We have all reeled in our gear and over-reeled our swivel into the first eye on the rod.  For some unfortunate anglers this first eye on the rod has been damaged, or at the very least you are now trying to dislodge your snap or barrel swivel from the first eye. 

Here is a technique many professional fishing guides use to keep the first eye on the rod from being damaged by over reeling.  Use beads to protect the first eye on your rod from the terminal tackle.  The bead strikes the eye in a manner that is so much less destructive.

Beads are sold at most all places fishing tackle is sold.  Depending on the size of your fishing rod you might use beads ranging in size from 4mm to 6mm.  As an example, I use 5mm beads for my G-Loomis GL3 1141s rods.  Buy a selection of beads in different colors.  The different color helps you select the right size quickly when on the water and re-tying your setup. 

Good luck fishing!

       
       

Do you fish from a boat and tangle up your line with that of your fishing partners? Have you wondered how fishing guides on the river can fish so many guys without having a tangled mess on every drift? 

Well here is the key.  Use rods and reels that are all the same.  This includes using the same weight line, leaders, swivels, and weight.  If you decide that the weight you are using on a particular drift is not enough and you decide to use a heavier weight, then everyone in the boat needs to change. 

Having the same setup keeps all of the lines moving through the water at the same rate, preventing tangled lines with anglers in your own boat. 

If you think about it, anglers who have their own boat also have several rods and reels.  So when you buy your rods and reels, instead of buying different weight rods, buy 3 or 4 of the same weight and length. 

As an example, I run 6 spinning rods and 6 baitcasters.  All of the spinning rods are the same and setup the same.  If someone breaks off and I hand them another rod it feels the same as the one they were using.  Since I usually use the baitcasters for pulling plugs, I have a couple of rods longer in length to allow for the offset of the rods.  But I still use the same weight line on these longer rods.