Spooling a reel with tapered line — getting the backing exactly right

The video solves one specific problem: how to spool a tapered line so the reel ends up exactly full. Here it is Korda LongChuck, tapering from 27 to 47 lb at both ends, with a fixed 300 metres on the spool — both halves are usable, but without backing it will not fill the reel.

The method is not the channel's own: the video states it comes from Korda's YouTube channel.

What you need: the main line, the reel, and — this is the key — a spare spool or a second reel with an identical one. It is needed because the order is reversed: the main line goes on first, backing on top of it, and then the whole lot is transferred to the other spool. Also a sponge (a rinsed-out washing-up sponge with no detergent left in it), sellotape, and backing line.

Soak the line first. Mono absorbs some water, and the manufacturer's advice is around ten minutes before winding.

The line is fixed with tape rather than a knot, for two reasons. The 47 lb end would make too bulky a knot — in the video such a knot repeatedly worked its way to the surface of the spool and interfered with casting. The second reason is safety: if something takes all the line, it simply pulls out from under the tape and goes, which beats having the rod dragged in.

It has to be sellotape, not insulating tape: the adhesive on insulating tape is stronger, can melt in summer heat and seep between the wraps.

While winding, the line spool should rotate in the water — Korda specifically recommend this against twist. Other makers specify the spool standing label-up; it is printed on the spool itself, so read it. Tension comes from the wet sponge. And a practical tip: do this outdoors, because half the bucket ends up on the ground.

On fill level: not to the rim. These long-cast reels have a double lip, and the video fills to the first one, while checking that the line does not stand proud at the clip.

Then comes the step not to skip: while transferring, count the turns of the handle. In the video that was 71–72 turns, which on this reel is a little under seventy metres, because retrieve per turn is smaller at the bottom of the spool. That number is the payoff for the whole exercise: the matching reel can be filled without measuring, and you will still know in six months — so write it down.

For the same reason the video always uses the same backing, a 40 lb catfish line in a 2000 m spool: if the same diameter goes under every reel, the turn count stays valid for years.

During the transfer the spool is kept wet by standing it in clean water. Here the spool does not need to rotate as the line spool did — the line should peel off it as if you were casting.