How to Set Up a Fishing Reel? Step by Step Guide

If you are frustrated with the tiresome long reel setting up processes, then you just have landed on the right page. I also don’t like reading a boring thousand words essay, I am sure most doesn’t. Since I also don’t like boring stuff, I have kept this guide very simple and easy.

This very guide is for beginner anglers who don’t know how to set up a fishing reel. I have demonstrated everything step by step and even you will get introduced to different parts of fishing reels and rods.

So? Should we proceed?

STEP-1: Gather All Equipment

This is obviously the very first thing you would do. Since you are new to fishing, you might not know exactly which things you would need and that is why I have made a list below, take a look.

Now let me introduce you to different parts of fishing reels and rods.

The Reel

Spool: The spool is where the line remains wrapped.

Handle: Turning the handle pulls the line back into the reel. Fishers turn the handle when they have to spool line or catches any fish.

Bail: This is a slim metal handle that stops the line from going out from the spool when the bail is closed.

Reel foot: The reel foot is what attaches the reel to the rod.

Drag knob: This thing allows you to set how smooth or easily the line can go out even when the bail is closed. With a tighten drag knob line cannot go out of the spool.

Line roller: It guides the line accurately from the reel to the rod.

So these are the parts of the reel that you must know and here is the top chart of trending lightweight spinning reels, now let’s move on to the rod.

The rod

Rod tip: The rod tip is the narrowest and thinnest part of the rod, the last 4 inches of the rod. Rod tip is flexible and it helps you to know when fish’s bites. You have to pick the right for the fish, overweight can cause the rod tip to break. (Have a look at some outstanding spinning rods)

Guide: You will see something like rings are attached to your rod. These are called guides through which the line passes and guards keep the line close to the rod.

Reel seat: This is what connects the reel to the rod securely.

Handle: Handle is where you will hold the rod all the time. Handles are always covered with soft material for added comfort.

STEP-2: attach the reel

Now loosen up the rod reel seat which is near the handlebar. Lose the reel seat enough so that the reel foot can fit in it. And after attaching the reel foot, tighten the reel seat properly, otherwise, it will start wobbling when you will feel it.

STEP-3: spool the reel

Spooling the reel is very easy but if you are a beginner, you might not know how to do it properly. The good news is, I have a guide where I have shown how to spool a spinning reel easily, so if you don’t know how to spool or have any confusion, check it out.

STEP-4: stringing the rod

Open the bail with one hand and hold the line tip with another. Now feed the line through the guides to the rod tip.

STEP-5: tie a knot to the hook

Here you would have to tie knots, there are different types of knots but the easy and simple one is a basic knot. But basic knot is not for catching fish over 15 lbs. The basic knot can get loosen up with time.

For catching heavy fishes, you can try Albright, clinch, or Palomar knot. After tying the knot make sure it is enough tight, otherwise, you will end up losing your hook in the water.

If you are a beginner, I would like to recommend watching the below video

STEP-5: set up the drag knob

This requires a bit of experience, I will suggest you go to someone professional who will help you understand the drag knob thing. If you don’t have anyone, then I am here.

The very first thing you have to know is, when you would turn the knob clockwise it will be tighter and turning counterclockwise will make it lose. You can pull the line manually to know how the drag knob works or is set up.

My suggestion would be to set the drag knob to lose side because setting it up too tight might cause the line to break when you will be reeling a heavy fish. Drag knob setting should be always done right before hitting the water, you can also change it while fishing but it’s ideal to set it before.

There is some disadvantage of setting the drag knob to loose or tight. Here it is,

If the drag knob is set tighter the rod will bend a lot and since the rod tip is thinner and it will have a lot of tension, it might break.

And when the drag knob is set to lose, fish will be able to take out the line from the reel easily ( Did you check these amazing baitcasting reels yet?). Another disadvantage of losing the drag knob is, since there would be very little tension in the line, fish will be able to spit the hook out from their mouth.

So adjusting the drag knob completely depends on the size of the fish you are after.

Till confused! please watch this video.

final words

Now you are ready to start fishing. There are a lot of things you have to take into consideration when you are fishing. You have to choose the fishing line, hook, rod according to the fish species you will hunting.  If not chosen the right one, your entire fishing experience would turn into something very awful.

Who what’s to end up breaking the rod, losing the hook, breaking the line during fishing? No one does and exactly these things are going to happen if you don’t choose gears accordingly. So with that said, I wish you all the best for your next fishing trip.

And also make sure you pick the right tackle bag for your fishing trip, if there is anything else I can help you with, let me know. Goodbye!

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