How Full Is Your Spool? 2024
papajoe222 reply :
I see a lot of guys with their reels so full of line that it bulges out past the rim or higher than the edge. I've always had problems with the line jumping off the spool even when using my thumb or forefinger. I suppose I could learn to eliminate those problems, but I don't see the need to spool an extra twenty yards when bass fishing.
Do you fill your spools to capacity and if so, what's the advantage vs. to an eighth of an inch or so og the edge?
J Francho reply :
I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
Matthew2000 reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
Same
Joedodge reply :
1/8-3/16 or so below the edged the spool give or take seems to work great with all lines
Fishes in trees reply :
I generally just eyeball it. My goal with bait casters is to get the spool as full as possible without over-filling it. With spinning reels I leave a 1/8"to 1/16" gap between the end of the line and the lip of the spool. If you are using the spinning reel to throw cranks, there isn't any issue to filling it up right up to the edge.
Jeff H reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
How many lips do you have?
Catch and Grease reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
Same
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
I regularly receive reels for service that are so overfilled I have to strip line off to get the spool out of the frame. That would be above the second lip.
Darren. reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
Ditto.
jbrew73 reply :
i have two quantum reels that are prone to backlash when filled to the first lip. if i pull off about 15 yrds of line they cast like a dream. my lews reels seem to cast good filled all the way to the first lip or just a bit more but as i start to lose line due to break offs or cutting it back due to abrasion damage i start to notice a slight dip in casting distance.
i guess every reel wants or needs a certain amout of line. just go with what works for you and/or your reels.
Team9nine reply :
That little line they put on the spools about an 1/8 inch down is there to let you know it's time to add more line when you see it 
JK - but I always overspool my baitcasters. Bugs me to no end when I grab a buddies rod/reel and the line is just 3/4 spooled - LOL. Spinning reels I tend to abide by "the guideline" a bit more because the nature of that type setup is more prone to spool issues when overfilled. Not so with baitcasters.
-T9
Montanaro reply :
I fill to where when I hold it to eye level that the spool does not completely obstruct my view of line guide.
Line should be coming off spool about level with line guide. If line has to travel down to the line guide then you've got too much.
Alonerankin2 reply :
I slightly under fill my high speed flip/pitch trig/jig reels.. It allows room for a slack line respool, crankbait type setups, I fill proper due to tight line retrieval methods. Spinning, slightly under filled as well..
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
SirSnookalot reply :
Can't say how many times on spinning gear filling to high I've dropped the lure behind me on the back cast, doesn't happen with less line. I'd guess I'm about 3/16", don't feel the need to add line if I happen to drop down to 1/4" or so.
Line capacity is a bit over rated, you get a fish that strips you down pretty far, an extra 20 yards they'd probably take that too.
lecisnith reply :
Uhhh...you don't just fill it until the line runs out...?
papajoe222 reply :
I haven't see any valid responses in favor of over filling the spool, IMO anyway, I guess I'm just a graduate of the school that teaches me to judge perfornance, as it relates to expense, first. A quality spool of line, in compairison to the cost of the quality reel I'll be spooling it on, justifies it's price. Respooling when the spool gets a little low becomes a given.
ChrisD46 reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
^^This^^ ... Spinning or Bait Cast .
Sam reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
X2, or a little less.
The reel is engineered to have "X" amount of yards per test to work at its maximum.
Over filling and under filling can cause less productive casts.
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 10:56 AM, Montanaro said:I fill to where when I hold it to eye level that the spool does not completely obstruct my view of line guide.
Line should be coming off spool about level with line guide. If line has to travel down to the line guide then you've got too much.
The rod builder in me makes me think you'd need a spinning guide to equal the height of the line guide coming off the reel. There will always be an angle to some degree but we design to minimize it. A little experimenting with each rod/ reel / line combo can help fine tuning for sure.
fishballer06 reply :
Well right now, almost all of my spools are empty 
But like others, I fill them just a hair below the lip. Any fuller and I'm bound to get problems.
lmbfisherman reply :
On 2/26/2015 at 6:54 AM, J Francho said:I usually fill to 1/8" of the first lip.
x100
Dogmatic reply :
I usually always overfill at the beginning of the season, not intentially, but because I'm not paying attention. Then I always end up stripping (and wasting) that extra line 'til I get to about an 1/8th of an inch below the lip, weather it's casting or spinning. ; )
Felix77 reply :
I fill the spool 50% up with backing. Duct tape that down.
When I put new line on I fill it up (70-80 cranks) and I am done. Amounts to roughly two full casts of line on at any given time.
Generally ends up about 1/8 of an inch below the first lip. If it's more I don't worry about it
WRB reply :
Spinning reel, about 1/8" below the rim or even with where the spool radius starts. If you fill above the spinning reel spool radious the line will fall off.
Bait casting reel, about 1/16" below the rim.
The line must be spooled on tight*, otherwise it will pack down with use and drop another 1/16" lower capacity quickly.
The lower the spool fill on the spool, the slower your IPT line becomes. IP T or inch per turn is based on line filled to the rim.
Tom
* I use a wet towel folded and run the line between the folds for the right tension.
PS, penny is close to 1/16" thick to help you judge spool fill depth.
Patrick Morrow reply :
For me 1/8th too. It seems to be a general rule in all the fishing books and articles.
Josh Smith reply :
As full as possible without causing problems.
I generally get my best performance at about even with the lip to 1/8" below the lip, but any further down I respool.
On 2/26/2015 at 7:50 PM, papajoe222 said:I haven't see any valid responses in favor of over filling the spool, IMO anyway, I guess I'm just a graduate of the school that teaches me to judge perfornance, as it relates to expense, first. A quality spool of line, in compairison to the cost of the quality reel I'll be spooling it on, justifies it's price. Respooling when the spool gets a little low becomes a given.
I prefer my spool to spin slowly but with a lot of mass. Less line = more speed and therefore more braking. I get more consistent line feed during the cast with a full spool, and the spool starts up easier to boot.
Josh
Bankbeater reply :
I use to fill up my spool about 1/8" from full. I have backed off to about 3/16" now. You just need to play around with it and see what is the best amount of line for the reel.
chelboed reply :
I called Lew's yesterday and they said they are designed to be 1/8" under.
J Francho reply :
As some have found, a perfectly filled spool can end up with line stacked a bit unevenly, especially if it's used for moving baits, and you're putting pressure in direction. The spool will load a bit unevenly, and on some reels, the line will rub on the frame cross members. No good comes of this. Some of the newer, super recessed form factor reels are less forgiving than low pros from just a couple years ago.
HookdUP reply :
Just before the lip .. I'm not sure on the fraction of an inch .. But I do add more to accomodate for cutting line to tie lures ... So it doesn't get to just how I like it until probably 2 or three lures deep .. But this works fore because usually when I put new line it's because of a new reel (I use braid) so im excited to use it with many lured anyways lol
*Hootie reply :
On 2/28/2015 at 4:07 AM, J Francho said:As some have found, a perfectly filled spool can end up with line stacked a bit unevenly, especially if it's used for moving baits, and you're putting pressure in direction. The spool will load a bit unevenly, and on some reels, the line will rub on the frame cross members. No good comes of this. Some of the newer, super recessed form factor reels are less forgiving than low pros from just a couple years ago.
The Chronarch ci4 comes to mind. You overfill that reel a hair and the line will rub on the frame.
Hootie
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