When spooling line... whats the best way to know I have enough line on my reel?

I have notoriously put too much line on my reels... whats the best way for me to fix that?

Get some oldish line you have in a similar pound test. Fill the reel to where you like it. Then walk off 75 yards of that line. Cut that much off. Tie the new line to the old. Spool on 75 yards of the new.

Going forward you now always know how much to add on. Just strip your line off until you get to the splice.

Spool it to within 1/16" from the spool edge.

I do 1/8

That's what I usually do too.

1/8

Quit doing it.

I always hear a lighter spool will cast better but my my reels have always cast best when full of line(seems backwards due the extra weight thing). I fill mine to around 1/8” from full.

Good idea here, about to respool all my reels for the start of the season. 75 is plenty, right? I do not see being able to cast any where close to that? That is a good number for buying 150 spools and maximizing them if this method works well...

I do 1/16 to spoil lip.

Fill em up to within 1/16” of the lip on baitcasters. A full reel always casts better. Just remember to set an extra brake when you fill it full. After you have cut & retied several times use one less brake.

I generally ask my brother when he thinks it looks about full. Then I crank down about 25 more turns cause I can cast further than most people.

Great tip...I used to fill my whole spool with expensive fluro lines...until I realized I never used over half of it. Started doing the same thing, reel on some cheapo line...and tie about 75 yard of fluro to it...I do the same with braid.

You can have too much line on your reel. If you have a 1/16 gap or 1/8 gap and can't get your centrifugal or whatever brake adjustments to keep you from backlashing try reducing the amount of line on your spool and readjusting your brake weights, etc to get better results. In some cases you may have to go to a longer and softer rod as well. Getting distance or speed with lighter baits can test your limits especially if you have to make quick short flat casts into overhanging cover.

easy, 1/8th.

Was flipping willows with a buddy one day, in a tournament. we've been in the water about 15 minutes and he's already backlashed about 10 times. He had respooled the night before and had WAY too much line. So he makes a really long cast on the opposite side of the boat into open water, cuts his line and starts hand lining it in. I'm ignoring the dumb azz and concentrating on the willows, he yells he's got one. I'm like, whatever, quit screwing around. He boat flips a 7 pounder, puts his hands on his hips, and says, " if they ever start hitting a rod and reel you might actually catch something."

^^^^ that is classic!

Were you flipping all the willows in Toppers on Ft Gibson? That's a funny story.

Sooooooo close Tom, Long Bay.

You are supposed to change line?

I fill mine up to where the spool is beveled. Never have an issue with backlashing unless I do something to cause it.

Sounds Right to me. Do the same here.

I read on a popular fishing site that with baitcasters you don't need to fill the entire spool for casting distance. Leaving around 1/8" has been my rule of thumb for both spinning & baitcasting reels.

This here

This but make sure you put the line on tight ...

Bingo, this is it, when overfilling with smaller diameter, there is usually no isse, but with larger diameter line, it is alwasys and issue when you over fill. You wont know until you start fishing and thats when it is the worst. When spooling the line goes on with the same amount of tensions vs when fishing on the water.

1/16" - 1/8" will do it or to the bevel on the spool or if the spool has a fill line then you are good to go!