Does The Quility Of Mono Backing Effect The Casting Distance

[JeziHogg]

Does the quility of mono backing effect the casting distance of Floro or braid main line on a baitcaster? My friend and I are having an argument, I tell him no because it doesn't even come off the spool if there is enough main line to cover the distance of the cast.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You are right, your friend is wrong and for the reason you stated.

[iabass8]

Quality of it..no. you can use the cheapest mono around and be fine. as long as the line isn't digging into the backing the quality of the mono won't have anything to do with it if you are casting well above it. 

[JeziHogg]

Good, I just found out BPS sells 1lb spools for less then $30

[Kevin22]

You can get 1/4lb cajun red for less than $6 on ebay. I buy 6 or 8 for backing. The thinner line helps prevent dig-in. 

 

Another good one is shakespeare mono at walmart. 1/4lb for $1.98. 

 

I use the cajun because I use it on spinning outfits if I am in a pinch. Its always in the boat/truck for emergency spoolings. 

[JeziHogg]

I always thought thicker line prevented digging in. I usually use .33 diameter (12lb) on my bait casters right up to thicker .46mm (20lb)

[new2BC4bass]

I always thought thicker line prevented digging in. I usually use .33 diameter (12lb) on my bait casters right up to thicker .46mm (20lb)

You are referring to braid.  I fished 4# mono for years on spinning outfits.  I have several baitcast reels with 8# mono and one with 6# mono.  Never had a problem with line digging in.  My baitcasters carry 40# or above braid with one exception...20# Supercast on a Zillion PE Line Special which was designed for braid.  Spinning reels with braid carry 30# or less.

[JeziHogg]

hmmm, maybe ill grab the 8 lb spool for backing then, because you almost get twice as much.

[WRB]

2 factors to consider; weight and roundness of the filler. Nylon (monofilament) has a specific gravity of 1.15, Kelar 1.47, Nylon is lighter for equal amount line. However cork is a fraction of the weight @ .15, therefor a cork arbor that is concentric and round is your best choice. Now all we need is a reel mfr to offer split cork arbors like in they did in past.

Tom

[new2BC4bass]

Kevin's reply has merit in my mind.  Smaller diameter backing is going to have smaller spaces between line coils leaving less space for the main line to dig in.

 

EDIT:  My old Ambassadeur round reel has plastic halves that snap over the spool arbor to limit line capacity.

[WRB]

Smaller diameter line has less open spaces between each layer of line, therefore weighs more for a given spool diameter increase in size. 30 lb mono makes good backing, just tape over the filler core to prevent smaller diameter sliding between the larger diameter filler. The tape also prevents the filler from loosening during the cast. You should also put a layer of electrical tape on the spool before spooling on backing, the tape helps the filler from spinning, acts like a friction clutch.

Tom

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

Isnt a heavier spool/backing (to an extent) more apt to give better distance than lighter spool. Though lighter spool is better for casting 1/8 & lighter lures. The heavier spool will start slower but want to stay in motion, the lighter spool will start-up easier tend to slow quicker.

[Christian M]

I agree, thinner diamerter provides less space for braid to dig into, I also prefer a thinner diameter backing because its much easier to cover the entire spool, especially spools that have a v shape.

[rockchalk06]

If your freshwater fishing for say small species like bass etc, any mono will do, but if your going after something huge, I'd have some good backing and a good knot. I'd hate to have my backing give out on a huge fish due to cheap mono.

[SirSnookalot]

If your freshwater fishing for say small species like bass etc, any mono will do, but if your going after something huge, I'd have some good backing and a good knot. I'd hate to have my backing give out on a huge fish due to cheap mono.

I don't use mono backing, I go with straight braid.  I do however add line when needed and the braid that's already on the spool is my backing so to speak. But that's only a ploy I use for freshwater and some inshore species.  When I'm targeting fish that I know have a good possibilty of 40-50# and more it's a complete respool with fresh line, no adding line, no backing, no joining knots.

 

I see nothing wrong with backing I just prefer not to use it, that said if the backing remains in the reel spool, casting distance isn't affected.

[WRB]

You pay a lot of money for light weight spools and put heavy backing on it. The heavier the spool the harder it is to start spinning and it has more inertia so it slows down slower= backlash.

Bass are not strong high speed fish that can run more than 100 yards. No need for more than 100 yards of line on any bass reel, unless you are trolling with a lot of line out. few anglers can cast further than 50 yards, the balance of the line is there for retrying.

Most bass anglers pull off 75 to 80 yards of line, tie on fresh and respool, leaving the old backing on the reel.

This works good because the old backing is compressed tight and acts like a solid arbor. The fact it adds weight is unknown to most anglers.

Tom

[Bankbeater]

Put a piece of tape around the backing.  It will prevent the line from digging into the backing when you spool it.

[new2BC4bass]

You pay a lot of money for light weight spools and put heavy backing on it. The heavier the spool the harder it is to start spinning and it has more inertia so it slows down slower= backlash.

Bass are not strong high speed fish that can run more than 100 yards. No need for more than 100 yards of line on any bass reel, unless you are trolling with a lot of line out. few anglers can cast further than 50 yards, the balance of the line is there for retrying.

Most bass anglers pull off 75 to 80 yards of line, tie on fresh and respool, leaving the old backing on the reel.

This works good because the old backing is compressed tight and acts like a solid arbor. The fact it adds weight is unknown to most anglers.

Tom

 

The very light spools for finesse fishing are typically shallow.  No idea why someone would use that type of reel for long distance casting.  I have a few and they get used for what the designers meant them to be used for...light baits.  Distance is good, but not the proverbial country mile with the weights I use.

 

I can agree that a heavier spool=backlash..............IF you are trying to throw too light of a bait.  I just went through that scenario this spring.  Had a Trion that hadn't been used yet.  Came with light braid.  Push thumb bar in and the spool would overrun.  I thought with that kind of spool speed (and free spool) it should work great for unweighted worms.  Nope.  Could only cast it left handed without getting overruns and backlashes.  Sent it to DVT for cleaning since I made a trip to tidal water with it.

 

Mike's advice was to use heavier line and not to go below 3/8 oz. with this reel because of the heavier spool.  Spooled on some 17# Super Natural, mounted it on a MH rod, tied on a 5/8 oz. lure, and proceeded to cast that much overused term...a country mile...with not one overrun or backlash.  A heavy spool doesn't automatically equal backlash.  Simply use it within the range it was designed for.

 

Currently I have no urge to try my Sol with Presso spool to see how far it will cast with a 1/2 oz. weight, but who knows.  Maybe curiosity will get the better of me.    If I do, new line may have to be spooled on because it currently carries 10# Super Natural which may restrict casting distance given how shallow the Presso spool is.

[Kevin22]

Put a piece of tape around the backing.  It will prevent the line from digging into the backing when you spool it.

 

What are you going to do when you hook a 30lb+ carp and he strips you down to backing? Just break it off and lose your spool of good line + a lure? 

[.ghoti.]

2 factors to consider; weight and roundness of the filler. Nylon (monofilament) has a specific gravity of 1.15, Kelar 1.47, Nylon is lighter for equal amount line. However cork is a fraction of the weight @ .15, therefor a cork arbor that is concentric and round is your best choice. Now all we need is a reel mfr to offer split cork arbors like in they did in past.

Tom

I have access to some machine toools(CNC machines). I can run a turn in manual mode. I'm going to give this a try. I know I can get some cork rings glued together, bore out the ID and turn down the OD. Getting the core split and then glued back together on the spool will be the main problem. I think I can do that as well.

Do you think the cork arbor should have some kind of finish coat? Off the top of my head, I'd say it need waterproofing, at the least. What do you think?

[new2BC4bass]

I'm not the guy you asked that question of, but it seems to me you would also need some kind of coating that would add a little hardness to the cork.  Wouldn't the line have a tendency to dig into soft cork?

[georgeyew]

EDIT:  My old Ambassadeur round reel has plastic halves that snap over the spool arbor to limit line capacity.

 

Where can I find those plastic halves for sale?

[WRB]

I have access to some machine toools(CNC machines). I can run a turn in manual mode. I'm going to give this a try. I know I can get some cork rings glued together, bore out the ID and turn down the OD. Getting the core split and then glued back together on the spool will be the main problem. I think I can do that as well.

Do you think the cork arbor should have some kind of finish coat? Off the top of my head, I'd say it need waterproofing, at the least. What do you think?

Clear sapr varnish (Varathene) or lacquer should work good.

Tom

[WRB]

The very light spools for finesse fishing are typically shallow.  No idea why someone would use that type of reel for long distance casting.  I have a few and they get used for what the designers meant them to be used for...light baits.  Distance is good, but not the proverbial country mile with the weights I use.

 

I can agree that a heavier spool=backlash..............IF you are trying to throw too light of a bait.  I just went through that scenario this spring.  Had a Trion that hadn't been used yet.  Came with light braid.  Push thumb bar in and the spool would overrun.  I thought with that kind of spool speed (and free spool) it should work great for unweighted worms.  Nope.  Could only cast it left handed without getting overruns and backlashes.  Sent it to DVT for cleaning since I made a trip to tidal water with it.

 

Mike's advice was to use heavier line and not to go below 3/8 oz. with this reel because of the heavier spool.  Spooled on some 17# Super Natural, mounted it on a MH rod, tied on a 5/8 oz. lure, and proceeded to cast that much overused term...a country mile...with not one overrun or backlash.  A heavy spool doesn't automatically equal backlash.  Simply use it within the range it was designed for.

 

Currently I have no urge to try my Sol with Presso spool to see how far it will cast with a 1/2 oz. weight, but who knows.  Maybe curiosity will get the better of me.    If I do, new line may have to be spooled on because it currently carries 10# Super Natural which may restrict casting distance given how shallow the Presso spool is.

Out west we have tuna anglers called long rangers that spend $$$ for light weight spools for big game salt water reels. Light weight high strength to hold 400 to 600 yards of braids with a 100' top shot of mono or FC line. Take a look at Accurate, Avet and Okuma Makaira off shore casting reels. Carl Newall started the light weight composite spools to replace Penn reel spools back in the late 60's to meet longer casting demands of long range tuna anglers. Different world, same casting issues.

Tom

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Wow this thread is to technical.for me.at this hour of.the day!! I'll be reoncsisering my backing choices tomorrow