Anyone know any tricks for getting wind knots out of braid?

I just respooled my surf rod with some nice new braid.  I was rewarded with a nice cluster of wind knots (I know they arent actually from wind).

Anyone have any tips for getting the "ball of knots" out before I spend the next few hours tediously attempting to get them out before becoming frustrated and cutting them out?

Thanks

sharp scissors are my best trick

sharp scissors are my best trick

Mine too.  I guess I am just trying to not do that this time.  Braid is freakin expensive. 

Your time is more valuable than line. Sucks though.

Just unravel it try to get the line loose behind the knot.

Google "removing wind knots from line"

It also happens when you are using light lures and not getting the line back on the reel very tight.

cream rinse for hair helps but, when you pull/pop the knots out, you often weaken the line. Scissors and line loss is better than fish lost....
 

Not really a tip to get em out but more like prevention. Also try spooling less braid on your spool. The edge of the spool seems to create enough friction to prevent your line from coming out too fast.

I'm not an expert on wind knots, but I believe that they happen when a loose wrap of line about four to six wraps under the line coming off starts unraveling at the same time. You get loops, knots, and twists as a result. The key to getting them out is being patient and gentle in your approch. You also have to be able to see the line up close. I start with the biggest loop first, and start working them out one at a time. Each step is the reverse of how it originally happened. Every move you make should happen easily with having to pull to hard.

When first started using braid I would get one or two wind knots each time I would go surf fishing. I managed to get them all out including one time at ocean beach in the howling wind when when one half of my rod went out in the surf with the knot.

Even though I was getting pretty good at removing them, I was knot enjoying the process. I went in to Bay Tackle where I bought the reels and asked if there was a way to avoid them. They told me to get in the habit of manualy closing the bail after every cast. Once I started doing that I rarely get a wind knot anymore. Manualy closing the bail keeps the line tight on the spool.

Thanks everyone.  I will work on it a bit,  and if it is too frustrating, I will just cut it out.   Thankfully it is not too deep in my spool.

I've gotten to the stage that I'll just cut 'em out. Time vs Money. If I get the knots at the end of a long cast, I might cut out the knot and tie both ends of the line together.

Switch to Mono 

Thanks everyone.  I will work on it a bit,  and if it is too frustrating, I will just cut it out.   Thankfully it is not too deep in my spool.

....and have a home brewed pint 

Depends if its a spinning reel or casting reel. With a casting reel you just tighten the drag as much as possible then press your thumb against the spool/line and beging cranking. A spinning reel is tougher to untangle, and some braid doesn’t work well with spinners. You also have to be mindful to spool it on the correct direction with a spinner. Usually wind knots on spinning reels is a result of line twist or not applying enough pressure when reeling in slack line. But there are a bunch of videos on youtube that show tricks to remove wind knots.