Tricks for Spooling Up a Fishing Reel | Steve Hill
Spring is the perfect time to refill your reels with fresh line and get ready for an exciting new season of carp fishing. In this short article and video, OMC’s Steve Hill is here to share his top tricks to make this process much easier and more efficient...
Let’s be honest—spooling up a fishing reel can be time-consuming, frustrating, and even a little costly. So how can you do it quickly, correctly, and on a budget? Here's how I do it...
1. Start with the Right Amount of Backing Line
If you’re replacing the line on a reel that already has some on it, don’t bother taking it all off. Grab your distance sticks, set them apart, and start wrapping. Take off around 80 wraps of the old line, leaving the rest on as backing. You really don’t need to add more than this, saving you both time and money.
2. Tie a Secure Connection with a Back-to-Back Grinner Knot
Now, take your new line (I use the superb OMC Dancefloor Monofilament) and connect it to the backing line. Use a back-to-back Grinner Knot—it’s easy to tie, neat, and most importantly, very secure.
3. Soak Your Monofilament Line for Extra Performance
Before spooling up with monofilament, remember to soak your line in a bucket of water for around two hours. This will soften the line as it absorbs, helping to reduce memory and preventing it from kinking when you wind it onto the reel. Basically, you'll be able to spool up much easier with a far better line lay.
4. Stabilise the Spool for Easier Winding
To keep things running smoothly, place a few leads on top of the spool while it’s in the bucket of water. This holds the spool in place, making the whole spooling process much easier.
5. Wind the Line on Under Tension
When it’s time to wind your new line onto the reel, make sure to do it under tension. You can either run the line through your hands or use a wet towel. The easiest way to do this is with the butt section of your rod and the line threaded through the butt ring, which keeps the line at the correct angle and under the right amount of tension as it’s wound onto the spool.
6. Fill Your Reel to the Right Level
When filling the reel, aim to get the line just level with or slightly below the lip of the spool. If you overfill, the line can spill off, leading to tangles and wind knots. On the flip side, underfilling means you’ll struggle to cast long distances due to the increased friction on the spool.
7. Lock It in the Clip and You’re Ready
Once your reel is filled up, pop the line in the clip, and you’re all set for your next fishing adventure. With OMC Dancefloor Monofilament (1000m spool), you’ll have more than enough line to spool up all your reels for the season.
By following these simple tricks, you’ll save time, money, and frustration while spooling your reels. Now get out there and go fishing!
WANT MORE? WATCH THE VIDEO THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON BELOW...
Steve Hill is one of the faces of the OMC Sponsored Angler Team and an experienced Carp Angler. Alongside OMC's Roo Abbott, he runs Carp Tuition Socials, where he shares his skills and knowledge with beginners to the sport.
