Just wondering how many guys using braid unspool all the line then respool from the other end to avoid trashing good line? What's your technique? do you use a line winder, drill and spool, etc?

Drill and two spools actually.

 

Pull off onto one spool - reverse it to the second spool - then put it back on the reel.

x2^^^^

I use the above method using a couple spools, or if I have an open reel I can just pull it from one reel to another and use the braid on that one.

I don't do it with braid,. but I do with Tatsu or Shooter. My method uses a wife or kid that happens to be available.

Tie the end that I've been flipping with to a fence post and walk it off to the backing knot and cut it hold the end until said wife or kid arrives.

Hand over the end and tie the fence end to the spool and wind away. couple minutes. 

Another kid will take the place of a fence post if handy.

I change my braid SO infrequently that I don't bother. I've literally had the same 30 pound PowerPro on one of my reels (my favorite rod that gets the most action) for 3 years. 

Yes, 3 years. 

 

And it's never broken. So I keep fishing it. If it ever wears out, I'll just toss and put on new line.

I used to strip off braid onto 3/8 or 1/2” wooden dowels with power drill for temporary line change and can re-spool it back pretty quick. I can imagine it would work in your case with two 6-8” long dowels. Note not for mono FC line too small arbor would create memory like no tomorrow.

simple method is to walk the line off around your yards if you don’t have dogs chasing you around wanna play (don’t ask how I know)

I can also strip of the whole spool of mono line into bath tub with some water and can re-spool back without any tangled.
 

23 minutes ago, JackstrawIII said:

I change my braid SO infrequently that I don't bother. I've literally had the same 30 pound PowerPro on one of my reels (my favorite rod that gets the most action) for 3 years. 

Yes, 3 years. 

 

And it's never broken. So I keep fishing it. If it ever wears out, I'll just toss and put on new line.

Good point..... I rarely have to reverse braid, but have done it quite a bit with Berkley Fireline. 

 

Wierd stuff,... Way stiff when new, then turns softer gray color and lasts for quite a while. When it starts getting completely washed out looking, I reverse it out and start over.

21 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_SoCal said:

I used to strip off braid onto 3/8 or 1/2” wooden dowels with power drill for temporary line change and can re-spool it back pretty quick. I can imagine it would work in your case with two 6-8” long dowels. Note not for mono FC line too small arbor would create memory like no tomorrow.

simple method is to walk the line off around your yards if you don’t have dogs chasing you around wanna play (don’t ask how I know)

I can also strip of the whole spool of mono line into bath tub with some water and can re-spool back without any tangled.
 

Bathtub idea is interesting, gotta look into that.

I tie it to my Dashound's harness and holler "SQUIRREL ". She runs down the yard and I call her back and swap ends. Easy Peasy. Work smarter.

3 hours ago, N.Y. Yankee said:

Bathtub idea is interesting, gotta look into that.

Remember, I never tried with braid, I’m not sure with floating braid might create some issue. I used look-warm water about 8-12” deep, striped the line zigzagging from side to side. It help softened and straighten my line.

When it's worth the effort is when you have a reason to move a line to a different reel/spool; e.g., you want a different line on the current source reel.  

A couple of clamp rod holders sure helps here.  Loosen the drag on the source reel to feed line. 

Here's how I typically do it if just moving line from one reel to another to swap ends.

 

I lightly clamp source reel in workbench vise and loosen drag, then tie the line to reel I'm moving it to and reel it direct from one reel to the other.

 

If just moving line from one reel to another and don't want to swap ends, I reel it onto a back-up reel, then do it aagin to the final destination reel so spool end stays at base of spool.

 

Takes just a few minutes per reel. I do this if I'm wanting to change out setups and want to move lines from one reel to another rather than waste it. I do this mostly if moving flouro or braid to save the expense. Not as worthwhile with cheaper mono.

I use two empty reels, plus the original one I'm inverting the line on.  I use a saltwater reel for the second reel because it has a nice drag on it, and I'll set the drag up for a few pounds of resistance, so I get it respooled, nice and tight.