blue_mako

What reel is it? It should have an external adjustment knob on the outside of the reel around the handle. Don't get confused with the drag. The drag controls the presure on the spool when it's in gear, the free spool knob controls it when it's in free spool. Loosen the free spool knob so it's only slightly tight. Make sure you've rigged up your lure or rig on the end of the line and put the reel into free spool so that your rig/lure falls to the ground. If your spool gets a birdsnest then your free spool knob is too loose to tighten it up slightly little by litte until your rig doesn't bridsnest the spool. Troy