How To Add Line To Fishing Reel

If you have just started fishing, or have never had to add line to your fishing reel, we will be going through everything you need to know in this article.

So get your fishing gear ready and keep reading to find out how to add line to fishing reel quickly and easily so your next fishing adventure will be a successful and enjoyable one.

Do You Need To Soak Fishing Line Before Spooling?

If you are involved in any fishing groups, you will likely have heard people discussing soaking fishing lines before spooling them.

It is important to note that there are several reasons as to why fishermen do this.

With that being said, some prefer not to soak their lines – so, should you do it?

One of the main reasons for soaking a line is relaxing it. This makes it much easier to lay the line on the reel, making the spooling process much easier.

More so, it will prevent it coming off your spool and twisting.

By soaking the line in a bucket of water for an hour or so, you will find it much easier to control the manner in which the line comes off the bulk spool.

The line will also soak up some of the water, helping it relax a bit.

It is important to note that there are a variety of opinions when it comes to soaking fishing line.

On top of this, many fishermen have different ways of doing it.

Which Types Of Line Should Be Soaked?

Whether or not you choose to soak your fishing line depends a lot on the type of product that you buy.

As with most things, you can choose to invest in a good, mediocre, or poor quality line.

So, how do you know which type should be soaked in water before use?

In general, experts recommend that you do not soak braided lines.

This option is way more flexible than competitor options and is less likely to develop a memory when wound.

In other words, it shouldn’t twist when taken off the bulk spool.

On the other hand, if you have chosen to invest in a monofilament or fluorocarbon line, you should consider soaking your line beforehand.

How Long Should Fishing Line Be Soaked For?

Some fishermen will say that the line should be soaked overnight.

However, this is not recommended by experts.

All lines absorb water and begin to swell when soaked for long periods of time.

For this reason, if you leave your line overnight, it will become waterlogged.

It is important to note that there are different types of fishing reels.

With that being said, some lines on fishing reels do not need to be soaked at all. 

Instead, try soaking the line for between 20 and 30 minutes.

This will help relax the line and obtain optimal results.

How Do You Put Line On A Spinning Reel Without It Twisting?

Many fishermen choose to spool their reels by simply placing a pencil on their line spool and reeling it up.

However, this will only create twists that make the job much harder in the future.

Here are the step-by-step instructions you need to follow.

The first thing that you will need to do is determine which direction the spinning reel turns.

It is important to note that the line coming off your spool should match.

In order to do this, set your new spool down with the label up.

You can then take your spinning reel and place it over the line.

Start slowly reeling in order to determine the direction of the reel rotations.

Grab the line off of the new spool – by doing this, you will be able to see whether or not the line comes off in the same way.

If it does not, turn or flip the spool so that it matches the reel’s spinning direction.

Then, ensure that the broadside of the reel is facing you.

Have a friend hold the spool away from you.

This will make it much easier to reel the line on the spool in the correct direction.

By doing this, you will essentially be preventing any line twists.

How To Put Fishing Line On A Closed Reel

What Is A Closed Reel?

Closed reel fishing rods are different when compared to their open reel counterparts in one way: they feature hidden lines.

These options are very popular fishing reels.

Unlike open reel rods, with a closed face reel, the line is hidden inside the nose cone of the reel.

This makes it slightly more complicated when it comes to inserting the fishing line.

Inserting A Fishing Line On A Closed Reel

To use this fishing line option, start by inserting the line onto the rod tip.

You can then pull it through, following the fishing pole string guides.

Insert the line through the small circle found at the front of the reel cover.

Ensure that the line is secured to the spool by winding it around twice.

In order to hold it in place, tie a knot at the end of the line.

How To Put Fishing Line On A Baitcasting Reel

What Is a Baitcasting Reel?

In short, a baitcasting reel is placed on top of your rod so that the spool sits parallel.

The line of this reel comes off your spool in line with your rod.

This type of reel works well with a number of different lines, including braided fishing line, monofilament, fluorocarbon, and for a wire arm.

It is important to note that this type of rod requires a bit more experience due to the fact that the spool moves as you cast the line.

Most experts recommend that only advanced fishermen invest in baitcasting reels.

Without the proper control, the spool can move faster than the casting line, resulting in the line bunching up and twisting.

This process is known as backlashing.

Inserting A Fishing Line On A Baitcasting Reel

In order to put the fishing line on a baitcasting reel, you will need to start by attaching your reel to the fishing rod.

You can then go about feeding this line through the first hole of the rod before attaching it to your reel spool.

It is important to note that the line should be fed through the worm guide at the front of the reel.

The next step would be to wrap your line around your spool.

In order to secure it, tie an overhand knot around the main line.

To finish off, tie another knot on the tag end and pull on the main line so both knots are tight.

After the tag end has been trimmed, begin spooling the reel.

In order to prevent any line twists or casting issues, the fishing line should come off its filler spool in the same way it goes onto the baitcasting reel.

Continue spooling the reel until it is full of line.

As a tip, try leaving an eighth of an inch from the end of the spool.

This will allow for much smoother casting and prevent any twisting.

Lastly, trim the spooled line from the packaged spool and thread it through the rest of the fishing line through eyelets.

Summary

The process of inserting fishing line is different for various reel models.

It is important to note that baitcasting reels require more control than regular models, meaning that they are better suited for more experienced fishermen.

Some fishermen soak their lines before spooling.

While this is not essential, the soaking process does relax the line and make it easier to lay.

If you use a braided line, it is not recommended that you soak it beforehand.

However, monofilament fishing and fluorocarbon fishing lines should be soaked for 20 to 30 minutes before spooling.