Attaching Line

Question
I am new to the sport of fishing and I received my first rod and reel.  The reel is an open face style Avocet reel.  I have what many would say is a stupid question ... Since the reel came with no line how do I attach the line to the reel.

Thank you for your help

Answer
Welcome to the obsession... I mean sport of fishing.  Never a stupid question, Ron.  To attach line to a reel you can use any of the self-clinching types knots that you will use to attach lures, hooks etc. My suggestion would be to learn the "improved clinch knot".  It would be very difficult for me to describe it in words.  But, there are some good web-sites that have drawings and pictures.  One I found was www.fish4fun.com/clinch_knot.htm

A good tackle shop will wind line on the reel for you for a few cents per yard.  They have bulk spools for this purpose.  Or, you can buy a "filler spool" (usually 330 yards or so) at the tackle shop and wind in on yourself.

No brain surgery here.  Put the reel on the rod and open the bail.  Tie the line on the spool using the clinch knot.  Close the bail and start winding, using your non-reeling hand to put a little finger tension on the line as you wind it on. For spinning reels, the spool of line should be laying flat on a table.  While you are winding the line should be coming off the spool in large easy loops.  If it's not and the loops are getting small and tight, just flip the spool over on the table and that will correct the problem.  

Fill the reel spool till the line is within 1/8th inch of the edge of the spool.

I hope that this gets you started.