Thanks guys. I cant work it out either, how it happened I mean. Ive done a lot of googling before trying to explain it here. The closest explanation I can find is what seems to be termed 'line burrowing'. However when I pull the line out to try and free it, the leader is buried under a crossed over piece of line and without picking at it with a piece of wire Ive made up, it is tightly snagged.

I think my only option is to take it into a shop that does line loading and let them see it.

I'll put the answer here if/when I get one

Thanks Smudge. I was actually already doing that as it was the only option I could think of but seeing a long jo ahead and getting a bit short tempered over it, thought there may have been a simpler answer.

We're in the Pyes Pa area, Tauranga.

OK a bit out of the way for me, Fish Addict has exactly the same thoughts as me. If you could send the reel to me in Auckland I'd happily sort it for you but lets see where this goes first.

Well that was easy. Good result. Took the reel to Hunting and Fishing, Chapel St, Tauranga.

An overnight and they took all the line off and rewound. I only put 800 metres on, but rewound I wouldve got 1000 I think.

A cheap lesson $30 for the rewind.

Cheers guys.

Thanks for your input smudge. Ive been fishing for many years but have usually got our catch using the KISS principal. A rod, hooks, line and sinker. Never a problem, I either caught a fish, or didnt.

Now that Ive gone a bit techo with the drone and electric reel Im starting to wonder if Ive bitten off more than I can chew.

Am in recovery mode after a bit of hospital procedure that has had a few unadvertised consequences (prostate biopsy).The electric reel was a Christmas present and is still unused. The drone arrived the night after the biopsy and the only action it has seen is sitting on our driveway while I practice the setup etc and the neighbours admire the flashing lights.

We have a motorhome and I usually camp out on the coast between Pukehina and Matata for fishing. Used to do quite well and bring home a feed perhaps 2 out of 3 times. These days it seems the only snapper caught are out past the 400m mark. Kawahai can be anywhere even quite close in at times of course. Hence the electric gear. No cupboard big enough for a kontiki so am giving the drone a try.

Hopefully, in time, I'll have some bragging reports and pics.