laying line on a conventional

[abu]

What is the best way to learn how to lay the line back on the reel when reeling a conventional?

[cygnus-x1]

Just do it is the best I can say. Your left thumb will train itself to evenly distribute the line as you real it back in. It kind of trains itself ... really. When you get to your shock knot make sure you put the knot either on the left or the right of the spool.

[junkmansj]

If you reel right handed(turn the handle) use your left hand (thumb or thumb and forefinger) To lay the line back and forth on the reel keeping it level as Possible

[derekxec]

dont wind it on like a level line would with it crossing from your finger moving faster than a levelwind is better....when it crosses more than a level line the line peels off the spool faster

[stupidjet]

i havent used a conventional. when reeling in a fighting fish, are you doing that att he same time?

[Digger]

i havent used a conventional. when reeling in a fighting fish, are you doing that att he same time?

Yes

[basstardo]

Sounds harder than it is. I just went to conventionals from levelwind about a year ago. Thumb basically trains itself and now I don't even think about it when I'm fighting a fish or reeling in a bait.

[Tommy]

A trick that works for me is to count handle revolutions as you guide the line across. On a 6500 size reel about 6-7 handle rotations per once across and for a 7500 size reel about 8 handle revolutions. This helps to keep the line lay flat, especially at night when you can't really see.

Tommy

[trowpa]

A trick that works for me is to count handle revolutions as you guide the line across. On a 6500 size reel about 6-7 handle rotations per once across and for a 7500 size reel about 8 handle revolutions. This helps to keep the line lay flat, especially at night when you can't really see.

Tommy

Wow - based on that i think maybe i'm moving my thumb too quickly - i'm doing it about once every 3 turns - does wrapping more frequently back and forth slow down the cast? or does it increase the chance of fluff?

Not sure if it makes a difference but this is on an avet sx (which has a very narrow spool - my thumb doesn't have far to go)

[Tommy]

Spool size does matter. On a 5500 size spool (I don't own an Avet so can't compare) it takes 5-6revolutions for one pass across. This will also depend on the speed of retrieve but you can use it on any reel by adjusting the revolutions per pass. One of the keys to proper line lay is making the pass continuos and NOT crossing back and forth over the same spot. You can survive a pretty significant fluff if the line does not cross back over itself during a pass across the spool. If it does cross back and forth over itself AND you have a fluff, you will end up with a birdnest.

Tommy

[trowpa]

Tommy - thanks for the pointers. I will definitely try to keep the passes smooth (not crossing over themselves) - I just need to get a feel for whether the line is best to wrap slowly across the spool (each wrap is close together) or faster across the spool(each wrap is at a greater angle and farther away from each other).

Not sure if i'm making sense - this is probably not the easiest thing to explain or learn through a message board. I'll just have to watch someone in person.

[emanuel]

You'll get used to it very fast, after a couple trips, you won't even think about it.

[Fisheadgib]

I would say, the next time you're excitedly reeling in a nice fish, let the line bunch up in a lump and jam the reel. After doing it once, you'll really focus on not doing it again and it'll become second nature in no time.:D

[Ryan Y]

I picked up the lines crossing thing a couple years ago from Tommy. I get about 6 to 7 turns of the reel handle on the 525 mag.

But when crossing the line, be sure and NOT fill in the deeper gaps that might be created when winding in thel line. If gaps develope, just keep going over them. Fillinf the gaps puts allot of line in places on your spool. if it fluffs there, all the fluff is in one place and its game over.