Knowing how to string a fishing line on your baitcasting reel is crucial for a rewarding fishing experience. Although it may initially appear complex, it can be easily mastered with ample patience, consistent practice, and time.
What Fishing Line Do I Need to Use
The fishing line is a thin cord that looks like string but is much stronger. It’s important to buy the right fishing line for your reel and for the type of fishing you are planning to do. You need to choose the right fishing line for the environment you will be fishing in.
Most people can use a regular fishing line, however, so you don’t need to worry about buying any kind of special fishing line for your baitcasting reel.
What is a Baitcasting Reel?
The baitcasting reel enables you to send your lure further than other reels but it can be more challenging to use and it’s also more tricky to put the fishing line onto it without practice. But it’s worth it as your baitcasting reel will enable you to cast your line very accurately.
Using a baitcasting reel also helps you fish from a long distance which gives you more choices in locations for fishing. There are also spinning reels which can be easier to use but they have more limitations than baitcasting reels.
It’s important to follow the guidelines when you are putting your fishing line onto the baitcasting reel otherwise your line might end up getting tangled and twisted, so here are some of the things you need to think about.
Which Knots are Best
The first step you need to work on is what knots work best for you before you are ready to put your fishing line onto the baitcasting reel. The knot that you choose will depend on which kind of line you are going to use.
The Arbor Knot
The arbor knot is very commonly used for fishing lines because it’s quite simple to tie. It works really well if you are using a braid for your spool. It gets its name from the first step which involves wrapping the line around the spool arbor.
Your next step is tying a simple knot around the standing section. You then need to tie a second knot in the same end of the line very close to the first one. You can then pull the line, so the first knot sits at the spool and pushes the second knot against it. Once you have trimmed the line it’s all ready.
The Double Uni-Knot
The best time to use the double uni-knot is if you need to attach your mono backing to a braided line. This is a complicated knot that will need a lot of practice, but it can be mastered.
You need the ends of the lines to be overlapped to start with. Secondly, pick up the line end from the left and double it back. Then wrap it around the two lines several times and then pass it through the loop.
Pull everything tight and then do the same at the other end. You can then pull the lines as needed and move the knots together and then you are ready to spool the line.
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So How Do I Put the Fishing Line onto My Baitcasting Spool?
Once you have decided on your knots you are ready to move to the next stage and put your fishing line onto your baitcasting spool. Spooling is where the line can go wrong but if you take it slowly and carefully it’s an easy process to conquer.
You need to tie your chosen knots and then guide your line through the guides on your rod, without it getting tangled or twisted. It might be worth having someone else help you, particularly the first time you do it.
You need the line to come off the spool carefully and slowly. Before you start reeling it on, you need to grip the line and hold it tense, so the line is threaded smoothly and without any wrinkles or issues. Once you have the line in place, you simply need to turn the handle to reel the line into the spool, and then you are ready.
Are There any Mistakes I Need to Avoid?
One of the mistakes which people sometimes make when putting a fishing line onto a baitcasting spool is overfilling it. You need to make sure you leave about an eighth of an inch at the top, otherwise, you will have problems with your line slipping off or tangling.
Once you have spooled the line, you are now ready to add a lure and head out fishing happy with the knowledge that you can now replace your line any time you need to. With practice, you will be able to do it without someone else helping you.
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Conclusion
Putting a fishing line onto a baitcasting spool might seem quite complicated, particularly for a beginner, but with patience and practice, it’s a skill that can be learned and will be really handy every time you need to restring your rod.
As long as you avoid some of the classic mistakes, like your line twisting or tangling, or spooling too much line so that it slips off, you should be able to put the new fishing line onto your spool without too many problems.
When you first start out trying to do this, it’s worth watching a video tutorial and asking someone else to help you as well, but with practice, you will be able to do it yourself. However, it’s worth taking the time to get the technique right with help, first, as the last thing you want to do is end up with your line all in a giant useless tangle that you can’t unwind.
Fishing is a great, calming activity, and adding a fishing line to your spool shouldn’t become a stressful situation with some practice.
