Filler Line (Backing)

[PotomacBassin]

Does anyone else use cheap line to fill 1/4-1/2 of your spool before spooling on your main (more expensive line)? I don't see many people talk about this on here, but I buy some cheap mono (in my case BPS XPS mono) and I use this to fill half my spool before I spool my braid or fluorocarbon on.  With the cost of braid and especially FC these days, I feel like this saves me a ton of money in the long run. I've done this for years and I've never had a fish run on me enough to pull out some of the cheap line.  Just wondering how many other people do this or does everyone think this is just a waste of time with tying all the connection knots.

[Doubled Over]

Yes, I do. I haven't had a problem with the knots when I set the hook.

 

Although many people prefer to put a just few feet of leader instead of half a spool's worth when conditions call for it... I might try this out in a couple months when the water starts to warm.

[JigMe]

I have filled my spool 1/4 full with cheap lines from walmart, 1000 yard for 5-6 bucks then tie braided line onto it. I will use FC leader if needed, and its been working pretty well for me.

[MarkH024]

I do as well. I use Cabelas mono. It's dirt cheap.

[Crappiebasser]

I have done it for years and never had a problem. On my flipping rods I only run about 30 yards of good line and the rest is filler. The line takes such a beating flipping heavy cover I replace it too often to use a half spool.

[Darren.]

Does anyone else use cheap line to fill 1/4-1/2 of your spool before spooling on your main (more expensive line)? I don't see many people talk about this on here, but I buy some cheap mono (in my case BPS XPS mono) and I use this to fill half my spool before I spool my braid or fluorocarbon on.  With the cost of braid and especially FC these days, I feel like this saves me a ton of money in the long run. I've done this for years and I've never had a fish run on me enough to pull out some of the cheap line.  Just wondering how many other people do this or does everyone think this is just a waste of time with tying all the connection knots.

 

Absolutely yes! Agree with you.

 

I use "old" mono I have laying around. I'll wrap sometimes only approx 10 yards of mono before braid mainline. Sometimes I've done around 1/4 of the spool. Rarely more than that.

[Jaiden]

Absolutely yes! Agree with you.

I use "old" mono I have laying around. I'll wrap sometimes only approx 10 yards of mono before braid mainline. Sometimes I've done around 1/4 of the spool. Rarely more than that.

I do the same. I find spools of line that won't fill a spool on a reel and use that as a backing.

[SDoolittle]

I do the same. I find spools of line that won't fill a spool on a reel and use that as a backing.

 

 

That's what I do too. I fill mine roughly 1/3 full with mono before spooling up with fluorocarbon.

[Michael DiNardo]

Mo' definitely I do this.  Heck, I do this with mono too.

 

Mike

[OkobojiEagle]

Buy a smaller reel.

 

oe

[Jig Meister]

yup I will buy the cheapest 10lb mono I can and back that for braid, only ever done this with braid though

[Bankbeater]

All of my baitcasters have backing on them.  I put a piece of tape around the backing line.  After that I tie on just like I would tie to the spool.

[rmcguirk]

To save money, I also run whatever I have available as backing before putting on more expensive (and new) braid or FC.  I just found an older large spool of 20 lb mono.  Thoughts on whether that's too thick to use as good backing? 

[J Francho]

Braid, yes.  Fluoro or copoly, no backing.  Cannot stand the bump from the knot under my thumb.  For some reason, you don't get a bump from the knot with braid.

[PABASS]

A fellow fisherman gave me this tip while back and been doing it since, no issues.  Another pro angler that I have seen takes and strips 75 yards off and reties there and keeps doing this for a years.  Another tip was reversing the lines, especially with braid.  Since I try to use braid and FC leaders I don't go through my "main" line so much.  In the river I fish my line gets torn up and leaders don't last long, so this has worked out well.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

I have always used what I have around. This year I ran out of left overs so I bought some zebco omniflex from wal mart. 700 yards for $2.88 don't get much cheaper than that.

[bassin is addicting]

All of my baitcasters have backing on them.  I put a piece of tape around the backing line.  After that I tie on just like I would tie to the spool.

X2

 

i also do this with the spinning reels that have braid on them.

[Capt.Bob]

Trilene big game backer, blood knot to braid or fireline, then blood knot to fluoro. spin or casting, sometimes use big game as a leader instead of fluoro, in cloudy water rivers and such.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

All of my baitcasters have backing on them.  I put a piece of tape around the backing line.  After that I tie on just like I would tie to the spool.

X2

 

i also do this with the spinning reels that have braid on them.

That's what I do too. It avoids the annoying knot under my thumb.

[PotomacBassin]

To save money, I also run whatever I have available as backing before putting on more expensive (and new) braid or FC.  I just found an older large spool of 20 lb mono.  Thoughts on whether that's too thick to use as good backing? 

I don't think this is too thick to use as a filler.  The thicker it is, the more space it takes up, meaning you can fill more space with less line.  Just helps you save more money. 

[upnorthbassin]

I've backed reels before with mono but now I think it's just one more step and one more knot in the mix. I mostly did it on bigger reels to use as backing for braid. I am also liking the smaller reels like the 30 size pflueger reels for example. It's not going to take a ton of line to just spool it up and I don't feel that I need a bigger reel than that for bass. Now if I was using tatsu or something in that price range I might do it more often to save money.

[SirSnookalot]

Some of the suggestions that have been mentioned are excellent cost saving measures, but not for me.

If I'm spending several hundred dollars on a rod and reel, I'm not shy to spend a little more and get the line of my choice, if it's on sale all the better.  Not to debate favoring 1 brand over another, which has been beat to death already, I want line in healthy condition on my reels and don't care how often I have to change it.  If I was overly concerned about total cost I'd be buying a more moderate priced outfit with the best line on it, not the reverse.

I prefer not to use backing at all with my braid, in the case of some of the smaller reels like a 30 floog it isn't that much line anyway.  Reels that I'm using to catch fish that are capable of some long runs, I don't care to risk losing a great fish due to a knot failure or being striped down to the backing.  If your fish is strong enough to go 50 yds, it can do a 100 yds just as easy. 

[alexczarn]

I do as well. I usually use Maxima.

[Darren.]

 Another tip was reversing the lines, especially with braid.

I do this, too. Just the other day I picked up 20 lb yellow PP for my Lexa which had new 40 lb green PP spooled on it for striper fishing. simply put the Lexa in free spool, took my Accurist and spooled the 40 off the Lexa onto it. Money saver, for sure.

[WhiteMike1018]

What happens when you get a nasty backlash and need to strip off line? Then all your stuck with is the cheap mono........thoughts?