Even when it comes to something as seemingly simple as loading a new fly line onto a reel, gadgets can be a godsend in the world of fly-fishing. I learned this lesson early on.
Summer was fast approaching, and I was in need of a new intermediate 9-weight. Big snook would soon be amassing along the beaches where I lived, and I knew that I'd need to replace my old, worn-out line to up my chances for some nice fish.
I purchased a new line at the local fly shop, and as I was locking in the connection between the backing and the tail end of the running line, I could almost feel a big linesider already! I slowly began reeling up the line. At first, coils were unraveling beautifully off the ground. Then suddenly - from nowhere - a monstrous orange bird's nest emerged. What a mess!
It took a while to work those tangles out, but eventually I got that slick new line onto the reel. Things could've been so much easier, though. In retrospect, a line winder would've helped.
Simplify Your Rigging
T.L. Lauerman, sales manager at Wapsi, parent company of Anglers Image, chuckles relaying his thoughts on the subject: "Without a line winder, you're typically laying the line on the ground, and a lot of the time, it can become a minidisaster," he says. "The first time someone tries one of these, they usually wonder how they've lived so long without one."
No doubt, a line winder can help simplify your rigging. These products may look like something out of Einstein's closet, but most are innovative contraptions developed by smart anglers who sought easier, faster ways to rig fly lines and backings. The Anglers Image line winder, for instance, is built with collapsible arms that, when locked into place and engaged by a crank, spin like a wheel, collecting fly lines in neat coils.
Line winders are great for taking line both on or off a reel. They're also handy for cleaning lines or removing lines for storage. While most saltwater anglers own extra spools (each holding a different line type) for their reels, Lauerman correctly notes that "spare spools are expensive!" He continues: "They're probably the most efficient, but a lot of guys will just use two or three lines on the same reel. That's when line winders are really nice. They allow him to quickly collect the various lines, clean them and then store them with twist-ties almost like they were new."
