Properly spooling a spinning reel is a must-know skill that directly translates into a better fishing experience while out on the water. Many anglers experience problems with line twists, birds nests, short casts, and wind knots when using spinning reels and these problems will be compounded if the line is not spooled correctly. In this article we will give anglers a step-by-step guide on How-to spool a spinning reel and provide a few tips to ensure your next fishing trip goes smoothly.

The first step when spooling a spinning reel is to make sure that you have your spinning reel and spool of line orientated in the correct direction. The oscillation on most spinning reels turns clockwise so you want the line coming off the feeder spool counterclockwise. This will ensure that the line goes onto the reel in the same direction as it’s coming off the feeder spool to minimize line twisting issues. If done backwards it will create more line twists, birds nesting, and knots in your line.

Next secure the line to the reel. Anglers can use any knot they prefer for tying the line to the spool. Before you attach the line to your reel make that the bail is flipped open or that you have fed the line under the bail.

Tip: Add a small piece of electrical tape to the spool to further secure the line to the reel. This is especially crucial when using braided line. Since braid has no stretch and is usually very slick, it will spin around the spool while reeling in a fish without engaging the drag system, causing braid slip. This can be avoided by using a small piece of electrical tape on the bottom of the spool or by using mono backing. It is good practice to use a small piece of tape with all line types.

Once the line is properly secured to the reel, pinch the line with your non reeling hand 12-18 inches above to spool and apply light even pressure and start reeling. Light pressure will help the line load the spool evenly and will help reduce casting or line twisting issues. Stop spooling when you reach 1/8”-1/16” of an inch from a completely full spool. Overfilling the spool will result in line ballooning off the reel and causing catastrophic birds nests.

Tip: Instead of pinching the line with bare fingers, try using a microfiber cloth and a couple of sprays of line conditioner. This helps protect your fingers from burning and also applies conditioner to the entire length of line to reduce memory and increase line performance.

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