How to Setup a Penn Baitcast Reel
- 1). Mount the reel on the top of a baitcasting rod by loosening the screw on the underside of the rod handle with a screwdriver. Slip the front foot of the reel under the front bracket on top of the rod (the bracket closest to the rod guides), then slip the rear foot under the rear bracket. Tighten the screw on the underside of the rod to secure the Penn baitcast reel.
- 2). Thread the end of a new spool of fishing line through the rod tip and each of the rod guides down to the Penn reel.
- 3). Push the end of the line through the wire loop on the top of the Peen reel. This is the level winder, which glides back and forth over the spool during retrieval to ensure the line goes smoothly on the reel.
- 4). Wrap the line several times around the bare spool, then tie it off with a double overhand knot and cut the excess line close to the knot.
- 5). Take the rod handle in one hand and the reel handle in the other, then turn the reel handle clockwise about one full rotation per second to add line to the baitcaster. Fill the spool with line to the marker on the inside of the reel housing, then clip the line at the rod tip.
- 6). Tie on a sinker weight or snap swivel to the end of the line using a clinch knot. An illustration of the clinch knot is linked in the "Resources".
- 7). Dial the star-shaped drag setting next to the reel handle clockwise to tighten the drag mechanism on the baitcaster. Pull on the end of the line to adjust the drag so the line can come off the spool under pressure, but without stretching.
- 8). Adjust the round knob next to the star drag to set the braking mechanism that slows the spool when casting. Turn the knob clockwise to tighten the brakes, counter-clockwise to let the spool spin more freely.
