FS Digest

Brand new prespooled reel has a lot of slack and knots up past the guide holes when casting.

I picked up a new spinning combo and I noticed when I cast it, the line will always try to loop at the base of the spool. I put a few small weights on the line and it helps it but I still have to keep some tension on the line just under the first guide to avoid the problem when the line spools the bottom.

About every 10th cast the line decides to throw slack loops and knot up a few feet past the last guide hole, leaving me to cut it and hand reel the discarding and rerig.

It doesnt say what its spoiled with but I'm pretty sure it's about 8lb monoline.

When it does work correctly it's a great little rig. It's an Eagle Claw Pack It. I heard the reels are hit trash but there has to be a way to fix it right? I use a weighted bubble, two of the smallest clamp stinkers I have and a swivel snap to avoid twist. I'm using it as my jeep rogue because I can collapse it and zip tie it to my roll bar and always have a rod even if I leave my uglysticks at home.

Any advice before I break down and just bug a new reel?

--
by MyAccountWasStalked

FS Digest

Sounds like the line was spooled on wrong. You could bring it into a sport shop and have them spool new line on it for you, or do it yourself.

--
by cobrajet04

FS Digest

You think a place like REI would do it? I've never done it before and I want it done right. I have a few I'd like to have redone, I let a family member borrow a couple on a fishing trip and i gotta take a torch lighter to the string to get rid of the massive bird nests on them, itll be good to get them back in the rotation

--
by MyAccountWasStalked

FS Digest

I've never been in a REI so I dont know if they even sell fishing equipment. Do you have a bass pro shop or a cabelas near you? Even a small local sport shop could help you out.

--
by cobrajet04

FS Digest

Not on my side of the state. We do have a Scheels tho the next city over.

I'd I dont go there, that's what Youribe videos are for, right? Thanks buddy

--
by MyAccountWasStalked

FS Digest

No, REI does not spool fishing tackle, they don't even sell fishing equipment. Spooling a reel is literally the easiest thing to do, just watch a YouTube video.

--
by smamwow2xk

FS Digest

A few things I can think of to try:

- Take some line off. They say not to fill the spool completely, leaving 1/8 inch. I like to have a little less line than that even. If the spool is too full, then I get some of those loose loops sagging down toward the body of the reel and they can get tangled up.

- Resolve line twist. Put a heavy dipsey swivel on the end of your line and cast it far, then reel in slowly. The swivel should allow some twist to come out. Repeat several times before going back to fishing.

- Try heavier lures.

--
by NotNotFishing

BUCKEYE

When I buy a new reel the first thing I do is take the line off and replace it with the line I like to use. Fishing line isn't terribly expensive for us as consumers when we buy 100 - 300 yards of it. Most companies that sell reels buy line they can get cheap and when they buy it, they buy a lot of it. Every dollar they spend on things like line eats into their profit margin. If you spend the money for a new reel you should be prepared to spool it with the line you like. There's always the chance that you'll hook up with that wall hanger we all dream of. If you lose it due to fishing line you don't know and trust it’s a bad time to say, "I sure wish I had…"

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Good advice to get rid of pre-spooled line for the above reasons ,as well as the fact that the machine (most likely)that spooled it , probably did so looong ago and far away

BUCKEYE

I am a big fan of the Zebco Omega 3 Pros and the Zebco Bullet. I've heard it all like "kids reels" and "old men's reels", but every time I fish with my friends and they try either of these reels they soon seem to buy one of their own. Go figure. Trust me, these are high-quality reels that don't break the bank. Zebco must have bought a 10,000-mile long roll of red Cajun 10-pound test line. It has been on every reel I've bought in recent years. The lines okay but certainly not the quality I'm accustomed to. My reels get 8-pound test Spiderwire mono. My wife has a good stock of the red Cajun line for her craft projects.

JRK227 Loc: Cedarburg, WI

Your coiling problem is probably due to cheap monofilament line. It is easy to re-spool with Power Pro braid or even a brand name mono, just make sure you keep some resistance while re-spooling.

hookemjim

Every time I spool a reel, I stretch it out. I have a swivel tied to boat trailer with 65lb braid. I tie the new line to it then walk off at least 50 yards with a tight drag, enough not to break new line. Works for all reels.

bugeye Loc: North of the gnat line in Georgia

That works very well, but I tie on a new spool, and then drop that spool in a bowl of hot tap water and let it soak for 5 minutes, then grab the line with a paper towell and start cranking.
The hot water relieves the line of any memory.

And then, get yourself a bottle of KVD line conditioner to use each time you fish.

Judge32 Loc: Vidalia, Ga. 30474

I think you have a problem with the combo reel and rod. Look on Bass Pro for some line twist liquid in a a spray can. Use it when you first start out and it will prevent memory in your line. I keep it with me always. You can also get your boat up to a pretty high speed and let the line out with a weight on it and run it for a few minutes. This will straighten your line out.

edkealer

If you have access to a boat, put your line in the water with nothing attached to it and no knots. Let out about half or just a little more of the line while the boat is moving. Drag the line through the water for approximately 5 minutes and then reel it in. Most of the twist (if not all) should be gone.