How to fill a baitcasting reel

One thing that makes filling reels easier is to use the biggest spools of line you can find. I carry one pound spools of Berkeley Big Game in 15# and 20#, since that is what I use the most. I carry smaller spools of other line strengths just to save space.

The first thing I do is take the reel off the rod. The 10 seconds you spend taking off the reel will save you several minutes. Next, I strip off the line. If I am using 25# or heavier, I strip the reel completely. If I am using 20#, I leave a very small amount on the reel. If I am using lighter line, I will leave even more line on the reel. The lighter the line, the more I leave on the reel. If I am using 12 pound test, I may leave half my line on my reel. I fill my reels so full that I should never see the knot.

Next, I run the line through the eye of the reel and tie to the old line or directly to the reel. Then I put my one pound spool of line in the bottom of the boat. I put my metal fish measuring stick under the spool, so it can turn on it. I sit over the top of the spool with the spool of line coming over the top from the backside. When I start reeling the spool spins toward the carpeted sides of my boat underneath me and spins on the measuring stick and the side of my boat. I can then fill the reel in a few seconds without the help of anyone. Be sure to fill it full!
It takes me less than 5 minutes to do the whole process. I've seen people spend 30 minutes trying to get out a backlash and if they are lucky enough to get it out, they should now replace their line. I just start cutting if I (or a client) get a bad backlash in one of my reels.