tips and tricks for spooling reels

[Chris at Tech]

In some posts on here, I occassionally see people mentioning some tricks they use to spool their reels.  Since I'm lazy, I wanted to try to get all these tricks in 1 place

So with that said, how do you spool your reel?  What tips and tricks do you have?  Do you do things differently for spinning vs. baitcasting?  Any different techniques for mono vs. fluoro vs. braid?

Do you use line conditioner?  Do you soak the line in warm water before spooling?  etc...

[Hot Rod]

If I'm stringin' a baitcaster I usually don't even take the spool out of the box except to run the line through the hole on the side of the box.  Put the spool back in the box so that the tag end is out the hole.  Then string it through your rod guides then on to the reel.

Put the tip of the rod on the hole of line box and crank away 'till the reel is filled.   It usually offers about the right amount of tension too.

For larger bulk spools you can do the same thing if they a packaged in a canister.  Like some of the Yo Zuri line is.  For these I just drill a small hole in the side of the canister about 1/4" in diameter.  Make sure there are no burs or sharp edges on the hole so it doesn't abraid the line.  

[islandbass]

Use a big, thick book like a phone directory or BPS catalog and run the line through it. The book will act as a line tensioner.  Where you bury the line in the book affects the amount of tension. I find the first 1/3 to nearly 1/2 of the book from the top best.

I spool spinning reels directly as I do baitcast reels and have never ever had a problem. But then again, with a reel in the symetre class or better spooling line onto the reel that way is the suggested method.

Depending on my mood, I will use the 1-3 guides on the rod closest to the reel seat. With line fed through the book and then through the guides, I feel I have more control during the spooling process.

I stay in direct line with the filler spool when I crank line. I think this helps reduce the chances of line filling up more on one side than the other.

When spooling spinning reels, I set the drag very tight so that I won't hear a clicking sound while I crank. I don't want to risk the chance of adding line twist anywhere on the spool.

[Sam]

Run the line through a wet spot on a wash cloth.

Use KVD's Line and Lure Conditioner to make the wet spot.

It helps remove the memory the line has picked up in storage.

The spray the spooled reel two times with the Line and Lure Conditioner.

I use a Berkley Portable Line Spooling Station to spool all reels.  Works like a charm.

[Jig Man]

Mono--- I take the line off the top of the spool for both baitcasters and spinning reels.

Braid--- I walk across the empty lot from my driveway to my neighbor's driveway, cut the braid and go back to my house and spool it on.

Fluro--- I only use 2-3' at a time (leader)

Line tensioner--- My WIFE ;D

Line conditioner---  I only use it during the day if the line seems to need some help on mono and on braid to make it quieter

[Triangle Sport]

These are all good recommendations but if you've got a dozen reels or more you can try The Cyclone Pro. It was at one time called the Berkley Cyclone but now you can buy them direct from the manufacturer online. It is not for everyone at $299 but it is impossible to get twist and you wind everything consistently. Again it is costly but will last you 10 years and you'll have a lot more friends!