Open-face fishing reels consist of an open reel spool mounted on a metal or plastic housing that hangs from an arm attached to the fishing rod. A side-mounted handle operates an internal gear assembly within the housing, when cranked. The gear assembly makes a device called the pickup bail, made of a yoke and curved wire, to turn around around the reel spool. As it turns, the pickup bail winds the line onto the reel spool. Putting line on an open face reel is relatively easy and can be accomplished in only a few minutes.
Step 1
Open the pickup bail by pulling curved guide wire back into the vertical position. Keep the bail open during the next step.
Step 2
Locate the end of the line on the large spool that the line comes on.
Step 3
Tie the line to the reel spool using an arbor knot. Loop the line around the reel spool, then tie an overhand knot about three inches from the end of the line and around the line on the other side of the spool. Tighten the knot to create a large slip knot around the spool. Tie another overhand knot in the end of the line and tighten the entire knot by pulling the main portion of the line.
Step 4
Close the pickup bail. Put the large spool full of line on the floor. Crank the reel handle. The line will begin to come off the large line spool and wind onto the reel spool. Ensure that the bail is spinning in the same direction that the line is coming off the large spool to prevent the line from twisting. If the reel spool is turning opposite to the direction the line is coming off the large spool, flip the large spool over.
Step 5
Continue to crank the handle until the reel spool fills up. Stop when the wound line is a little less than the outer edge of the reel spool. Cut the line to separate it from the large spool.
Things You'll Need
- Open face reel
- Fishing line
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