Hey guys, I just got a new baitcaster made for supporting braided line, and I spooled some up last night only to have it catch a knot UNDER most of the braid and I ended up having to cut ALL of it off because it was so bad.  Because of this I was just wondering if theres a different way to spool braid that prevents that, I didn't have the line tension up for about the first 20 yards or so, and I thought that might have something to do with it, and I also think I put too much on and that contributed, but I'm just looking for some tips.

Braided line is so limp that any technique is suitable for winding it on a reel. It helps to have tension on the line while putting it on the reel just like it does with mono. It sounds like you had the line spool on a rod of some sort without any resistance and got an overrun on the line spool that caused the tangle that you wound onto the reel. I can't imagine it happening any other way.

i agree. The only reason i could see that happening is that there was not enough tension when spooling up.

step 1: go buy power pro braid if you didn't the first time

step 2: apply tension when reeling it onto the spool

step 3: be happy

8-)

power pro better than fireline?

Absolutly Power Pro.  Also, did you add 5-8 yards of mono backer?  Its really important to have that backer on.

power pro better than fireline?

Power Pro and Suffix seem to be the most popular braids (from what I've remember reading on the boards).  I personally do not care for fireline. I'm using Suffix Performance braid.

Use tape, no need for backing.  I haven't used backing for braid in a few years.

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the responses, I figured having not enough tension on the reel was probably the culprit, and I figured not putting so much line on it might help too.  I didn't put a mono backer on it, but I asked one of the employees at the tackle store I went to (to buy new line to replace the stuff I destroyed...sigh) and he said the same thing, either a mono backer or a piece of cloth tape.  Though that raises another question:Do I tie the braid TO the mono, or just use the mono as a buffer between the reel and the line? It's a bass pro nitro reel, made to take braid, but I figure if nothing else mono will allow the braid to catch better initially and thus spool a little better.

Once again, thanks for the help guys!

Unless you want to lose all of your braid , I suggest you tie the braid to the mono backing with a uni to uni knot.

[movedhere] Fishing Tackle [move by] Glenn.