How much line is too much?

CountBassula · May 07, 2022, 08:07:27 PM

I have two reels to discuss today. The gray one in first pic is spooled to the brim and casts with no issues. The black one was spooled the same and I was getting crazy backlash. I took 20-30 yards of line off and all issues stopped, brakes and spool tension being the same. Though gray one is centrifugal brakes only while black has the same plus magnetic.

So did I overdo it and put too much line? Both reels are Lew's, gray one is Tournament Pro, black is Tournament MB. Both have 10 pound mono. On the black one there's about 1/8 inch distance from line to gold rim. Gray has no spool capacity left.

What am I doing wrong?

big g · May 07, 2022, 09:16:57 PM

Top one looks overfilled for me. Bottom looks better.for max reel function, and less hassles. .

apenland01 · May 07, 2022, 09:17:38 PM

I fish Lew's reels almost exclusively. You have 2 reels that are at very different price points and performance points. The Tournament Pro is a $200+ reel and the MP is a $90 reel. Their reeling and drag performance is similar, but their casting and braking performance is what you might expect when comparing these reels....

coldfront · May 07, 2022, 09:22:11 PM

I run as much line on the spool as I can. I want as much 'easy distance' as possible.
fill my spools like the top photo. do find that heavier lines with more 'memory' can be a bit more challenging at times.

do they backlash easier? yes they do. then again I work dang hard on my thumb education level. and have a very long way to go...

CountBassula · May 07, 2022, 09:57:27 PM

Quote from: apenland01 on May 07, 2022, 09:17:38 PM
I fish Lew's reels almost exclusively. You have 2 reels that are at very different price points and performance points. The Tournament Pro is a $200+ reel and the MP is a $90 reel. Their reeling and drag performance is similar, but their casting and braking performance is what you might expect when comparing these reels....

That's news to me and I don't mean to be snarky. The MB has 11+1 bearings while Pro has 10+1 I think according to what's on the drag star; perhaps in reverse. Also MB has a combination of centrifugal and magnetic brakes while Pro has only the earlier. Both weigh about the same and feel just as smooth, in fact fishing with the MB today it actually felt smoother than the Pro. Both were recently serviced by the same competent person though I fished the Pro 25 out of last 30 days while fishing the MB only once or twice.
Why would the MB backlash so much given all variables being equal: line, weight, hook, lure?
Only way I was able to get it to work for me was to engage all 4 centrifugal brakes, almost max out magnetic ones, tighten spool tension over what I normally do, and take out much of the line off the reel.
I am truly perplexed.

D.W. Verts · May 07, 2022, 11:37:45 PM

Have you lubed that reel recently? If so MAYBE you got too much oil on the brakes themselves. I've done this and fought the devil out of the reel until I tore it down and wiped the brakes clean. Just a thought.

Dale

CountBassula · May 08, 2022, 12:29:43 AM

Quote from: D.W. Verts on May 07, 2022, 11:37:45 PM
Have you lubed that reel recently? If so MAYBE you got too much oil on the brakes themselves. I've done this and fought the devil out of the reel until I tore it down and wiped the brakes clean. Just a thought.

Dale

Interesting. The reels were serviced a while ago then I started using them. Recently I did put a bit of oil in the brake drum using a q-tip. I don't thing I put too much, just a drop...

Capt. BassinLou · May 08, 2022, 05:28:25 AM

Looking at the pictures again carefully. The top reel is a little over filled and the bottom is underfilled. Although I don't believe either is your issue. 10 lbs mono on a bc is pretty light imho. Lightest I go is 15, but that's me. As I mentioned last night. It sounds like an adjustment issue. How heavy were the lures and baits you were throwing? When did the backlash begin during the cast?

CountBassula · May 08, 2022, 09:48:31 AM

Quote from: Capt. BassinLou on May 08, 2022, 05:28:25 AM
Looking at the pictures again carefully. The top reel is a little over filled and the bottom is underfilled. Although I don't believe either is your issue. 10 lbs mono on a bc is pretty light imho. Lightest I go is 15, but that's me. As I mentioned last night. It sounds like an adjustment issue. How heavy were the lures and baits you were throwing? When did the backlash begin during the cast?

1/4 oz plus 5/0 hook plus zoom uvibe worm.

It starting at the very beginning of casting no matter how tight I set the brakes and spool tension. Taking off 1/8" of line fixed it right up, I was then able to loosen up the brakes and tension to my liking and casting distance.

Capt. BassinLou · May 08, 2022, 09:49:43 AM

Quote from: CountBassula on May 08, 2022, 09:48:31 AM
Quote from: Capt. BassinLou on May 08, 2022, 05:28:25 AM
Looking at the pictures again carefully. The top reel is a little over filled and the bottom is underfilled. Although I don't believe either is your issue. 10 lbs mono on a bc is pretty light imho. Lightest I go is 15, but that's me. As I mentioned last night. It sounds like an adjustment issue. How heavy were the lures and baits you were throwing? When did the backlash begin during the cast?
1/4 oz plus 5/0 hook plus zoom uvibe worm.

It starting at the very beginning of casting no matter how tight I set the brakes and spool tension. Taking off 1/8" of line fixed it right up, I was then able to loosen up the brakes and tension to my liking and casting distance.

Good to hear you figured it out.