5 Tips for Avoiding Tangles

No one likes getting tangled, but it’s all part of the fishing game. That said, you can minimize the number of tangles you get, by taking these five simple tips into account.

1. Whenever you’re using a lure that spins (most spoons being the obvious example), rig a swivel in-line. But not just any old swivel – it must be a ball-bearing swivel. Cheap barrel snap-swivels are just fine for use as an attachment point, but they do zero for you when it comes to eliminating line twist, which ultimately results in massive tangles. So spend the big bucks on those ball-bearing swivels.
2. Use braid mainline. When it comes to twist-induced tangles monofilament is almost always the problem. Braid just doesn’t twist up the same way. You can add a top-shot of mono to a braid mainline and avoid the issue, entirely.
3. After fishing, tow your line behind the boat at slow speed. When twist does get into your fishing line, the only way to remove it is to let it out behind the boat as you idle along. Water pressure draws it back, but allows it to spin as necessary for the twist to remove itself. Many captains that use a lot of lures which regularly cause twist make it a habit to snip everything off the ends of their lines at the end of the day, and tow them back through speed-zones on the way to the marina or ramp as a matter of practice.
4. Stop reeling on a slack line. Reeling in slack is probably the second-most common cause of tangles. The loose line spills off the reel’s spool prematurely or taunt line digs into loose line; either way, you end up with a mess on your hands. Always be aware of this as you reel, and if the line’s slack add some tension by pinching it under a finger as you crank it in.
5. After an inexperienced angler uses a rod and reel, tie something heavy to the end, make a long, long cast, and pack that line back onto the spool properly. This has everything to do with tip number four, above. No matter how many times you try to explain it, a novice is bound to reel up slack line, often without even realizing it. This sets up whoever uses the rod and reel next for disaster. A preemptive strike on your part will prevent the next trip’s tangles from ever happening.