Wet packing braid

[Capt. Fred]

I've got a question. I am re-spooling all of my reels this year with braid. Doing it myself. They are 30 wides and I'm spooling them with 80 LB braid. I've heard of "wet packing" the line on to get it a bit tighter on the reels. Has anyone done this and what's the best technique?

Are there any downsides to doing this?

Thanks.

[offshore]

Capt Fred I have never wet packed but I spool my 30s and 50s with JB hollowcore at 7-8lbs of drag. I have never had a problem with the spectra digging even with big fish....Mark

[Redweiser]

I've spooled PowerPro dry for years.. tight as possible. I don't know about trapping moisture at the bottom of a spool? Some areas have a strong chlorine smell in their city water...??

Fred, what type reels are you spooling?

[Capt. Fred]

Thanks guys. Red, they are Penn 30TW's. The line is Suffix 80LB braid. I've got one of my reels spooled with power pro now and have fought some big critters on it without it digging in. I fish the reels at 15 LBS or so at strike.

I had the same worry about all that dampness against the spool and in the line too.

I've also got a couple of Daiwa Saltists spooled with PP and have fought some big critters on them without the line digging in. Great little reels by the way.

Sounds like maybe I'll stick with my normal technique of just cranking it on dry under a good bit of pressure.

[Redweiser]

Fred, the reason I asked about the reels is; ... Just had a friend that pulled the 4 stand screws out of a Tiagra 30W on a big tuna (Electrolysis/Corrosion). He washed & oiled his reels religiously but it still happened. The T30's have 4 small find thread screws, T50's have 5 rivets. The Penn's have larger screws but the saltwater off the spool drips right into them too ... then $hidt happens!!!

I'm now in the process of putting a good thread sealer in my T30's & Penn 30/50's. I would like to put 3M Marine 5200 Sealant on top of the threads but I'm spooled to the max ... I'd have take the reels apart!! You could do this since you haven't spooled up yet.

Just a friendly tip.

Red

[Capt. Fred]

Great tip! Thanks Red.

[Fishman]

I’ve worked in a tackle shop for about four years and never packed braid that way or have I never heard of this type of spooling of braid. So I would just go with the dry spooling and manually put some pressure on the line to pack the line on the reel.

Hope this helps some.

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, it does. Thanks. Dry pack it is.

[offshore]

Capt Fred. I meant to tell you that I always splice about 60ft of 60lb mono to the JB so there is mono against the spool. This allows a little better grip on the spool and the mono does not retain the water against the spool. The water will wick back into the spectra. I have never had any corrosion on the spool or inside the reel from the braid...Mark

[Capt. Fred]

Got it. Thanks Mark.