Spooling a spinning reel.
 

because I always forget.

Label facing up or down?

Label up, if you get twist, flip it.

Thank you! :tooth:

I was always under the impression that the "flat" spools were laid down either label up or label down, and that the larger cylinder spools should have a pencil through the holes and the line should come off "the same way it goes onto the spool", which I was never really able to figure out what that meant. I'd flip them around and it always seemed to twist.

What I've been doing for many years, and seems to work well, is fill a bucket or large saucepan with water, chuck the spool in it, and begin filling. The spool will flip around in the water until it goes the way it "wants to" without twisting. The water also provides a little tension and helps keep the line cool as I run it between my fingers with a leather glove to provide additional tension.

I always have one of the kids hold the spool on a pencil and wind it on that way, never had a problem.

Goes on clock wise and comes of line spool counter clock wise. Easy to do by hand. Run line through a couple of rod guides and keep steady pressure on incoming line with fingers as you reel line on.

I think this is right. Read it that way many years ago.

If the top view of reel spool winds clockwise then match the spool of line such that the top view of the spool of line is also clockwise. If spool reel is counter then line spool is counter.
The label is usually up but you never know

Have I been doing something wrong all these years?????

I too just put a dowel thru the spool and reel with tension. What are you guys talking about? I'm curious now....and wondering id this makes a difference and if it will help me for I don't think I ever had a problem.

I think this is one of those topics where you will never get everyone to agree that one way is the best. I have done it both ways and can't notice a difference. I have so many reels that I bought one of these.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...002&hasJS=true

i have that exact same one, and imho, it is worth it if you spool up a a few reels each year, and in the season. I actually am going to wind on some lead this afternoon.

_Z_

Zac - that's a cool lookin unit. I spooled a couple spinning reels last night. Used the trick that was in SWS this month. Ran the line thru a phone book to keep tension on it. Worked well.

The memory of the line that comes off the spool of line needs to maintain it's same form instead of 180 degree shift. It is difficult to visualize so try picturing the line of spool being a solid 1/2 inch solid wire. This wire will also have memory and if you were to shift it 180 degrees the twisting will be more apparent.
The berkley winder is a 50 % comprimise by looking at the placement of the spool. In other words the line will twist have as much.

I have used the berkley line spooling station for 5 seasons and I think its a great item for the price.

Bingo. Most spinning reels rotate clockwise, and most bulk spools of line will have the line coming off clockwise with the label facing you. But it's not always the case.

One of the most popular spinning reels back in the day was the Mitchell 300. Its rotor turned counter clockwise ;)

I use the same exact unit.I just clamp it down.Works fine.

Can't say the same for that cheezy line stripper that came with it. What piece of junk.

i like the line stripper. it took a little engineering to get it to work right, but it sure beats hand stripping 300+ yds. of line off a reel. just hold the button down and point the used line right in the trash cans.

I have the Berkly line spooler and I like it alot, the stripper is a piece of junk I use my cordless drill and a piece of threaded rod

right way to do it Ted is to put the reel on the rod, tie the line on and 99% of the time it's label up. You want to bring it in over the guides like this to keep the line from developing twist. Easy way to tell if the spool is backwards is to drop the rod tip and if it twists all up then it's backwards. Flip it and wind a little more on and you should be able to see the difference.

If u spin the line on ur reel u will do just that.if u think about it ur spinnig the line up no matter what way the spool sits.Now that u have twisty line get urself a good sampo swivel an a 3 once drail.Go an make some casts to try to undo what u have done.the other thing u can do is let 100 yds of it out off the back of a boat or from a bridge wit some good current.An reel it back with nothing on the end.
Get urself real friendly wit ur local shop have em order u a bulk spool of a ur favorite line.ask em if thay will hook u up an do it on the machine when u need it.I do mine myself.Line off one spool in the same direction as it goes on ur spool is the ONLY way to do it.

Yeah, I've always put the spool on edge with someone holding a pencil through it. For the sick fisherman(I plead guilty) with say a new reel to try and when there's no one around to help, it's possible to stick a chopstick through the spool and hold the ends wedged between the toes on each of your feet to get the line on right.

Spooling a spinning reel is a simple. Take the line off the spool in the same direction it is going on to the reel. In other words if you are cranking the reel and as you look down the rod the line is applying to the reel counter-clockwise, then it should be taken of the spool counter clockwise.

I have also done that

Dowel
 

I run electrical cable all the time that has plastic insulation. Use the dowel and reel in the line. less tangles and it lays flat. If you lay the spool down on its side it will want to twist for ever.

All this great advice.
I can't wait for the windknot thread.

:laugha: Perfect and priceless!

I've used a large hook that is about 8 inchs long with machine threads on one side. The spool of line is fasten down from both sides with washers and 10 mm nuts on the hook. I then place curved end of the hook end on the first guide then start winding.