Wind knots or line twist?

[Marc Z]

If you fish braid on a spinning reel you have to do more than just cast out and start your retrieve when the lure hits the water or you WILL get wind knots.
Here is what you need to do; when the lure hits the water you must take the slack line in your hand and reel that onto your spool tightly before you start your retrieve. If you have a bail you also must first manually flip your bail over rather than engage it by reeling. This must be done on every single cast and retrieve. It sound like a lot but it will become second nature. I assure you that if you do this it will absolutely reduce your wind knots to almost none. If there is a heavy wind in your face or to your side it will be a little more difficult because there will be more slack line to get on your spool but you have to pay attention even more in a heavy wind.
good luck

[Andy D]

Originally Posted by Marc Z

If you fish braid on a spinning reel you have to do more than just cast out and start your retrieve when the lure hits the water or you WILL get wind knots.
Here is what you need to do; when the lure hits the water you must take the slack line in your hand and reel that onto your spool tightly before you start your retrieve. If you have a bail you also must first manually flip your bail over rather than engage it by reeling. This must be done on every single cast and retrieve. It sound like a lot but it will become second nature. I assure you that if you do this it will absolutely reduce your wind knots to almost none. If there is a heavy wind in your face or to your side it will be a little more difficult because there will be more slack line to get on your spool but you have to pay attention even more in a heavy wind.
good luck

This method WORKS! A wise surfcaster showed me this on a vineyard beach a few years ago. Thanks Z-Man

[Back Beach]

Anything under 30# braid and it gives me fits. 40# or 50# PP on spinning gear or 65#PP on conventional and I have zero problems.