GTPopping.com - Giant Trevally, GTPopping, Topwater & GT Fly-Fishing Resource
Topwater Caranx Ignobilis: Giant Trevally (GT) => Tackle & Techniques => Topic started by: mike burgess on February 08, 2010, 04:23:57 PM
-
I tried last night to spool up my new 18000SW with 80lb Varivas.
Someone suggested never to get this done at a tackle shop as they don't apply enough pressure.
First I wound the entire spool onto a downrigger then by winding with lots of pressure set on the downrigger drag & reel drag, through rod guides & onto the reel.
Only towards the end I discovered the line was not even & tapered towards the top of the reel, ie more line at top of spool than bottom.
I was really annoyed to say the least as this process nearly killed me & I then had to take all the line back off the reel & was left wondering what to do next.
I read in the manual by adding drag washers will correct this type of taper but I thought the reel was supposed to be set correctly in the first place.
I am now wondering if I was applying too much pressure which caused the taper, in which case maybe I should take it to a tackle store??
Any ideas guys? help......
-
Hey Mike,
try adding a washer, if you bought the reel new it should come with a few spares and its simple to add or take one out. I just re-spooled a stella 8000 and had the same uneven taper - shallow at the base.
Adding a washer seemed to even out the line lay.
Ewan.
-
Mike, They are hardly ever set right from factory. Suggest u put additional washers under spool. Try again with some cheap or old mono line and see if problem has been rectified. I've never had a problem with tackle shops spooling line on.
-
yea I guess I should add a washer.
I was just worried that if I added the washer, then went through that process again & it didn't help, I doubt I could physically go through it again, its a killer!
Good idea re testing with old mono after adding the washer Sunny.
You don't think it could be due to applying too much pressure when spooling?
-
Mike, in all honesty I've seen guys put line on so tight, the finished product feels like rock... You don't need to wind it on under 20kg drag!!! But to answer your question, it shouldn't affect it at all winding it on tight.
-
I dunno who you take it to but all tackle stores sell braid nowadays and most are able to spool them up properly. It doesnt need to go on there super tight, just firmly so there's no give in the spool of line so that it would dig into itself. Take it to another tackle store to rectify if you dont trust the first one.
-
Mike with-out being rude at all,
if your in Sydney and you are able to get to somewhere a very good friend of mine has a tackle shop on Anzac Parade, Kingsford, just head to South's Junior's and keep going up past South's Junior's to the next set of traffic light's, turn right and then right again and he is just a bit back from the corner - GLOBAL TACKLE.
he does a great job and as i said we are very good mates. Just to give you an idea i went to New Caledonia last year with some mate's and he spooled up my reel for me with Varivas, when i was in New Caledonia popper fishing my butt off, i had no problems at all what so ever with (line trouble) if you get my drift.
his name is Wahyu.
if you do go there, tell him if you would like to i mentioned his shop and address to you, but chances are if your there sometime in the afternoon i may be there myself to.
i know his opening and closing hours, if you would like to know just PM me.
-
notwithstanding the pain, I will never rely on a tackle shop to do this for me. It is simply too important an aspect for me to rely on a shop to get it done right. I don't mean any disrespect to any of you guys who work in tackle shops but most machines simply don't get the braid on tight enough and the line lay is always different from the way the reel does it. Of course, if you guys wind the braid on properly, that is a different issues.
I had a friend who is a forum member here who stayed at my place on the way to Bugatti a couple of years ago. I checked his spools which had been done by a very reputable tackle store and we ended up re-winding every one of his spools.
If the line isn't tight enough on your spool, you are likely to experience snap-offs due to the line biting in. I feel the same way about knots - I trust my own knots and if anything goes wrong, I have no-one to blame but myself.
Sam - I'm not sure Wahyu will thank you for this ;D He does not use the machine for anything over about 30lb braid - he winds it manually.
The little things are so important in this sport. If there is a weakness anywhere, GTs will find it.
-
notwithstanding the pain, I will never rely on a tackle shop to do this for me. It is simply too important an aspect for me to rely on a shop to get it done right. I don't mean any disrespect to any of you guys who work in tackle shops but most machines simply don't get the braid on tight enough and the line lay is always different from the way the reel does it. Of course, if you guys wind the braid on properly, that is a different issues.
I had a friend who is a forum member here who stayed at my place on the way to Bugatti a couple of years ago. I checked his spools which had been done by a very reputable tackle store and we ended up re-winding every one of his spools.
If the line isn't tight enough on your spool, you are likely to experience snap-offs due to the line biting in. I feel the same way about knots - I trust my own knots and if anything goes wrong, I have no-one to blame but myself.
Sam - I'm not sure Wahyu will thank you for this ;D He does not use the machine for anything over about 30lb braid - he winds it manually.
The little things are so important in this sport. If there is a weakness anywhere, GTs will find it.
I bought my stella and avani GT from Fish head. Aaron and Gordon put the braid on tighter than tight. I knew it was tight because Aaron went quiet when winding it on :o
-
Thanks for all the input, I don't mean to offend anyone.
I think I will add another washer or two & give it another go.
Can anyone suggest another technique which allows me to apply the necessary pressure other than using a downrigger or Alvey? Its just that I'm not sure I can get hold of the downrigger again.
-
Thanks for all the input, I don't mean to offend anyone.
I think I will add another washer or two & give it another go.
Can anyone suggest another technique which allows me to apply the necessary pressure other than using a downrigger or Alvey? Its just that I'm not sure I can get hold of the downrigger again.
Just find a partner, something sturdy to go through the spool such as a screwdriver and a disposable rag.
Simple apply pressure to the spool with the rag that is rotating on the screwdriver as you wind.
-
it made Aaron go quiet!!??
notwithstanding the pain, I will never rely on a tackle shop to do this for me. It is simply too important an aspect for me to rely on a shop to get it done right. I don't mean any disrespect to any of you guys who work in tackle shops but most machines simply don't get the braid on tight enough and the line lay is always different from the way the reel does it. Of course, if you guys wind the braid on properly, that is a different issues.
I had a friend who is a forum member here who stayed at my place on the way to Bugatti a couple of years ago. I checked his spools which had been done by a very reputable tackle store and we ended up re-winding every one of his spools.
If the line isn't tight enough on your spool, you are likely to experience snap-offs due to the line biting in. I feel the same way about knots - I trust my own knots and if anything goes wrong, I have no-one to blame but myself.
Sam - I'm not sure Wahyu will thank you for this ;D He does not use the machine for anything over about 30lb braid - he winds it manually.
The little things are so important in this sport. If there is a weakness anywhere, GTs will find it.
I bought my stella and avani GT from Fish head. Aaron and Gordon put the braid on tighter than tight. I knew it was tight because Aaron went quiet when winding it on :o
-
Just find a partner, something sturdy to go through the spool such as a screwdriver and a disposable rag.
Just make sure its your partner doing the winding ::) ::) ::)
-
Yes, but not for long ;D
it made Aaron go quiet!!??
notwithstanding the pain, I will never rely on a tackle shop to do this for me. It is simply too important an aspect for me to rely on a shop to get it done right. I don't mean any disrespect to any of you guys who work in tackle shops but most machines simply don't get the braid on tight enough and the line lay is always different from the way the reel does it. Of course, if you guys wind the braid on properly, that is a different issues.
I had a friend who is a forum member here who stayed at my place on the way to Bugatti a couple of years ago. I checked his spools which had been done by a very reputable tackle store and we ended up re-winding every one of his spools.
If the line isn't tight enough on your spool, you are likely to experience snap-offs due to the line biting in. I feel the same way about knots - I trust my own knots and if anything goes wrong, I have no-one to blame but myself.
Sam - I'm not sure Wahyu will thank you for this ;D He does not use the machine for anything over about 30lb braid - he winds it manually.
The little things are so important in this sport. If there is a weakness anywhere, GTs will find it.
I bought my stella and avani GT from Fish head. Aaron and Gordon put the braid on tighter than tight. I knew it was tight because Aaron went quiet when winding it on :o
-
I have no idea what you re talking about!! ;D
Just find a partner, something sturdy to go through the spool such as a screwdriver and a disposable rag.
Just make sure its your partner doing the winding ::) ::) ::)
-
The screwdriver through spool & rag doesn't seem like it would be possible to exert even, steady pressure??
Is this technique good enough?
-
I wind the line onto a game reel (TLD, Tiagra etc) then set the drag, put the game outfit into the boat rod holder nd wind off that.
-
It works and is pretty steady. you just pay the price later when the wife/partner cracks it at the 300m mark, and you still have another 100-200 to go.....
-
The screwdriver through spool & rag doesn't seem like it would be possible to exert even, steady pressure??
Is this technique good enough?
Pretty easy. Why don't you try it?
Years of using this technique without grief doesn't lie!
-
I like Sunny's idea but use the screwdriver one myself. I also use a bit a cardboard on either side of the spool instead of the rag, it slips easier under pressure and the friction heat buildup isn't too bad. I usually hold the screwdriver between my toes and run the line through the first runner of a rod and wind from there.
Another one I heard the other day was throw the spool of line into a bucket of water, run through the first runner of a rod and use gloved finger to put tension on...the theory being the wet line won't heat up/worry your guide after it's had 300 yards of tensioned braid running over the one spot at top speed.
-
I tried last night to spool up my new 18000SW with 80lb Varivas.
Someone suggested never to get this done at a tackle shop as they don't apply enough pressure.
First I wound the entire spool onto a downrigger then by winding with lots of pressure set on the downrigger drag & reel drag, through rod guides & onto the reel.
Only towards the end I discovered the line was not even & tapered towards the top of the reel, ie more line at top of spool than bottom.
I was really annoyed to say the least as this process nearly killed me & I then had to take all the line back off the reel & was left wondering what to do next.
I read in the manual by adding drag washers will correct this type of taper but I thought the reel was supposed to be set correctly in the first place.
I am now wondering if I was applying too much pressure which caused the taper, in which case maybe I should take it to a tackle store??
Any ideas guys? help......
Mike Don't worry I have 2 X 18K's and have had to add 4 extra washers to one and 2 to the other to get the line lay even. Not such an issue with 80lb but bare in mind with thicker braids a bulky spool knot can also exagerate coning if it is in the wrong position on the spool. I have not had the same problem with my SW10K's.
Just as a matter of interest how much varivas 80lb did you get on, from memory i got 420m of Avani PE6 on one of my 18k spools.
-
I guess I'll have to try the screwdriver...
Couldn't say exactly how much I got on but reckon it was closer to 500m, maybe less though.
I wound 1 wrap of insulation tape directly to spool, then uni knot braid over tape, small piece of tape over knot.
I do remember the knot sat pretty close to the bottom of the spool, where should it sit & is the uni knot ok?
-
Couldn't say exactly how much I got on but reckon it was closer to 500m, maybe less though.
I wound 1 wrap of insulation tape directly to spool, then uni knot braid over tape, small piece of tape over knot.
I do remember the knot sat pretty close to the bottom of the spool, where should it sit & is the uni knot ok?
500m :o, no wonder you were nearly dead..
As I said not such an issue for PE6 but if you have coning issues and your knot is up front of the spool in PE10 or 12 it does tend to make matters worse.
I usually do a 4 turn Uni to create a loop, and then a tip I got from Gus, is to twist the loop over the arbor once then snug down.
-
thanks for all the input guys.
Should I try & position knot in the centre of the spool?
I will try again with the downrigger in next few days & add 2 washers & let you know how it goes.
-
FYI
I added the 2 bigger shimano supplied washers (comes with 2 big, 2 small) & to my surprise I got 550m PE6 on & shape is now even.
Thanks for all the help.