Abstract: A guide for controlling and insuring level wind of cables onto winch reels particularly when there is no load on the cable. The guide unit consists of a spring loaded, arcuately shaped bar to provide pressure against the incoming cable entirely across the width of the winch reel. The guide includes a base plate for mounting in close proximity to the reel, a spring biasing member which is retained to the base plate and which is designed, through a pair of extending arms to exert pressure upon an arcuately formed cable contacting member. The combination of the spring force and the arcuately formed member applies a pressure to the incoming cable such that it will be properly spirally wound about the cable reel and to particularly prevent the reel from climbing the outermost dimensions of the reel. In this manner then the cable is properly spirally wound about the reel with a single layer of cable being applied onto the reel in successive relation.