And, adding to Flippin-Out's correct manual bail closing statement, with spinning reels, one never reels against the drag where you are in an isometric tug with the fish . . . or the line is being actively pulled out against the drag on a run by the fish. To do this in either case means that all that you are doing is twisting the line while taking none up or actually having it spooled off your reel.

With a spinning reel, we fight the fish by letting it run against the drag, then when it stops momentarily, lifting the rod and its tip up without reeling, then reeling down on the line very quickly to take up the line we have captured in the tug-of-war, then repeating the process until the fish is landed.

Sometimes, even often, the gains you capture this way are thusly reeled back off by subsequent runs by the fish. But, the fish will quickly wear out . . . and the angler wins unless his tackle is severely under-powered.

With a baitcaster, you could do it this way, too, but you also have the option of over-powering the fish. No line twist in this case. Doing the same with spinning tackle will put twists in your line.

So, sure, the lure end of the line is often responsible for twisted line on spinning tackle, certainly where no swivels are being used (hooks and sinkers with swivels, or small swivels attaching main lines to leaders) . . . but a whole lot of the twisting we see occurs at the other end by the improper reeling against the drag.

Brad

Good points Brad. I rarely have the issue of reeling against a fish. ...unless I get hung up and choose to momentarily pretend I have a fish!

I always pull and reel like Brad described with both spinning gear or a bait caster. I grew up doing it that way and thought every one did it that way till I watched some fishing shows and saw some of the pros just cranking in the fish with the reel. I like the pull and reel method better than just cranking them in with the reel.

Food for thought..The bigger the spinning reel the less line problems you will have.

I use 15 lb braid with about 10ft of 10lb fluorocarbon leader. I also use the VMC swivel hooks for drop shots. Very little issues.

I drop shot with a bait caster, and this is what I do when line twist gets too bad. Good trick to know!

I use twelve lb Nano Fil and don't have any problems.
Also, the drag system on a spinning reel will twist line sometimes.
It's always better to tighten drag down and back reel if you catch a good one. No line twist that way.
Good luck