How Much Line?

[Brian Needham]

Got my reels backs from supertuning and boca upgrades. Need to spool them up for the new year..... after mono backing, how much premium line do you put on? using Tatsu this year so don't want to use more than "needed".

 

40yds, 50 yds, 60yds? do you do it by technique? (cranking would get more I would think)

I am not thinking many worm or jig fish get caught 40-50 yards away from the boat, but yall tell me.....how much? 

[Goose52]

I usually have 70 to 80 yards of "primo" stuff on top. The reason for that much is that it allows lots of trim-backs, and perhaps a backlash or two, before you start to hit the knot to the backing on a long cast. 

 

Another consideration is the size of the supply spool. If it's 150 yards, I'd put on 75 yards and have a respool left. If it was 200 yards, I MIGHT try three 66 yard installs but would generally prefer to have more than 66 yards of top line.  A 600 yard spool - lots of choices.

 

I don't expect a bass to pull much drag so that's not really an issue in how much top line to install. I have had a fish pull my top line off the reel and I've watched the knot and about 10 yards or more of backing peel off the reel...but that was with a 50-pound class grass carp...

[Lunker7]

Not sure about the exact yardage, but usually I leave around 1/4 - 1/8 inch left on the spool. (For baitcasters)

[Brian Needham]

thanks Goose!

 

I have debated the 3, 65 yard set ups as it  is a 200 yard main spool of tatsu . You bring up good points about trim backs and such.

 

My average "fishable cast" is 20 yards give or take and I am trying to get the bang for buck out of each spool....gonna have to think about this some more. THANKS!

[Marty]

I use about 50-60 yards.

[kickerfish1]

Another great post goose52! I agree and I do the same thing for all my reels. I back them with Trilene big game which you can buy in bulk for dirt cheap. If a reel holds 120 yards of #12 I typically put on 40 yards of backing and 80 yards of good floro. While I can't cast 80 yards off the reel having extra line allows line loss from snags, plenty of changing of baits and any backlashes that come about.

The only reels I would consider passing on the backing might be a 50 size shimano or an alphas, pixy, or sol. If you do use very little because it is annoying to get down to the leader knot. When this happens you either have to deal with or redo the "floro" part of the line.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't ever use backing and I mostly use braid.  When it's time for fresh line the remaining line on spool is my backing, I'll load up somewhere around 60-75 yds of new line.  I like my knot buried in the spool when I'm casting.  I don't overfill the spool, probably closer to 1/4" from the lip than 1/8.

[Teal]

1/4 from the top, especially on rods that I use for skipping baits.. I bet I barely have 40-50 yards on my jig and worm rods.

[skeletor6]

Another great post goose52! I agree and I do the same thing for all my reels. I back them with Trilene big game which you can buy in bulk for dirt cheap. If a reel holds 120 yards of #12 I typically put on 40 yards of backing and 80 yards of good floro. While I can't cast 80 yards off the reel having extra line allows line loss from snags, plenty of changing of baits and any backlashes that come about.

The only reels I would consider passing on the backing might be a 50 size shimano or an alphas, pixy, or sol. If you do use very little because it is annoying to get down to the leader knot. When this happens you either have to deal with or redo the "floro" part of the line.

Yeah I only put about 10 yards of leader on my curado 50's...and that's only because I don't want to loose any fluoro getting the line started

[11justin22]

I don't know exactly how much I put on a reel but I fill the reel about halfway with backing then fill the rest with flouro. If I had to guess I would think about 75 yds.

[flyfisher]

I have done it two ways.  The first is whatever mono i have laying around and then topping off with about 75 yards give or take of top line, generally braid in my case.

 

On reels i had set up with braid straight to the spool i flipped the braid so the bottom part was now the top and then when i needed to replace the top 75 yards or so i would just leave the braid on there as backing.  I figure it works on my fly rods so why not use it on my conventional gear as well. Then if by some strange chance i get into a carp or a catfish that really is testing the limits of my gear i don't have the fear of wondering if my cheap mono and knot will hold.  A uni to uni knot with braid is pretty freaking strong.

[Lunker7]

I love how no one even asked him if he had a spinning or a baitcaster.

[flyfisher]

I love how no one even asked him if he had a spinning or a baitcaster.

What difference does that make?  I put around 75 yards on both spinning and baitcasters and it does just fine.  Spool size & line diamter will determine how much backing you need but ultimately the last 75 yards is all you will need at the most for most applications.

[Lunker7]

What difference does that make?  I put around 75 yards on both spinning and baitcasters and it does just fine.  Spool size & line diamter will determine how much backing you need but ultimately the last 75 yards is all you will need at the most for most applications.

Oh, I thought that would play a big roll in how much line you need. As you can tell, I'm an all-baitcaster guy.

[Brian Needham]

HA! ......yeah all baitcasters.

 

I started spooling up today.

 

40 yards on drop shot

60 yards on shakey head

65 yards on Jig rod

I think I will stick with the 65 yards on the rest......probably go more on cranking sticks.

 

with 200 yard spools, I think I prefer the 65 yard of topshot, like Goose said.

[Goose52]

I love how no one even asked him if he had a spinning or a baitcaster.

 

I knew he was talking about baitcasters - for two reasons:

 

1) He started this thread off by saying that he got his reels back from "supertuning and boca upgrades" - both modifications that are not typically done to spinning reels.

 

2) I also remembered a post from a couple weeks ago where Brian said he got his invoice from DVT for work on 6 Lews TPs and 2 Shimano Cores - all baitcasting reels I believe.

 

To keep up with the action on the board - I invite you to read Brian's post here:  Brian Gets His Invoice

[Brian Needham]

Nothin' gets past Goose!!!!!!

[Teal]

Whenever you get a chance to get fishing again, let us know how Tatsu line performs. I was wondering if it is worth the price of the line.

[Brian Needham]

Whenever you get a chance to get fishing again, let us know how Tatsu line performs. I was wondering if it is worth the price of the line.

 

I used 10# tatsu on a spinning reel this year and loved it. Layed flat, cast great. So I expect the same, give or take, from a baitcaster.

 

I am looking forward to it without a doubt, based on my spinning outfit experience. Hooligan (I think) is the board expert on tatsu, if you want to give him a shout too.

[Bankbeater]

I put backing on about 1/3 of the spool and then fill up the rest to about 1/8 in. from being full.  If I have to start cutting and retying I don't want to run out of line.