How To Spool A Spinning Reel

It’s important to learn how to load line on your spinning reel correctly, especially if you’re serious about fishing. Spinning rods are ideal for beginner anglers who want to learn more about the sport while catching a lot of fish.

Spooling your spinning reel correctly is very important. If you don’t load the line correctly on your spinning rod, twists may appear. When the line is twisted, it tangles into a nest that impedes you from casting properly. 

You can have your line loaded professionally at a tackle shop, but it is better to learn how to do this yourself.

Simple Steps to Load Line on Your Spinning Reel Correctly

Here are the steps you need to go through when spooling a spinning reel:

1. Start with opening the bail – the bail is the arm on your reel that goes up and down. When it’s up, the bail is open. If the arm is down, the bail is closed.
2. After you have opened the bail, tie the line to the arbor with an arbor knot.
3. Put the spool down on the ground with the label facing upward at you. (Spinning reels require the line to be loaded the same way that it comes off the spool).
4. Put pressure on the line with your index finger and thumb while turning the handle about 20 times. However, don’t put too much pressure on the line because this will cause it to become loose and tangled after.
5. After you have completed these steps, check the line for twists by letting it go slack. In case it twists, turn the spool on the other side and repeat the process. The side that twists the line less is the one you want to use.
6. Secure the line on your spool with a rubber band or put it around the tab if your spool has one.

How to Tie the Arbor Knot

In order to complete step 2 of loading line on your spinning reel, you need to know how to tie an arbor knot. Here is how you should do it:

1. Wrap the line around the spool’s arbor. Do this with the line’s tag end and make a simple overhand knot.
2. Make another overhand knot very close (1-2 inches or 2-3 cm) to the first one.
3. Slide the standing line over the first knot and towards the spool. The second knot should jam against the other one.

How to Apply Proper Tension to the Line

It’s important that your line doesn’t have too much or too little tension. You can keep the tension of your line moderate by using one hand to hold on to it and the other on the reel. Apply pressure on the line with your forefinger and thumb.

If you don’t apply pressure while reeling, you can cause the line to have overwrapped loops afterwards. Keep in mind that fused and braided lines require more tension than nylon lines.

If you don’t want to burn or cut your fingers, wear a glove.

How to Select Your Line

If you are using a medium sized reel and are fishing for large fish, use braid line. The loading of braided line should start with putting some mono on your spool to begin with as backing. This way the braid won’t slip on the spool.

While monofilament and fluorocarbon line work for spinning reels, braided line works best. Here are the 3 best braid lines available on the market:

1. KastKing SuperPower Braided Line

This braided line from KastKing is known to tie solid knots without the waxy coating that’s usually present in other braided line. It also has a small diameter, allowing you to spool a high quantity of it on the reel.

2. Sufix 832 Braid Line

The Sufix 832 Braid Line is very abrasive and strong. It’s small in diameter and increases the distance and accuracy of your cast. The Dyneema fibers in this line provide high sensitivity and great strength.

3. RUNCL Ultra Strong Braided Line

As its name says, the RUNCL braided line is very strong because it features 8 strands. It’s smoother than most lines, which means it improves casting and passes through the rod’s guides more easily.