Oh Boy.......it is almost "go" time! Lets talk about that old line on your reel. Yup........time to get new. Seems fine doesn't it? Kinda pull on it.....seems OK.......

Well it isn't  . You can skimp on some things but fresh line isn't one of them. Avoid getting line at some cheesy bait store on the way up. It has probably been sitting there for a few years waiting for some unsuspecting schmuck to reach out and blow that dust off so you can read the lb test.

So get line where there is good turnover to insure it is fresh. If possible, have them put it on via machine. It will go on with the correct pressure and without a bunch of "spin". Don't forget to bring your spool!

If you put it on yourself there are quite a number of ways. When I was a wee lad I had to grip the pencil with the spool floating on it while my Dad yelled at me to hold it tighter while he was smoking my fingers because he was reeling so fast.

I prefer to do it myself ("get out of the way" ). I run my lighter spinning line through a phone book to help put pressure on the line. A bit heavier line gets placed on a rod (dowel) and clamped in a vise with a little weight on top. That works nicely.

In any event make sure the line is not being put on with twists. The way to tell is to move your reel towards the fill spool thus creating slack. If the line twists up into a big mess turn the spool to the other side (logo down vs logo up or visa-versa). Check often as you are spooling up. This will avoid complications for you down the road.

I like a full spool. Fill so that about 1/8" of the lip of the spool is still showing. If you get out to the water and find your line twisty let it out behind the boat without anything attached and paddle about. The twists should work themselves out.

I also suggest that you get premium name brand line. Avoid "sale" line as it is on sale for a reason. Everyone has there favorites. I am partial to green trilene xt in the 4lb if it is bright and sunny and I want to get a bite. In the more typical lb tests 6,8,10 I have become a big fan of Gamma co-polymer. Good stuff, ties well. For pike I like the trilene xt once again in the 17 or 20.......

Although after last years loss of Mr. Whopper whopper I have beefed up to 50lb power pro to throw the musky lures I am fond of using.....(I will haul in the whole weedbed..."Now where is that fish , he is in here somewhere" )...........no more Mr. Nice Guy

Anyway.........not much of a tip but it might help someone who is thinking of letting that old line slide by. That is a no-no!   

zski wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2012 at 6:04pm:


GREAT JOB Zski! I learned a little something on that video. Thanks!

Good reminder Al.  It's a spring ritual for myself and I let the pro's do it for me.  I will bring all of my spools to my local bait shop with each one labeled for it's particular line and lb. test and I pick them up later in the week.  Pascanell always does his own line and spools and I always get a good chuckle during his inevitable meltdown/curse session by day 2 of our trip because he's fighting loops, tangles and knots.  Funny stuff actually.  I like a good bit of line on mine as well.

Good line is so important IMO.  If you bring your spools to someone to do it for you ask when the line was purchased.  If it has been sitting under the counter for a few years, request that you get some new line.  FWIW, brands that I have had very bad experiences with are Rapala, Suffix and Cortland.  Could be anomalies but I stick with Berkeley and Stren and Fireline.

I have related this experience before but it bears repeating..........

One year I had spooled all my reels up with straight florocarbon. I hate Vanish so I chose P-line. I have a lot of confidence in the brand using their 30lb mono to good effect (one of the fish I'm most proud of was a 30+ lb grouper caught on 30 P-line) so I'm not knocking the brand.

I picked the line up at a Cabelas retail store so I think it was fairly fresh. We paddled and portaged in the rain to my little smallmouth honey hole. Time to fish........I rigged my rods and couldn't get a single knot to stick. Pop, Pop, Pop..........I had 3 spools of the stuff and none of it would work despite trying various knots. Crap!

Fortunately my pal had an extra spool of 8lb green trilene xt and I was set for the trip.

Several of my friends have a name in Bass fishing circles, tournament and guiding, and floro usage is common amongst them. I am still gun shy with the stuff after that experience however. I couldn't help but wonder if an all day exposure to the rain had anything to do with it.

Cabelas, to their credit, refunded my money after the manager of the store couldn't get any knots to stick either. HA! "See, I told you"................ (I only look like a dork who can't tie a knot) 

THAT is a beautiful fish.