New ultralight rod.

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 101363Attachment 101362

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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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

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

Too much line.

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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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.

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

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.

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.

No1son, Thanks for the info. I'm annoyed that I am having any problems at all because the rod/reel is brand new from Bass Pro Shops and second I had them spool it for me with a line and weight that the guy recommended. Obviously a mistake. I now have to drive an hour to Bass Pro Shops to get this resolved. This is my first impression of them and it isn't going good so far. Hope the return/ repair goes much better. Thanks again.

I had no idea about dropping the bail manually. I will try that from now on.

I would flip the bail manually the spring will last alot longer. Then there is to much line on the spool causing it to fall off the sideof the spool.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MillbrookFisherman

... the rod/reel is brand new from Bass Pro Shops ...

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That reel looks like the Microlite:

Bass Pro Shops® Micro Lite™ Elite Spinning Reels | Bass Pro Shops

I'm not sure which model yours is, but both models are very small and have tiny spools. In my experience, line does not behave well on spools that small. I would ask them if you could trade the reel in on a bigger model.

" I would ask them if you could trade the reel in on a bigger model."

Exactly what i did when i bought a reel that was too small. Didn't have a problem with them giving me the next size up reel. Spools that small are worthless to me. Wouldn't even let my grandkids use that junk.

Tiny reels tend to have the tiny spools that do not behave well at all unless one also uses tiny lines and one manually closes the bail when casting. That works just fine for me once I put that all together and got used to it. I also use tiny rods that the tiny spools are weight balanced for, nothing longer that maybe 5 or 5 1/2'. I had a very similar experience the time I tried out Berkley Nanofil. I got a bit too heavy a weight and that is too stiff to spool well on the little Shakespeares I use. I use their size 20/25 reels all the time. I ended up loosing what might have been one of the largest fish I have ever taken. I was not a happy camper about that at all. Needless to say Nanofil does not rate very highly with me.

If you have a longer rod say 5 1/2 or longer a bit larger reel would balance well. But there is no doubt in my mind that they spooled a line that was too heavy for the reel you bought and the offerings you are using. Before you drive all that way call the store, tell them how the reel is misbehaving, tell them what weight line they sold you for it and ask them to send you a lighter line. I doubt if you will need more than 100-120 yards and that capacity will be right on the spool itself. Tell them how long a drive it is for you and that you are dissatisfied and that you bought what they recommended and see what they will do for you over the phone. That may save you an expensive long drive that by itself probably will cost you more than the reel did to begin with, definitely it will if you figure in your time.

If you call, ask for customer service, they often have more latitude to make adjustments than the floor staff does. If they will simply send out 100 yards or so of a high quality 4# copolymer, that might fix things for you. There are a number of threads here on Crappie.com that discuss various of our preferences and there are certainly quite of few of posters here experienced with the lines that BassPro sells. Check them out. If you get static from the person who answers the call ask for a manager. If you can straighten it out over the phone, that will save you time and money and probably a lot of grief.