How Much Line Do I Need On My Reel?

[pbizzle]

Most baitcasters are rated for around 120 yards of 12 pound line, but how many of those yards need to be on my reel?

[Dyerbassman]

Unless you really plan on bombing some heavy lures real far, you can get by with half of that, IMO.

[K_Mac]

60 yards more or less is all you will ever use. That does not mean the reel should not be filled though. I use backing on all of my reels and top off with my line of choice. A full reel, whether spinning or baitcast will perform better than one half full.

[senile1]

60 yards more or less is all you will ever use. That does not mean the reel should not be filled though. I use backing on all of my reels and top off with my line of choice. A full reel, whether spinning or baitcast will perform better than one half full.

 

K_Mac makes a valid point.  Your inches of line retrieved per handle turn decreases with less line on the reel, requiring more turns to reel in as much line as you would with a reel filled to 1/8 of an inch or so from the outer edge of the spool.  I go a little further away from the outer edge with a spinning reel.

[5dollarsplash]

Thats what the giant reels of big game are for!!!

[Chris at Tech]

To maximize performance, you want your reel full.  Now how you decide to split that between "good" line and filler line is up to you.

 

65-75 yards of good line at the top of your spool is what I'd go for.  The line under that can be less expensive mono since you probably won't ever fish it.

 

WIth that said, you can fill your entire spool with braid, then simply reverse it a year or two later and the fresh braid is now on top.

[pbizzle]

Thanks. I was just asking since I never use that much line, but always fill it.

[Brian Needham]

Most baitcasters are rated for around 120 yards of 12 pound line, but how many of those yards need to be on my reel?

 

 

120 yards or full capacity...........but only 60 yards or so needs to be "top shot" aka, the good stuff.

 

I take a 200 yard spool and do 3 reels with it. 65 yards is plenty to give cut offs, re ties, break offs, ect.

 

technique also varies the "top shot used"......... drop shot, shakey head, flipping sticks can all get 40 yards, normal jig/worm rods can get 50, crank sticks or long casting needs the full 65 yards.  

 

other than my drop shot and shakey head all mine have 65 yards just to keep it simple, but there are options.

[pbizzle]

Ok. I need to start using backing on more than braid. I usually fill the spool then use the rest as leader for braid. 

[martintheduck]

X2 on everything already said. I usually go for filler line about halfway then the good stuff the other half. Works just fine.

[new2BC4bass]

Ok. I need to start using backing on more than braid. I usually fill the spool then use the rest as leader for braid. 

Braid and Flourocarbon are expensive.  Buy a large spool of cheap mono for backing.  I don't normally use backing on mono, but it sure wouldn't hurt.  If I had a 150 yard spool of line to test, I would use cheap backing on 2 reels and spool about 75 yards of the test line to finish fill each reel.  Actually, now that I think about it I do have backing on reels filled with mono.  I often have 8# mono on Medium power rods.  I will partially fill with heavier mono so maybe 100 yards of 8# gets spooled on instead of 300 yards.

[pbizzle]

Braid and Flourocarbon are expensive.  Buy a large spool of cheap mono for backing.  I don't normally use backing on mono, but it sure wouldn't hurt.  If I had a 150 yard spool of line to test, I would use cheap backing on 2 reels and spool about 75 yards of the test line to finish fill each reel.  Actually, now that I think about it I do have backing on reels filled with mono.  I often have 8# mono on Medium power rods.  I will partially fill with heavier mono so maybe 100 yards of 8# gets spooled on instead of 300 yards.

I only use mono or copolymer on baitcasters but I'm going to try braid on one. I do use fluoro coated copoly though, but it's not really expensive.

[Brian Needham]

the easiest/simplest way to do it:

 

1.fill reel all the way with mono. same size as your top shot you will use is preferred.

2 make the longest cast you will ever make with that rod with the heaviest lure.

3.now mark the line/ tie it to something/ have you buddy hold it

4. walk out to your lure

5. you have now doubled the distance of your longest cast

6. fill the reel with "top shot"

7. you now have your reel with backing and 2 cast worth of "top shot"

 

^this is the easiest way to do it but I actually do it a little different which involves measuring the line out and using 2 reels to transfer the line but I am anal about things sometimes.

[pbizzle]

the easiest/simplest way to do it:

 

1.fill reel all the way with mono. same size as your top shot you will use is preferred.

2 make the longest cast you will ever make with that rod with the heaviest lure.

3.now mark the line/ tie it to something/ have you buddy hold it

4. walk out to your lure

5. you have now doubled the distance of your longest cast

6. fill the reel with "top shot"

7. you now have your reel with backing and 2 cast worth of "top shot"

 

^this is the easiest way to do it but I actually do it a little different which involves measuring the line out and using 2 reels to transfer the line but I am anal about things sometimes.

That's a good idea.

[iabass8]

the majority of the reels have fluoro and i only fill roughly the same as brian above(65ish yds). The reels that have braid on them i usually use more of the spool with braid and less backing because i need extra line to bomb swim jigs/frogs in certain areas. 1 spool of fluoro gets me 3 reels and 1 spool of braid gets me 2. each reel only costs roughly 9-10$ to spool using this criteria. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

A word of advice: don't get so stingy with the main line that the connecting knot becomes a hassle. They can rub the thumb on a baitcast reel or snag and shorten casts on a spinning reel.

[Kevin22]

 I run 100 yds of backing (cheapo cajun red 8lb line I got for $5 for like 1500 yards) and then run however much main line it takes to fill the spool. I tie the backing down tight to the spool so it will not come undone and then use a blood knot to tie the backing to the main line. If I am using the reel for something that will need to be cast pretty far or for using heavy line I will drop down to as little as 30 feet of backing. For instance my reel I am using for topwater spooks has nearly a full spool of 14# mono on it, and I have nearly spooled myself trying to reach out to schooling fish. 

 

If you do backing make sure you use line that will lay flat and even. Don't use 20-30lb line. The best backing I have ever used was old cheap tip-up line (flat line). Only works with the spools with holes in them, otherwise it will slip. But that stuff laid down so flat and smooth... 

[pbizzle]

 I run 100 yds of backing (cheapo cajun red 8lb line I got for $5 for like 1500 yards) and then run however much main line it takes to fill the spool. I tie the backing down tight to the spool so it will not come undone and then use a blood knot to tie the backing to the main line. If I am using the reel for something that will need to be cast pretty far or for using heavy line I will drop down to as little as 30 feet of backing. For instance my reel I am using for topwater spooks has nearly a full spool of 14# mono on it, and I have nearly spooled myself trying to reach out to schooling fish. 

That's what I use as backing on my spinning reels. I hate it as a mainline.

[SirSnookalot]

On my initial spooling it's all mainline with no backing, when needed I'll add 50-75 yds.  For many reasons line on certain combos I use doesn't last that long, in those cases it's a fresh respool.  I load up between 1/4 and 1/8 of the lip, better casting performance and less revolutions on the crank during retrieve, I do believe the drag works better on a full spool too.  I like being prepared as much as I can, that being good healthy line and my spool full, never know when a lot of line is needed for a fish. You're as good as the weakest link, best line in the world is useless if you don't tie proper knots and check the leader.