Respooling a reel

[Rugby]

I have finally got my new Okuma 8k reels, I have now to fill them with line. What is the best way to start it off, is it knot the line or using a knot. If the latter what knot would you use?

 

Les

Edited August 1 by Rugby
Change of reel number

[salokcinnodrog]

1 hour ago, Rugby said:

I have finally got my new Okuma 8k reels, I have now to fill them with line. What is the best way to start it off, is it knot the line or using a knot. If the latter what knot would you use?

 

Les

First time with new reels is fun...

The first time I put line on new reels (or spools) is to see what they take in terms of amount (say 15lb 0.35 380metres) and fill them with 15lb line, I do a uni knot loop, put it on the reels, pull tight and wind line on. If the line spool contains 1000m then the last bit is left on the spool.

If the 3rd reel needs line I use a brand new line spool, so first time you might end up buying 2 spools of line.

 

[Rugby]

Thanks for that.
I must admit,  when looking at that knot I thought it looked a bit bulky. The Okuma has a line capacity of 0.35/ 550. My line is 0.40 spool size 1000m. Which I suspect means I will either need to use some backing or buy another spool.

 

Les

 

 

[elmoputney]

14 minutes ago, Rugby said:

Thanks for that.
I must admit,  when looking at that knot I thought it looked a bit bulky. The Okuma has a line capacity of 0.35/ 550. My line is 0.40 spool size 1000m. Which I suspect means I will either need to use some backing or buy another spool.

 

Les

 

 

I put some backing on my 8ks, I worked it out so I could split a Gardner spool of line 3 ways. And just bought some cheap line off amazon. 

You can use a calculator like this one to help ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

 

[Rugby]

35 minutes ago, elmoputney said:

I put some backing on my 8ks, I worked it out so I could split a Gardner spool of line 3 ways. And just bought some cheap line off amazon. 

You can use a calculator like this one to help ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

 

 

[Rugby]

Thanks for the calculator
I’ve had a look at the calculator which works out at 421m per spool. I could get both of my spools filled with the 1000m spool.

 

 

Les

[B B]

I’ve got the shallow as well as the deep spools. Just weighed the both and the deep comes in with line at 7oz and the shallow with line 5oz… I was a bit bored 😁

[Rugby]

I’ve just done both reels with 1000m Korda 15lb and got a bit left over.

On 01/08/2025 at 20:33, salokcinnodrog said:

First time with new reels is fun...

The first time I put line on new reels (or spools) is to see what they take in terms of amount (say 15lb 0.35 380metres) and fill them with 15lb line, I do a uni knot loop, put it on the reels, pull tight and wind line on. If the line spool contains 1000m then the last bit is left on the spool.

If the 3rd reel needs line I use a brand new line spool, so first time you might end up buying 2 spools of line.

 

I used the uni knot on bot my reels. I was surprised how easy the knot was to make.

[framey]

I just fill my spools with something cheap like a 100m spool in the same bs as the stuff I want to use and then just fill up with the other line.

as long as it comes on  100m spools I don’t care it never gets replaced.

usually get 3 spools filled out of a bulk spool then.

 

i would get bored counting turns and probably loose count anyway..

Edited August 3 by framey

[Rugby]

Good idea, never thought of that and it’s so simple.

[salokcinnodrog]

5 hours ago, Rugby said:

I’ve just done both reels with 1000m Korda 15lb and got a bit left over.

I used the uni knot on bot my reels. I was surprised how easy the knot was to make.

Put this in your memory, when you need to replace the line, take off around 300metres (80 odd wraps at 3.66m or 12ft, its actually just under at 292metres) and spool new line on top of it.

[Rugby]

Thanks. I will keep this in my little book of handy ideas.

 

 

Les

[salokcinnodrog]

1 hour ago, Rugby said:

Thanks. I will keep this in my little book of handy ideas.

 

 

Les

Actually make it even easier, go  250metres, or 69wraps at 3.66 metres (12ft) and then you can get 2 fills from 1 1000metre spool

[elmoputney]

10 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

Put this in your memory, when you need to replace the line, take off around 300metres (80 odd wraps at 3.66m or 12ft, its actually just under at 292metres) and spool new line on top of it.

The only downside with that is how much you cut off, snap off during the life of the line. Every few sessions I cut mine back to fresher line as it wears or shows damage. 

Thats why I like my yellow backing line just strip it to that and it works every time I've even changed between 0.35mm and 040mm Gardner lines and it uses 1 spool per 3 rods bang on for both.