How To End Spinning Reel Wind Knots Forever
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
- Found In: Fishing Tips, Inshore Fishing, Salt Strong Podcast, Tackle & Gear, Line, Braid
If wind knots are costing you time, money, and casts, there’s a GOOD chance you’re blaming the wrong thing.
Most anglers do.
The problem usually isn’t the cast, even though that’s when everything blows up, and that’s exactly what makes wind knots so frustrating.
After seeing the same wind knot questions come up again and again, Luke and I sat down to break this apart.
We walk through what actually sets wind knots up, why they only show themselves LATER, and how to spot the mistake BEFORE it costs you line and missed fish.
See the moment most anglers never notice before their next cast in the video below.
Featured Gear:
- Reel: Otis 2500
- Rod: Slam Stick Traveler
- Line: Daiwa J-Braid x8 Grand Braid
Key Takeaways
- Wind knots almost never happen when you think they do
- There is a specific moment that sets them up, and most anglers miss it entirely
- One small detail on your spool can snowball into a massive problem
- The location of a wind knot tells a story most anglers never learn to read
- Several popular “fixes” feel right in the moment, but actually make things worse
- Wind plays a role, but not in the way most people assume
If any of those made you stop and think, the video will connect the dots.
Final Thoughts
Wind knots feel random until you understand what to watch for.
Once you know how they’re set up, you stop reacting after the damage is done and start preventing them before the next cast. That alone can save you time, frustration, and a surprising amount of braid over a season.
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STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Fascinating… provides the info to minimize spinning reel wind knots. I would love to see a similar video addressing why and how to prevent wind knots/bird nesting on conventional reels. Keep up the good work!
Great information on how to prevent wind knots. Thank you!
Beyond braid seems to be prone to more wind knots
Thank you for the info Luke. Now I know how to fix wind knots when happens. I did had a big problem with it.
What knot do you use to splice braid together?
Thanks for the information! Definitely helps!
On another area of wind knots, your pod cast made me realize why my VR75 was always getting them. The spool could not be lowered enough to prevent the line from stacking thicker at the bottom and smaller at the top. This creates a similar condition to the one you discuss. I was ready to throw out this very expensive reel. Fortunately due the the information I got from you I decided the take the reel to my local VS service center and complain. They said no problem we can lower the pin to correct that. Hopefully they can. Thanks for your information. I really like that reel except for the wind knots.
Wow, that’s truly transformational info! Thanks for making me a better fish bum!
Once again good stuff thnx. Learned about flipping the bail from my first FL guide trip with Capt Butch Richie “Barhopper” in Sanibel in the early 90’s and tight line from my Dad as a kid BUT I do a lot of popper/top water for Smallmouth in PA and apparently loose line on the twitch retrieve is responsible for those w/ks even with little to no wind. Thanks
When you are sight casting to a specific fish and into the wind it will pucker you up a bit especially if there is a good expectation that the fish will strike immediately. The solution is not really different from what you recommend but you have to move a lot quicker. Also I have used braid for so long that I forgot about the line twist. My memory improved when I bought a kids starter spinning kit loaded with mono. Switched to braid the next day, Good Fishing Fellas!