How To Set Up a Fishing Reel & Rod For Beginners – Step by Step Guideline

Fishing is an art, and some take it as their hobby or passion. Well, you are so determined that you are going fishing and have bought a fishing reel. But, you don’t know how to set up a fishing reel, or you have done it a long time before. However, you should not worry about this as I am here in the process of setting up a fishing reel. 

A fishing reel is essential for catching fish while you are kayaking or boat. So, you should know how to set it up very well.

In this context, you will get the detailed process of setting up a fishing reel with some pro tips. So, why are you late? Let’s grab the reel and go to set it up. 

Different Types of Fishing Reel

There are many types of fishing reels on the market. So, which one to choose is a hard question to ask yourself. If you don’t know the models, then you won’t be able to buy the perfect one for yourself. Again, different types of fishing reels have different setup procedures, and I’ll discuss them. Before that, let’s know about the types.

• Spinning Reel
• Baitcast Reel
• Fly Fishing Reel

Spinning Reel

If you are a beginner at fishing, then you should go for this fishing reel. Here you should use the rule of thumb to do your fishing. This reel is suitable for lightweight bait and lures. It has a light line of approximately 8 pounds.

This lighter line helps the stick baits to dive deep in the water. The spinner is smooth enough to use.

Baitcast Reel

 This is the second type of fishing reel, which is famous for its features. It supports three line types, which are fantastic for fishermen. This baitcasting reel is generally used for topwater baits, but you can also use it for deepwater baits. The ordering process is also straightforward. If you don’t know how to set up a baitcasting fishing reel, then follow my article.

Fly Fishing Reel

The fly fishing reel is entirely different from the other two fishing reels. The use of a fly fishing reel is straightforward, and they look straightforward. There is only a handle to spin the reel. The weight of the fishing reel is also light–weighted. Again this reel is a single action reel with an automatic retrieval feature. The arbor size is also perfect for comfortable fishing.

How to Set Up a Fishing Reel

Now, it’s time to set up the fishing reels on your own as it is not very easy to do for the first time, so you are requested to follow the steps carefully. Here, you’ll know how to set up a fly fishing reel or any other fishing reel briefly. Again, you will also know how to set up a fishing rod and reel. So, let’s start.

Step 1: Take the Fishing Rod

First of all, you need to take a cheap fishing rod according to your choice. If the rod is more likely to be very light, then it will cost you more. You should take a rod that is more durable to hold a big fish.

Step 2: Take the Reel

Now, it’s time to take the reel in hand. It’s your choice to make a type of reel and hold it to your right hand. After that, take the selected rod and turn the part of the rod to go up. Then, press the reel with your thumb in the downgraded position of the rod. Do not turn back the upper part of the rod and the reel will be attached in the meantime. Check whether the reel is firmly attached or not.

Step 3: Reel Spooling

It’s the central part of the reel setup. You need to take a spool full of fishing lines and transfer the line to a reel spool according to your needs. To do so, you need to take the fishing line to the first guide of the rod and make an overhand knot on the reel spool. After that, cut off the extra line from the knot position. Now spin the spool with the flexible handle and take the line from the spool to the reel spool.

Step 4: Rod Guide

After spooling, take a bit longer line from the spool so that you can cover the full rod with the line. After taking the line, cut the line from the reel. Now, make sure you are taking your line in between every guide. The more you go near the head of the rod, the more it will be difficult for you to insert the line through the guide. After you are done, go to the next step.

Step 5: Bait Knotting

It’s time to knot a bait to your reel spool fishing line. Take suitable bait and pass the line or thread through the tinny hole of bait. Now, you need to make a loop knot with your line and bait. So, you are done with bait knotting and fishing. Take your custom or manual jig to catch fish.

This is how you can set up your fishing reel. All you need to do is just follow the steps and you are done with setting up a reel.

How do you set up a fishing line for beginners?

Setting up a fishing line can seem intimidating for beginners, but it’s actually a relatively simple process. Here are the basic steps for setting up a fishing line:

• Choose the right fishing line for your needs. There are several types of fishing lines to choose from, including monofilament, braided, and fluorocarbon. Each has its own specific characteristics and is best suited for different types of fishing.

• Select the appropriate reel and rod. The type of reel and rod you choose will depend on the type of fishing you plan to do, as well as the size and strength of the fish you hope to catch.

• Attach the line to the reel. First, thread the end of the line through the guides on the rod and tie it to the reel using a knot such as an Arbor knot. Make sure the line is secure and the knot is tight.

• Spool the line onto the reel. Hold the line with your thumb and index finger as you gently crank the handle of the reel to wind the line onto the spool. Leave some slack in the line to prevent it from breaking under tension.

• Attach the lure or bait. Once the line is spooled onto the reel, you can attach a lure or bait to the end of the line using a knot such as a fisherman’s knot. Make sure the knot is secure and the bait or lure is properly positioned.

• Set the drag. The drag on your reel is a mechanism that allows the line to be released under a certain amount of tension. Set the drag to a level that will allow the fish to take the bait without breaking the line.

• Cast the line. Hold the rod with both hands and use a smooth, fluid motion to cast the line out into the water. Keep your arms extended and the rod pointed slightly downward to help the line travel further.

• Reel in slack. Once the line is in the water, reel in any slack to keep the line taut and ready for a bite.

How To Set Up a Spinning Rod

Step-1: Make Sure Your Rod Is Clean

Make sure your spinning rod is clean before you begin. Using a clean towel, wipe the rod down to remove any sand or dust that may have accumulated on the surface.

The reel seat and ferrules of a multi-piece fishing rod should be checked for sand or debris, which might impair how well the components fit together. Maintaining a clean reel seat will help the reel stay in place and avoid scuffs.

Step-2: Assemble your fishing rod

A good initial step when working with a multi-piece rod is to assemble it into a single unit by connecting the parts according to the manufacturer’s directions.

There should be ferrules in each segment that enable you to fasten each item to the portion it is meant for.

Step-3: Attach Your Rod To The Reel

Attach the rod by placing the reel foot into the reel seat after loosening the reel seat. Tighten the seat once it’s in position. Ideally, it should be tight enough to keep your reel in place, but not so tight that it damages the rod.

Step-4: Make It Right or Left-Handed

Right-handed or left-handed casters alike prefer the reel to be on the side of their rod that is most comfortable for them to operate. To accommodate players of either left or right-hand orientations, many spinning rods will be easily interchangeable.

In most cases, all that has to be done is to change the handle. Changing the handle to the side that is more convenient for you may be done after your reel has been properly seated in your rod’s seat.

When casting and reeling in with your left hand, the vast majority of right-handed fishermen prefer to use the handle on their left. In order to cast and reel with one hand, left-handed fishermen may prefer the reel handle on the right.

The basics of spinning a reel

No matter how big or small the reel, it has the same fundamental components and construction.
This will make it much simpler for you to follow the directions below if you are acquainted with these components and their names.

Reels with a rotating bail are known as spinning reels. The line is wound around the spool while the bail rotates. Simply grip the line with your index finger, then open the bail, and you’ve cast. Once this is done and your guides are in place, the line will run straight from the fixed spool up and over the lip.

Although it is designed to hold your line in position when you cast, it may also be a barrier.

Spinning reels perform very well in windy circumstances because of their simple construction, which prevents tangles and knots. These designs are good for ultralight applications since they outperform other types when casting light lines (less than 10-pound monofilament diameter).

Additional Tips to make fishing successful

You need to follow some professional tips to make your fishing successful. Here are some pro tips that are waiting for you.

1. You should not make your reel spool extra-full with the fishing line. It will cause a problem in the time of fishing.

2. There is a twist-giving part on the head of the reel spool, which is used to tighten or loosen the fishing line. It’s essential for you that when you are going to catch a big fish, then you need to keep the line loose so that it doesn’t break.

3. Select your jig according to the fish you are going to catch and make sure you have correctly placed the jig into the bait.

4.  You need to make ensure that you have passed the line through all the guides precisely. To make sure you should check by pulling the line/thread by doubling it.

FAQs

Final word

I hope that you have understood the types of fishing reel and how to set up a fishing reel. Again, you can now set up your fishing reel on your own from now on. However, you should pick the perfect reel according to your fishing environment. The best way to choose the reel is to select according to your style of fishing. Once you are done, the reel needs to be set up with the rod and you are ready to go for fishing floating with your kayak.

Source Page:

https://usangler.com/how-to-set-up-a-spinning-reel/

https://www.instructables.com/How-to-Setup-and-Use-a-Spinning-Rod-and-Reel/

https://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Fishing-Pole