How to fill a baitcasting reel
One thing that makes filling reels easier is to use
the biggest spools of line you can find. I carry one pound spools of
Berkeley Big Game in 15# and 20#, since that is what I use the most.
I carry smaller spools of other line strengths just to save space.
The first thing I do is take the reel off the rod. The 10 seconds you
spend taking off the reel will save you several minutes. Next, I strip
off the line. If I am using 25# or heavier, I strip the reel completely.
If I am using 20#, I leave a very small amount on the reel. If I am
using lighter line, I will leave even more line on the reel. The lighter
the line, the more I leave on the reel. If I am using 12 pound test,
I may leave half my line on my reel. I fill my reels so full that I
should never see the knot.
Next, I run the line through the eye of the reel and tie to the old
line or directly to the reel. Then I put my one pound spool of line
in the bottom of the boat. I put my metal fish measuring stick under
the spool, so it can turn on it. I sit over the top of the spool with
the spool of line coming over the top from the backside. When I start
reeling the spool spins toward the carpeted sides of my boat underneath
me and spins on the measuring stick and the side of my boat. I can then
fill the reel in a few seconds without the help of anyone. Be sure to
fill it full!
It takes me less than 5 minutes to do the whole process. I've seen people
spend 30 minutes trying to get out a backlash and if they are lucky
enough to get it out, they should now replace their line. I just start
cutting if I (or a client) get a bad backlash in one of my reels.
