Zee baas wind knots

[Rob Rockcrawler]

This reel is frustrating me to no end the past couple seasons. Not that i fish a ton but when im far from my vehicle i bring a back up for it. I can't figure out what is causing the wind knots. Always getting a small one about 15-20 yards from my plug. I spool it tight and not too much line. I sent it in for service last year because of the issue and was still/am getting them. 40 lb power pro is the line i have been using for years on it. Any ideas of something mechanical that would be causing this? I replaced the line roller also to eliminate that as a possibility. It's been used about 10 times since last service so i'd have a hard time sending it back in again.

[Linesider82]

To be completely honest, my ZB is now my backup reel. I bought mine in '12 and fished it for 4 years hard without sending it in. A friend sent his in on an annual service and snuck mine in for the same. Both returned back with full services, and my roller was replaced, which was my issue.

I'm fishing a VSx now. In my first 6 months of owning that reel I needed almost everything replaced. Which I paid for, and probably shouldn't have in a 6 month period of time.

Both companies don't give a sh it.

Your best bet is to persue a fix from ZB or sell it, then buy a VSx for cheap from somewhere else and also get poor service on it, then learn to do it yourself.

Some guys have waited months to get a reel back from both companies, regardless of where it is sent.
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[Linesider82]

Rob, regular suffix 832 65 and pp 50 worked well for me on the Zb to answer your question. I have the suffix 65 on it now.
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[afterhours]

Rob, has it done it from day one or did it just start doing it a couple of years ago? Does it on diff rods ( guide size and placement )or diff weight plugs?

[JohnR]

My first thought was the line was to light - go to 65.


Interesting - I never had a windknot and it was 70% eel ch#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g (different parameters WRT wind knots).

[ivanputski]

Quick question: Do you use a swivel to connect your braid to your leader, or some sort of slim-knot in place of a swivel?

I had a friend who eliminated his swivel from the equation, and he usually ended his nights with more line in his pocket than on his spool.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

Quick question: Do you use a swivel to connect your braid to your leader, or some sort of slim-knot in place of a swivel?

I had a friend who eliminated his swivel from the equation, and he usually ended his nights with more line in his pocket than on his spool.

^^^ This is true ; ) .

[Rob Rockcrawler]

It worked flawlessly for the first 5 years. Until I blew the clutch on it and sent it in for the first servicing. I always use a swivel to leader connection. Never felt the need to use a fancy knot. One thing about the last time it was serviced. Under he spool there are 3 small screws to take of the rotor I believe. I couldn’t get one out before sendin it in. When I got it back it was still stuck like it didn’t get removed. I figured they would get it out and put a new screw in, not sure if they could do a complete service without taking those 3 screws out. I will try another line roller on it. I’d really like to not up the poundage of my line,
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[afterhours]

Don't think it's the line. On my 25 I have both 30# and 40# pp spooled up, and never had windknot issues.

[Rockfish9]

Originally Posted by Rob Rockcrawler

It worked flawlessly for the first 5 years. Until I blew the clutch on it and sent it in for the first servicing. I always use a swivel to leader connection. Never felt the need to use a fancy knot. One thing about the last time it was serviced. Under he spool there are 3 small screws to take of the rotor I believe. I couldn’t get one out before sendin it in. When I got it back it was still stuck like it didn’t get removed. I figured they would get it out and put a new screw in, not sure if they could do a complete service without taking those 3 screws out. I will try another line roller on it. I’d really like to not up the poundage of my line,
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it's pretty easy to see if the line roller is the problem( it would be my first guess) take a section of line and wrap it around the roller , then take the two ends and pull them back and forth, the roller should be silky smooth, no hang ups and free spinning, I like to service mine with a little liquid graphite that is used in lubricating locks..

[Got Stripers]

If you are walking the dog with a top water, wind and too much slack between snaps can also be a potential source.
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[Redsoxticket]

Focus your attention as to the reasons why two or more loops of line coming off the spool simultaneously causing the knot and we'll find your answer
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[numbskull]

Perhaps the spool height is wrong (too low). I think this can be adjusted by adding a washer to the bottom of the spindle but am not sure. Perhaps there was one that was removed and not reinstalled when the reel was serviced?

As an aside, are you aware of using chapstick to "fix" windknots? You massage it into the knot and the captured loop then just pull. It works well (at least with the 8strand braid I use....Diawa Samurai).

[SAUERKRAUT]

Sorry to hear about your problem with this reel. I am fishing a ZB, and I also alternate back and forth between 50# std. Power pro on the large spool (Z27), and 40# on the small spool (Z22). Fortunately, I have no such troubles; but I cannot offer any advice or remedies why this is so.
However, this Thread documenting this potential for trouble makes me reluctant to send the reel back for routine maintenance for fear they will change something. I haven't serviced it in four seasons, and I fish a lot. I have had good luck with this reel so far. My friend Numbskull probably thinks my good luck is because I have a broken down shoulder (as well as body), and cannot power cast.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I will try the graphite on the line roller. You may be into something with the spool height. If it isn’t the line roller I’m sending it back in. I haven’t tried the chap stick trick. I slobber the hell out of them when I get it loosened up a bit and try to give it a pop.
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[Got Stripers]

I also close my bails by hand, as years back I found under certain conditions the braid if the handle is used might lay across the top of the spools on my Stradic 4/5000’s and if not caught before the next cast it’s a loop. It’s a small change but now I almost never see loops.
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[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Got Stripers

I also close my bails by hand, as years back I found under certain conditions the braid if the handle is used might lay across the top of the spools on my Stradic 4/5000’s and if not caught before the next cast it’s a loop. It’s a small change but now I almost never see loops.
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What's a bail?

[bloocrab]

Most of my "wind-knots" have come from either line twist (which I believe can happen from a variety of ways), over-filling the spool or what has caused it the most for me, my retrieve on the previous casts (usually with wind present, but not always).

You mention it happens 15-20 yds from the plug (somethings either happening at the end of your retrieve, when most have given up on their presentation or during the initial cast when it's finding its way through the eyes)... Does it happen consistently enough to test it?
If out of 10 casts, it happens 3X....try retrieving without adding action. Just cast out as far as you can...position your rod so any wind doesn't arc or mess with the tension on the line and simply reel it in with steady pressure. If it's mechanical, it should still twist or improperly lay the line reproducing your issue....if it doesn't, I'd wager it's either an incorrectly paired duo (rod-eyes vs reel-spool diameter) or it's the way you're fishing it.

Have you tried fishing the reel on different rods? Wind knots can be costly, knot just losing line...losing tackle!

It's such a sweet victory when you can *pop* a knot out
And I'm with GS....hand-flip my bail always. I haven't had to replace a bail spring in over 20 years. Once you habitualize it..you don't even realize you're doing it anymore...

[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by JohnR

What's a bail?

It's what we have to pay in order for our wives to let us out of the house.

[ThrowingTimber]

1. Lose the line on there now.

2. Have a shop pack new line on, under tension.

~fin
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[Rob Rockcrawler]

Thanks for all the replies. I use the same rod with a vs 200 and it’s perfect never an issue with knots. Maybe I will take Vic’s advice and just start fresh. The line is fine for other applications and there is still bout 25o yards of it.
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[afterhours]

We're still a fishing forum!

[Rob Rockcrawler]

Reminds me of when I got started In the surf many years back and had lots of questions, this is the place for answers!
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[Rockfish9]

I wet pack all my line, both mono and braid, I use a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full of water, I took 2 2"X2"X4" blocks of cedar( because of it's buoyancy) and drilled a hole in the middle, I installed an aluminum 3/8" rod into one side and epoxied it,the other side fits snug, but loose enough to remove, I then slide my spool of line onto it and drop it in the water... when I put the line on the reel, I use a sponge to pinch the line as it is wound on the spool, I've been using this set up for 20 odd years, it works pretty slick .. I save the old ( empty ) spools and use an electric drill and a home made mandrel attached to them to remove the old line ..

[Guppy]

I’m not much of a surf guy but I’ll throw this into the mix...
My Albie set ups had a lot more wind knots than albies at first...
I finally forced myself to lightly stop the plugs before they landed and always close the bail by hand. I still get um with those setups but far far less.

The 2 spinners i built (for the boat) and the GSB 120 1 M (thanks to Numskull, George ) I built with the quick choke and tangle free reduction.... not that I have much of a memory left but I don’t ever recall wind knots with those setups... luck?

[Got Stripers]

Originally Posted by Rockfish9

I wet pack all my line, both mono and braid, I use a 5 gallon bucket 1/2 full of water, I took 2 2"X2"X4" blocks of cedar( because of it's buoyancy) and drilled a hole in the middle, I installed an aluminum 3/8" rod into one side and epoxied it,the other side fits snug, but loose enough to remove, I then slide my spool of line onto it and drop it in the water... when I put the line on the reel, I use a sponge to pinch the line as it is wound on the spool, I've been using this set up for 20 odd years, it works pretty slick .. I save the old ( empty ) spools and use an electric drill and a home made mandrel attached to them to remove the old line ..

When I had the boat and had new line on any reel I’d let it all out behind the boat and get it wound it tight and wet; reminds me of college days. That and closing the bail manually had eliminated and loop knots
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