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How to Put Fishing line on a Spinning Reel

By Michael Amaro September 5, 2021

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A spinning reel is among the most multipurpose kind of fishing reels out there, and it is very easy to use compared to a baitcasting reel. But one problem with spinning reel is that it’s easy to introduce line twists when spooling up the reel. This problem is unavoidable, whether you have the wrong line spooled up and need to change your line, or your line is broken down and you need to restring the fishing reel, or you have a new spinning reel. Therefore, in this article, we will enlighten you on how to put a fishing line on a spinning reel because at one point or another you will have to put a new line on your reel by yourself. This is why we have focused on providing steps you with simple steps to follow when loading a spinning reel with line.

fishing line on a spinning reel

Choosing the right Line

Line selection is one of the most important decisions every angler makes. It is the only direct link between fishermen and the fish. So, if you chose the wrong line, it means that you have made a bad fishing choice. It is very simple. The problem is that with so many brands of fishing lines on the market today, it has become extremely difficult to choose the right line for your fishing style. So before we continue, let’s take a look at how to choose the right fishing line.

If you are spooling an average-sized spinning reel and the fishing method requires something larger than 12 pounds test, then you should use a braid. If you decide to use a braid, put a little mono on the spool first, as a backing. This will prevent the braid from slipping on the spool, and with the backing in place, you can attach the braid to the mono with a Uni Knot, then spool up as explained in the following steps.

Make use of a monofilament line if you are fishing with floating bait. This is because Monofilament lines have a lot of stretches. The stretch increases the flexibility of the line, which helps the hook stay secure in the fish’s mouth.

Choose fluorocarbon lines if you are fishing in calm, shallow water. These lines work very well as it is difficult for fish to detect them underwater. Even though they resemble monofilament lines, they have less stretch and better abrasion. Also, fluorocarbon line is reactive to light bites as well as bottom contact.

And if you are fishing the bottom you will prefer a braided line. Braided lines consist of several lengths of synthetic material braided to create a single line, making it ideal for making a long-distance casting. This line also provides better resistance to breakage and will not stretch. It is detectable and floats well, so be selective as you use the line.

How to load a Spinning Reel

Here we will give you the step by step instructions on how to load a spinning reel. Having another person around can help, but ultimately you will need to perform this procedure on your own, so the following steps provide you all the instructions you need when putting a line on a spinning reel.

Step 1: Attach the fishing reel to the rod

Attaching the reel to the rod make it much easier to install fishing line on a spinning reel

Step 2: Run the Line through the first Guide

Remove the end of the line from the spool that it entered and run the line through the first guide, the large line installed near the reel seat.

Step 3: Open the Bail

Don’t forget to open the bail; a lot of people often forget this step, only to remember after the line has been attached to the spool that it’s not going to get picked up by the bail and they go back to this step. You can save yourself some trouble and remember to open the bail before attaching the line to the spool.

Step 4: Attach the Line to the Reel Spool

Learning to tie a fishing line to a reel is very simple, you need to wrap the line twice around the reel spool, protect it with an over-hand. If you are restringing the reel because the line that was there is frayed, you can choose to leave the old line on the reel as backing. If that is the case, you can just connect the old line to the new one using a Uni knot. This information can save you some cash when you reline your fishing reel because fewer new lines will be needed to fill the spool.

Step 5: You can now start winding the Line Slowly onto the Reel

You can now flip the bail and start turning the knob slowly. As you spin, the rotating bail will arrange the line on the reel in equal wraps. Stop after a few cranks, because it’s time for the most important step – making sure the line spool is facing in the right direction.

Step 6: watch your spool direction

The spool can be directed in three ways, and only one of the three is right. The other two directions can lead to line twist. First and foremost, don’t run the line straight off the spool. The line should come out with the face of the reel facing you.

Lastly, when you get to this point, all you need to do now is to fill the reel with line.  You can stand and face the spool on the ground, hold the rod parallel, put some tension on the line by holding it between the reel and the first guide, and begin to crank it slowly. Increase speed and continue until the line is within 1/8 and 3/16 of an inch from the spool lip. Then, you can clip the line, run it through the rest of the rod guides, and tie your bait.

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