English
Tiger line spooling advice by John Llewellyn
I’ve tried every way possible and everybody has their own favourite method. As with most things, simple is best. Soaking in a bucket of water has no effect! Tiger line is 100% fluorocarbon and it doesn’t absorb water (it’s one of its advantages). A bucket of water was a good idea with nylon line as the nylon absorbed some of the water but it isn’t necessary with a true fluorocarbon line.
Method:
- Push a pen or pencil through the centre of the spool and ask a friend to hold the pencil on either side of the spool, so that it can spin freely.
- With the reel fixed to a rod butt and the line through the butt ring you simply wind the line off the spool.
- A firm tension (not too strong) needs to be applied as you wind the line on. Either your mate does this on the spool, or you can wind the line through a cloth that you hold in front of the spool, gripping it sufficiently to give you the tension you need.
- No need to stretch the line before spooling just keep a steady tension on it – remember Tiger line has a small amount of stretch compared to a nylon line – another of its advantages! .
- It’s best to fill just shy of the lip of the spool
This is the method Terry Edmonds uses and as a long distance casting expert, if it’s good enough for him then it’s good enough for me! I’ve used this method for several years now and it works perfectly. It’s also a good idea to regularly clean your line by winding it back through a damp cloth. Also a good idea is from time to time to tie the line to a tree, walk out 150yds or so and then apply a strong steady tension. This will re-aline the molecules and straighten out any kinks that have got in through fishing. Wind it back through a damp cloth and your line will be straight and clean and like new again. Do this and your Tiger line will last you a very long time – it’s not cheap to buy I agree but if it lasts more than a season without deteriorating (unlike most other lines!) then it is actually very good value for money.
As for knots: I use a beachcaster knot or back to back grinner to tie to a fluorocarbon leader line like our Armure Leader. To a hook or a swivel I use a Palomar which I have found to be totally reliable when tied properly.