how full do you fill your reel?

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rapala11
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2009/06/05 12:35:23 (permalink)

how full do you fill your reel?

need a little help.  (danged rookie).  how full should you fill your reel?  i just put a 7wt line on my teton tioga magnum reel and it comes close to the top.  maybe 1/8 inch from rubbing.  is this too full? 

Joined: 10/8/2003


#1

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    dano
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/05 14:47:25 (permalink)
    I hate filling a reel. The old way was to spool on the line, a layer of masking or electrical tape over the line, spool on the running line to near capacity.
    Take it all off and reverse.
    You didn't leave much room but you should be OK. You could always lay out 20 ft of line and free spool in back on to make sure you're not rubbing against the reels line gaurd.
    #2
    anchke
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/05 19:23:27 (permalink)
    The rule of thumb I use (read it somewhere) is that the reel is full at the point when (with all line on the arbor)  you can still slip a pencil between the line and the reel cage. I think a little more room is better than a little less. If it's a bit tight the easiest adjustment is to shorten the running line on the fly line (assuming your line is WF). 
    #3
    rapala11
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/05 23:49:40 (permalink)
    thanks guys.  i never thought about reducing the length of the running line.  figured i had to take more backing off.  i appreciate the help...........rich 

    Joined: 10/8/2003


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    indsguiz
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/06 01:06:03 (permalink)
    rich,
        You may be using a reel that is too small for the line weight.  Or, too much backing.  Or, you forgot to take the old line off before you put the new on?   I rarely mess with the fly line, I'll remove backing.  My figuring is: if I get down to the backing and I haven't turned the fish yet, I'm in deeeeep trouble.  Prepare to break off!

    Illegitimis Non carborundum
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    rapala11
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/06 01:26:18 (permalink)
    jack, the reel is a large arbor for up to 7wt, and that is what line i put on.  i just got done taking a a little over ten feet off of the running line and it now fits okay.  actually, this is the first time i ever put fly line on.  learned a lot.  thanks for the help. 

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    anchke
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/07 21:55:21 (permalink)
    Sounds like you did it exactly right. IMHO the advantage of trimming the running line rather than backing is that you only need to take off 10' or so. You still have 80' to go on the line, plus all your backing. And someday, you'll throw a long cast and your buddy will say, "Wooo, Rap11 is down to backing."
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    rapala11
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    RE: how full do you fill your reel? 2009/06/07 22:00:48 (permalink)

    Joined: 10/8/2003


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