Spooling What NOT To Do

[gunsinger]

I noticed yesterday that my spool was getting low and, on top of that, the line seemed to be sticking as it came off the reel. I thought, “Man this braid is bad about getting buried.”  So I took the rod to my shop for a line change and a cleaning. As I pulled the line off, it got tackier and tackier to the point it was sticking to my fingers. I’m thinking, “What the heck?”

 

As I got to the spool, I saw what happened.  I’d read where, if you’re tying braid directly to the spool, you could put a piece of tape over the knot to prevent slippage.  My pea brain thought, “If scotch tape is good, Gorilla tape is better.”  By now you pros have already seen my mistake in logic; but, for those who think like me, let me tell you what happens, especially down here in southern Mississippi.  
 

Gorilla tape has fantastic sticking power.  It accomplishes that by making their product with a lot of high cling tape gum. Guess what happens to that high strength gum in this Mississippi heat…it melts and runs everywhere. And apparently braid has high absorption capacity. 
 

So, lesson learned. Either stick with scotch tape (maybe painters tape) or back fill with cheaper line. 

[Hulkster]

you can eliminate the tape altogether by just using some mono backing. thats what I used to do when I used braid. I'm not a fan though so I went back to Sufix Siege mono. 

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, Hulkster said:

you can eliminate the tape altogether by just using some mono backing. thats what I used to do when I used braid. I'm not a fan though so I went back to Sufix Siege mono. 

All my braid is backed with cheap mono. Don't have to use much, just a couple layers will be enough.

[bulldog1935]

I use arylic-glue/PE-film tape.  Thin mylar. 

It's beyond thin, it's beyond tough, it sticks until you want to remove it. 

It does all this so well I use it for seizing cut ends and knots in kayak lines (high-strength sail line, even bungee) - in Gulf coast heat and humidity combined with salt spray. 

This is the first knot on a trolley line ring - there will another on the other side of the ring to complete the trolley loop, and I won't think about it again, no matter how many trips it makes down the hull. 

It's perfect for taping down a braid arbor knot on your spool. 

Grainger sells it on ebay. 

[redmeansdistortion]

I do run backer on my deeper spooled reels, but for the shallower spools I don't use any backing.  Instead, I go 4 wraps around the spool and terminate with a uni-knot.  Cinch it down good and it isn't moving anywhere.

 

 

 

[dodgeguy]

Tape is not needed on modern drilled spools. Just tie to the holes. A lot of spools now have a center slot for your knot to sit in.

[Woody B]

Just use Mono.

[Bird]

I simply use a particular line for backing that I wouldn't consider using as a finished product....... Berkeley Vanish.

Yes, I back All my casting reels with it.

[Bankc]

20 hours ago, dodgeguy said:

Tape is not needed on modern drilled spools. Just tie to the holes. A lot of spools now have a center slot for your knot to sit in.

Agreed.  Tape and backing are an ancient solution to problem that's been otherwise eradicated.  

[RDB]

This is going to be unpopular and I’m sure I’ll get flamed but I use braid backing on all my reels and the only time I use tape (painters masking tape) is if the spool doesn’t have holes (I don’t use knots).  Otherwise I just run it loose through a hole, reel 4-5 times and cinch it tight, and start spooling.  I do spool my braid with a lot of tension but I have never had the slippage issues that many discuss on the site.

[TOXIC]

If I am filling a full spool of braid I will either use some mono backing or plumbers tape which has no adhesive.  I have found that tying directly to the spool will still allow some digging of the line that I don’t see with mono or plumbers tape.  

[Bankbeater]

If I am filling up a spool for the first time I don't use any backing.  The mono from the first fill will become my backing.  When I'm ready to add more line to the reel I just cut the line and use a small piece of masking tape or painter's tape to hold the end down.

[Steve Goldy]

On 6/12/2022 at 5:29 PM, dodgeguy said:

Tape is not needed on modern drilled spools. Just tie to the holes. A lot of spools now have a center slot for your knot to sit in.

 

23 hours ago, Bankc said:

Agreed.  Tape and backing are an ancient solution to problem that's been otherwise eradicated.  

Just wanting to clarify a nuance wrt/tying off straight braid (without backing) directly through the spool holes.

 

I have heard, although not independently verified, that spooling any line directly through the holes in the spool may invalidate the reel warranty on some brands. Especially so on the higher end, lighter metal spools. Something to do with too much potential torsional energy being applied directly to the spool, as opposed to comparative diffusion of said forces when using backing.

 

Any comments with relation to the above?

[Bird]

Sir, you are technically advanced from my pea brain.

When you think simple, you're actions are simple....... been using cheap flourocarbon for many years as backing.

 

Negative torsional energy would never come into play that close to the spool when filled with line. Right ?

All the energy is being applied to the outside line. Imo

[dodgeguy]

35 minutes ago, Steve Goldy said:

 

Just wanting to clarify a nuance wrt/tying off straight braid (without backing) directly through the spool holes.

 

I have heard, although not independently verified, that spooling any line directly through the holes in the spool may invalidate the reel warranty on some brands. Especially so on the higher end, lighter metal spools. Something to do with too much potential torsional energy being applied directly to the spool, as opposed to comparative diffusion of said forces when using backing.

 

Any comments with relation to the above?

If your spool gets damaged it's to light and should be used for panfish.

[Steve Goldy]

26 minutes ago, Bird said:

Negative torsional energy would never come into play that close to the spool when filled with line. Right ?

All the energy is being applied to the outside line. Imo

You do raise a good point, especially when fishing for freshwater species. When facing saltwater fish, spooling out a ton of line might be more common place. With bass, no issue when using the correct line/rod for the environment.
Perhaps I heard the caution against directly spooling through the spool holes when perusing saltwater databases? Possible…but I do recall it being in relation to a non sealed low profile baitcaster. 

[Steve Goldy]

1 hour ago, dodgeguy said:

If your spool gets damaged it's to light and should be used for panfish.

Using Shimano JDM 150 spools  (latest Scorpion/Antares DC models). Should be easily good to go for any bass, but just asking wrt/warranty.

[Steve Goldy]

On 6/14/2022 at 1:08 PM, Steve Goldy said:

 

I have heard, although not independently verified, that spooling any line directly through the holes in the spool may invalidate the reel warranty on some brands. Especially so on the higher end, lighter metal spools. Something to do with too much potential torsional energy being applied directly to the spool, as opposed to comparative diffusion of said forces when using backing.

Have to say, that my caution (as stated above) has been proven to be incorrect.
 

Upon closer examination of the manual which came with my Antares DC, the illustrations clearly show the line being tied off directly through the spool holes. There are no apparent admonishments (or, red X pictures) to indicate a caution when doing so with braid. Please do keep in mind that I don’t read Japanese. However, a picture says a thousand words…
 

As the spool itself was a lighter metal upgrade from the previous model, it appears that my concern was entirely unwarranted.

 

So….NM.??‍♂️?

[QED]

6 minutes ago, Steve Goldy said:

Have to say my caution as stated above has been proven to be incorrect.
 

Upon closer examination of the manual which came with my Antares DC, the illustrations clearly show the line being tied off directly through the spool holes. There are no apparent admonishments (or, red X pictures) to indicate a caution when doing so with braid. As the spool itself was a lighter metal upgrade from the previous model, it appears that my concern was entirely unwarranted.

 

So….NM.??‍♂️?

Kudos to you for gracefully correcting an error.  Not enough of that going on these days.

[Steve Goldy]

On 6/15/2022 at 4:43 PM, QED said:

Kudos to you for gracefully correcting an error.  Not enough of that going on these days.

If only I could claim it was my first……?

[dodgeguy]

On 6/14/2022 at 1:08 PM, Steve Goldy said:

 

Just wanting to clarify a nuance wrt/tying off straight braid (without backing) directly through the spool holes.

 

I have heard, although not independently verified, that spooling any line directly through the holes in the spool may invalidate the reel warranty on some brands. Especially so on the higher end, lighter metal spools. Something to do with too much potential torsional energy being applied directly to the spool, as opposed to comparative diffusion of said forces when using backing.

 

Any comments with relation to the above?

Never had it cause an issue. Maybe on an aftermarket paper thin spool.