This is probably a pretty basic question, but I couldn't find it answered. I haven't been using a baitcaster long, so I'm thinking it might be something obvious I've overlooked. Line is Seaguar 8lb Redline. Thanks!

 

If everything is correct, level wind works, drag is ok and spool tension is fine. Try spooling it slow with tension on the line. It happens to me when I initally spooled the reel too fast. I have had to strip the line all the way to the knot and start reeling it in over again. If you can connect the end to something and walk strait back until it ends then it makes it easier

I was taught to put the line thru the pages in a phone book first to tention it. If the phone book is thin then I put books on it till it has enough drag on the line.

These is a video where Glenn explains how to install line. There are different ways to install line. It's different on baitcasters and spinning reels.

Inspect the guide bar on the line leveled to make sure it's level and not on an angle. It should be parallel to the drive screw. Your line leveler should move all the way right and left.

If you hold tension on your line as you wind it on and your thumb and forefinger are right in front of the spool,  make sure your position is directly dead center.  If you favor one side,  it will pile on that side.  If you watch the level wind with your position left or right,  you will see it as it is happening.  After you get on the water and fish,  it'll slowly fix itself.

either reeling too fast, not being centered while putting the new line on or combination of the two??

when initially spooling the line on to the reel, you tie a knot to the spool and then begin winding the line in. this first instance where the line starts meeting the spool is where most cases of lop sided spools occur. back your line all the way off to the point where only the initial knot is on the spool. starting winding slowly and make sure the knot is either dead center on the spool and the line is following the correct direction from the line guide to the spool and not criss cross. you will probably also notice that the line isn't laying perfectly at first and the line is wanting to lay on one side of the spool at first more than the other. just use your finger or a small tool to push the line over a little to correct it. once it's corrected, the line will begin to lay perfectly on the spool. Make sure the line is pretty snug when spooling. if you are using backing to the line, use this same process after connecting the two lines. often times the knot will interfere with how the line lays as well.after you get past this the line should lay correctly as long as it's on the spool snug. 

I was taught to put the line thru the pages in a phone book first to tention it. If the phone book is thin then I put books on it till it has enough drag on the line.

 

A phone book? Does anybody still have a phone book around?  

A phone book? Does anybody still a phone book around?  

Yes, I am using it now it's called a laptop  

 

I am always annoyed when i get mine because then i have to make a trip to recycle it

Gosh were so backwards living in the country. We don't have a phone. We use the phone book for toilet paper. kidding

If when putting line on I notice that one side is getting higher than the other, say for example the left side is getting higher, I will hold the line to the right of the rod while with one hand while reeling with the other hand. This does seem to even things out a bit.

Easy. Next time you fish, let the line out behind the boat and when it's all out (tie a Heavy weight under a swivel) reel it in while still moving, the swivel prevents line twist, the weight keeps tension on the line.

If the line is still stacking funny your reel is defective.

a shot of vodka now.  hit the water later. it will be level before you know it  

The reason it happens is actually line tension, opposed to what everyone is telling you to do.

Often what happens is there is enough tension on the line that it will pull the level wind to one side or the other for slightly longer during the cycle, eventually causing line to stack on one side. The easiest way to combat it is that if you have line stacking on one side of your reel, use your thumb and forefinger to create tension on the line to hold the level wind in the opposite direction.

The easiest way to combat it is that if you have line stacking on one side of your reel, use your thumb and forefinger to create tension on the line to hold the level wind in the opposite direction.

This sounds like what I do! I guess the way to avoid lopsided line on the spool is extremely light line tension to begin with.

I looked at the level-wind, guide bar, drag ......the reel seems to be ok. I'm headed out to Thompson Lake in Maine tonight (it's a huge deep lake, few weeds). I'll back off my line and respool being more careful about tension and the speed. I usually respool pretty fast. 

 

a shot of vodka now.  hit the water later. it will be level before you know it  

If this fails I'll take ClackerBuzz's suggestion.

Make sure you keep your thumb off the spool when reeling in. On one of my reels, the most comfortable palming position is with my thumb resting on the spool, and I have to make a conscious effort not to keep it there or else my thumb pushes the line away so it stacks on the opposite side of the spool.

If you hold tension on your line as you wind it on and your thumb and forefinger are right in front of the spool,  make sure your position is directly dead center.  If you favor one side,  it will pile on that side.  If you watch the level wind with your position left or right,  you will see it as it is happening.  After you get on the water and fish,  it'll slowly fix itself.

This is your problem if the level wind is working properly on your reel. Tying of center tension to tight or reeling to fast have nothing to do with line stacking evenly, only if you are keeping it with tension off center to one side or the other. This is very common with users new to baitcasting. 

A phone book? Does anybody still have a phone book around?

Yes, I still have one. I also make my daughter use a hard backed dictionary when doing her homework.

Sorry I can't help with the reel/line problem.

I hate to bring back an old thread, but the line on all of my reels is lopsided. I've never really bothered to fix it, probably because I'm a lazy 14 year old. Any way, how can this effect performance? Decreased line capacity?