Spooling a spin with braid?

[tracker12]

I picked up a stradic 8000 and want to spool it with a braid. Never did a reel for bigger game. How do you all spool it. I want to use 50# braid and a 10 yard top shot. Do you all do it youself or take it to a shop.

[PurEvl]

have someone hold the spool of line and crank it in tight. if you press it and it's soft whoever is holding the line needs to apply more pressure. when you touch the line you put on it should be hard.

[hatidua]

I've used my Berkley HD-II line winder which obviously works fine, as well as a method I find works as well or better:

1. coat new spool with light amount of lubricant (Superlube, Boeshield, etc)
2. wipe off lubricant with clean cloth
3. mount reel on shortest spinning rod you have
4. thread 20# mono line through guides and load on 5 yards (braid can spin on spool, mono won't)
5. attach braid to mono via knot of your choice
6. get the longest screw driver you own and a thick rag
7. stick screw driver through spool of braid, forming a axle and lay spool on rag
8. take off your shoes
9. put one foot on each end of screw driver with spool of braid in the middle
10. tighten drag on reel fairly tight
11. wear fighting belt (or try it without and get back to me on that later )
12. press down with feet and crank until your arms wear out....and they will! If you don't smell burning plastic from the braid spool against the rag, you probably aren't pressing down hard enough with your feet.

It's worked like a charm for me on everything from little 2000 size spinners to Stella 20,000's

[tracker12]

Sounds like a really good method. I recently bought a Baja Special and whgen the guy spooled it he frst wrapped the spool with that spongie type bandage wrap to prevent the line from spinning. Thnaks.

[Uncle Russ]

I have been using Hatidua's method for quite a while--I invented it indepently of hatidua and call it my "redneck" method. Being barefoot is extremely important--with shoes, you can't feel how much pressure you are or are not putting on the spool. The great thing about it is that the friction (which is important to the tightness of the line on the spool) is all between the edges of the spool and the rag--not on the line, where the heat will spoil the Spectra.

Also, if you take along your spare spools, a dowel rod (see below) and your towel or rag, you can easily spool line on board if the seas are not too rough.

A couple of variations which I find important:

1. If you are at home, do this on a medium to thin carpet--it increases the smoothness of the "drag" you are putting on the line spool with your feet. But in this case, the rag is all-important--otherwise you may put dye or burn stains on the carpet and your wife will kill you.

2. Use a wooden dowel instead of the screwdriver--it is easier on your bare feet. I use a wooden salad-serving spoon. Breakage at high pressure is not an issue if you hold your feet fairly close to the spool.

3. When you are spooling a spinner, have the line come off the top of the spool. When spooling a conventional, have it come off the bottom. I have no idea where I read this, but I have spooled many, many reels this way with no line twist.

4. With a spinner, make sure your drag is tight enough it does not ever spin while you are spooling, otherwise, it is just like reeling while a fish is taking drag--it will introduce line twist onto your spool.

5. Hatidua is correct about it putting some pressure on your shoulders and back. Take frequent breaks.

Russ

[hatidua]

Originally Posted by Uncle Russ

1. If you are at home, do this on a medium to thin carpet--it increases the smoothness of the "drag" you are putting on the line spool with your feet. But in this case, the rag is all-important--otherwise you may put dye or burn stains on the carpet and your wife will kill you.

ah yes, the two parallel dark lines created by the spinning spool of braid....been there, done it

[Deep_Sea_Gull]

And lived to tell about it!

[BretABaker]

i wrap the spool with electrical tape first, tied a uni knot and spooled tight. normally i have someone else hold the spool with the dowel, just makes it easier.

havent had problems to date.

[Uncle Russ]

Mark: You just move an easy chair or the couch over the ruined rug and tell your wife you have developed an interest in decorating.

Bret: Jerry Brown cured me of feeling the need for tape or any underpinning. What he recommends is just tying the line onto the spool with whatever knot you like best, then stretching the line across the spool and taking a couple of tight turns around at a 90 degree angle and you're good to go. But the tape is good too.

Russ

[BretABaker]

UR - ironically, I'm using JB on those reels

I didn't do it before, and didn't have a problem. But I did this past time and it'sworked alright thus far. hopefully I won't need to respool anytime soon!