You will always have customers asking questions and making requests about their spinning reels (and ones they want) if you make a living at a tackle shop. Most anglers want to learn how to spool their reel with line that offers heavier test. They also want to have better casting abilities and discover what line is best for which purpose. However, you don’t have to be employed in a tackle shop to answer these questions and more.

In the spring in the northeastern part of the United States, new schools of bass can be found in the local rivers. This is the time that fisherman will be looking for heavier line to accommodate this type of fishing. Most are convinced that they need 20-lb line or even heavier. This is especially true of the novice angler – they are often ill equipped with a reel that isn’t sufficient for this type of line, but remain determined to try it. Unfortunately, this will almost always end badly as reels are geared towards specific line weights.

A quick look at the side of reel spool will easily clue the angler in on the best line length and size for their particular reel. Exceeding these limits will create casting issues – including choppy casting and ultimately – knots, clumps and other inconveniences that can ruin a great day of fishing. It’s important to note that the data on the side of the reel is based on monofilament line. By its nature, monofilament has a memory – that means that once it’s placed on the reel, it will retain its shape and conform to the reel. Of course, this also means that it begins to coil which can create issues when casting if you don’t exercise proper caution. The heavier the line, the stiffer it is and of course this means more coils. Once you open the bail and the line starts to come off the spool any pressure you put on it causes it so slow down and also causes friction. The end result could be a disaster – for instance a short, tangled cast.

Anglers would have a reel for everything in an ideal universe. Because this isn’t a perfect world, I usually tell them to have a reel set for the heavy fish, at the least. If they can’t afford this, or simply do not want to fool with it, I then recommend using braided line. Braided line offers a significantly smaller diameter than traditional mono, often nearly double the pound-for-pound test. This gives fisherman heavy line on a smaller-diameter spool without giving up a good cast. This thin diameter, combined with no memory retention and slippery coating, makes braided much smarter for improving cast distance. Nevertheless, the drawback is that it is not resistant to abrasion. To improve this, make sure to use a 3 or 4-ft fluorocarbon or mono leader, too.

You must fill your reel appropriately to get the best possible results. An under-filled or over-filled reel can create all types of problems and this can ruin a great day of fishing. The best option is to always keep your reel filled to approximately 1/8 of an inch below the lip of the reel. This will ensure the perfect cast first time, every time.

Common sense is the secret to spinning reel issues. Understanding how your reel works, understanding the best line to use on it and a common sense approach to keeping it filled will result in better overall results. Better overall results with your reel mean that you will enjoy a day of fishing rather than fighting all day with your reel and your line. Make sure that your reel is in proper working order, that you are using the recommended line size and that your reel is properly filled will all combine to make a great day of fishing.

When you are deciding on which type of reel is right for you, doing the proper research is the best thing you could do. There are many manufacturers out on the market today, some of the most popular reels include Penn International 975, Penn 209, and Daiwa Sealine 30.