How to Spool a Spinning Reel Without Line Twist

Putting fishing line on a spinning reel is a simple process and only requires a few steps. Below I will walk you through step-by-step on how to spool your reel in order to prevent line twist.

1. Thread Line Through Rods Line Guides

When spooling a spinning reel you can either start with just the reel itself or by setting up with the rod too. If you want to setup your reel and rod at the same time start by threading your line through your rod’s line guide on the tip and through all the others until you get to the last down by your reel. Make sure your line goes straight down and isn’t wrapped around your rod anywhere.

Once your line is through all the rod guides it’s time to connect the line to the spool.

2. Tying Line to Spinning Reel

To connect the line to the spool start by opening the bail. With the bail open tie a slip knot around the spool. Once your done tying it will pull into the spool as you tighten the knot.

Connecting Fluoro & Mono to Spool

With fluoro or mono line you can tie directly around the spool. Both of these lines will dig in and tighten on themselves which prevents them from slipping.

Connecting Braid to Spool

Braided line is a little different than fluoro or mono in that it doesn’t grip down on itself. This means you can’t braid tie directly around the spool like with mono or fluoro. If you do, it will eventually slip and create a mess of your line.

To get prevent the braid from slipping you have a few options.

1. Tie your braid onto the spool with an arbor knot just like you would with mono or fluoro. Once your knot is tightened down and the excess tag end is removed add a short strip of electrical tape over your knot. You want the strip of tape to go around the spool at least one time.
   
   Additionally you want to make sure you place the tape is placed in the same direction that the line is going on in order to prevent pulling. This short strip of tape will help hold the knot in place and give the braid something to dig into which will also help the line from slipping.
   
2. The second option is to use some mono or fluoro backing. I recommend mono as it is the cheapest option.
   
   By tying on mono first you will get a strong grip that will tighten on itself and prevent any slipping. You can use as little as 20 yards or use more if you want to save some money and use less braid.
   
   You can connect your braid to mono backing by tying a fg knot. The fg knot is the thinnest knot for connecting two lines and will allow more line to be spooled over it.

3. Adding Line to a Spinning Reel

When reeling line onto the spool you want to keep tension on the line by pinching the line with you thumb and forefinger on your non reeling hand. This will ensure your line goes on tight without any loops that could later cause backlash.

Avoiding Line Twist on a Spinning Reel

You can prevent line twist on a spinning reel by making sure the spool of new line is positioned so that the line is coming off the same direction your bail spins. For example, if your bail spins counter clockwise you want the spool of line to unwind counter clockwise.

This will ensure that the line is going onto your reel spool the same way it was resting on the spool of line.

Another way to reduce line twist is to soak your spool in warm water for 10 minutes. After removing it from the warm water the line will cool off and retain it’s new shape.

How Much Line to Put on a Spinning Reel

Many spinning reels list how much line they can hold on the reel itself. For example if it lists 10/135 that means it can hold 135 yards of 10lb mono. That doesn’t mean you have to use 10lb mono however, it’s just a guideline. If you are using 8lb mono it will hold more than listed, if you are using 12lb mono it will hold less.

The type of line will also determine how much line it will hold. Braid has the thinnest diameter followed by fluoro and then mono which is the thickest.

The exact length of line isn’t that important and should be used more as an estimate. What is important is that you want to keep adding line until you reach 1/8th of an inch from the top of your spool. This will ensure you have plenty of line you make long casts and cut damaged line away as needed while not overfilling your spool.

Going beyond the 1/8 of an inch will cause your line to jump off the spool and cause tangles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Need Backing on a Spinning Reel?

Using a monofilament backing when spooling a spinning reel is a great way to save money by using less braid or fluoro which are more expensive. Backing also helps prevent braid from slipping on your spool.

What’s the Best Line to Use on a Spinning Reel?

All three line types will work on a spinning reel. The best will depend on the lure/technique you are using. I recommend you read our fishing line guide that compares braid vs fluorocarbon vs monofilament.