How to spool a braided line


Many anglers prefer using braided line as opposed to its less complicated counterparts because of the many advantages it offers. However, there’s more to that than meets the eye, and many specific requirements need to be met to make sure that the process is completed correctly.

Compared to braided line, mono lines also come with with a wide range of advantages, including high strength, minimal stretch, resistance to abrasion and lack of line memory, at least according to fishers.

The most disagreeable thing that could happen is that you could tie your line in knots and you wouldn’t be able to utilize it anymore. To avoid that, we can only suggest you carefully read the instructions in our guide to make sure you succeed.

If you’re interested in fishing, and you want to learn all about how to improve your skills and enjoy your hobby, then you should definitely check out other related articles that we’ve also published on our websites, such as the one on getting a reliable saltwater spinning combo or an excellent surf casting rod and reel combo.

Spooling correctly

The first thing you should be careful about is to avoid tying wind knots when you spool a spinning reel.

The manufacturers that make spinning reels designed to be used with braided line are aware of the importance of this aspect, and as a result, many models have a rotor and line intended to spool evenly from top to bottom with a braid of a particular diameter.

All you need to do to complete this process correctly is to avoid using a different diameter than recommended or to prevent spooling the line the wrong way.


Regular issues (and solutions)

Most of the models of spinning reels that are available on the market are designed to be used with braided and nylon lines. Nylon is thicker than braid, which results in a design compromise, meaning that the line lay is not correctly adjusted to either of the two options, to make it suitable for both.

However, some manufacturers have realized this is becoming a problem, especially if the reel is spooled straight out of the box and they have come up with a solution to this in the form of a package of spool washers that allow the angler to fine tune the line lay.


The spool washer

An easy solution to this problem would be to add a thin spool washer to the shaft. A trial and error process will determine the correct size, but the result should be pretty satisfactory.

You should not start by adding large washers, given that you’re a lot less likely to determine whether or not your intervention is efficient if the alteration made are too visible.

Start by adding thin arbor shims and go along. Any sort of adjustments that need to be made will show themselves along the way.

It’s important to mention that not just any uneven line lay is a mistake. Some reels are specifically designed to have a line slightly tapered towards the top or the bottom, but you should have known that information when you bought them.

The types of unbalanced line lay

There are three types of unbalanced lay that are commonly found. One is the case where the top of the spool holds more line than the bottom. The next example would be the reversed one, and the last would be unbalanced lay along the entire reel.

The latter means the drag washer is worn out and you need to replace the washer set altogether, while the two cases previously explained can be solved by making small alterations.


Tips and tricks

If you want to make sure you don’t encounter any problems along the way, the thing you should keep in mind is that you need to have a few tricks up your sleeve.

For example, keeping a sharp pair of scissors on hand would be a good idea, since the braided line is a lot tougher than other alternatives and it can’t be cut using a nail clipper.

We would also advise you not to twist braided line around your finger or hand because the line is so strong that it can cause deep cuts and result in unwanted accidents that will ruin your fishing trip.




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