How to Line a Fishing Reel

Learning how to line a fishing reel is easy with these steps. The fishing line should be replaced at least once a year. It may need to be replaced sooner if it is showing signs of wear. Use these steps when spooling a spinning reel or baitcasting reel.

1.First you need to remove the old line from your reel. Berkley sells a line removing tool for around $10 that works very well. A cordless drill works great too.

2.If using braid you need to put some monofilament line on the spool first (this is called the backing). Tie the monofilament to the spool using an arbor knot or a uni knot. I like to put 5-10 yards of monofilament on my reel, this will cover the spool entirely with mono.

3. Tie your braided line to your monofilament backing line using a uni to a uni knot.

4. Now you can put your line on by using a spooling station (they cost around $30.00) that is sold at most tackle shops or by using a pencil through the spool while having someone hold the spool of line keeping pressure on it. If doing this step by yourself you either reel with one hand and keep pressure on the line with the other hand (make sure to wrap your hand in a towel to prevent from getting cut) or you can use a phone book pulling the line through it to keep tension on it.

5. Do not fill your reel to its maximum capacity. Doing this will cause tangle after tangle. Fill your spool until it is 1/4 inch from the rim.

6. When I go fishing for the first time after putting new line on my reel, I take my lure off and let a lot of line out behind the boat and reel it in at a slow, steady speed. This gets rid of any line twist you may have. If you don't have a boat, tie your line to something and walk away letting line out behind you. Once you get a ways away have someone cut your line loose from what you tied it to before reeling line back in. This will get the twist out of your line also.

If you don't have time or don't care to learn how to line a fishing reel take your reel to your local tackle shop. Make sure to recycle your old line. Most tackle shops and boat ramps have canisters you can drop your old line in.