Line issues

[trypman1]

Get your Wife a Zebco Gold 33 under trigger reel, They are nice with 2 pickup pins. Helps with slack line pick up issue. I use 4# hi vis line and had no problems with the reels. I have caught many crappie and bream with them. They are well made and cost around 25 to 30$. I pull out about 60' of line in my yard with nothing tied to it, retrieve though your thumb and finger with enough pressure to make the line uncurl, this works and should be done every trip or so. I hope this helps.

[CrappiePappy]

Only trick I know of to cause the reel spool pin to pick up loose line is to :

cast out and keep the rod tip pointing down until the bait hits the water
then start lifting the rod tip up and turn the handle as the rod tip is rising (and line is still being pulled out by that motion)

Stretching the line (like Streamwalker suggests) is also a good tactic to take the coils out and relax the line ... but, that has to be done before every trip, since the line will take a set into coils again when it's not used for a day or two.

I do it this way :
tie line off and walk off 50ft of loose line
engage reel and pull line taught & hold it there for 10sec & release tension ... repeat 2 more times
lay rod down & go untie the tag end ... return to rod and reel line in between thumb & forefinger tension
allow line to drag thru grass

This does two things ... relaxes the line (removing some of the coiling) and untwists the line (as it's coming thru the grass).

You might also consider having her try using a regular spinning reel ... but one that has a trigger. (since she's used to the underspin, it might not be a hard change)

[Crestliner08]

Sounds like you're doing everything correctly. With these type of reels, make absolutely sure than BEFORE you start to reel back in, that the line is taught with the spool when first engaging. Braid can be used with any regular open faced UL spinning reels, but I've never tried it on a closed face. If you are of a mind to stick to mono, then Trilene XL is hard to beat. Used it for over 60 years.

[DRFISHDUCK]

Have you removed the spool cover and observed the pin action? The pin may have issues.

Sent from my SM-J337P using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Eagle 1]

I use the Zebco 33 under spin reels when fishing deep brush piles . Try Stren original 4 lb. test and do not overfill .

[Techno2000]

Ok folks, I need some advice. I bought the wife a new Diawa XD40 ultralight trigger spin. I used these reels years ago and love them. My issue now is the line coils up and you have to pull the line taught in front of the reel to get it to engage. I’ve tried BPS Crappie Maxx, PLine and Yozuri with no luck. I’ve also spooled it on different ways, drug it behind the boat and soaked the line prior to spooling in hot water as well. Way back when all we used was regular old Stren or Trilene in 4lb test. Maybe it’s time to return to my roots.

How does braid work on an UL reel. Anyone else fish with theses Diawas and have success? I know everyone has their favorite line, so do I, but I need one that doesn’t coil.

Like b4disco said, you can get a spinning reel with a trigger that is very easy to use. Put on some 6 lb KastKing braid and you will never have a line twist problem again.

Shimano IX Series Spinning Reel
Shimano IX Series Spinning Reel | SCHEELS.com