How to Put Fishing Line on a Reel

At this point, you must have decided on a fishing line and gotten your tools ready. So we can discuss how to put a fishing line on your spinning reel in simple steps.

1. Step 1: The Setup

   Setting up properly reduces the chances of your fishing line getting twisted, tangled, or broken. Start by putting your fishing rod together, ensuring that all the eyes line up.
   
   Follow this by attaching your spinning reel, putting it in the reel seat, and tightening it until it is attached securely. It is important to note the direction the reel turns in. This will enable you to mirror the way that the two spools unwind.
   
   When installing the line, ensure it unwinds onto one spool in the same direction that it is unwinding off the other. Ensure the line and reel are in the same direction to avoid line twists.

2. Step 2: Attach and Thread The Line

   The next thing to do is to attach your line. Again, it would help if you used a line type that is suited to your fishing style. Slowly take out about 15 feet of line from the spool.
   
   This will help you to avoid line twists and tangles. Follow this by threading the line through the rod’s eyes, starting at the top of the rod and stopping at the reel, in case you use a monofilament line as backing for a braided line.
   
   Make sure to put the monofilament line before the braided line.

3. Step 3: Open the Bail

   This is one step that is easy to forget. Failing to open the bail after attaching your line can set you back a few steps.
   
   Get this step out of the way by opening the reel’s bail arm. Leave the bail open while tying your line.

4. Step 4: Attach Your Line to the Reel Spool

   To attach your line to the reel spool, wrap it around the spool twice and tighten it using an overhand knot. An arbor knot is best suited for a baitrunner.
   
   Finish this by trimming the tag end. Leaving some of the old line is a good option if you are restring the reel with a new line.
   
   In this case, the old line serves as backing for the new line. Secure the old line to the new line using a uni knot.

5. Step 5: Wind Your Line onto the Reel

   After attaching your line to the reel spool, the next step is to wind your line onto the reel. It is important to do this slowly to avoid line twists.
   
   Hold the spool in the thick cloth with one hand, and start winding with your free hand using the screwdriver.
   
   Using the thick cloth, put pressure on the spool while you wind. This ensures that the line is wound tightly onto the reel. Close the bail, and you can proceed to check the line spool orientation.

6. Step 6: Check Your Line Spool Orientation

   The line spool orientation you want to get is the face of your spool facing in your direction. Hold your rod straight and put your line spool on the floor.
   
   Make sure that the line spool has its label facing in your direction. Once it is in this position, you can start cranking your reel.
   
   Stop after ten cranks to check the position of the line. At this point, you should find loose lines in relaxed loops on the floor. If your loops are not in relaxed coils, you must go over the entire process again.

7. Step 7: Fill The Spool

   After verifying that the line spool orientation is correct, all that is left is to fill the reel spool with the line.
   
   Crank the line slowly until it is close to the spool’s lips. You can then clip the line, tape the free end, and secure it with a rubber band.