FS Digest

Haven't fished regularly since a kid and only used a spinning reel a few times. Anyway I've decided to get into fishing. I bought a pflueger president reel and I can't get the damn line on it. Here is what I do:

- Open the bail, tie a knot on arbor or whatever the part it goes on is called.

- While holding tension on line I reel forward causing bail to close (line underneath) spin clockwise or to the right as I'm looking down.

- Reel spins round and round yet line goes nowhere. I do notice the line losing tension where knot is and on a few occasions it breaks at the knot.

I've also had my line spool face up and face down, no difference. What might be the issue? Is my knot not tight enough? Is my grip not tight enough holding tension? Do I need to go to Dick's and pay to have it put on and still be clueless? Please help. Thanks.

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by DolphinsFlyWithWings

FS Digest

Do you have the drag super loose?

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by EmbracedByLeaves

FS Digest

I'm not sure. However just now I tightened it all the way so to see how far it would tighten. Should it be loose or tight?

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by DolphinsFlyWithWings

FS Digest

Somewhere in the middle, all you gotta do is give it a little slack so the line with catch on the bail and it’ll start working.

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by ahammer1

FS Digest

Tight for this. Also make sure your knot against the reel is reasonably tight.

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by RandomPantsAppear

FS Digest

One of three things:


1. Your knot is slipping and the loop of line around the spool is just spinning. Tie it tighter and you'll be fine. You could also use a small piece of electrical tape to hold it in place, but a good tight knot should do it. Don't put crazy tension on the spool of line either, just enough friction to keep the line taunt but not super tight is fine.

2. Your drag is set to nothing (does the reel click while it spins instead of stays put?) Turn that big knob on top of your reel... probably clockwise? Until it gets tighter and stops doing that. Once spooled, you should be able to pull off line with some effort. That will keep a fish from breaking your line, and it will instead just pull some out (hopefully). You will learn where the right balance is adjusting on the fly while fishing.

3. Your gears are stripped all to hell and you need to return it. Never had one like that from the factory though.

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by aRushinTroll

FS Digest

Try manually wrapping the line a few revolutions, then use the reel to do the rest.

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by IHeartMyTaco

FS Digest

I will almost guarantee that your knot is slipping. I don’t even bother with an arbor knot on spinning reels anymore, I tied a clove hitch, finish it with 2 half hitches, and put a small piece of electrical tape over the knot.

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by 5uper5kunk

FS Digest

My guess is your arbor knot is slipping. Put a small piece of masking tape on your arbor (where your line will wrap over). This adds a friction point for your line/arbor knot to bite.

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by Admirable_Engineer

edkealer

You might try wrapping the line around your spool 3 to 5 times before tying your knot. And make sure that the knot is tight against the spool. This will help prevent your line from slipping on the spool when you turn the reel handle.

bulldog

Tie a perfection end loop in line. Push line inside of loop so you make a loop, place loop over spool so when you turn reel the line pulls against loop and you will be able to put line on reel, medium drag. If it is a spinning reel get someone to help,, have them put fingers over spool so you can control tension on line, both hands. Make sure that the line comes of the spool the same way as the bail on the reel is turning. Look at you tube .