How to Put a Fishing Line on an Open Bail Reel

As is necessary on all makes and models of fishing reels, open bail reels must be loaded with fishing line before they can be used to catch fish. Before fishing reels can be used for the first time, they must have line put on them. But fishing line also becomes weakened and frayed during normal use, so it is also necessary to add new fishing line to reels from time to time. How often depends on the amount of fishing anglers do, but most anglers should change their line once per fishing season.

Things You'll Need

• Open bail reel
• Fishing rod
• Fishing line
• Cutting instrument, like a scissors

Instructions

1. Attach the fishing reel to a fishing rod.

2. Open the bail of the fishing reel.

3. Thread the fishing line through the guides on the fishing rod. Begin with the guide at the tip of the rod and work your way down to the fishing reel.

4. Wrap the line once around the reel. Use an overhand knot, like the kind you would use to tie a knot in shoelaces, to attach the line to the reel. Tie a second overhand knot for added strength. Make sure the knots are tight against the reel spool.

5. Use scissors or another cutting instrument to trim the tag end of the fishing line to within 1/8 of an inch of the knot.

6. Close the bail of the reel.

7. Grasp the fishing rod and the fishing line with your dominant hand just above the reel. You want to apply pressure to the line as you place it in the reel.

8. Spin the reel handle with your dominant hand to place fishing line onto the reel.

9. Cut the line about 12 inches beyond the rod tip once you have added the line to the reel.