Terry Edmonds - Line Twist

This entry was posted on 23rd March, 2018

Line twist is an issue many of us have at some time or another, and it can be really annoying. The line becomes uncontrollable, flowing off the spool when setting the indicators, or causing crack offs when casting. The thicker the line, the more uncontrollable it can become. I hear this time and time again during my casting tuitions, or when working in the shops.

Before we go on, I must put one thing straight; the line does not come twisted, and it’s not the fault of the line if it gets twisted; we put the twist into the line.

Common ways of creating line twist.

- Small spool reels

- Incorrect loading of the reel

- Using the clutch for playing fish, wrapping up your lines around distance sticks when using the clutch, and towing baits out with bait boats, again using the clutch.

- Faulty bearing on your bail arm roller.

Small Spool Reels

If you use small spool reels, say for example a 5000-sized reel, and you want to load 200m of line onto the spool, the bail arm has to rotate around the small spool a lot more than with a 10,000- sized big pit reel. Every time this rotation is completed, it will add some twist. Even the anti- twist rollers will still add some twist - this is one reason I prefer big pits for all my fishing, as they work so well with thick lines and fluorocarbon, creating less twist and stopping coils.



Loading Line On To Reels

Loading the line correctly is vital; there are a lot of people who soak the line in warm water, then wind the line on to the reel with the sticker of the bulk spool facing upwards. In my opinion this causes a lot of twist. My preferred method is the old-fashioned way; soak the line in warm water for 20mins, then get somebody to put a pencil through the bulk spool, and wind on under moderate pressure; I prefer the line coming off the top of the spool. This is the method I have used all my life, be it on the tournament field or in my angling.



Clutches

Clutches are terrible for line twist; when you get a take, the line is spinning off the clutch and causing lots of twist. Usually baitrunner reels have smaller spools than big pits, so the twist problem is doubled. I have even seen people bait boat their rigs out using a clutch, which is a real disaster, or measuring their line around distance sticks using the clutch; really bad habits that I see time and time again.

When playing fish, if you can backwind, rather than use your clutch, you will limit line twist a lot.

Bail Arm Roller

Always check your roller on the bail arm; it must move freely. If it doesn’t turn, your line will twist.

If you do get line twist, there are a few things you can do to help the situation, I often walk out 200 yards of line over a field and cut the leader off, be it a shockleader or a safezone leader, leadcore etc, then wind back through a wet rag; this will help take a lot of twist out of the line.

My mate, Nigel Sharp, ties on a lead with PVA , casts it as far as he can, waits for the PVA to melt and then reels in through a damp rag; a great idea that saves walking!

It really is best to look after your line; remember, twist isn’t inherent in lines: WE cause it.