Thread: Putting backing/casting line on a spinning reel - a new way to spool

mylar comes in thin sheets. i used it for vacuum bagging carbon fiber composite sailplane wings, and parts. epoxy doesn't stick to it.
any type of thin plastic should work as long as it bends easy.
i got one of these sheets from a place that sells drawing supplies, and hobby shops have thin plastic sheets for vacuum molding.

most tapes, if you just wrap your spool with it to get your desired depth, over time out in the elements, the tape breaks down, the line cuts thru it, and makes a mess.

with the mylar, that doesn't happen.

i'm going to try a thin piece of mylar over the knot where i joined backing to main line, and see if that works. most tapes over the knots makes a mess over time. i've been experitmenting....

it would be nice if they made a piece of plastic that would just clip on over a empty spool. i've been cutting up pill bottles trying to find just the right stuff, no luck yet.

i heared they had them for ice fishing reels.

Originally Posted by Joey Clark

I read a trick somewhere about using electrical tape as your backer then putting your length of braid on. I haven't tried this yet but seemed like a great idea to me.

I dunno. When electrical tape gets too hot, it oozies like a diaper full of mustard.

Originally Posted by Cane Pole

I dunno. When electrical tape gets too hot, it oozies like a diaper full of mustard.

yeah, that makes a big mess, really fast. about the worst tape out there to use.

Originally Posted by "D"

Here is a suggestion. When the line starts "looking" a little old, walk it off your reel and reel it on from the used end. Or reel it on to another reel. This puts the new unexposed stuff on the outside. String lasts twice as long.

As simple as this is I have not thought of reversing the line. Genius. Years back I was crazy enough to put tape on my reels to save a little money but the line gets wet and the tape gets hot and now you have a sticky mess. I am sure that if you wanted to back it you could find a knot to join the two lines seamlessly without tape.

I am sure that if you wanted to back it you could find a knot to join the two lines seamlessly without tape.

Uni to Uni knots

The allbright is an excellent knot for joining braid to mono lines, but if I am not in my shop so I can look at a picture I can't remember how to tie it. In that case I use the 2 uniknots back to back, but they do leave a small bump.
The comment about something to snap over the spool reminded me that I had a bait caster that came with a plastic spool that snapped over the arbor to reduce the line capacity. I think is was on one of the 5000 series Garcia reels, maybe the 5500C?? Anybody remember the plastic spool cover and who made it???


Here is the Allbright knot