In the UK, the pro coarse anglers have been purposely engineering the alleged bad line lay that you showed at the start (albeit on a slightly higher line loaded spool). The reason is that if the loading is biased towards the bottom (creating a taper), the diameter of that loading becomes larger than the spool top lip (at the bottom end). It then becomes easier for line to fall off the taper and past the top lip whilst avoiding drag on the top lip (possibly creating unskilled angler tangle concern). However, this creates significantly less friction/resistance when casting, enabling a much further cast (for the same cast technique & weight of lead/lure/float). It is up to the skill of angler to use a finger to stop line falling off the spool and maintain a level of tension to mitigate slack/tangles (just like the skill of using an un-braked multiplier reel for distance without tangles). A bad workman always blames his tools! So how do you achieve a fully loaded tapered line lay? (1) leave it shimmed like the start of your video, (2) apply tape to the spool to create the desired taper (prior to line), (3) buy one of the purpose designed reels where the spool has been machined/moulded to this perfect taper from new. Have a google of long cast or distance reels and you will see that this is engineered intentionally (and it works). I'm sure that you are smart enough to understand the above, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Thank you very much for your time. Very good vid. I didn't know to spool onto another reel to make it easier. I am new to fishing, just retired and moved to Oregon. Thank you again.
GabooNx thanks for the feedback! Yep I always wondered the same until I I finally had enough of the line issues and dug into the problem to figure it out
Never thought about it,thanks for the tip.I always tie the line on the bottom of the spool getting the oscillator of the real even with the bottom of the spool when making the first turn that usually puts the line on evenly that way too
Wow i am having this problem with my PENN Spinfisher 950 SSM. With line build up at the front of the spool. Just by chance came across this video. Thank you so much.
Hi there, I have learnt something from this video thank you very much. Never thought about this, always just loaded new line on spool and used it. It was only that I decided to load braid and read about wind knots that lead Me to this video. On checking My spools, My reel is loading more to the bottom. I have looked inside and have two 0.5mm thick washers. I'm going to try and remove one and load the braid and see what I get then. Many thanks Paul.
awesome video I really appreciate you're channel Mr man good tips I will learn from you for sure ps I made my Sabiki line and it's awesome thank you again. be blessed.
Wow awesome trick with the second reel to transfer line over as to not have the line tangle when ripping it off to re-spool or trying to get it back on that stupid circle thing it comes on.
I just found this video. I just received a Van Staal VR50 purchased at Salt Strong. I noticed my braid is larger at the bottom of the spool. I did a quick look and did not see the nylon washer. Please help. Lots of wind knots.
Could you please tell me how to solve the same issue on Penn Slammer I? The oldest Slammer, with narrow spool and weird washer on the shaft (something like a tiny rod going through the shaft perpendicularly)?
Thank you for your question! We have a massive library of fishing tips on our website along with a search feature to let you quickly filter down to find help you're looking for, so just go to www.saltstrong.com/ and use the Search feature in the top menu. Note: If you don't see the exact answer you're looking for, just leave a comment in the post that most closely matches up with your search and one of our coaches will respond to your question... our coaches only make time to answer questions that get submitted to our website.
If you begin to see the line lay on your spool gradually changing, it usually means that either the spool spacer washers have worn out/Fallen ot (while cleaning the reel) or there is an internal problem with the reel. The Stradic has a worm gear and pawl pin that drives the main shaft up and down and thereby controlling the line lay. Excessive play on the worm gear caused by wear out of the two end bushings of the worm gear or a problem with the pawl pin or worm gear itself could be the cause of the problem. I other reels that use a slider mechanism to move the shaft up and down this problem is usually caused by the screw that holds the slider onto the main shaft turning loose. No amount of spacer washers can set this this problem right if the problem is internal. Happens a lot with older reels.
when I put mono on its fine, but when I put braid on the extra spool for braid it's uneven. Not sure what's the difference? Maybe the spool for braid is different I'm not sure. it's for the Pflueger patriarch
Just got a Penn authority, was getting knots left and right . Shoo took out the washer , line lay is much better but a slight concave in the middle . Went out and tested no knots but here n there I get the line lash noise on cast where I'm trying get get out a little further. Not sure how to get the slight concave in the middle ..level to see if it helps . It's a 5500 not sure if the 30 lb test braid is to thin or not .
If you'd like to post on the full blog on our website, our team can respond back with some feedback. You can find it here: www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-prevent-wind-knots-on-spinning-reels/
One other thing is to put line on with a machine under a lot of tension. (Spinning reels are not designed for torque and if you try to do it manually it can damage reels that arent in that $700+ range.) If you fish a lot.... buy a line wi ding machine or make one... its a great tool for the die hard fisherpeople. I always hated the knots with braid. When daiwa came out with their series revamps about 7 years ago it was a godsend for me. I would never get casting knots with them even if i tried to / didnt manually close the bail. I havent been on the water in years and if history remains true I wouldnt be surprised if daiwa now makes lesser quality than they once did. Id love to hear others opinions on the reels today since Im unable to use them since I can no longer fish.
These videos are really helpful from the knots to how to adjust little things so can spend more time fishing. I am curious if changing the ball bearing for spinning reels make any different in the reels performance.
well, you asked about changing bearings. an outfit called "Pimp my reel " does that, and pimping your reel can begin with using other oils. And yes, you can apply sprays to the line too.The formula of the line itself (in same diameter) can make a difference. (suppleness, friction, whatever.)For spinning reels, the oils and grease inside will not change how far you can cast, but will influence how easy you retrieve. Line condition(ers) will change how far you cast. Long cast spools are taller, often tapering.Do not neglect the line roller. A drop of oil in its bearings (often a pair of narrow ball bearings) every now and then will make life easier, and your line won't wear out that fast.
How many people did this actually work for? I bought a penn battle 2 reel absolute junk like most fixed spool reels line lay is terrible line crossing over doesnt matter if change the washer tried everything. Went to another brand and I get way less braid tangle. I also spray my braid. Every Outing.
I couldn't figure out why my Penn 4400ss always had wind knots with both braided and mono. I made a thinner washer and that seems to help the loading of the spool. Hopefully, no more wind knots.
Thanks Jeff. If you like fishing tips, then be sure to check out our website: www.saltstrong.com/ because we post new tips and product reviews every week.
very cool but you have to be careful with braid if you spool it with your hand. If braid is not put on correctly with a spooling machine that braid will dig it's self inside the braid and cause knots as well or worse making hard to cast or even use that reel.
I juts bought the newest version of the shimano stradic ci4 plus 3000 and spooled it with about 260yrds of 10lbs spider wire braid. I wanted a versatile reel that could take anything from bass to tarpon. I fish around the Tampa area and I am wondering if the 10lbs spider wire is a ok setup for tarpon, snook, and reds
Hey Ethan! If fishing inshore you can definitely get away with 10lb braid. Be sure to use a leader though. If targeting tarpon or snook you will want a heavier leader (30-40lb) and you can use 15-20lb leader for reds. I typically stick to 20lb leader for most of my inshore setups
I personally would use 15 to 20 pound braid for the smaller back water Tarpon. 10 pound for bass. These Tarpon sometimes get bigger than you think. And if you are not in open water and they start to run for the mangroves or piling or something, that 10 pound will not be strong enoght to pull them away in time. Just my opinion form experience. These lines are so thin now a days, your reel can hold plenty of line. Why not go heaver.
Michael Vanlerberg that's a good question! It is possible for some lines to spool differently than others, especially braid vs. monofilament. So it just really comes down to fine tuning the reel to your specific needs.
Tony Acevedo I had a similar experience. My Penn worked amazing with 20lb spider wire no issues. Switched to 15lb power pro and all hell broke loose. Removed one washer and perfect.
efrem hernandez Yes I spool a bit of mono on the reel first. This is called backing. Braid will slip if tied directly to a bare metal spool. The mono backing keeps the braid from spinning freely on the spool. More and more reels nowadays now have rubber on the spool which allows you to tie the braid directly to the spool.
Good tip...never thought of this...however, I don't like the way you spool your lines? Maybe, for testing the unevenness or for your demo, but the loose fitting wound line will bind especially on mono and snap on the first fast running fish you hook up.
MEIronMan207 thanks for feedback! This was for demonstration purposes. I had lost a lot of line from that spool due to knots and was respooling it with new line later. I always keep tension on the line when reeling it in (the line is in my fingers, not just reeling it off the other spool freely)
if you put too many washers to get your line spooled evenly you might not get the ratcheting sound anymore when you pull on the line so after your done spooling it on evenly you might have to decrease the amount of washers. which is what happened to me.
Agreed. Japanese made spinnng reels got near perfect line lay. If spool is not overfilled and the bail arm is closed manually you will not have a problem with tangles
Me thinks don't go messing with the manufacturers finished product. (Maybe that's why this lad has got too much line at bottom of spool in first place, fiddling around!) Nothing is PERFECT!
Further, if you wind the line onto your spool from the purchased spool of line backwards or incorrectly the line will curl, not lay properly and knot, more so if loaded too loosely.
Sir. Read your reel's instruction manual. This procedure is in it...at least in the manual of my new Penn Spinfisher 8500 which came with extra thinner washers.
Useful information ; in 58 years of fishing , I never thought about it . Thanks !
me neither lol
thank you,nice video
In the UK, the pro coarse anglers have been purposely engineering the alleged bad line lay that you showed at the start (albeit on a slightly higher line loaded spool).
The reason is that if the loading is biased towards the bottom (creating a taper), the diameter of that loading becomes larger than the spool top lip (at the bottom end). It then becomes easier for line to fall off the taper and past the top lip whilst avoiding drag on the top lip (possibly creating unskilled angler tangle concern). However, this creates significantly less friction/resistance when casting, enabling a much further cast (for the same cast technique & weight of lead/lure/float).
It is up to the skill of angler to use a finger to stop line falling off the spool and maintain a level of tension to mitigate slack/tangles (just like the skill of using an un-braked multiplier reel for distance without tangles). A bad workman always blames his tools!
So how do you achieve a fully loaded tapered line lay? (1) leave it shimmed like the start of your video, (2) apply tape to the spool to create the desired taper (prior to line), (3) buy one of the purpose designed reels where the spool has been machined/moulded to this perfect taper from new. Have a google of long cast or distance reels and you will see that this is engineered intentionally (and it works).
I'm sure that you are smart enough to understand the above, but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Wish I couldve found this video a week ago. 100% fixed my problem thank you so much!
I glad I caught this tutorial. I was having this problem & thought it the nature of braid. Also a Saltstrong member & have learned alot.
Always wondered what the washers were for 🤦🏻♂️. Great channel. Very helpful 👍
Thank you very much for your time. Very good vid. I didn't know to spool onto another reel to make it easier. I am new to fishing, just retired and moved to Oregon. Thank you again.
Thanks for the tip! I just bought a new baitrunner reel and filled it 3/4 with braid and this helped me get it to wrap evenly. It took a couple tries.
Thanks dude that one is gooing for the fishing-tip of the year!! Applaus for Dishwasher!!!!!!
Shimano typically came with extra washers never knew why, great tip!
GabooNx thanks for the feedback! Yep I always wondered the same until I I finally had enough of the line issues and dug into the problem to figure it out
Wow,Never knew what those extra washers were for. Thanks for the tip. Wind knots have ruined many days for me...now i know why!
Every day I learn something new. Thanks Tony and thanks Salt Strong.
Chris Thropp as do we all! You're welcome and thanks for the feedback!
Never thought about it,thanks for the tip.I always tie the line on the bottom of the spool getting the oscillator of the real even with the bottom of the spool when making the first turn that usually puts the line on evenly that way too
Sean McEwen no problem, thanks for taking the time to leave great feedback!
Wow i am having this problem with my PENN Spinfisher 950 SSM. With line build up at the front of the spool. Just by chance came across this video. Thank you so much.
Joseph Ramdas so i think you have to add some washer to readjust that.
Mata Kail
I did this immediately and it worked like a charm.
Wow. Thank you so much for this! I always get wind knots and this will change the game!
Brenny Hedderman thank you for the feedback! I sure hope it is a game changer!
Hi there, I have learnt something from this video thank you very much.
Never thought about this, always just loaded new line on spool and used it.
It was only that I decided to load braid and read about wind knots that lead Me to this video.
On checking My spools, My reel is loading more to the bottom. I have looked inside and have two 0.5mm thick washers. I'm going to try and remove one and load the braid and see what I get then.
Many thanks Paul.
Did not know that is what those washers were for. Thanks.
This is very helpful. Never knew how to correct the problem.
thank you for all the great information, keep it coming
awesome video I really appreciate you're channel Mr man good tips I will learn from you for sure ps I made my Sabiki line and it's awesome thank you again. be blessed.
Nice little nugget! Now I have something to do! Appreciate sharing.
Craig Fitzgerald thanks for the feedback!
Wow! Great video! I have definitely came across this problem! Now I know how to fix it!
ChrisPowellFishingTV thank you for the feedback! Hope this will solve your line issues, it definitely helped mine!
Cheers Mate.
50 yrs of fishing and never knew this! thanks
does this mean u always got wind knots?
Wow awesome trick with the second reel to transfer line over as to not have the line tangle when ripping it off to re-spool or trying to get it back on that stupid circle thing it comes on.
BG Baumgartner thanks for leaving a nice comment! Yes using a spare reel will save you time and hassle when transferring that line back and forth.
VERY HELPFULL - THANK YOU !!!
Badass video. Thanks.
I just found this video. I just received a Van Staal VR50 purchased at Salt Strong. I noticed my braid is larger at the bottom of the spool. I did a quick look and did not see the nylon washer. Please help. Lots of wind knots.
Definitely had this problem before, mainly when I allow a shop to spool my line for me.
Southern Reels Fishing mines the other way around lol
Could you please tell me how to solve the same issue on Penn Slammer I? The oldest Slammer, with narrow spool and weird washer on the shaft (something like a tiny rod going through the shaft perpendicularly)?
What if the line is dished in the middle?? I have equal buildup at the front and rear bit it's lower in the middle. I'm getting wind knots on braid.
Thank you for your question! We have a massive library of fishing tips on our website along with a search feature to let you quickly filter down to find help you're looking for, so just go to www.saltstrong.com/ and use the Search feature in the top menu.
Note: If you don't see the exact answer you're looking for, just leave a comment in the post that most closely matches up with your search and one of our coaches will respond to your question... our coaches only make time to answer questions that get submitted to our website.
Fishing and guitar? I’m subscribing.
I am getting too many wind knots but thinking it is from small guides and the line is backing up and getting tangled. Could that be a thing?
I have the exact same red and black reel with the cool blue dots scattered in the black and the wooden handle
Sir i remove all washers but facing same problem, what i do?
Im having trouble on my mitchell 302 it is bunched up on the top and bottom and i've tried stacking washes both ways nothing works any ideas
If its a really cheap reel theres nothing you can do.
Great tip, Thanks
Awesome tip thanks!
Shimano stratic 3000 was all up top. Had to add every single washer for 10lb braid and now perfect
Odd for a stradic to do that!!!
If you begin to see the line lay on your spool gradually changing, it usually means that either the spool spacer washers have worn out/Fallen ot (while cleaning the reel) or there is an internal problem with the reel. The Stradic has a worm gear and pawl pin that drives the main shaft up and down and thereby controlling the line lay. Excessive play on the worm gear caused by wear out of the two end bushings of the worm gear or a problem with the pawl pin or worm gear itself could be the cause of the problem. I other reels that use a slider mechanism to move the shaft up and down this problem is usually caused by the screw that holds the slider onto the main shaft turning loose. No amount of spacer washers can set this this problem right if the problem is internal. Happens a lot with older reels.
when I put mono on its fine, but when I put braid on the extra spool for braid it's uneven. Not sure what's the difference? Maybe the spool for braid is different I'm not sure. it's for the Pflueger patriarch
Awesome !!! Thanks for the tip !!!
Alvin Wolfe no problem! Thank you for the feedback!
Just got a Penn authority, was getting knots left and right . Shoo took out the washer , line lay is much better but a slight concave in the middle . Went out and tested no knots but here n there I get the line lash noise on cast where I'm trying get get out a little further. Not sure how to get the slight concave in the middle ..level to see if it helps . It's a 5500 not sure if the 30 lb test braid is to thin or not .
If you'd like to post on the full blog on our website, our team can respond back with some feedback. You can find it here: www.saltstrong.com/articles/how-to-prevent-wind-knots-on-spinning-reels/
One other thing is to put line on with a machine under a lot of tension. (Spinning reels are not designed for torque and if you try to do it manually it can damage reels that arent in that $700+ range.) If you fish a lot.... buy a line wi ding machine or make one... its a great tool for the die hard fisherpeople.
I always hated the knots with braid. When daiwa came out with their series revamps about 7 years ago it was a godsend for me. I would never get casting knots with them even if i tried to / didnt manually close the bail. I havent been on the water in years and if history remains true I wouldnt be surprised if daiwa now makes lesser quality than they once did. Id love to hear others opinions on the reels today since Im unable to use them since I can no longer fish.
These videos are really helpful from the knots to how to adjust little things so can spend more time fishing. I am curious if changing the ball bearing for spinning reels make any different in the reels performance.
Bill, simply changing the oil can make a difference. Tournament casters pimp their reels, and those are your keywords.
Thanks for the tip. I assume you mean stuff like syn oil/grease such as Hot Sauce or Ardent Reel Butter?
well, you asked about changing bearings. an outfit called "Pimp my reel " does that, and pimping your reel can begin with using other oils. And yes, you can apply sprays to the line too.The formula of the line itself (in same diameter) can make a difference. (suppleness, friction, whatever.)For spinning reels, the oils and grease inside will not change how far you can cast, but will influence how easy you retrieve. Line condition(ers) will change how far you cast. Long cast spools are taller, often tapering.Do not neglect the line roller. A drop of oil in its bearings (often a pair of narrow ball bearings) every now and then will make life easier, and your line won't wear out that fast.
Thanks mate, I don’t think my Shimano reel came with any washers.. I got 1 reel even and the 2nd one uneven so not sure what went wrong
With braid since it has less memory than mono does it matter which way you spool it up?
How many people did this actually work for? I bought a penn battle 2 reel absolute junk like most fixed spool reels line lay is terrible line crossing over doesnt matter if change the washer tried everything. Went to another brand and I get way less braid tangle. I also spray my braid. Every Outing.
Sorry to hear you were unhappy with that reel
Do you have to put a washer back on if you dont have one?
Great tip! Never knew this!
Glad to see that you enjoyed this tip. Tight Lines!
Thanks
Awesome info!
I couldn't figure out why my Penn 4400ss always had wind knots with both braided and mono. I made a thinner washer and that seems to help the loading of the spool. Hopefully, no more wind knots.
Thanks , for the tip !
Bruce Wilson no problem, and thanks for taking the time to comment!
Thanks Tony!
Nickolas Horvath no problem!
What do you do if you don't have a second unspooled reel handy?
Thanx. good info.
Thanks for this !
Our pleasure! Glad to see that you enjoyed it.
Thanks👍🏻
Great tip
mike333h thanks for feedback!
I put a washer in and it still the same ..not aligned
Best of the best
Great tip!
Thanks Jeff. If you like fishing tips, then be sure to check out our website: www.saltstrong.com/ because we post new tips and product reviews every week.
That’s what she said
Can this happen with baitcaster too?
What to do if the line is longer on the upper and lower side, and less in the middle?
That my dear is impossible
very cool but you have to be careful with braid if you spool it with your hand. If braid is not put on correctly with a spooling machine that braid will dig it's self inside the braid and cause knots as well or worse making hard to cast or even use that reel.
Also, close bail manually= less wind knots
i wish i could see this video early 1 year before i receive my new reel, hahaha, dammmm
I juts bought the newest version of the shimano stradic ci4 plus 3000 and spooled it with about 260yrds of 10lbs spider wire braid. I wanted a versatile reel that could take anything from bass to tarpon. I fish around the Tampa area and I am wondering if the 10lbs spider wire is a ok setup for tarpon, snook, and reds
Hey Ethan! If fishing inshore you can definitely get away with 10lb braid. Be sure to use a leader though. If targeting tarpon or snook you will want a heavier leader (30-40lb) and you can use 15-20lb leader for reds. I typically stick to 20lb leader for most of my inshore setups
I personally would use 15 to 20 pound braid for the smaller back water Tarpon. 10 pound for bass. These Tarpon sometimes get bigger than you think. And if you are not in open water and they start to run for the mangroves or piling or something, that 10 pound will not be strong enoght to pull them away in time. Just my opinion form experience. These lines are so thin now
a days, your reel can hold plenty of line. Why not go heaver.
Now i know whats this free plastic washer are for.
Why don't they have it correct from the factory??!
Michael Vanlerberg that's a good question! It is possible for some lines to spool differently than others, especially braid vs. monofilament. So it just really comes down to fine tuning the reel to your specific needs.
Tony Acevedo I had a similar experience. My Penn worked amazing with 20lb spider wire no issues. Switched to 15lb power pro and all hell broke loose. Removed one washer and perfect.
Penn provides spare washers to fix this issue
Great tio. got a question you had mono befor your braid?
efrem hernandez Yes I spool a bit of mono on the reel first. This is called backing. Braid will slip if tied directly to a bare metal spool. The mono backing keeps the braid from spinning freely on the spool. More and more reels nowadays now have rubber on the spool which allows you to tie the braid directly to the spool.
Yep. learned that from Tony a while ago.
is there any thing to do when putting braided on a spinning reel or can u just put straight braid on?
Yes, here's an article and video that shows what to do: www.saltstrong.com/articles/spool-braided-line-spinning-reel-without-line-twists-loops/
Would have been nice to see what you removed from the reel. There's lots of little parts
Good tip...never thought of this...however, I don't like the way you spool your lines? Maybe, for testing the unevenness or for your demo, but the loose fitting wound line will bind especially on mono and snap on the first fast running fish you hook up.
MEIronMan207 thanks for feedback! This was for demonstration purposes. I had lost a lot of line from that spool due to knots and was respooling it with new line later. I always keep tension on the line when reeling it in (the line is in my fingers, not just reeling it off the other spool freely)
if you put too many washers to get your line spooled evenly you might not get the ratcheting sound anymore when you pull on the line so after your done spooling it on evenly you might have to decrease the amount of washers. which is what happened to me.
so take off and add a smaller one? this could have been way more clear.
That outro lmao
Lol I do the same thing
wind knots
Thanks for checking it out!
Or you could buy a top shelf reel.
Agreed. Japanese made spinnng reels got near perfect line lay. If spool is not overfilled and the bail arm is closed manually you will not have a problem with tangles
Me thinks don't go messing with the manufacturers finished product. (Maybe that's why this lad has got too much line at bottom of spool in first place, fiddling around!) Nothing is PERFECT!
Plus he winds the line on with no resistance whatsoever!!???
Further, if you wind the line onto your spool from the purchased spool of line backwards or incorrectly the line will curl, not lay properly and knot, more so if loaded too loosely.
Sir. Read your reel's instruction manual. This procedure is in it...at least in the manual of my new Penn Spinfisher 8500 which came with extra thinner washers.
Best way is have a professional wind your line for you
I never let them touch my line lol plus when they spool it its not going on the same as when you reel it on.