Spook Jr (Issue with my line)

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey guys, here's the deal.  I've been fishing spooks on 10lb test for about 6 months now, no problems up to last week.  When I cast and I walk the dog back to the shoreline I see that all the line is winding at the bottom of the reel.  It is extremely loose and not winding tight.  However when I cast out a rat l- trap or Minus One crank I have no issues whatsoever.

The line I am using is Suffix Superior and is great for casting cranks and topwater plugs.  My reel is a Shimano Symmetre 2500 with a 6 2 1 ratio (pretty sure).  Most articles I'm reading online are saying to use a lower gear ratio like 5 1 1 or something.  Could it be my reel? My line?  The way I'm retrieving?  I even watched the line on the bail arm and I can see it's not sitting tight against the arm but is rather loose.  So I see why it's not winding tight.

I know you need to fish these things with slack to make them run right but when I do this I'm having my line sprial so much all the way out to the water that by the third or fourth cast I birdnest on a SPINNING reel.  It sucks.  I spent half an hour today (three different times in less than 10 casts fixing birdnests and eliminating the line that got tangled up.  Any help or advice would be appreciated guys.  Please let me know.

Same issue happens on my worm and jig pole.  I have 15lb test (stren) on it and when I use a weightless senko it forms littler loops in the line down to the water.  But with a jig or single hook type lure like a spinner  I don't have the same problem.  Is this simply just a line to lure weight ratio problem?  I'm almost positive I'm spooling my line correctly and taking my time in doing so.  I had problems the first time so I made sure it all spooled in one direction, I made sure there was plenty of pressure on the line as it spooled, etc.  I don't understand why I'm having these issues.

Any help fellas.  Sorry to post in here for line issues again.  You think I'd figure it out by now... egh, so frustrating.  I only have money to two poles and stuff so I use one for cranks and treble hook lures, and another with more backbone and higher rated test for my jigs, spinners and worms.  Any suggestions on my line issues would be awesome.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I dont use spinning for slack line fishing .Inherently they twist and as soon a sthey get slack they do it again.others will give better solutions but IMO spinning isnt so good for anything but small cranks,worms, etc top water and spinning dont mix either  8-)

[skillet]

 I don't really remember using spinning gear (have the same reel as you) for a Spook jr. I have used it for the likes of orig. floating Rapala or baby Torpedo and it was OK. Like CRN said you should have tension on your line when you start reeling or line twist would really bad. There's no way to have tension when you are walking the dog :-/...

                              As Ever,

                               skillet

[JCrzy4Bass]

So in other words it's time to bite the bullet and go out and buy a decent baitcaster and learn how to use it strictly for my topwater plug techniques such as spook jrs, jitterbugs, poppers, and chug bugs?

Any other advice would be awesome guys. Thanks for the quick responses though.

Anybody know what would be a good combo to start out with for baitcasting gear? I'm a shimano guy so are there any lower end reels you'd recommend and a good rod to pair it up with? I'm looking at spending under 60 dollars total if possible. It's just a starter deal. Something that will give me decent action on the lure and allow me to learn baitcasting.

I don't know how to use one yet so first I have to get the casting down practicing that and stuff, then I have to get the walk the dog down again with a different reel.

So baitcasters allow for slack line more so than a spook?  How come senkos work well with spinning gear then?  I fish a senko with slack line with no problem, at least I did last year (on 10lb or 12 lb test line).

Ps:  I'm a BPS and Shimano guys, I like the bps rods as far as the tournament series and cheaper img graphite series rods they have.  I like Shimano reels and rods and have never really had a problem with a reel until now with this spook issue.

[Wayne P.]

Use braid on your spinning gear for the Spook and you won't have the loose line problem like with mono.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Only prob is that I use this rod for cranks too, will braid work fine for my crankbaits or impair the action on them?  If I do use this rod for my topwater plugs and cranks and end up lining it with braid, what brand would you guys recommend?  If I have a bit more input on this I may be willing to go out and try this to see if it solves my problem.  

I don't see why braid would hurt crankbaits but I just want to be sure.

[JCrzy4Bass]

After doing some reading and thinking I'm probably just better off buying a baitcaster at this point for my topwater plugs unless I find an alternative to this line issue. The braid will not impair the cranks but since it does not sink as well and is more visible in clear water I don't think it would be a good option for cranks, plus the no stretch with treble hooks could mean the hooks would rip easier through the fish's mouth with continuous pressure.

I think I am going to try and cut off some line today (the problem line from yesterday and day before), see if this helps, try to find a way to get the line to spool tighter, maybe snapping my wrist down and pulling to the left or right, and try some other things. maybe a heavier topwater would help instead of a spook jr? Anybody think this could be a remedy? If so what would you recommend for walking the dog?

Worst case scenario I guess I will have to spend more money, though I really can't afford to right now with a kid on the way.

[Wayne P.]

I caught 40+ bass yesterday using braid and a Rat-L-Trap so the line visibility is not a problem with cranks. I use the braid mainly because of the timber and grass in the lake and I can put more pressure on the fish with it. The small diameter of the braid cuts through the vegetation better than mono also along with it's lack of stretch which helps jerk the lure from the weed hang-ups and trigger a strike. I was fishing Briery Creek.

[skillet]

 Have never used braid myself. If you do, I hope it solves your problem . I really like topwater and especially a Spook jr. Really hate to say this, don't really like it for an answer myself . If you possibly can, hold off on the baitcaster combo. Save and try to add some to the budget. Nothing wrong with BPS rods. I always wait for the Spring Fling (have bought 2 Bionic Blades on sale then). A better baitcaster will be easier to learn on and probably last you longer...

                                 As Ever,

                                  skillet

BTW Money can get tight with baby on the way. Been there, done that!!!

[rondef]

JCrzy4Bass,

Problem solved, you can have my Quantum baitcaster reel and rod with 20lb braid on it. We can also change the braid if you don't want to use it. It will be in the boat so you can use it tomorrow for our first trip out on the Potomac River this year. I will using my new KVD Signature Series baitcaster from now on.

[low_pro]

I've really had trouble combining braid with the spook! walking the dog always catches the line... maybe it's me? just my experience.

as for walking the dog, I prefer this (always thrown on bc gear with 12lb Yozuri):

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_45146_100005003_100000000_100005000_100-5-3

tight lines!

[Tokyo Tony]

A couple things - I don't think you have to go to braid necessarily, but just a line that hass less memory than the line you're using. I think your problem is that the line has too much memory, and that's why it's acting funny.

Regardless of memory, however, if you're actually reeling while there's slack in the line, that's probably gonna cause a problem.  Using a limper line will just minimize it.

Try casting out and just reeling your lure straight in. If the problem still happens, there may be something wrong with your reel and you'll have to get it fixed or get a new one.

You don't need a baitcaster to throw topwaters - I much prefer spinning gear for walk-the-dog baits just because that's how I learned how to do it and it feels a bit awkward with baitcasters for me. I use almost 100% braid with my spinning gear, so I'd recommend it, but you don't NEED braid.

And if you have trouble with braid wrapping around your hooks, use a short leader. That will solve the problem.

[skillet]

rondef, really great offer on your part ...

                       As Ever,

                        skillet