Ball object on end of reel line

[john844]

I recently bought a used reel, and noticed that I don't have that pretty ball in the starting loop coming off the reel. Is there a purpose for that little object, or is it just to prevent me from rolling the end of the line into the reel.

If there is a purpose for this item, is there a place to buy them? Should they float or sink?

Thanks,
John

[Cave Diver]

Generally that little ball is the thing off of a girls hair retainer, can't remember what they're called. Like a little rubber band with two balls on it to clip hair back.

The main use is to keep you from reeling the line all the way on. Some people don't like them, because if you dont have the spool locked down, the weight of the ball can cause the line to run off the line, causing an entanglement hazard.

Some people prefer to tie a smaller loop at the end of the big loop and use that to grab the line when undoing it or tying off. That's called a Jasper Loop after Woody Jasper if I recall correctly.

[john844]

Perfect, thanks.

That was the only explaination I could think of that made sense. I just wanted to verify from others so I did not learn a lesson the hard way.

I would prefer not to be the one others learn from :)

[Papa_Bear]

The ball is a great invention that allows you to "Feel the end and tie and untie in the dark or just make it easy to handle as well as a stop! When used with a loop it is a great tool! I have never seen it run out a spool or cause a tangle problem?

[Cave Diver]

I have never seen it run out a spool or cause a tangle problem?

I've actually had it happen once. I didnt lock the reel down good and had it clipped off to a hip d-ring. It started to unspool some and by the time I realized it I had about 30 feet of line trailing behind me. I was the last man on the team. After that I decided to remove it. Other people I know dive with them all the time and are quite happy with them.

[Papa_Bear]

I hate it when Murphy dives with me!

[Spd 135]

I used to use the Groelsh (sp?) beer caps, and the little balls that come on the end of small bungie loops. If you use this method pretty much anything you can find works. I have some on some of my primary reels, and none on jump or gap reels. Nothing but a loop on my spools. Like Cave Diver, this has caused small issues for me so I only have the stoppers on the end of the primary reel I am going to use, for sure, on that dive. If I need more that one big reel, the others will only have a loop.

[SDE Dennis]

We ship our reels with balls on. We do this so the line won't go inside our reel. Different divers like different setups so we let the customer decide. Some like line stops, some clips and others the balls with a loop after.