I got a really bad backlash on my top water rod and can't get it out. I want try avoid cutting the line but it is one of the really bad ones that you can't pull out easy. Any tips on getting it out?

Sounds like a smart ___ reply but reel the line back on over the backlash and
take it home to work on it.
You will be amazed at how often it will come out easily.
I have not cut a backlash out in 20 + years doing this.

Thicker lines, crank down the drag, put your thumb on the spool and apply pressure while you crank. Repeat several times. Sometimes that will get a backlash loose. It sounds like yours is probably too bad for that method. Carry a pick and magnifying glass if your eyes aren't the best. Slowly pick away at it with the pick. Most times, I just start picking and pulling anything that I can get hold of on the spool and not even try to see the problem and eventually it will free itself but to be honest if it won't come free in a few minutes, I just cut the line off and start fresh.

If it's that bad and you are using flouro you better inspect it good if you get it untangled. Backlashes can cause crimps in the line sometimes and that is bad news on flouro.

Spin it backwards and pick at it at the same time get some big loops then try to pull out and repeat

Back when I used to get those.. lol.. a small crochet needle helped getting to those key loops way down in the birdnest. What I do is pull the end of the line until it locks up by a loop.. then I work on puling the loop as far off the reel as I can.. then pull the end lf the line again.. and try just work it out that way.

good luck!
BD

Yep. Love floor but if it kinks it is a weak point IME.

Might as well cut it out cuz the line is prolly toast anyway.

+1

Yep, save yourself the aggravation, probably need new line anyway.

This won't help now, but in the future make a long cast and pull off an additional 20 feet of line, then put a 1/2 to 3/4 inch piece of thin electric tape on the spool and reel the line over this. You can also use the adhesive part of a fabric bandaid instead of the black tape. This easy fix will prevent those terrible professional overruns.

holding a lot of pressure on the spool with your thumb, reel it in a few turns of the spool, then while still holding the pressure pull it out. this gets most out.

Scissors and new line is THE BEST method.

If it's "really bad", cut it out and respool using the tape method described above. A bad backlash that's been worked on a while, if finally untangled, is damaged line. It will either be susceptible to more backlashes, break in mid cast, or you'll break a fish off. Bite the bullet.

See, I would have just said it was the line's fault in the first place and needed to be replaced.