided line getting knotted and tangled

[Marcusfishing31]

Hello I’m new to the forums and looking for help. When I’m spooling my baitcater reel after I’m done half the line is tangled or knotted in its self and when I’m pulling it back it’s almost like the line is peeling out from like the back opposite side of the baitcaster reel. It is only doing this for braid I spooled up a reel yesterday with fluorocarbon and it was super easy. Does anyone know what I can do to prevent this thx Marcus. 

[Bluebasser86]

Did you put backing on the reel before you spooled it up? Sounds like it's slipping on the spool.

[islandbass]

What blue said, and what # braid you using? 20# test or less? That would explain the line dig and the loose wraps formed from line coming off the spooled when it has been “dug” into itself. 

[ike8120]

If the reels aren't braid ready need to add a backing whether it be tape or mono.   Also check out You Tube on installing braid on reels. Seems like there are a few different techniques installing with and without backing.

[bulldog1935]

Are you spooling the line under tension?  

 

I put the source spool on an axle on a bench vise

run the line through a phone book - can put weight on top to adjust the tension

I put my rod in a fixed rod holder with the line only going through one or two guides.  I can also walk away from it and the line stays under tension.  

if I need to knot backing to working line, I do it on the loose side of the phone book, swap source spools, and the line to the reel still stays under tension.  

[Dens228]

I use electrical tape on the spool for braid.  Also as said above make sure you have tension on the line as you reel it on. 

I also find anything under 20 lb braid to be like trying to fish with thread. Wind knots galore. 

[Marcusfishing31]

I’m using 25lb braid thays even overkill where I live in Canada but it’ll do LOL. Thank you for the responses I will give this a try 

[softwateronly]

12 minutes ago, Marcusfishing31 said:

I’m using 25lb braid thays even overkill where I live in Canada but it’ll do LOL. Thank you for the responses I will give this a try 

The lb breaking strength isn't overkill, you have to think in line diameter.  20lb braid is so much thinner than mono or copoly that tension on the line forces the braid to wedge itself deeper in the spool thus ruining your line lay for the next cast.  I find .28mm to be around the thinnest I can manage on a baitcaster, I prefer over .30mm.  

 

scott

[galyonj]

18 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

20lb braid is so much thinner than mono or copoly that tension on the line forces the braid to wedge itself deeper in the spool thus ruining your line lay for the next cast. 

 

This mirrors my experience. Light braid on a baitcaster is more trouble than it's worth, in my experience. And for exactly that reason.

[J Francho]

I don't bother with anything less than 50# braid in casting gear. It's not for the strength, but for the handling characteristics. 

[bulldog1935]

Again, I'm fishing mostly inshore and casting lighter lures (1/8 to 3/8 oz) for distance and shallow fishing.    

 

My reels with backing are loaded with Sufix 832 20-lb (0.24 mm).  

My shallow spool for 1/8 oz has no backing, and 22-lb X-braid, which is only 0.17 mm.  

 

I'm delighted with both for my fishing.  

[dodgeguy]

50 lb minimum on a baitcaster.

[CM-fisher]

When spooling up with braid on any reel, you have to make sure that you make a good start, and the rest is easy. Go very slow and steady at first, and once you can't see the spool anymore, you can start spooling faster. However, listen to some other people's advice + opinions as well as I have only spooled 3 reels w/ braid

[Jaderose]

I use 30 lb braid on one of my BC's but I wouldn't go below that

[dj1975232]

For braid on BCs the lowest I go is 30# for the same reasons.  

[papajoe222]

Did you spool your baitcaster the same way you did your spinning reel. By that I mean was the spool of line set on the floor? If so, that is where the twist is coming from. Also if you are using some kind of rod through the spool of line, was the line coming off the top, or the bottom of the spool.  If not from the top, you added twist during the spooling process.

I echo 30lb. test as a minimum for a casting reel and with some lines, that's too light.  The only way to determine which is to spool it under a lot of tension. If it digs into itself, go to a heavier test.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a few BC's with 20lb braid but they're for treble hooked baits that don't put a ton of pressure on the line and cause the dig in others have mentioned. Single hooked baits that require heavy hooksets are what cause that dig and I stay at 40lb and above for those baits.

[Deephaven]

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I have a few BC's with 20lb braid but they're for treble hooked baits that don't put a ton of pressure on the line and cause the dig in others have mentioned. Single hooked baits that require heavy hooksets are what cause that dig and I stay at 40lb and above for those baits.

I use 20lb braid on my jerkbait rod.  Never have had a problem.  For everything else I run 30lb outside of frog/muskie stuff which is heavier.