How to Put a New Line in a Shakespeare Fishing Pole

Shakespeare rods and reels are designed for freshwater and saltwater fishing applications. Like any type of reel, you must cut away used, damaged or broken fishing line from a Shakespeare rod and re-spool it with new line. Anglers can choose between mono-filament, multifilament, fluorocarbon and braided fishing line when putting new line on a Shakespeare fishing pole, which is available in spinning and baitcast varieties.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Fishing line cutters

Step 1

Cut an old fishing hook from the line, if one is attached, and pull the fishing line off the rod by hand.

Step 2

Cut the fishing knot used to secure the fishing line to the reel spool using fishing line cutters. Flip the bail arm back so there is no obstruction between you and the reel spool.

Step 3

Thread the new line through the rod guides. Work from the tip of the rod to the handle, inserting the line in each rod guide as you go.

Step 4

Tie the tag end of the fishing line to the spool of the Shakespeare reel using an arbor knot. Loop the fishing line around the arbor (spool center). Pull the tag end around the main line three times and thread the tag end through the loops.

Step 5

Wet the knot with a few drops of water, and complete the knot by pulling tightly away from the spool. Cut excess line behind the tag using a fishing line cutter.

Step 6

Flip the bail arm down, and turn the handle to spool the new line onto the reel. Add tension to the line with your free hand, which ensures the fishing line rotates onto the reel tightly. Stop spooling a Shakespeare spinning reel when you reach an 1/8-inch of capacity and 1/4-inch when spooling a Shakespeare baitcast reel.

Tips & Warnings

Cut the new line 1/8-inch behind the tag, which is the excess line from the knot.

Shakespeare spinning and baitcast reels do not require unique tying and knotting instructions.

It is not necessary to flip a bail wire open for a baitcast reel, only a spinner.

Resources

NetKnots.com: Fishing Knots

Article Written By Charlie Gaston

Charlie Gaston has written numerous instructional articles on topics ranging from business to communications and estate planning. Gaston holds a bachelor's degree in international business and a master's degree in communications. She is fluent in Spanish and has extensive travel experience.

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