Spooling line

[kickyour_bass]

Labor day weekend i ordered a dobyns cb casting rod, sierra spinning rod, and 4 piscifun reels-2  baitcasters 1 low gear 1 high gear, and 2 spinning reels. In the past I've tried spooling my own line. It didn't work well. I have a fleet farm near me. But people have told me it's mostly inexperienced people there. I also have a Cabelas about an hour away.

 

Do I just go to Cabelas? I was thinking of doing mono to braid for spin, and fluro on the low gear bc and braid on the other bc. Any recommendations?

[Mobasser]

I'll say you can learn to do this yourself. It's really not hard. There's lots of good info on spooling line here on BR.

[scaleface]

If you spool your   reels and there is a lot of twist, simply walk all the line off in the grass then wind it back in. That will remove the twist.  

[Susky River Rat]

If you would see the way I spoil my reels you wouldn’t worry about doing it yourself. Right or wrong I have no idea but, the line gets on and I do not have an issue with it. 

[MN Fisher]

A spooling station helps a lot - even the cheap ones are better than nothing.

 

Or, if you're handy, you can put together one yourself - such as I did from some scrap aluminum plate and angle I had sitting around.

[gim]

12 hours ago, kickyour_bass said:

Do I just go to Cabelas?

 

YES go to Cabela's.  They have a tornado line winder there and they will spool each reel for free, including mono backing at no charge.  It takes them like 3 minutes/reel.

 

I go there every spring and get my reels re-spooled in under half an hour.  They are far more experienced than a Fleet Farm would be too.  Just make sure you tell them how full you want each spool otherwise they will fill it all the way up.  I prefer mine not so full.

[woolleyfooley]

On 9/5/2024 at 12:54 PM, gimruis said:

 

YES go to Cabela's.  They have a tornado line winder there and they will spool each reel for free, including mono backing at no charge.  It takes them like 3 minutes/reel.

 

I go there every spring and get my reels re-spooled in under half an hour.  They are far more experienced than a Fleet Farm would be too.  Just make sure you tell them how full you want each spool otherwise they will fill it all the way up.  I prefer mine not so full.

@gimruisis it possible for them to measure how much line they’re putting on? For example to tell them how much backing to put? 
 

also I assume bass pro shop does the same?

 

I’ve always spooled my baitcasters by using a cardboard box with a pencil poked through both sides holding the spool in the middle. 

[Rockhopper]

I just stick the spool on a big nail I have hammered into one of the poles in my shop.  I use a cloth glove to apply just the slightest amount of tension to not burn my little fingers and start reeling (reel on rod).  I am sure it is wrong, but I also think the tiny bit of friction heat generated helps tame the line memory.  That is a common practice in the world of fly fishing using a leather patch.  Haven't lost a bass yet due to legit line breakage though.

[Eric 26]

Although I usually spool my own line I have had my favorite local tackle shop do it for me and zero issues. I’m not sure if you have a local tackle shop near you but you could use them. I’ll also add I don’t know where your Fleet Farm is but I’ve shopped the Delavan Wisconsin location and I personally wouldn’t have a problem with them spooling my reels.

Edited September 6, 2024 by Eric 26
Added content

[WRB]

I see no reason to use FC line for crank baits suggest using 10 lb or 12 lb Big Game mono. Inexpensive and change out as needed.

FC requires (IMO) line conditioner to help manage the memory issues.

1 hr away is 2 hrs driving time and gasoline cost. Suggest spooling line at home. Using a horizontal mandrel (pencil) is simple. Put the reel on the rod, line through all the guides and use arbor knot to tie off to the reel spool. Mono no need to worry about how line spinning on the spool. Use it for backing braid. 
When spooling line make sure the spinning reel the line comes off the bottom of the filler spool to prevent line twist. Bait caster the line comes off the top of the spool. Join backing line to top shot using a blood knot.

I just hold the line going onto the reel lightly between thumb and index fingers near to the guide nearest to the reel for mono or FC line. Use wet wash cloth for to apply light pressure for braid.

Fill to about 1/16” (penny thickness) below the full level, over filling causes issues.

Tom

[gim]

3 hours ago, woolleyfooley said:

@gimruisis it possible for them to measure how much line they’re putting on? For example to tell them how much backing to put? 
 

also I assume bass pro shop does the same?

 

I’ve always spooled my baitcasters by using a cardboard box with a pencil poked through both sides holding the spool in the middle. 

No, I don’t think so. They just eye ball it. If you really wanted to get specific about the amount of backing on a reel, stand there and tell them when to stop. In my experience they usually only put enough on to cover the spool, and then switch to the braid.

 

The reason I don’t stand there and watch them is that I know a couple pro staff employees there so I have more trust. Plus I like to walk around and shop instead of just standing there.

[Maverick2017]

I’m in the learn to do it yourself camp. 

 

Get yourself the Berkley Spooling Station. It’s a cool $30. I spool everything myself and have a line counter where I can measure the line going on. 

 

It really is very easy to do and convenient. If i'm in a pinch and don’t have the spooling station, spool goes in the boat bag and I spool from there.

 

Going into full Dad mode now…but spooling your own line is a lot like cleaning yourself after a #2. Once you learn how to do it, you can’t imagine anyone else doing it for you anymore 😄😎.

 

 

 

 

[islandbass]

I also second learning to do it  for yourself since every angler should know this basic skill. @MN Fisher’s recommendation for getting some type of a line spooling apparatus is 1000% spot on. Mine is old and primitive but it works. 
 

By saying this, I’m not saying not to go to places that can do it for you, but just know how to do it. What if you’re fishing out in the middle of nowhere and all your spools are screwed? Are you going to pack it up and call it a day? I wouldn’t. I’d spool up in the field. In some of the fishing I do, like in rivers, if I’m drifting my bait, I might get snagged up 3 casts worth of line and be forced to break off. Do this twice (it can and does happen) and your reel is no where near being at optimum capacity. 
 

It’s not hard and you’ll be glad you did and don’t let that one bad experience you had be the reason to not learn. Kinda like most men who have a ask a lot of girls with rejections left and right, but eventually one girl will say yes, lol 😂 

[LonnieP]

I’ve been using a pencil to spool my reels for 30 years. Works really well for me 

[scaleface]

On a baitcaster I simply put a pencil through the spool and hold it with my knees. Thats all   . A spinning reel , just lay the spool flat on the table, label up is usually correct.. Spinning reels are a little more complicated because if the spool is upside down  it will twist badly. I always walk spinning reels off in the grass after I finish filling it. They twist even if done correctly.

[ike8120]

This is my homemade line spooling setup.  Just remember when spooling a baitcaster line should come off the top of the spool and the bottom for a spinning reel. I also put the spinning reel spool in some hot water after filling.(removes some of the memory). I hold down the spooling station with a clamp to my table. 

[gim]

On 9/7/2024 at 7:59 AM, islandbass said:

What if you’re fishing out in the middle of nowhere and all your spools are screwed? Are you going to pack it up and call it a day?

 

I don't fish in the middle of nowhere and quite honestly it would be nearly impossible to screw up a dozen setups all at once.

 

Spooling a bait caster is pretty easy because there's a level wind.  Spinning reels are tougher.  Most people that spool them at home put the line on with line twist, which only compounds the problem of wind knots as they use it throughout the season.

[detroit1]

I would be embarrassed to take my reels to a store to have line put on them. c'mon man!

[woolleyfooley]

On 9/7/2024 at 9:02 AM, LonnieP said:

I’ve been using a pencil to spool my reels for 30 years. Works really well for me 

Yep. Pencil and a cardboard box is how I’ve always done it.

[Glenn]

 

 

 

[islandbass]

@gimruis: Indeed. What I was describing, is even for me a not so common scenario but I face it when river fishing for salmon. Walking through brush and foliage makes it difficult to carry more than two set ups with other gear and tackle. I’ve burned myself when my two set ups lost enough line to no longer fish effectively. Walking back to your car knowing you’re done while in waders and boots makes the walk less bearable and the fish are laughing at you because you weren’t as prepared as you should have been. Almost as bad as getting to your spot and realizing you left your license in the other car 😂🥲
 

And definitely casting reels are much easier to reload in the field.