A common problem when on the river is having your leader spool(s) come unwound in your vest, pack, or tackle bag. Makes a big tangle. Rubber bands work - sometimes. Solve the problem completely by making up some of these slick little spool keepers during a spare evening.
This idea is not my own. I saw a picture of one on another forum. I've learned since making these that a company is now producing them for about a buck apiece. If you're lazy or time-challenged, here are the ones you can buy:
http:www.guideshop.com/shops/1501.htm If you decide to make your own, here are the ingredients:
-Wood "barrel" type beads with inner diameter of about .25 inches.(Plastic will also work if you can find the right size.)
-6 mm plastic round beads or small wood beads as shown in picture. (I had a bag of assorted wood beads left over from a flyfisherman's lanyard project of a few years ago so I used them.)
-Super glue. (I like Zap-a-Gap. Others will work.)
-Thin piece of wire (I used a spinner wire shaft that I had laying around.)
-Package of 1/4 inch polyester elastic (Wal-Mart has this in the sewing section)
-Scissors
Cut a length of elastic. Measure by "girthing" the spool to be used and stretching it slightly so it is snug.
Slip a few of the smaller beads onto your wire. I made a bunch of these at once. Now every spool in the house is properly girdled and tidy.
Holding the two ends of your elastic together, place a few drops of super glue on the outer sides as shown.
Slip on a barrel bead, holding it in place with your thumb and finger.
Slide the bead laden wire between the two elastic ends and force one bead into the space created. It should be a tight fit. I found that I didn't need to super glue the center bead into place if the fit was very snug.
Slide the wire out and finish pressing the bead into place by forcing it down against the table.
Trim ends of elastic up against bead. Place on the spool as shown, running the tag end of the line through the hole. This will hold the line tightly on the spool. On leader wheels it will allow you to dispense your leader smoothly when needed.
Get rid of all those rubber bands and other gadgets that you no longer need. No more tangles.
zonker
