How to Use South Bend Reels
- 1). Open the bail of a South Bend spinning reel by pulling it to the side until it locks into place.
- 2). Pull the free end of monofilament fishing line from a filler spool. Wrap the fishing line around the spool of the reel so that six to seven inches of the free end of the line extends past the spool.
- 3). Attach the line to the spool of the South Bend spinning reel with an Arbor knot. To tie the knot, hold the free end of the line and loop it around the main line. Tie a simple over-hand knot with the free end of the line. Form a second over-hand knot in the free end of the line and do not wrap it around the main line.
- 4). Moisten both overhand knots and pull them down tightly against each other forming the Arbor knot. Continue pulling the Arbor knot down tight against the spool of the reel. Trim excess line from the free end of the knot with scissors.
- 5). Close the bail of the South Bend spinning reel and apply tension to the line with your hand. Turn the handle of the reel to wind line onto the spool. Cut the line free from the filler spool with scissors.
- 6). Open the bail and pull the line down through the line guides and out past the rod tip. Close the bail of the reel and attach a lure or tackle such as a hook, weight and a float.
- 7). Bait the hook, if necessary, and grip the rod and South Bend spinning rod so that the arm of the reel splits your middle and ring fingers.
- 8). Hook your index finger around the line just above the line roller and hold it in place. Open the bail of the reel, bring the rod tip back to the side and then quickly forward toward a target on the water. Release the line as the rod tip approaches the target and allow line to spool from the reel. Close the bail on the reel when the lure or terminal tackle is in the water.
- 9). Turn the handle of the South Bend spinning reel to wind line onto the reel and retrieve the lure or terminal tackle.
Source...