Just come back from a 5 day session, not very successful but made even more frustrating by the constant birds nest issues I had when using distance sticks and braid.

4 or 5 times it happened. There must be a knack to it, so I'm all ears

FWIW I tried dry braid, wet braid, keeping the braid under tension from stick to stick when reeling back in, but it happened regardless.

Is it just one of those things that happens when using braid or is there a solution?

In reply to Post #1
not teaching you to suck eggs as I'm not sure on your carping history/experience, when wrapping were you just going round each stick or were you doing g a figure of eight??

In reply to Post #2
Just going round the sticks.

Should I be doing a figure of 8?

In reply to Post #3
a figure of 8 will cause less tangles,I don't think I've ever had a tangle on distance sticks as I've always used that method

In reply to Post #1
Angle your sticks out a little bit. Sort of 11 o'clock 1 o'clock and figure of eight if that makes sense it stops dragging previous layers up.

In reply to Post #4
https://youtu.be/D2FSM9IvnlM?si=gC4KJD6mG0PfMg0a

In reply to Post #1
Reel back in through a damp thick cloth to maintain tension.

Use sticks with the grooves cut into them, braid slides off ungrooved sticks too quickly, you don't need to angle grooved sticks either, works against you.

Thank you chaps

In reply to Post #1
wrap the lead around the stick twice, figure of eight, keep your finger on the spool making deliberate taps on the spool to keep the braid mega taught. Wind it back on with the braid going through the palm of your hand which will be gripping the blank

I had problems with the korda basic wrap sticks and 4or5 times had braid come off and birdnest so switched to cygnet distances stick that are grooved and the tops are curved out and haven't had a single problem in the last year. I also had no idea you are meant to wrap in a figure of 8 I always went just straight around so I learnt that from this post and was probably my problem also.

In reply to Post #1
Get yourself some of the ESP sticks - double grooves up and down the stick, never had a problem wrapping. Always remember to get the braid under tension when winding off the wraps - otherwise you will have dramas when casting to the spot.

In reply to Post #12
Agree here - I had the Fox sticks which are smooth. Would have problems with braid at longer distances. Esp sticks are superb with the grooves.

In reply to Post #1
I feel your pain having also experienced horrendous wind knots after using wrap sticks. I think I have overcome the problem by:

1) Reducing the amount of braid on the spools so it is filled well below the lip
2) Ensuring the braid is wound on tightly to the spool when reeling in from the sticks

I hope this helps.

Thank you for the advice chaps

In reply to Post #13
I added rubber o rings to my avid sticks, does the same job as grooves, without having to buy new sticks. Make sure they are a tight fit.