How to Spool a Reel With a Wire Line

Wire line is a specialty fishing line used by anglers primarily for probing deep lakes for species such as trout and for offshore medium-depth saltwater fishing. Wire line is typically found in the 30- to 40-pound test range and is constructed of stainless steel wire strands or Monel, a more durable and flexible material than stainless. Wire line requires some special consideration when rigging in regard to spooling and the knot used to tie the line.

Things You'll Need

  • Fishing reel
  • Wire fishing line
  • Monofilament fishing line
  • Scissors
  • Small, sharp wire cutters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Attach monofilament line to the spool of your reel with an Arbor knot. Feed 6 to 8 inches of 30-pound test monofilament line around the spool of your reel. Form an overhand knot with the free end of the line with the loop passing around the main line. Tie a second knot below this one using only the free end of the line. Moisten the knots and pull down so they lock in place against the spool. (See References for instructions on knots.)

    • 2

      Apply tension to the line in front of the reel. Turn the handle of the reel to wind 20 to 30 yards of line onto the spool. Cut the line from the filler spool with scissors.

    • 3

      Attach the backing line to the wire line with an Albright knot. Form a loop 3 inches from the end with the wire line. Feed the monofilament end through the loop of the wire line and pull it down alongside the doubled wire line. Hold the lines in place with your thumb and fingers. Wind the monofilament around the lines five to six times working back toward the loop. Pull the free end of the monofilament back through the wire loop and pull the knot down tight. Trim excess line from the knots with scissors and small, sharp wire cutters if necessary.

    • 4

      Wind the wire line onto the spool of the reel. Apply tension to the line in front of the reel as you turn the handle of the reel. Tension must be applied or the wire line can spring from the reel. Continue to add wire line to the reel until it is full.

    • 5

      Cut the wire line free from the filler spool with scissors or small sharp pliers. Anchor the wire line in place so that it will not unravel from the spool once tension is released.