How to Thread a Line on an Open Fishing Pole

fishing image by Terje Asphaug from <a href='http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

It is often necessary to string fishing line on a new rod and reel or replace worn and damaged line. This is a simple process that most, if not all, anglers should feel comfortable doing. Stringing line on an open, or spinning, rod and reel is easy and only requires a simple knot to accomplish. With additional preparations, it is easy to string new line that minimizes issues sometimes encountered with open rods and reels.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Open rod and matched reel
Monofilament fishing line
Scissors

Step 1

Pull line from the free end of a fishing line filler spool. Lay the open, or spinning, rod and reel on a work surface and feed the line through the rod tip down toward the reel. String the line along the length of the rod, passing it through each line guide until you reach the reel.

Step 2

Grasp the wire bail on the front of the open reel and pull it back to the side until it locks in place. Wrap the line around the spool of the open reel. Pull 6 to 8 inches of the line past the spool so you have enough to work with when tying knots.

Step 3

Attach the line to the spool of the open reel with an Arbor knot. Hold the free end of the line in one hand and the main line extending from the filler spool in the other. Form a loop around the main line with the free end of the line. Tie an overhand knot with the free end of the line but do no pull it down tight.

Step 4

Tie the knot by forming a second overhand loop, using only the free end of the line this time. Moisten both knots with water or saliva and pull them down tight. Pull the main line to slide the knots down against the spool and each other, locking them in place tightly so the line will not rotate around the spool.

Step 5

Close the bail of the open reel. Position the filler spool so the line comes off the top in the direction that the bail of the reel turns when winding line onto the spool. Fill the line to within 1/4 inch of the spool edge. Measure 3 to 4 feet of line from the end of the rod and cut the line free from the filler spool.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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