Spool Rigging

[Michael.guerrero]

I've suffered for the last time accidentally pulling my double-ender off my spool when trying to get it out of my pocket.

It's currently rigged so the loop at the end of the line goes through one of the holes on the side of the spool and then loops 2 or 3 times around the double-ender. A firm enough pull and it comes right out of the gate clip.

I used to loop the end of the line through the double-ender and then hook the double-ender through one of the holes on the side of the spool, but someone told me you can break the delrin that way so I stopped.

Should I go back to this?

Also, in my thick drygloves for the mid-50s or lower water here, I have a hell of a time feeling for the loop on the end of the line--which matters in a zero vis situation. I've seen some people rig reel stops (those little balls on reels that keep the line from going past the cross-bar) and White Arrow spools have a line marker already attached, which would also be easy to feel. Does anyone have any recommendations for this?

Please assume that thick gloves are required when providing your response.

Thanks,

Mike

[nakatomi]

I just put the loop through one of the holes of the spool, choosing the hole that will make the remainder of the loop as short as possible.
One end of the boltsnap is clipped into the loop, that's it.

[Sludge]

Just spend an extra few bucks and get jump/gap reels. It'll make your life a whole lot easier.

[rddvet]

Google santiago diving Mexico. On his site he has videos and one of them is his spool rigging. I started usingnitmand so far I like it, but I've thus far only used it a couple of times

[victorzamora]

Mike, I do what you and Oliver are saying: Stuff end of line through hole in reel and then clip to double-ender. However, I double-wrap my line around my double-ender using the bottom of the gate as my "pinching" point....if that makes sense.

So: leave a little extra line out when you poke it through the hole. Clip your double-ender to the "cheater loop" at the end. Then wrap the line around the bottom of the gate (or whatever you call the part you put your thumb on) and back up into the double-ender. It's goofy the first few times but it becomes easier as you practice it...muscle memory and all.

Russell: I've got a few Jump/Gap reels and have started to loathe them...to the point that I've given a couple away. I was using the Dive Rite sidewinder-type jump/gap reels.

[johnj]

Another thought, check the double ender. I once bought a couple of double enders that were from a "bad batch". After replacing them, never had one come off.

[Mr Grey]

Just spend an extra few bucks and get jump/gap reels. It'll make your life a whole lot easier.

Jump / gap reels will work great especially in cold water with thick gloves.

[MichaelAngelo]

Just spend an extra few bucks and get jump/gap reels. It'll make your life a whole lot easier.

Small spools don't work as well with heavy gloves or dry gloves in 50 degree water. Same is true for pushing the loop thru the hole in a spool. You simply don't have the dexterity to operate them easily. I always used spools or the larger primary reels with the cold water adaptations (larger knobs, etc). The ball stops Work for both reels and spools but I always tied an extra loop on top or the main loop. Make the top loop a little larger with a bigger knot. Clip into the main loop and use the smaller to grab the line. I prefer to keep my spools clipped off in a pocket. The clips are like the non lockable carabiners, twist them the right way and they will open on their own. Diving 50 degree water is a big difference then the warmer 70 degree. With It's a trade off between warmth and dexterity, remembering that if your hands get too cold you lose the dexterity completely. Try using different gloves. For example below 50 degrees I always used dry or 5 ml neoprene, above 50 I use "Ice Bay" neoprene ice fishing gloves. Mike Young turned me on to them. They extreme warm but thin enough for great dexterity. Their out of Reno NV. Only other advice is running any in cold water with gloves takes practice, run a reel as often as you can. Hope this helps.

[Michael.guerrero]

From rddvet's suggestion, which I think victor was also suggesting:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=QF2was0HD3g

I think I'll give it a shot, and I think I'm going to put some line stops on too.

The reels take up a lot of space in the pocket with the handle, knob, etc. and the ones I'm finding online are between six and ten times more expensive than the spools.

[MichaelAngelo]

I was suggesting putting spools in your pockets not the reels. Sorry for the confusion. I clip the reels off.