Okay so last season was my first with a bail-less reel, the VS 150. After a few weeks I got used to casting/replacing the line on the roller and it became somewhat natural about mid-season. My issue was/is that too often the line would go under the spool during plug retrieval which caused many headaches (wrapped up around spindle stopping reel motion).

All the guys I fish with use this exact same reel and seldom have this issue so I had to figure it was the way I was fishing. I do fish lots of twitch baits (sluggos) but even using the jumping minnow I would get the line-under-the-spool problem. I started out with 30# braided line and then switched to 12# mono, same issues and yes, I had it spooled at the tackle shop. I feel as though I should not have to take tension-tightening cast every 10 minutes with this expensive reel and quite honestly it messed with my confidence having to always monitor the spool. This never happened with a bailed reel.

So, my questions:

1. Anyone else have this issue with the 150 or other bail-less reels?

2. Is there yet another type/brand of line I should put on to lessen the likelihood of this continuing?

Thanx in advance for your thoughts.
Spin

sometimes ill have it wrap around my drag knob. I can just cast it off. Not underneath though.

Overfilled spool with the uneven line lay of a Vs can cause this.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Been fishing with a 150 since it first came out. 30# braid, that has never happened to me at all. But everything I throw has some resistance on the retrieve.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

On my vs 200 i had the same problem when i was first using it. I am not sure why it happened or why it stopped happening but it did after a month or so of using it/getting use to it. I am big twitcher too, love me some sluggos. That may have something to do with it. Then again it has not happened in a couple seasons...

it almost sounds like you're making 2 revolutions with your finger on the line during the initial pickup after a cast

haven't heard of this with the 150 but I have heard that it can happen with the 100 and light braid, it's gotta be the twitching action as mentioned by RR creating enough slack as you rotate the spool for the line to sag beneath the spool rim, with the small diameter of that spool you are needing to turn a bunch of cranks to take up line with each twitch, if there's slack it will find it's way down between the cup and spool and sometimes across the top by the drag knob after your first few turns which seems to happen when I combine the 100/150 with light line, light lures and wind

I have a vs100 and a VS150.

the 100 is spooled with 15#...the 150 40#. I have not had the
problems you describe but I did notice when I first started fishing
bailess and fished topwaters/sluggos I increase the likelyhood for
wind knots.

I think that the same slack that can cause the knots may cause
your issue. Especially if the style of twitching you employ is similar
to pencil popping. There are tricks to keep tension on you line like
pinching the line as you would with a pencil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBN2ynqsxV0

I tend to work my sluggos deeper slower most of the time and only
use the faster erratic twitching on occasion....so that may account
for the avoidance of the issue you are having.

There is nothing worse than loosing faith in a reel. When I first
started fishing my Z25 around 2008 I had 3 or 4 outings where the
line wrapped under the drag knob. Then the problem stopped...I
must have unconsciously modified my technique to compensate.
The last year it happened to me again out of the blue. It is really
frustrating because it only happens in the dark so there is no way
to really know why its happening. If you are ever out fishing on a
dark night hear some guy in the distance...cursing about a
confounded drag knob...it might be me.

Thanx guys. I think I am going to go to a heavier braid (40#) to start the season. Any thoughts on brand? I had Cortland on previously.

If I still have issues early on there will be a 1-seasoned used VS 150 listed in the BST forum for sale or trade for the bailed version!

Spin

I never have used cortland. Is it rigid or does it get softer over time?

If it has been rigid.... that detail may point to a problem as well.
New braid tends to be more rigid and prone to misbehaving until it
breaks in. I usually baby new braid and take measures until it
softens up.

I would imagine if the cortland never breaks in or has
some weird coating... it might be the problem and not the test or
your technique.

I use power pro mostly but have goofed around with others like
spiderwire and samurai. For the most part they are the same.


Thanx guys. I think I am going to go to a heavier braid (40#) to start the season. Any thoughts on brand? I had Cortland on previously.

If I still have issues early on there will be a 1-seasoned used VS 150 listed in the BST forum for sale or trade for the bailed version!

Spin

Just to repeat what othrs have said about line getting under the spool - you have too much line on the spool and/or the lay of the line may be uneven. Someone suggested to me that I have a knowledgeable professional put the line on the spool. I also had a wind knot isuue with 30 lb. braid. Rather than increase the line weight, I tried Power Pro Slick and had far fewer problems

Samurai is what I've been using for years. Silky smooth and thin. No issues for me.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device