I recently re-spooled a few of my spinning reels with braided line and one of them keeps getting knots in the line. Today it was every cast and the last cast got two. I have to assume I did something wrong when I spooled it up. Can someone tell me what’s going on so I can avoid it when I spool it up again? Thank you!

I have more questions than answers. 

 

- Are you using a leader?  If so, what leader knot?  Tag ends trimmed tight?

- Was it windy? 

- Lighter lure in the problem rod? 

- Do you close the bail by hand?

- Did all the reels get the same braid (brand and test)?

- Have you removed the twist in the line in that spool? 

 

Some line twist is inevitable.   Less noticeable with braid than mono or fluoro, but you may be able to solve the problem by removing the twist before you fish that reel again.

first you need a good ball-bearing line roller.  

Always fish spinning gear with a micro-swivel

 

Most important, always use manual bail technique

 

 

A spinning reel puts one "twist" into the line for every revolution of the bail.  So when loading line onto the reel have it come off the end of the filler spool in the opposite direction as the bail is rotating.  If the bail rotates clockwise viewing into the spool, then have the line come off the filler spool counterclockwise.  Not perfect, but better than the other methods. 

 

I have reels that recommend a different procedure, but I've always used this and have had good luck with it.  

 

To fix your current situation I would drag the line with no lure behind the boat for a few minutes.  

 

Don't reel in while the drag is taking line-that adds twists.

taking off the bottom of the source spool on an axle accomplishes the same thing as lifting the line off the flat face of the source spool.  

The reason - the reel-spool radius never matches the source spool radius.  

It's more important to fish with a swivel so the working line gets the chance to straighten itself out.  

The other important thing, especially with braid, is always fish with proper manual bail technique so you're never trying to wind slack coils of line.  Selah.  

When filling a spinning reel with any line. The line should come off the bottom of the filler spool. Also make sure uou don't over fill the spool.

 

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

first you need a good ball-bearing line roller.  

Always fish spinning gear with a micro-swivel

 

Most important, always use manual bail technique

 

 

I have braid-to-leader on three spinning rigs. Two reels are Daiwa Revros LT’s (2000 & 2500) and the other is a Shimano Sierra. Two are spooled with 20 lb. Sufix 832 (Daiwas) and the Shimano with Seguar Smackdown. All have lures, terminal tackle tied directly to the leader (no swivels). 
 

The line rollers on these three reels are not ball bearing. I agree that is a better set-up, but I have been using these rigs for 3-4 years and I’ve never had an issue with line knots or abnormal wear on the line roller. 
 

OP- what weight of line are you using? I know many use lighter than 20 lb. line on a spinning reel, but it works well for me. 20 lb. braid diameter is comparable to 6 lb. mono. Any smaller than that and I have trouble tying knots. 

Line twist creating “wind” knots shouldn’t happen initially spooling braid line with zero memory.

Everything stated above is true after several trips fishing without a good micro swivel.

To untwist any fishing line run 50 yards of line behind a boat at walking speed without anything tied on the end for about a minute or so.

Tom

 

Those of you useing micro swivels, I assume you're talking a swivel between your braid and a leader.  Are you using very short leaders?  I'd think even a micro swivel could cause issues with the rod guides.

4 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

the reel-spool radius never matches the source spool radius.

Right, but I've found it helps to take it off the end counter to the way it goes on.  Better than letting the filler spool spin on an axle.  I don't think the processes yield equal results. 

Switch rods and re-test.  

Thanks for the replies. To answer some of the questions, the line is 10lb braid to an 8lb fluoro leader. The lure was a 3/16 underspin or jig head with a 2.75” trailer with the same rod and reel as I always use for that setup. The line started knotting on itself immediately upon spooling it up, within five casts. I cut the line where a knot was hopeless and retied the leader and yesterday on the water it immediately started happening again. 
 

I’m going to tie the line to something and walk it  out as far as I can the reel it in and see if it keeps happening. If it does I have to spool it again. 

This is because you aren’t using Fins Windtamer braid 

My guess - You overspooled your reel.  Might have a malfunction,  but not my guess.

 

I fish a lot of braid, both on bait casters and spinners.

 

I just tie it on, throwthe spool in a box with hole in it and wind it on.

 

For me, none of these spooling hacks accomplish anything. 

 

One brand, can't remember which, was a major PITA.  I let it out behind the boat for a couple minutes and wound it back in.  Problem solved.  On spinning tackle, I will occasionally trail behind the boat for a minute or two.  Seems to help the line behave.

 

Braid only.  Does apply to mono or FC.

You could have spooled it loose, reeling in too much slack, using the auto bail trip, or the line is really twisted.  You have to make sure to manually operate the bail, avoid taking in too much slack line, make sure baits are rigged straight so they don't spin on the retrieve.  

Once you do get twists in your line, fix it as soon as possible.   

A good roller bearing helps, but I don't think you need one.  A few of my LTs use bushings and they work fine.    

10 hours ago, mcipinkie said:

My guess - You overspooled your reel.  Might have a malfunction,  but not my guess.

 

I fish a lot of braid, both on bait casters and spinners.

 

I just tie it on, throwthe spool in a box with hole in it and wind it on.

 

For me, none of these spooling hacks accomplish anything. 

 

One brand, can't remember which, was a major PITA.  I let it out behind the boat for a couple minutes and wound it back in.  Problem solved.  On spinning tackle, I will occasionally trail behind the boat for a minute or two.  Seems to help the line behave.

 

Braid only.  Does apply to mono or FC.

Well I used the same braid as two other reels (same spool even) and I always use the same line spooling tool without any issues. It’s possible I over filled it so before I rip it all off I’ll run all the line out and try reeling it in again. Hopefully that fixes it. Such a weird issue. 

On 4/13/2025 at 11:10 AM, ike8120 said:

The line should come off the bottom of the filler spool.

And if I turn the spool over all of a sudden the top is the bottom?  What defines the "bottom?"

 

The advice to check after 20 feet or so is the best advice in this video, IMO. 

Well to close the loop on this one, I hooked a lure around some mesh in my backyard and walked the line all the way out to almost the end of the spool then kept the line very tight as I reeled it back in. Took it out to a local pond yesterday to make a bunch of test casts and the problem is seemingly solved. It was a calm night so I guess the issue could pop back up on the next windy day, but it was calm when the issues started  so I’m guessing the original problem was the line not spooled tightly enough. 
 

Lesson learned. I make it a habit to run my newly spooled baitcasters all the way out and reel them back in with tension to avoid problems so I’ll make it a habit to do the same with my spinning reels. 

On 4/14/2025 at 10:42 AM, dk2429 said:

This is because you aren’t using Fins Windtamer braid 

It's the first braid I tried on a Light power spinning rod....5# Windtamer.  Don't use a spinning rod much, but so far no wind knots and tied direct.  BTW, I wouldn't suggest such light line.  Zero abrasion resistance.  Very thin line.  Dare I say too thin?

On 4/13/2025 at 11:20 AM, wvhunt said:

Those of you useing micro swivels, I assume you're talking a swivel between your braid and a leader.  Are you using very short leaders?  I'd think even a micro swivel could cause issues with the rod guides.

There is a big difference between “micro swivels” the size 14/9 lb test is .24” long a tiny swivel used by fly fishers and doesn’t damage rod tip guides. I understand your concern and braid knot to leader is the best choice, doesn’t eliminate wind knots.

Tom

On 4/27/2025 at 1:24 AM, WRB said:

There is a big difference between “micro swivels” the size 14/9 lb test is .24” long a tiny swivel used by fly fishers and doesn’t damage rod tip guides. I understand your concern and braid knot to leader is the best choice, doesn’t eliminate wind knots.

Tom

I'm sure it has zero influence on wind knots. I was just curious about the metal micro swivel hitting the micro eye tip over and over when casting.

Wind knot are created by line twist, swivel reduces twisting.

Micro guides would be a problem with micro swivels, knots can be an issue with micro guides under 4.5mm!

Tom