How To Untwist Fishing Line

Fishing line becoming twisted after you spool up your reel is a common problem. It might seem like it is a small problem but it will eventually cause you to go crazy. Line twist can cause tangles in your reel or at the tip of your fishing rod. So let’s take the time to get rid of the line twist now rather than you untangling line while fishing.

So how to untwist fishing line? Using proper spooling techniques can remove the majority of the line twist. When spooling new fishing line on your reel make sure that the line coming off the spool rotates in the same direction as your reel.

There is more than one way to remove the line twist and I will be going over some of these tricks. These tricks can be used if you are spooling new fishing line on your reel or if you got line already on your reel.

Before I jump into the tricks I think it is important to understand what causes line twist in the first place.

What Causes Line Twist

Line twisting is a result of what is called commonly referred to as “line memory”. Line memory describes the natural tendency for fishing line to return to its last shape that was held over a period of time.

Here is an example of how line memory works. If you roll up a piece and place it in a tube for 5 minutes and take the paper out of the tube. The paper will return back to a flat sheet of paper. If you left that same roll of paper in the tube overnight and take it out the paper will have a tendency to roll back up. The paper wanting to return back to the shape that it was in the tube is how line memory. The curling of the paper is a direct result of how much memory the paper has.

When a line is described to have low memory it means that the line has a low tendency to return to its previous shape. This will result in less twisting or curling of the line compared to a line that has a higher memory.

The material that monofilament lines are manufactured from tend to have a higher line memory than fluorocarbon or braided lines. But this should not be a reason why to not buy monofilament fishing line. These lines are most commonly used in the fishing world and offer a wide range of benefits.

Here are some tricks that you can use today when spooling a reel with new fishing line to reduce line twisting.

Spooling Techniques To Reduce Line Twist

Some people try to make this sound like rocket science. It really is not that complicated. In fact, it’s really simple.

It does not matter whether you are spooling a spinning or a baitcaster reel. The main concept is the same.

Make sure the fishing line coming off the line spool rotates the same direction as your reel. In other words, if your reel rotates clockwise then the line spool needs to rotate clockwise as well.

Spooling Spinning Reels

1. Align the line spool face with the label with the front of the reel. Make sure as you put the new line on your reel that both the line spool and your reel are rotating in the same direction. 
2. Tie fishing line onto the reel. 
3. Create tension on the line by gripping the line with your hand. If I got a lot of line to reel then I place a smooth cloth over the line. Then put something that weighs a few pounds (less than 5lbs) on top of the cloth. 
4. Slowly reel new line on the fishing reel. 
5. Continue to reel new fishing line until you are left with about 1/8″ of space from the edge of the reel’s spool.

The tension on the fishing line while spooling will help the fishing line reset its memory to your reel. This will improve your casting and avoid tangles around your reel.

Spooling Baitcaster Reels

1. Align the line spool face with the label with the side of the reel. Make sure that the line is coming off the line spool and going on the reel from the top. 
2. Make sure when viewing from the side that the line spool and reel are going to rotate in the same direction. 
3. Tie fishing line onto the reel. 
4. Create tension on the line by gripping the line with your hand. If I got a lot of line to reel then I place a smooth cloth over the line. Then put something that weighs a few pounds (less than 5lbs) on top of the cloth. 
5. Slowly reel new line on the fishing reel. 
6. Continue to reel new fishing line until you are left with about 1/8″ of space from the edge of the reel’s spool.

Get Rid Of Line Twist When Line Is Already On Reel

Sometimes you are dealing with a stubborn fishing line and despite your best efforts, you can’t get rid of the line twist. Of course, you will not know right away if you are dealing with a stubborn fishing line until you are fishing.

So what is the best way to get rid of line twist if the line is already on the fishing reel?

Untwisting Your Fishing Line While On A Boat

1. Remove your fishing lure and leader from the main fishing line.
   
2. Start trolling at a VERY slow speed.
   
3. Let your fishing line unwind onto the water.
   
4. Continue to do this until you have emptied out your reel in the water.
   
5. At this point, your rod should be flexing due to the drag between the fishing line and water. The drag will stretch out the line removing the line memory. Continue to drag the line for about 5 minutes.
   
6. Start reeling in your fishing line from the water. You can choose to stop the boat or continue trolling as you reel in your line.

This method will work if you are fishing on a dock or shoreline with a decent current.

Please use your best judgement here and make sure you don’t have any vessel traffic or have the line get tangled on something downstream.

Untwisting Your Line While Fishing On Land

1. Place your rod on the ground and put something in front of a rod.
   
2. Grab the end of the line and walk it out until you emptied out the reel.
   
3. Gently pull on the line for about 5 minutes. Similar concept as when you are on a boat. This will stretch out the line to remove the line memory.
   
4. Walk back to the rod. Pick it up and hold it up about 45 degrees from the ground.
   
5. Use a damp cloth to hold the line down against the rod to create tension on the line between the reel and your hand.
   
6. Slowly start reeling in the line.

More Tips To Reduce Line Twist

1. Soak Your Reel In Water: This is a great trick if you have monofilament fishing line.
   
   Remove the reel’s spindle. BUT PLEASE be careful. Sometimes there is a spring behind the spindle that can spring out at you causing a mess of washers and springs.
   
   Submerge the spindle in warm water for about 5 – 10 minutes.
   
   The monofilament fishing line will absorb the warm water causing it to relax and will help the line to conform to the spindle of the reel as it drys.
   
2. Buying Line On A Similar Size Spool: Imagine if you bought new fishing line on a small size spool but your reel has a MUCH larger spindle.
   
   Having a large difference in size between your reel’s spindle and spool can cause more line twisting.
   
   If you buy a spool that matches the reel’s spindle size then the less line twist you will have.
   
   Remember the fishing line is going to have memory for the packaged spool. Transferring to a similar size spindle will minimize how much the fishing line has to adjust.
   
3. Line Conditioning Spray: Similar to dipping your spindle into water. This conditioning spray will cause the fishing line to relax and help the line to develop a new memory for the spindle.
   
   Apply the line conditioner by simply spraying the spindle with the fishing line on it. Let it sit and dry and call it a day.
   
4. Do Not Pull Drag and Reel: Do not attempt to reel in line when you are fighting a fish that is pulling drag. The two opposing forces can potentially cause the fishing line to twist.
   
   When a fish is pulling drag, that fish is aggressively trying to break free by spinning around in the water.
   
   Just wait until the fish becomes tired from pulling drag and then reel them in.
   
5. Use Swivels: These are a great way to reduce line twist especially when you are fishing for aggressive fish.
   
   Swivels will allow the fish to freely spin around and not cause twisting in your fishing line.

Related Questions

Are there ‘No Memory’ Fishing Lines Available?

Most modern lines today are advertised as “low memory” fishing lines. Some manufacturers even advertise their fishing lines as “no memory”. Don’t believe in the marketing fishing lines are generally made out of some sort of plastic which will contain some memory.

Does Fluorocarbon Have Line Memory?

Fluorocarbon fishing lines have more line memory than monofilament because they are stiffer and denser.

Does Braided Have Line Memory?

Because of the material that braided lines are made from. These type of lines are the closest you will get to ‘No Memory’ lines. Braided lines are generally described as ‘limp’ as in it has very low stiffness and can practically adjust to whatever size spindle without problems.