Almost all spinning reel got line twisted when we let's drag out too much .it get worst on small dia mono line .The problem seem more on older reel like Mitchell and Dam Quick .
Last night I hook a big catfish right after start fishing ,using 4 lbs test mono ,I land the fish but the line get twisted so bad and have to go home ,I normal bring an extra spool for this case but forget to do that .On newer reel with big line roller seem less problem ,What can we do to improve these older reel ?
Do you reel when the fish is pulling drag?
When you add line, do you follow the direction the line was spooled on the supply spool?
Quote from: quang tran on February 02, 2025, 06:09:43 PMOn newer reel with big line roller seem less problem ,What can we do to improve these older reel?
It's true, especially with line guides that don't even roll. Best you can do is use a swivel, preferably a ball-bearing one with older reels.
The line roller is supposed to minimize abrasion, but it doesn't do anything to prevent twisting. The rotor causes the twisting when line is retrieved. The twists are reversed when line is cast off the spool. When line is pulled off the spool with the drag, those twists are not reversed so they accumulate in the back-and-forth of the fight.
Catfish are bad at twisting line because they do a lot of rolling. The best way to reduce that line twist is to not turn the crank handle while the fish is pulling out line against the drag. Just hold the handle firm with the drag loose enough that the fish won't break the line and use your rod positioned as a shock absorber.
Quote from: Midway Tommy on February 03, 2025, 06:13:27 AMCatfish are bad at twisting line because they do a lot of rolling. The best way to reduce that line twist is to not turn the crank handle while the fish is pulling out line against the drag. Just hold the handle firm with the drag loose enough that the fish won't break the line and use your rod positioned as a shock absorber.
You're correct and I know that,I won't reel in when drag is slipping how ever while pumping I may pick up slack and reel in a litle ,not enough to cause line twist .Long time ago I just lock up the drag and back reeling for big fish .Broke off sometime but no line twist
Quote from: oc1 on February 03, 2025, 04:15:48 AMThe line roller is supposed to minimize abrasion, but it doesn't do anything to prevent twisting.
Well, modern spinners suffer far less from twist yet are still the same basic fixed spool and rotor design. A good line roller as in Daiwa's "Twistbuster", helps distribute the twist more evenly thus reducing the big tangles.
I used to have the same problem with a 704z, i've found that cleaning the line roller parts and using tsi 321 on them helped a lot, problem disappeared when i switched to spro rolling type swivels. when you reassemble the line roller, make sure it spins freely hope this helps
Quote from: quabbin boy 62 on February 03, 2025, 11:42:13 AMI used to have the same problem with a 704z, i've found that cleaning the line roller parts and using tsi 321 on them helped a lot, problem disappeared when i switched to spro rolling type swivels. when you reassemble the line roller, make sure it spins freely hope this helps
on Mitchell older reel there is no line roller ,just a piece of soft lead so only use pum line roller but it's not an option for small reel .All Dam quick use the same size line roller and quite small ,I tried to find a bearing to fit in but never find one that fit
The line-roller on the Mitchell's is carbon steel. Lead would be interesting. They don't roll but you can loosen 'em, turn slightly and maybe prevent grooves from forming.
Kind of a hassle, but you can lay the line out in some fishing areas and crank it slowly back in pinching with your fingers. I have to do that every 3 trips or so with conventionals and baitcasters.
Nice catfish!
Quote from: Gfish on February 03, 2025, 04:13:07 PMThe line-roller on the Mitchell's is carbon steel. Lead would be interesting. They don't roll but you can loosen 'em, turn slightly and maybe prevent grooves from forming.
Kind of a hassle, but you can lay the line out in some fishing areas and crank it slowly back in pinching with your fingers. I have to do that every 3 trips or so with conventionals and baitcasters.
Nice catfish!
I don't know what material made that piece ,I do see a cut on it so I guess it's made by some kind of soft material .Have not using these reels for a long time .I will keep only the 408 and let's go all the rest
I used to have this issue a lot fishing senko lures on a small spinner. Part of the problem was the lure spinning in the water in a direction that added to the issue. So I rerigged the lure in a way that forced it to spin the other way and threw a few casts and everything was fine after that. So now if I see a twist forming that's what I do.
I don't seem to see that issue on a baitcaster but I don't think that'll convince anyone to give up spinners.
A line guide made of lead wouldn't last more than one outing, if that!
Another smaller cat last night ,this time won't allow drag to run out and back reeling when needed .No line twist and continue fishing for crappie no problem .Carry extra spool and another back up rod
Where are you catching the crappie and catfish? A local bayou, pond or Lake Houston?
You wouldn't have that problem with a baitcasting reel. Just sayin'.
Quote from: jtwill98 on February 05, 2025, 01:51:43 AMWhere are you catching the crappie and catfish? A local bayou, pond or Lake Houston?
lake Conroe ,lake Houston have bigger crappie but require boat to catch them . Don't like the cat on lake Houston
Mitchell fixed spool reels like the 300, 410 etc. are notorious for creating line twist. I don't know why that is, it just is. I have several and the older ones have the hardened line guide whilst newer ones do have a line roller on the pick-up. Makes no difference. Also makes no difference how you wind on the line (off the end of the spool or unrolling the spool) - Mitchells just twist line :( .
Mind you, I wouldn't swap them.
Quote from: UKChris1 on February 06, 2025, 06:06:09 PMMitchell fixed spool reels like the 300, 410 etc. are notorious for creating line twist. I don't know why that is, it just is. I have several and the older ones have the hardened line guide whilst newer ones do have a line roller on the pick-up. Makes no difference. Also makes no difference how you wind on the line (off the end of the spool or unrolling the spool) - Mitchells just twist line :( .
Mind you, I wouldn't swap them.
That's why when my 304 crank handle broke 55 years ago I bought a Zebco Cardinal and never again fished with a Mitchell. At least the Cardinal line guide rolls, which helps reduce line twist a little bit.
Line twist is another one of the reasons why I use mono instead braid. If my mono starts developing twist I just hook it to something stationary and stretch the kinks, loops & twist right out of it.
Yes ,900 series and 300 pro do have line roller but still have line twist.May be Pum pick up solve this problem .I have some newer like 4420,4430,4440...still have same problem if you let's drag go for long time .I start out using Mitchell reels and learn the hard way like spool fly out of reel ,drag knot loosen while line out...Only a good is these reel line winding very nice ,evenly