How to Spool Braided Line on a Spinning Reel Without Line Twists or Loops

Discover the simple tricks to spool braided fishing line on a spinning reel the right way so you never get those pesky line twists and loops in your line. Spooling a spinning reel with braided line can actually play a role in how far you cast, how long your fishing line lasts, and how many fish you catch.

UPDATE: We published a new and improved article/video showing the top ways to spool with braid while saving time and money... click the link below to see it:

This video goes into detail on all of the important parts of the spinning reel spooling process. There are quite a few things that can impact your casting and retrieval when it comes to your spooled spinning reel.

Most of all, be sure to have constant tension on the line (both braided line and mono) while reeling it onto the spool. Without the tension, you'll be at risk of having line issues while casting... aka - wind knots.

As mentioned towards the end of the video, it is great to let your line out while idling forward in your boat and let about 100 to 200 ft of line drag without any lure or knots tied to it. This will help ensure that any twists in the line get straightened out.

But make to watch out for boats (or wave runners) behind you as your fishing line could easily get caught in their prop/intake.

To get more tips about your saltwater fishing needs, check out:

[lizsolseth]

and make sure you DONT do this under a ceiling sayin

[mikerevival]

Also if you happen to tie your line to your spool without opening the bail arm all you have to do is take the spool off and open the bail and then put your spool back on 👍

[peterh]

Use the white arbor label that comes with the line.

[Penn]

If you do forget to put the line through the roller on the bail arm then all you do is take the spool off, open the bail arm, pop the spool back on and you are ready to go, no need to strip everything down again.

[patrickacox]

If a reel is braid ready do you still recommend a mono backing?

[krazlusgames]

if i am using 8 pound braid i should use 8 pound mono for that first part correct ? I'm getting a Kastking Sharky 1500 which holds 110 yards of 8 pound test, also guessing about 100 yards is the sweet spot for most situations if I'm just dock fishing?

[slimmdogg]

Anyone who says " The knots not really that important, is just dead wrong.

[Unit_With_Legs]

Umm yeah if you forget to flip the bail just undo the drag and take the spool off then flip the bail open and screw the spool back on and bam! it's fixed fyi. ;)

[charliedontsurf]

Thank you for the demo. As a kid, my pole was already setup. 32 now, finally gonna' take up fishing for some father-son time.

[l.i.archer]

You don't have to flip the bale.  If you forget, just take off the spool and reseat it after flipping the bale open.  No need to cut the line and do it over.

[joescarpadventures]

I'm going to replace the mono on my 6' 6" medium action spinning rod with braid so I have more bite sensitivity--thanks!

[jimquantic]

Here is another tip.  Let's say your spool holds 300 yards of 20 pound braid, but you have a partial spool, say 220 yards or so.  That is still a lot of line and you want to use it but you don't want the line to be so low on the spool you can't cast well.  Here is what you do--IF you have another spool that is exactly the same size and line capacity. Take the short spool--the 220 yard/300 yard capacity spool. Tie on a mono top shot, right to the edge, dead on. Now, take off the spool, and put on the empty same sized spool. Tie on the mono and then transfer the contents, mono first, (of course) onto the new spool. Logic dictates that the mono, and then Braid will spool onto the new, empty spool. After filling, the BRAID will come completely off right where you want it-to the edge of the new spool.

[matthewherzog]

Some nice, thick electrical tape on the spool will keep the braid from slipping. No need for mono layer.

[Saltstrong]

MR-FLIP, the reel used in this video is a Shimano Stradic CI4 (3000 series). Thanks for leaving a comment. Fish On!

[mikewurster]

You are giving people bad information. Mike Iaconelli has done several videos on having the line on the spool come off "counter clockwise", you are telling people just the opposite which will result in bad tangles. I tend to trust him more than you. Get your information correct before posting on a public site.

[davewargo]

Clockwise is wrong, line should come off counter clockwise

[tokiesgalore]

Pulling the knot at 2:27 you frayed your monofilament. Can really see the fray at 2:29. I find it easier to just cut the tag vs. fraying the line just as you have done.

[jc]

He's right, not many fish will spool you, unless it's something like a tarpon or a shark AR a bull red. Those things will spool your line in about a minute with his reel. Personally I've never been spooled, I always have my line locked almost all the way down, and I've been snapped off many times.

[WOLFMAN]

Thank you for the video.
One thing that should be done differently in my opinion, is to tie an overhand knot in the tag end to act as a stop/brake when you pull the line tight around the spool.
: ) Tyler

[jimmycollette]

Braided line is the best thing that ever happened to spinning gear. I keep four on my deck I normally do fifty percent backing and fifty percent braid. Mono is less expensive than braid plus braid is so tough it lasts longer. Good job on spooling. The leader knot is the critical knot.