New ultralight rod.

[MillbrookFisherman]

I got this new ultralight rod/reel combo for my birthday about two weeks ago and I am having a few issues with it... wondering if anyone has some advice. The first problem I have been having is that after I cast and tryi to reel in a little bit the bail does not drop... I have to manually drop it. The second problem I've been having is that the string gets caught under the spool (you can see in the picture I've attached what I am talking about). It is quite frustrating. I want to know if it is something I am doing or if the reel is bad and I need to take it back. Attachment 101362

[jigflinger]

Is the reel turning and not dropping the bail? If so, take it back. As for the line problem goes; try taking some line off. Looks a little too full. What pound test line. Appears to be really stiff in your pic.

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[MillbrookFisherman]

The reel does not turn or drop the bail. I have to drop the bail by hand and then it spins. As far as the line goes I think it is 6lb test. The guy at Bass Pro shop loaded it with 85 yards. Which is the listed max for that line test, but your right now looking at the picture it does look really full. Thanks

[jigflinger]

Sounds like the spool is stopped right on the bail trip mechanism. With mechanical bails the handle must have a little run at the release to work properly. This is not uncommon. All spinning reels, with the exception of the high end models, will exhibit this characteristic. The high end models now use magnetic releases.

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[DrNip]

I would drop the bail manually to help prevent line twist.

Too much line.

[jigflinger]

Actually, the spool is not stopped on the bail trip as the spool doesn't rotate. The rotating head is what's stopped on the bail trip spot.

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[jaxsprat]

Take reel & rod to bass pro shop, show them what is happening and ask them to try it, if u doin something wrong they will show u right way and check out reel also, they will be happy to help and will replace reel if necessary. Hope u got receipt or used a rewards card so they will have proof of purchase.

[MillbrookFisherman]

Thank you all for all of the responses. I will take it back and have them look at it.

[Blackhawk19]

I agree with jaxsprat, I have 3 of those reels and really like them. after they check it out it out when you fish with a spinning reel you always need to close the bail manually and then give the line a little tug, you will have a lot less line twist.

[no1son]

Spool is definitely too full, and you are not getting a good tension on the line as it is going back on the spool and have not been for a number of casts. There is a very poor spool fill going down quite a ways. For the very small ultralights, an occasional loose loop is going to happen with the smallest baits and you have to watch to catch them as early as possible, but it will be far worse if you use too heavy a line, because you probably won't be getting a good line straightening during your retrieves either; so it will not lay out properly on the spool producing the kind of loose loop that gets under the spool. My best guess is that the line is too heavy and too stiff for the size lure you are casting.

A lot of us manually close the bail as a matter of course. Like was mentioned by other posters already that reduces line twist and addresses a number of other problems as well. A lot of us ignore the automatic bail closing virtually all the time. If the bail is closing stiff or not closing completely then the reel needs a cleaning and a relube, paying special attention to the bail spring and the line roller. The bail should snap shut when you close it, if it doesn't even after relubing then you have a faulty spring or simply a bad unit.

I think the main problem you have is the wrong line. I fish inexpensive rods and reels by choice, but one should never scrimp on the line. I use the best line I can afford, never bargain basement stuff. It needs to balance the lure you are using and fit the reel. A high quality copolymer of maybe 4# and .006" to .008" diameter is what I would recommend and I have had good luck with some of the really fine super braids, like PowerPro 5# and 8#. Mostly I use GAMMA Copolymer. If I had that kind of lousy spooling of the line on the reel, I would respool the reel immediately with another brand in a lighter weight.