Fishing Line

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Curtis Blunck on February 25, 2011 at 9:10am

When you are spooling line from a spool to a reel whether it be a spinning reel or a casting the line needs to go on the same way it was on the spool.  If you don't you end up having the line wanting to spring off you reel.  Certain lines you may not want to use on a spinning reel for example; Maxima Chameleon it will want to spring of your spinning reel no matter what you do, but it is good for casting reels. You don't need any lube and just keep presure while puting the line on. Well good luck.

Permalink Reply by P.J. Koshi on February 25, 2011 at 9:21am

Jeff when I am spooling new line no matter what kind I have a buddy hold the spool and put pressure on it to keep it tight.  When I am alone I use one of those Plano spool boxes that you can thread the line through the small hole and it spins the spool as line comes off.  Both of these methods have left me a lot happier as of late.  Spinning reels may have a different technique that works better, but I have used these and I get a lot less loops than I did in the past.  I know for a fact that in most cases the tighter that line is on the spool the better that line will perform.  As for memory I think that is impossible to eliminate totally without going to 100% braid.  I have a long list of lines I use but I'll share some of the better ones IMO

Mono: Cajun Red Casting.  Cheap easy to see and strong! Memory isn't too bad.

Braid: Spinning reels I like Fireline original smoke. Casting reels I prefer Powerpro and Fireline Tracer Braid because they are round super lines not flat.  They just seem to sit better on casting spools.

Fluorocarbon: Seaguar Invizx then Abrazx, also Pline original is pretty good too.  Memory seems to get worse over time with fluoro in particular.  I don't seem to notice it right after spooling like you usually do with mono, which usually gets better after a break in period.     

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on February 25, 2011 at 10:44am

Jeff , it's a requirement IMO that you use the KVD Line conditioner for All of your Fluorocarbon and Braid . That stuff make a world of difference and its not that expensive .. 

Line twist can drive an angler insane ..lol I can tell ya from my experience that using higher quality line , proper spooling , KVD conditionder has minimize my line twist a great deal ..

 

Last thing Jeff , I also have found that when running fluoro on your dropshot  reel its very important to pay attention to the action in your bait selection . If you see that your bait is swirling on you retrieve this is a clear sign that line twist will take place just after a few cast . Chris ferry showed me great way to advoid this by simply just hooking my bait in the form of texas rig and that does stop the swirl  right away .. Hope this helps ease the pain 

 

Dez

 

 

Permalink Reply by Dan Wheeler on February 25, 2011 at 10:48am

I have found no matter what you do it gets twisted up.. The best way I found is when you put new line on troll it behind the boat.. It always works and you won't be dissapointed.. also if ya run rebarb hooks ad dez said it helps alot once you get the twists out...

Permalink Reply by David Parnicky on February 25, 2011 at 11:12am

I agree with Dan, line twists are just one of those things that are somewhat unavoidable.  For spooling line on by myself, I use one of those Berkley line spooling stations and it seems to do a good job.  At least it makes it so you don't have to have someone there to hold a pencil through the spool.  I have tried a lot of different lines but these are my favorites that I always keep going back to.

Mono&Copoly:  Maxima Ultragreen (this will give you headaches if you put it on a spinning reel due to memory but it is an awesome line besides that, super strong!) and McCoy Mean Green (another great line with less memory issues than Maxima)

 

Braid:  Power Pro (Moss Green)

 

Fluoro:  Pline 100% fluoro (my favorite and cheapest on the market, $16.99 for 250 yards under 15 lb. test) 

 

I don't put lines that aren't either fluorocarbon or green in color on my reels.  I don't need any of those high vis lines yet.  I really feel that using the green color on mono and braid gets me more bites.  Doesn't mean I am right though.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on February 25, 2011 at 7:18pm

Spinning reels:  lay the spool flat on the floor, usually with the label up, and then keep your rod tip near the spool and reel it onto the reel while lightly pinching the line at the stripper guide (closest to the reel).  Crank in a little bit of line and then raise your rod tip and observe the coils of line between the rod tip and the spool on the floor.  Flip the spool over now (label down) and crank in a little more line and observe the coils again.  Keep the spool label up or label down, whichever way the coils between your rod tip and the spool are looser.  This method is easy once you do it a couple of times.  Favorite spinning line is Sugoi Fluorocarbon and McCoy CoPolymer (very limp). 

 

Baitcast reels:  Lay the line spool on its edge in a basket, shoe, reel bag, or whatever is available so the spool can spin without running around the room.  When I am home I clamp a big Phillips screwdriver in my vise on the workbench at a 45-degree angle and slide the spool of line onto the screwdriver.  This allows it to spin freely and not jump off the screwdriver.  Then I pinch the line lightly below the stripper guide and reel in.  I prefer Sugoi Fluorocarbon or McCoy Fluorocarbon, or McCoy Clear CoPolymer for baitcasters.

 

I don't like using conditioners because they make your line appear chalky; kind of defeats the purpose of fluorocarbon line having the same refractive index as water.

 

There are many ways that are important to eliminating line twist with spinning reels, and I have written complete articles how to do this; it is achievable.

 

ciao,

Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Dan Johnson on February 25, 2011 at 9:41pm

you are the smartest angler in the state Marc. maybe the smartest angler i know period. You guys that want to learn something should really listen to what Marc has to offer. This is true mentorship at the very best at no cost. Read and listen !

Marc Marcantonio said:

Spinning reels:  lay the spool flat on the floor, usually with the label up, and then keep your rod tip near the spool and reel it onto the reel while lightly pinching the line at the stripper guide (closest to the reel).  Crank in a little bit of line and then raise your rod tip and observe the coils of line between the rod tip and the spool on the floor.  Flip the spool over now (label down) and crank in a little more line and observe the coils again.  Keep the spool label up or label down, whichever way the coils between your rod tip and the spool are looser.  This method is easy once you do it a couple of times.  Favorite spinning line is Sugoi Fluorocarbon and McCoy CoPolymer (very limp). 

 

Baitcast reels:  Lay the line spool on its edge in a basket, shoe, reel bag, or whatever is available so the spool can spin without running around the room.  When I am home I clamp a big Phillips screwdriver in my vise on the workbench at a 45-degree angle and slide the spool of line onto the screwdriver.  This allows it to spin freely and not jump off the screwdriver.  Then I pinch the line lightly below the stripper guide and reel in.  I prefer Sugoi Fluorocarbon or McCoy Fluorocarbon, or McCoy Clear CoPolymer for baitcasters.

 

I don't like using conditioners because they make your line appear chalky; kind of defeats the purpose of fluorocarbon line having the same refractive index as water.

 

There are many ways that are important to eliminating line twist with spinning reels, and I have written complete articles how to do this; it is achievable.

 

ciao,

Marc Marcantonio

Permalink Reply by Steve Johansen on February 25, 2011 at 10:03pm

I don't worry about how the line goes on the first time, although I do try to put it on the way it comes off the spool.  I have tried most if not all of the methods mentioned and none work better than what Dan has already said.

 

Put the line on your reel and then the next time you are out in your boat, slowly let all of the line out while slowly motoring, like at trolling speed and let it drag for a few minutes.  Then simply reel it in as the water will provide enough drag for you so you won't need to apply drag with your hand or something until you get it almost all the way in.  That's it.

 

I do this a few times per season on each rod and I have found that it makes a world of difference.