- 1). Grab the spool of fishing line you're going to reel onto your fishing reel. Thread your fishing line through the eyelet at the tip of your rod. Keep threading the fishing line down through all the eyelets until you reach the reel, this will be your main line.
- 2). Flip the bail up of your fishing reel if you're loading a spinning reel. If you're using a spincast or baitcast reel, wrap the line around your spool; thread your line through the line guide or reel cover, wrap it around the spool, and bring it back towards your main line. Tie a simple overhand knot with the loose end of your fishing line onto the main line. Make sure you leave about 6 inches of line hanging off your knot. Tie another overhand knot on the line hanging off your knot.
- 3). Pull the main line tight towards the tip of your fishing rod. Make sure both knots slip down to the spool snugly. Use your nail clippers to trim the remaining free line off the knot down to 1/8 inch.
- 4). Flip the bail closed on your spinning reel; if you're using a spincast or baitcast reel there's no need for this. Grab the main line above the fishing reel between your forefinger and thumb tightly. Reel in the fishing line onto your spool keeping the line taut between your fingers. Watch your line spooling up until the reel is filled 1/8 of an inch from the edge of your spool. Clip the line above the tip of your rod.
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