Every angler faces the problem of tangled fishing lines. Not only is this very annoying, but it affects the way we fish and can ruin the life of your fishing line. Here I will detail the cause of this problem and how to fix it in the following chapters.
Why does my fishing line get tangled when I cast?
1）The way you spool
One of the most common causes of tangles is because you spool your fishing line incorrectly. For example, beginner anglers often make the mistake of overfilling their reel’s spool. Thus, the fishing lines tend to uncoil themselves like foam, making them more likely to get tangled.
2）Line’s memory
All fishing lines have some memory, which prevents them from forming new shapes. If your fishing line remains coiled for an extended duration, it will maintain its shape when you cast. If your fishing line came from a 4-inch diameter spool and you place it on your 1-inch diameter spool, the line would want to flex back to its 4-inch diameter. Hence, the line becomes more likely to get tangled even though you spool your reel and line correctly.
3）Using the wrong fishing line
If you use lower-quality fishing lines, the more likely they are to tangle and twist. Alongside the fishing line, low-quality reels and swivels can also cause your line to twist.
4）Wind knot
Wind knots, frequently appear when casting into the wind. They are mainly caused by inconsistencies in the line speed from the reel to your lure or bait. When casting into the wind, the line will “fly” out at a certain speed. As the line passes the tip of your rod, the wind will start slowing it down. However, the line coming off the reel will still travel at the initial speed. The area from your spool to the 1st guide closest to the reel is going to be where your line is moving the fastest. As the line slows down between every other guide and even more when it leaves the rod tip, tangles start occurring because the fast part is catching the slower part and they start overlapping.
5）Slack line
When reeling it back, you should always have some tension to the line that enables tight and even coils on the spool. Slack will result in loose coils. This will result in knots and tangles forming close to the reel.
How to prevent your fishing line from getting tangled?
1）Avoid adding too much spool
You should leave at least a ¼-inch area of your spool empty and try to spool fewer fishing lines.
2）Forget memory
We recommend you spool your fishing line a few days before you go fishing rather than spooling the line at night or in the morning of your trip. Also, before spooling the line, try to keep it in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes. In this way, you will help the fishing line relieve its stress and forget its memory.
3）Using the right fishing line
You should avoid picking cheap and faulty fishing gear. We recommend you keep a reasonable budget and pick the best quality fishing line, reels, rods, spools, etc.
4）Avoid casting straight into the wind
Take the time to position yourself to have the wind on your back whenever you can. If you are unable to cast with the wind, try casting low to the surface of the water.
5）Never cast the leader knot through the guides
knots will cause friction when passing through the guides and it will slow down the line. The rest of the line behind it, coming off the spool, will still have a higher velocity and knots will form.
6）Cast gently
Casting very hard will cause the line to come off a spool at a higher speed but it will slow down when it leaves the rod tip. This one will also cause tangles.
What to do if your fishing line gets tangled?
The only thing you can do is untangle it. To do so, set the reel to spin so that the line will come off the reel. Then, gently unwind the line until the backlash is untangled. Freeing the line can take some time. Be very careful not to nick the line. Do not use pliers or knives to untangle knots. If the line is overly tangled, it is easier to cut it and replace the line rather than spend too much time untangling it.
Post time: Jan-04-2023