Line twist

[cavalierowner]

I did a little searching and didn't find a lot on this subject, so I'm starting a topic. 1-1/2 years ago on my every-other-year fly-in Canada trip I had all kinds of trouble with line twist on my spinning reels. I mean, there is always some line twist, but this was worse than anything I ever experienced before. Every day I was taking everything off the end of the line and dragging it behind the boat to straighten out the line! We were almost exclusively jigging, either casting or drifting, depending on the wind. I'm not sure, but I think it was Trilene that I was using.

Anyway, this June we're heading up to Canada again and I want to avoid that extreme problem again if I can. What kind of line do you more experienced folks recommend? We usually start out trolling, with our eyes glued to the locator, to learn the lake. After that, we switch to jigging and only very occaisionally trolling. My absolute favorite trolling bait is a shad rap. We are primarily after walleye.

I know it's early to be thinking about it, but I have to drive myself crazy thinking about something LOL So what do you think? BTW, I did a fair about of research on the stuff like fireline and wasn't sure I like all the cons about it. Unless you guys think that's really THE solution. Off to do a little ice fishing, I'll check in when I get back. Thanks everyone!

[prov1900]

As far as lines go, I like P-line and Stren Magna-thin. I think they have a better suppleness to them that really helps in casting.

As far as your twist problems, those lines may help but make sure you are putting the line on the spool correctly. When you are loading it, the filler spool should be facing the reel, vs putting a pencil through the spool and filling that way. When you get about an 1/8 of the spool filled, stop reeling and "walk the spool" toward the rod. If it starts to twist between the spool and the rod, reverse the filler spool.

It may twist in either spool direction, but one of the two will be much worse.

Check to see if you are running any lures/baits that require a swivel. Make sure your reel is balanced with your rod, and lastly, that your line is what is recommended as far as test strength to your rod and reel.

[whitebassman]

yes you should spool your line on the reel in the same direction as it is on the spool. i've found that it basically means, you need to fill with the spool's label facing down, as your reel turns counter clockwise, looking down at it.

good line helps. i've been preferring that superline made by berkely? in the crystal color, with flurocarbon leader to it with a uni-uni knot. Though this year I might try it with a swivel attachment instead to see how it works.

replace your line every spring as well.

[cavalierowner]

I think you guys are right, I must have spooled it on wrong. In fact, in the past I always attached the reel spool to my cordless drill and put it on that way. As I think about it, I don't think I did it that way before the last Canada trip. Well, back to the way I've been doing it for years and years!! Thanks for the opinions on line too. Keep those comments coming.

[tacklejunkie]

replace your line every spring as well.

Do you replace the Fireline each year? I usually do the mono but give the fireline a few years

[Steve Foss]

Do you replace the Fireline each year? I usually do the mono but give the fireline a few years

No, I replace every other year or every third year for superbraids. It's one reason they are, over time, competitively priced when compared with mono, though the initial sticker shock is high.

[Jim Almquist]

Another option that I have had decent success is to spool up your line on the lake and as soon as it is full then peel it off and into the water and drag it behind the boat for a few minutes and spool it back up.

[cavalierowner]

Jim, that's exactly what I do when the line gets all twisted. I was doing that every day the last time in Canada. Doing it every day was the reason I was blaming it on the kind of line I was using. BTW, it's amazing how much drag 100 yards of line with absolutely nothing on the end has!

[Jim Almquist]

Jim, that's exactly what I do when the line gets all twisted. I was doing that every day the last time in Canada. Doing it every day was the reason I was blaming it on the kind of line I was using. BTW, it's amazing how much drag 100 yards of line with absolutely nothing on the end has!

I do this to load the new line on at the beginning of the year. I also had better luck with Gamma line. It seems to have less memory.

[PartyWhine]

yes you should spool your line on the reel in the same direction as it is on the spool. i've found that it basically means, you need to fill with the spool's label facing down, as your reel turns counter clockwise, looking down at it.

Absolutely correct here.

For the vast majority of spinning reels, if you hold it at your waist and point it a the ground, then reel, the bail will rotate counter clockwise.

Meaning that for the vast majority of spinning reels the line should be coming off the refill spool in a COUNTER CLOCKWISE direction.

The exceptions are rare.

Don't trust which side the labels on.

When in doubt :

Set the spool of line on the floor between your feet.

Point the reel at the spool and reel.

If the bail and line aren't moving in the same direction, flip the spool.

Your good to go.

Except a lousy knot at the reel can ruin it all ... right ?

[bobbymalone]

1. use good quality line.

2. don't spool up and go fishing. spool up let it sit for a week, then go fishing.

never had much of problem with bad line twist from spooling it wrong. My line twist is usually due to operator error with cranking in.

[BobT]

Quote:

As far as your twist problems, those lines may help but make sure you are putting the line on the spool correctly.

I would think that once you've run it all behind the boat, this becomes a non-issue.

[tunrevir]

If the line was getting twisted up and he had to drag it out behind the boat each day while in Canada then it is more then just the spooling method he used. Was there alot of reeling against the drag as you were fighting fish? What type of baits were you using? Spinners and spoons can cause line twist just from fishing as well as when cranks are fouled and spinning along while trolling. I have also found on a few occassions where I ran into line twists when working spinner baits in current. A good ball bearing barrel swivel can take care of any issues that are caused by the lure.

Reeling against the drag can be cured by either letting the drag do the work or switching the real over to a manual back reel while fighting the fish.

Another thing that can cause the line to recoil on itself is due to extreme stretch.

Check your spinning reels and look for any wear spots along the roller bearing that the line may catch on when being retrieved, which can also cause the line to twist repeatedly.

A can of reel magic can help with line twist as well by reducing line memory. Good luck it is a problem we have all faced at one time or another.

Tunrevir~

[reddog]

Agree with Bob and tunrevivr. Something else is going on with either your drag, or the lure you are/were using.

Theres no way this should be a daily thing if everythings operating properly.

Keep in mind when spooling with a flat spool.(and yes, thats the way a spinning reel should be spooled) is that the line is coming off about a 4 inch diameter spool and onto a 3/4 to 1 1/2 inch diameter reel spool, so its never gonna be foolproof.

[cavalierowner]

Thanks for all the replies! It sounds like I'm down to equipment problems or user error. Probably both. I was primarily jigging and only ocaisionally trolling with a Shad Rap, so it shouldn't be that. I like to set my drag fairly light, so maybe that's my problem, reeling against the drag without really realizing it. And as soon as ice fishing is over with, I'll give my reels the once-over. Maybe I can even justify another new reel to the wife

[scott b]

Try tightening the drag more and back-reeling your bigger fish. I only use the drag as an audible signal to tell me I'm reeling in too hard. It's habit to flip the switch on big fish now. Spooling is only done right by watching it go on.

1. Lay spool flat on floor in any direction.

2. Run line backwards through eye guides starting at tip of rod.

3. Tie to reel

4. While holding the rod between the large eye guide and the reel, pinch

the line while cranking to avoid any twist from making it to the reel

5. Watch the line. As you crank it will twist. Flip spool. Now it will

untwist and retwist in the other direction.

6. Repeat step six as often as needed.(usually every 15 cranks or so)

Works every time with all lines.

If it's not the drag it's the reel. Junk it.. and don't ask her....tell her!

[flyfisher03]

I read somewhere that when adjusting the drag on a reel it should be set to 1/3 to 1/4 of the poundage of the line (I think it is for mono). I.E. for 6 pound test the amount of pull should be 2 pounds.

[NBR]

If you crank with the drag slipping twist will occur big time. If you want to see how fast just loosen your drag and reel a few yards with the drag slipping.

In fresh water I get around this by using a very tight drag and back reeling. Pike and Musky will make long enough runs to challenge you and maybe bark a few knuckles but bass and walleye are not much of a problem.

I started back reeling probably more than 20 years ago and unless I have a lure that spins (Think inline spinner or poorly rigged plastic) I don't have any issue with line twist. For the inline spinners I put a BB swivel on them and I am very careful how I rig my plastics.