How do you put new line on a fishing reel without twisting the line?

Answer 1

There are two basic methods, depending on the type of reel. If your reel is the push-button type with a cover over it, it is a spincasting reel. If it is the open style with the metal bail, which looks like a bucket handle, it is a spinningreel. If it has the push-button and no cover, with the line exposed where you can place your thumb on it, it is a baitcastingreel.

By design, spinning and spincasting reels will twist the line. All you can do is load it properly to minimize the twist. You do not want to let the spool spin on a pencil. Lay it flat on the floor. Usually it should have the label facing up. To make sure this is correct, take the reel off of the rod and hold it upside down over the spool. Turn the handle as if you are reeling in line and pay attention to the direction in which it turns. You want the line to be coming off the spool in the same direction. If it is not the same, just flip the spool over on the floor. It may help to go ahead and tie the line to the reel temporarily and watch it go from the spool to the reel slowly to make sure you have it right. If it is right, the part where the line comes off the spool can be directly below the part where it goes onto the reel the whole time. When you're ready to put all the line on, put the reel on the rod and tread the line through the rod first, to make it easier. Remember a little twisting will occur, but not very much.

With a baitcasting reel, just have somebody hold a pencil in the eye of the spool and let it spin while you reel it up.

Check out this video to see how it's done. http://www.bassfishin.com/video-tips/how-to-spool-spinning-reel/css/spooling-spinning-reels.jpg