How much line to put on a spinning reel

[michael1]

I have owned bait casters and put line on them for years. The other day I finally broke down and bought a spinning reel. I'm getting ready to put line on and I realized I do not have a real idea of a stopping point. Is there sort of a rule of thumb when judging filling it up all the way but not over doing it?

[garroyo130]

I believe the general rule is 1/8" from the spool lip but I usually run up to the edge of the spool lip and if any coils off I cut the excess

 

This image courtesy of @Bass_Fishing_Socal is a good guide

 

[bulldog1935]

Recent thread on the same topic:  

Is this overspooled? - Fishing Rods, Reels, Line, and Knots - Bass Fishing Forums (bassresource.com)

 

If you use good manual bait technique, there's virtually no such thing as overspooling.  

Wind knots come from loose line at the beginning of your retrieve.  

With manual bail, you don't use the crank-auto-close, instead, keep your free hand close to the spool, so you can feather the line with your fingertips at the end of the cast (similar to thumbing a baitcaster).  Close the bail manually with your free hand, and turn with the rod to take up any remaining slack when you begin retrieve.  

[gim]

Some of this may be personal preference or the specific model/brand of reel you have.  I'd personally rather have a little more put on and trim it down myself than not have enough.  Its like getting a haircut - you can always trim more.

 

The most important aspect of filling a spinning reel IMO is to do it without line twist.  Line twist creates problems on a spinning reel and will eventually lead to bigger problems.  If you can put the line on without any twist that will be very beneficial.

[Bubba 460]

First photo ~ not near enough line

 

Second photo ~ a tad to much line

 

Third photo ~ just about right

[soflabasser]

11 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

I believe the general rule is 1/8" from the spool lip but I usually run up to the edge of the spool lip and if any coils off I cut the excess

I agree it is best to make sure the spool is not overfilled.

[bulldog1935]

hmm, this spool isn't 1/8" deep.  

 

never thrown a wind knot 

and caught dozens of fish

[Deleted account]

Depends on the type and diameter of line and the relationship between the spool diameter and those factors. With braid, you can fill into the bevel at the lip of the spool (I like 1/4 or 1/2 way up). With mono and fluoro (were I ever to spool with fluoro) you want to stop at the bevel, slightly less with larger diameter or stiffer line. For bass fishing, I wouldn't try to squeeze every last yard into the spool, no need, distance isn't usually a factor. For other fishing, particularly from shore or surf, distance can be everything, so it becomes more critical. 

[Benjamin Bunting]

My two cents, I have found that two things to spooling a spinning reel are more important before concern about spool fill amount. 1. Make sure that the fill line is coming off of the fill spool properly so that it isn't creating line twist while spooling the reel. Usually I have found two ways to accomplish this. First method is if you position the new line spool horizontally to fill the reel, I make sure that the fill spool has the new line spooling off of the bottom instead of over the top. Imagine a toilet roll hanging on the wall and the age old issue of hanging the the roll with the paper coming off of the top or the toilet paper is placed with it coming off between the roll and the wall in a downward direction or off of the bottom of the roll.  With bulk line spools, I place the fill spool on the floor with the label on the spool facing up before attaching to spinning reel, if you still see the line twisting as it comes off, turn the supply spool over. 2. Ensure that you use proper line tension when spooling onto the reel. This is especially important with braid for it is the worst if not put on with firm pressure it will cause all kinds of trouble. The same is true of monofilament and fluorocarbon but they are more forgiving than braid. I hope I'm not coming off as a know it all, just my input.

[michael1]

When putting line on a spinning reel you want the line to come off the UNDER side of spool, correct?

[Mike L]

4 minutes ago, michael1 said:

When putting line on a spinning reel you want the line to come off the UNDER side of spool, correct?

Correct

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike