I got this new Penn Fierce 4000 rod/reel combo (http://www.basspro.com/Penn-Fierce-Saltwater-Spinning-Reels/product/10209996/121576) last month at bass pro and had them spool it for me with 20lb braid. This is the first time I got a reel that either a) didn’t come with line on it already (this is the most expensive one I’ve purchased to date), of b) I didn’t spool myself.
Now I can’t seem to go through a day without getting a knot in the line after casting it. I spent 20 minutes today trying to get a knot out of the line that formed about 10 ft from me immediately after a cast.
So I guess my question is what can I do about it? Can I try and let all the line out and then re-spool it, or should I start from scratch?
Or is it something I’m doing? Because I’ve never had this problem before but its also the first time I put braid on there.
The best way to avoid getting knots in your line when using braid with a spinning reel, assuming the line was put on it correctly, is to close the bail by hand instead of reeling to close the bail.
Ive never used braid, but i have fished with spinning reels where the mono was put on incorrectly. I have had good luck letting the line out the back of the boat with nothing tied on it. Troll along at a slow speed until almost all of the line is out. Then, stop the boat and reel in all the line.
Like i said, i know nothing about braid, but may be worth a try.
Adam your problem might be the braid that was put on the reel. All braids aren’t equal. Previous posts give good advice. I would give that a try and if you are still not happy you may want to change the braid out or go to a good momo.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
90% of what I buy is from a locally owned bait shop around the corner from my house, this was an impulse purchase since we were already down in Savannah for a day trip.
Glance down at the spool before you cast. If there’s a bit of line over the top, you’ll get a “wind knot”. Also if the spool is overfilled.
Best prevention is closing the bail by hand.
You HAVE to use a swivel with any type of lure or bait that can introduce line twist. Even lures and baits that do not normally cause line twist on a calm day can really mess up your line on a windy day due to the action of the wind on the lure while casting. I also agree with all of the above posts about properly filling your spool…if it is taken off the bulk spool the wrong way you will have to strip all of your line off and reel it back on as outlined above to get all the twist out of it. Good luck!
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
I have the same combo (except 3000) spooled with 15# Power Pro braid. No wind knot issues. Just like any reel, you’ll get some twist in the line on occassion. As noted above, just drop line in the water (no terminal tackle or hook only) with open bale and let the current carry out some line (more than you typically cast) and reel it back in keeping the line taut. Usually gets the twists out for me. I had to replace one of the guides on the rod - the metal ring that holds the insert broke. I noticed it because it was catching the line and causing it to knot so carefully check the guides. PS - if one is broke, it’s cheaper and easier to have the guide replaced then try to exchange the rod (BPS won’t help, will tell you to call Penn). Good luck!
Allot of good advice. Just to add my 2 cents I agree with opps lost about the braid. I have been fishing with someone who bought what he thought was a good braid and it did the exact samething. We both fish braid all the time, experienced with it and never had any problems. He changed it with some power pro or suffix braid and no more problems. I would suggest going to Haddrells or Chas Angler, let them put on some power pro or suffix and I bet your problem will go away with also following the other advice on this thred. Another tip that has helped me is to flip the bail just before it hits the water or just after. Check spool the first couple of turns just to make sure no loops and going on correctly.
19’ Seapro 150 Yamaha
12’ Hydrocraft 25 Evinrude
If that’s all I have to worry about…there’s nothing to worry about.
You HAVE to use a swivel with any type of lure or bait that can introduce line twist. Even lures and baits that do not normally cause line twist on a calm day can really mess up your line on a windy day due to the action of the wind on the lure while casting. I also agree with all of the above posts about properly filling your spool…if it is taken off the bulk spool the wrong way you will have to strip all of your line off and reel it back on as outlined above to get all the twist out of it. Good luck!
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
I don’t use swivels with anything… just extra hardware in the way…
With braid it can be alot of things…
1.) it may have been spooled improperly… if the person spooling it overwrapped braid it can cause a wind knot… Also over filling will do this on most reels.
2.) as previously mentioned always close the bail by hand and make sure the line is on the roller before starting a retrieve.
this should cure what ails you… My money is that BPS didn’t know what they were doing and over filled the reel… this will cause a mess. Just cut the knot out… make sure you can see about 1/16th of the rim of the spool over the braid, and keep fishing it…
I wouldn’t worry about swivels and such as braid really doesn’t have much memory and line twist is not whats causing this particular problem.
The other simple fix is pour a little fresh water, out of your drinking bottle, onto the spool. The only times I ever get wind knots is when the line is dry. Wet it a little (fresh water) and see if that doesn’t cure your problem.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
Come on guys. Don’t take what I said out of context. Using a swivel can always be helpful in eliminating line twist especially when tossing a lure into the wind.
I rarely use a swivel when bass fishing or fishing with lead head jigs and absolutely never use one with a topwater lure. I do like to troll jigs, spoons, and other lures now and then and always use a swivel when trolling. I fish live bait with a flouro leader and always use a small swivel when attaching a flouro leader to braid.
You mentioned bass fishermen… How do you make a texas rig without using a swivel? Answer: You can’t.
Besides, if you fish on the bottom with a fishfinder rig in any kind of current at all you will get line twist therefore you MUST use a swivel.
There are always times to use a swivel and always times where you never use a swivel. I specified the conditions where a swivel can be useful in hopes of being helpful.
PioneerLouie
Pioneer Venture 175, Johnson 90
Summerville, SC
