How a common household item can save you some cold hard cash!
This time of year, we go through a lot of line. Between testing new baits and new fishing spots, we have to re-spool line a fair bit. Let’s face it, line is not inexpensive anymore, particularly flouro’s and braids. With that in mind, we have decided to answer another reader’s question concerning how you cut down on spending so much money just to make sure you have fresh line on all your casting reels.
We all know that you never use all the line on your reels before you make a change. For that matter, how often do you actually get more than 50 – 60% of the line on your spool wet? You get to a certain point from re-tying and or break-offs that you’re deep enough in the spool that casting distance and other factors are negatively affected which by default, forces you to strip the remaining line and spool up with new relegating bunches of yards of perfectly good line to the trash can in the process.
I’m going give you a little tip that I learned a long time ago that seems to have been forgotten or overlooked these days. This sounds a little weird but don’t totally dismiss it before you try it. Prior to putting any new line on my casting reels, I almost always take a 4 – 6 inch strip of electrical tape and wind it tightly around the spool.
Electrical Tape, Really?
I know this sounds a little weird at first blush. However, there are several advantages to using this method as opposed to using backing. To begin with, electrical tape is easily accessible. You can find the stuff almost anywhere.
Hardware stores, discount stores, even your neighborhood gas station usually has a few roles sitting on the shelf. Not to mention the fact that this stuff is inexpensive. You probably already have a role of it sitting in your garage or tool box that has hardly been used!
Why electrical tape as opposed to other kinds of tape? One of the main reasons is that it is so flexible. With a little practice, you can wind it around your spool, keeping it just as flat and smooth as a new born baby’s bottom.
So, in terms of answering the original question, how does this help?
Obviously, it cuts down on the yardage of line necessary to re-spool your reels, which saves you money.
Secondly, whether you’re using flouro, braid or any other line, the tape provides a non-slip surface that doesn’t allow the line to slip like it can when tying directly to a polished aluminum spool.
Another advantage to using this little trick is the fact that all casting reels quote line retrieved per handle turn when at full spool. This simply means that the less line you have on your spool, the less line you will retrieve per handle turn. All things considered, this might not appear to make a beans worth of difference but when you’re using a technique that requires you to pick up a lot of line in a hurry when you set, every inch of lost capacity can be the difference between you landing that fish or missing it.
You’ll never use every inch of line that is on your reels but, by wrapping your spools with some electrical tape, you can cut down on the waste associated with normal fishing a great deal.
Once again, I hope that I’ve answered the question adequately and clearly.
See ya’ on the water …