How To Spool A Spinning Reel With Braided Line (5 Easy Steps)

Spooling a spinning reel with braided line can be frustrating. If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Here’s exactly how to spool a spinning reel with braided line…the easy way.

Let’s get started…

Option #1: Have A Pro Spool Your Reel

The easiest way to spool braided line onto your spinning reel is to have the pros do it for you. In most cases, the store where you bought the braided fishing line will offer a reel spooling service. And oftentimes this will be at no additional cost. If this is the case, be sure to take advantage of that offer…even if it does cost you a nominal fee.

The largest advantage to having a pro load your reel with braided line is the confidence in knowing that it’s been done correctly. The last thing you want is to lose that dorado or chromer salmon because the braid was installed incorrectly.

Option #2: Spool The Reel Yourself

If it’s not feasable to have a member of the pro staff load the spinning reel with braid for you, then you can definitely do it yourself.

All you have to do to spool a spinning reel with braided line is follow these very easy steps.

What You’ll Need:

monofilament Line (same test# as the braided line)
Braided Fishing Line
Wet Washclot (for protecting your hands)
Line Clippers
Line Spooling Tool (Like this one)

How To Spool A Spinning Reel With Braided Line Yourself (Step-by-Step)

Step #1:

Start with the monofilament line and thread it through the first eye of the fishing rod. Pull the end of the monofilament line down to the reel and tie the mono to the spool of the spinning reel.

Note: Make sure that you flip the bail of the reel before attaching the mono line to the spool! Otherwise, you’ll quickly find out it’s not going to work. 🙂

Regarding what kind of knot to tie to attach the monofilament line…it doesn’t really matter, as long as you tie a strong knot that won’t easily break. It’s very unlikely that your fish will peel off all the braid and leave you without any line.

A double over hand loop is a very common way to tie fishing line to the spool and works excellent in this case as well.

But if you would like more information about how to attach line to the spool, you can read my post on it here.

Step #2:

With one hand, hold the monofilament line close to the first eye of the fishing rod. Holding the line between your thumb and index finger will provide the tension needed to keep the line tight while you reel with your other hand.

And with the other hand, begin to slowly reel. Continue to do this until you have at least one, or maybe two layers of monofilament line on the spool.

Step #3:

Cut the monofilament line and attach it to the braided fishing line. There are several different ways you can attach these two lines. But I prefer to use this simple method: (See Video Instructions Below)

Tie a double over hand loop in the braided line and pull it tight.
Take the mono line and cross it over the loop in the braided line
Now turn the loop of the braided line over the mono line 9 to 10 times…away from the tag end of the mono.
Bring the tag end of the mono line through the loop in the braided line and hold the main mono line and the tag of the mono in one hand, and the braided line in the other.
Wet the area where the mono/braid twists are with saliva
Pull each line in opposite directions until you see the connection begin to tighten down, then let go of the tag end of the mono line.
Continue to pull on the lines as much as you can. When the tag of the mono line is perpendicular to the main line, you know you’ve completed the attachment.

Step #4:

Now it’s time to start spooling your spinning reel with braided line.

The important part here is to keep the line taught as you reel it onto the spool. If the line is spooled while loose, it is incredibly easy to end up with knots in your line that will take you away from fishing.

To keep the line taught, hold it with the opposite hand that you reel with, between your thumb and forefinger. I generally hold it up close to the first guide on the rod.

Place the spool of braided line that your taking from on the table, label up, directly under the first guide of the spinning rod. This will help prevent twisting of the line as you load the reel.

Now begin to slowly reel in the braided line. You’ll see that the mono is quickly covered by the braid. And if everything looks good and is spooling nicely, use the wet rag to hold the line now.

Using this rag will prevent your fingers from getting ‘rope burned’ in this next and final step.

Step #5:

Now you can spool the rest of the braided line onto your spinning reel.

Go ahead and reel in at a faster pace now, filling the entire spinning reel with braided line. Keep a close eye on the reel as you fill it with line. Make sure the line is going on in a nice organized fashion.

Continue filling the spool with braid until there is only about ⅛ of an inch of gap remaining on the spool. If you fill the spinning reel with too much fishing line, then you’ll be asking for trouble in the sense of wind knots and birds nests.

(VIDEO) How To Spool Braided Line Onto A Spinning Reel

Final Thoughts

That’s how to spool a spinning reel with braided line. As you can see it’s a very easy process. The most difficult part might be tying the mono to the braid, but even that is very easy to do, as you’ll quickly see.

Hope this helps you get that new braid onto your spinning reel! Any questions about this process, don’t hesitate to send me a message. Good luck out there!

My Favorite Braided Fishing Lines

Below are the braided fishing lines that I currently recommend. You can read my reviews about each of these fishing lines in my post he The Best Braided Fishing Line (Top 5 Braided Lines Reviewed).

How To Spool A Spinning Reel With Braided Line (5 Easy Steps)