Line up!

I know every one talks about using fresh line, especially tournament guys, but sometimes line right out of the pack just doesn't preform right for me. I've come up with a few rituals that I use when spooling that really help me.

No matter what type of line I use every time I spool up, I use a paper towel that has been lubricated with a line conditioner. Personally I use Blakemore Reel Magic Lubricant both when I spool up and on the reel before a day on the water. I believe that it really helps with line memory, castability, and helps the line lay down nicely when I am filling the spool.

I found that Fireline Fuse, and most coated braids, work better after it has been cast for a while. Some of the coating comes off and the line actually handles better. Instead of breaking in the line on the water, I started breaking it in at home, using a practice plug, and just making a bunch of casts in the yard using some paper towel lubricated with some line conditioner, holding the line just above the reel. This will  take off some of the coating with out damaging the line. And since you are not retrieving wet braid, the coating comes off is easier to clean off your reel and rod.

With fluorocarbon, especially on spinning reels, I found that stretching out the first bit of line helps. It packs better on the reel and doesn't spiral off at the end of casts or when you have slack line. I tie off to a fence post, let out about 50 meters of line, and apply some tension to the line. This trick also helps if you use fluoro for flipping, pitching, or any slack line presentation. This will reduce the coils you get from the line being on the spool, therefore reducing the amount of line you have between the bait and the rod tip equaling more sensitivity and a more positive hook set. A straight line is a shorter distance than a wavy line.

Putting your Monofilament line in warm water before you spool up does wonders! The first bit of line that you spool will pack very tight creating a good base for the line you are going to be using. This will reduce the amount of tangles you get and help to eliminating line bite in the first 3/4 of the spool. Because the line is warm when you spool up, it shrinks a bit when it cools and tightens up on the spool. The first 2 or three casts will probably be a little off, but  once you get the line used in one cast, its much easier to manage. The paper towel helps to dry the line as it goes on and remember to use warm water, not hot water, you don't want to melt the line!