Overview

To gain maximum performance from your fishing line you need to load the reel correctly. This section explains how to load both fixed spool and multiplier reels effectively.

Fixed Spool Reels

The essential thing when loading your reel is that the line does not go on twisted. Place your spool into a bucket of water on its side so that it is able to spin freely; in this position the line will feed off the spool in an anticlockwise direction. You may wish to use warm water as this will help to soften the line and remove any spool memory.

Thread the line through the rod guides and hold the rod tip three to four feet above the spool. Keeping your line under tension by holding between thumb and forefinger, make 15 to 20 turns on the reel. Check that the line has no twist by folding about 18inches back on itself; if the line does not twist around itself then it is loading correctly.

The most common cause of line twist is that the spool is upside down and therefore the line is coming off in a clockwise direction.

Continue filling the reel to within 2 - 3mm of the lip of the reel spool. If you under fill, you'll lose distance and control on your casts. If you overfill, the line may come off the reel in a tangle. If your spool is too deep for the line you have to fill it properly, use a backing line to bring the level of the line up to the lip of the spool. You should not be able to move the line about on your reel once it is loaded. If you are able to move it up and down with your finger then is not sitting tightly enough on the reel.

Multiplier Reels

Place a layer of backing line on the reel. This should be of a similar diameter to the line you have chosen to load. This will build up the diameter of the spool and will act as a cushion for your chosen line. This backing layer can stay on the reel and does not need to be changed when replacing your mainline. Join the backing layer with your mainline using a double grinner knot.

Hold the spool label side up and maintain light tension when loading. Guide with finger and thumb back and forward across the spool to create an even layer of line. Load to within 3mm of the top of the spool.