by Harry Burlington

Created on: June 29, 2010   Last Updated: July 01, 2010

Fishing reels come with two main designs and each require the same stringing method.  Starting with the simple Spincaster which typically anyone familiar with fishing had used during their first fishing trip.  The Zebco 33 is one of the oldest spincaster reels and most popular among the common fishing population.  This reel is simple to string and rarely kinks or knots when casting or reeling, due to the nature of its internal mechanics.  Stringing a spincaster starts off by unscrewing the top portion of the reel, counterclockwise, until it comes off completely.  Next, remove any debris, moss, seaweed, or mud from the spinner portion located at the top.  If no line is needed to be removed, then start by grabbing the end of the fishing line spool that is wanted to be installed. 

Take the end of the line and weave it around the entire spincaster area where the line is spooled.  This is easy to find by looking at the spincaster and seeing a 1/4" inch grove that encircles the entire inner reel.  Following this, take one end of the line and make a over-hand knot, with only 1/2" of line extending from the knot.  Pull line tightly and then do a second over-hand knot and cut any remaining line hanging off the knots, but not the line extending to the spool!

Now, take the line spool and start to reel the spincaster, while simultaneously applying resistance to the new incoming line.  The line should wind around the inner reel nicely and stop when you have felt enough line has been applied to the reel.  If too much line is spun into the reel, then the reel will not cast smoothly.  Finally, cut about six inches of line from the new spool and thread it through the top line hole of the inner reel.  Now, screw outside covering of the spincaster onto its threading and thread line up through the eye-holes on the rod and enjoy fishing!

Baitcasters are very similar in nature when needing to restring them, but baitcasters are hemispherical and require no more skill.  Following the same cleaning and old string removal as mentioned above with the spincaster, take the new line and tie two over-hand knots and cut the remaining string that is exposed from knots.  Using your fingers of the non-dominant hand, apply resistance to the new fishing line as you reel with the dominant hand.  Reel into the baitcaster reel as much line that it is rated for and this is easily found on the side of the baitcaster.  Baitcasters do not require allot of string, but just enough to accomplish your fishing needs, so keep that in mind.  Once the baitcaster is newly spooled, take the existing line and cut enough to thread line through the rod's eye-holes and then hook and fish.

Learn more about this author, Harry Burlington.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.