How to Put on a New Fishing Line

There are two reasons an angler has to put on a new fishing line. One is that she has just purchased a new reel and needs to spool it with line. The other is that worn out and nicked old line needs replacing to avoid losing a fish from the line breaking. Putting new fishing line on the reel is a simple process.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

rod and reel fishing line fishing hook screwdriver scissors
rod and reel
fishing line
fishing hook
screwdriver
scissors

Step 1

Buy the appropriate pound test for your fishing reel. Somewhere on the reel, you will find a set of numbers that indicate a ratio of the pound test of the fishing line to the amount of yards the reel will hold and still function properly. For example, you might have something like 4/110 and 6/150 written on your reel. This means it will hold 110 yards of four-pound test or 150 yards of six-pound test. This is called the line capacity of the reel.

Step 2

Find a place where you can walk in one direction for a long distance. Take the new spool of line and grab the free end in your hand. Tie a hook onto it using a clinch knot, and then find something that will not move when you pull against it such as a fence or a tree. Hook the line onto this object.

Step 3

Put the screwdriver through the hole in the center of your new spool of line and walk away from the object. Try to estimate how far you have walked and stop when you get to the distance that corresponds to the number of yards of line you can put on your reel. If you can put 110 yards of line on the reel, walk 110 yards from the object, letting the line off the spool as you go.

Step 4

Cut the line at that point, and pass the line through the rod guides. These metal guides with a round rim start at the tip of the pole and go down one side of it. Their purpose is twofold: to prevent fishing line from tangling as the angler casts and reels it in and to disperse the power of a battling fish throughout the entire rod. Start at the top guide and thread the line through each one until it makes it to the reel.

Step 5

Open the bail arm on a spinning rod and tie the line to the reel's arbor. The arbor is the portion of the reel around which the fishing line winds. An arbor knot is the correct knot to use. Make it by passing the line around the arbor and making an overhand knot using the free end of the line and the line coming down from the guides. Then make another overhand knot in the free end. The second knot will catch in the first knot, keeping the line from slipping off your reel.

Step 6

Spinning reel's wire bail arm

Close the bail arm so that when you begin to reel in line the arm will gather it around the arbor. Reel in line as you slowly walk toward where you tied it, keeping the line as taut as you can while turning the handle. This will ensure the line wraps tightly around the arbor.

Tips & Warnings

For baitcasting reels, make sure you send the line through the level wind feature on the reel before tying the arbor knot. Ask for help at your local tackle shop if you are unsure what the best pound test is for your reel.

For baitcasting reels, make sure you send the line through the level wind feature on the reel before tying the arbor knot.

Ask for help at your local tackle shop if you are unsure what the best pound test is for your reel.

Resources

Fishing Knots Website

Article Written By John Lindell

John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years.

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