filling your spool to the lip

[snotty]

Does anyone here know of any device which will indicate how much line you are loading onto a spool? I can never quite get it right when I'm loading backing line.

Most reels seem to have capacity for three times the line that I need.

[chesters1]

dont bother with backing just get a bulk reel of the stuff enough for 2 reels and some left over

[Vagabond]

snotty:

Does anyone here know of any device which will indicate how much line you are loading onto a spool? I can never quite get it right when I'm loading backing line.

Most reels seem to have capacity for three times the line that I need.

Years ago I made a large and wide line winder - it has two sets of four spokes, the ends of the two sets of spokes are joined by four pieces of cane cross bars. I made it so that the four crossbars were each 6.36 inches from the central spindle. That means the distance between two adjacent crossbars is exactly 9" (if you remember Pythagoras from school, its one of the few occasions he is of use), so a complete revolution of the winder is 4 x 9" which is a yard.

 

So you can very quickly put line on your spool, then fill up with backing (don't join them together at this stage) till you have nearly (but not quite)filled the spool - then whizz the backing off onto one side of the winder and the line onto the other.(making sure they are well separated - thats why you need a wide winder)

 

Now put them back on the reel, backing first, then line (joining together this time) If you count the number of turns onto the winder, each is one yard, so you know exactly how much line, and how much backing the reel holds.

 

Sounds complicated when described, but very simple in practice.

 

[ 01. May 2003, 09:40 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[Cranfield]

Shakespeare sell a line counter (LM-1), that fits on your rod.

You feed the line through it and it tells you in feet, how much line you have put on your reel.

[Paul_D]

That's brilliant Vagabond....!

[Steve Randles]

An even easir way is one I have used for years, buy an identical spool for the reel. Wind your line on (100 yards or so) then your backing to the rim, now simply wind from this spool to the other and your done.

 

Works a treat!

[Paul_D]

quote:

---

An even easir way is one I have used for years, buy an identical spool for the reel. Wind your line on (100 yards or so) then your backing to the rim, now simply wind from this spool to the other and your done.

 

Works a treat!

---

Especially if you're filling up Baitrunners.

[snotty]

Thanks for the tips, Steve's idea of using a second spool just hadn't occurred to me, I think that's the way to go, I may also have a look for the shakespeare thingy Cranfield ... cheers!

[Cranfield]

http://www.shakespeare-fishing.com/product.../counters.shtml

They are principally for seeing how deep you are fishing.

But, they do count the line onto your reel in feet.

I,ve got one and they are good.

 

[ 02. May 2003, 08:26 PM: Message edited by: Cranfield ]

[Vagabond]

Steve Randles:

An even easir way is one I have used for years, buy an identical spool for the reel. Wind your line on (100 yards or so) then your backing to the rim, now simply wind from this spool to the other and your done.

 

Works a treat!

OK, but how do you now fill your spare spool, as the first one is full of line! Buy another spare spool ?? However many spare spools you buy, you will finish up with an empty spare spool for every type of fixed spool reel you own

 

Much cheaper in the long run to make an all-purpose line winder.

 

I use my line winder to load fixed spools, centrepins, closed face, multipliers and fly reels. That way I always know EXACTLY what length of line and what length of backing is on each reel :cool: