Using Braid As A Backing ?

[J Francho]

talking about using braid backing with mono on top vs straight mono.  You would save yourself 100 yards of mono every time.  

 

I use the same mono backing for all my fluoro reels as well.  Where am I saving 100 yards of line?  And why use Power Pro line?  If you're that concerned about the weight, why not use a product designed for the job, like fly backing?  It's braided, light, and comes in various diameters.  It's also less expensive than the braid you're talking about.  I'm also curious where you're getting $12 spools of Power Pro.  300 yeard spools are $24 to $44 depending on diameter.

[Wayne P.]

Braid is lighter weight than mono or FC, spool weight affect casting distance. Novel way to reduce spool weight.

Tom

Not quite.

In theory it may seem so, but I just weighed 5' of mono and 5' of the same diameter braid-takes up the same spool space per length.

The mono was .4 grains ligher than the braid.

The variable would be how much color coating the braid has.

I don't have any fluorocarbon in that diameter to compare, but I do know that fluorocarbon is heavier than nylon mono so using braid as a backing would maybe be a benefit,  

 

Your results may vary.

[CTGalloway21]

I use the same mono backing for all my fluoro reels as well.  Where am I saving 100 yards of line?  And why use Power Pro line?  If you're that concerned about the weight, why not use a product designed for the job, like fly backing?  It's braided, light, and comes in various diameters.  It's also less expensive than the braid you're talking about.  I'm also curious where you're getting $12 spools of Power Pro.  300 yeard spools are $24 to $44 depending on diameter.

Wal Mart has 150 yd spools for $12.  I would use Power Pro cause I have 5 half spools of it laying around.  I would use Braid backing since that is what Aaron martens says to do in the latest *** video. ha

[J Francho]

Braid backing is most definitely NOT why A-Mart catches them. That aspect of his detailed method would be very low on my list of things to emulate.

[CWB]

The inertia carried by a heavier spool will make it want to spin longer and in theory cast a little further. A lighter spool starts easier making casting light baits easier. It seems that the weight difference between different backings would be minimal and so would the effect of changing them. On top of this, max casting distance is a distant second to accuracy when it comes to fish in the boat. There's nothing wrong with experimenting and going with what you feel works for you though. 

 

Go to W 2 F and check the video from Aaron Martens on why he uses braid for backing. Also found the "baitcaster over the top of the line spool, spinning under the bottom of the spool" tip interesting.

[new2BC4bass]

We are talking about using braid as backing.  opposite what you are thinking.  

 

I know what the subject is about.  You stated the following.

 

If you buy one spool of Power Pro at $12 at Wal Mart and put it on as backing, that will be cheaper than wasting an extra 100 yards of mono every time you change.  I change line about 4 times a year.  Power Pro could also last multiple season so overall it would be cheaper

 

My reply was to ask why you thought you had to change the backing every time you respooled just because the backing was mono

 

However, after rereading your post I'm pretty sure I misunderstood your post the first time.  I think I now understand what you were saying.  You were comparing using braid as backing vesus no backing at all.  Problem on my end. 

 

It depends on the capacity of the spool and the size of the line I am spooling, but I will put backing on when using mono for my main line.  I use 8# mono on most of my Medium power rods.  Why spool on 300 yards of 8# when I can spool on a larger dia. mono (from a bulk spool) to take up some of the space and thus fill at least 2 reels with 8# mono off the same filler spool.

 

Sorry for the confusion.  I was the one not paying close enough attention.

[Deleted account]

If I use the same line for backing that I'm fishing with, can I forgo the knot? or will that cost me some casting distance?....

Seriously though, I've been replacing the working 1/2 for a while, and I use whatever is on the spool as backing. The only time it doesn't work well is when the backing is much heavier than the line being spooled. 

[SirSnookalot]

If backing is the objective I see no reason to use braid when inexpensive mono is readily available, adding to the existing braid with more braid to top it off is not top shotting.  If any distance is obtained using braid as backing, it would most likely be not significant enough to make much of difference.  As stated, the poster has some partial spools of braid laying around, I suppose in that case there is no harm in using that braid as backing to eliminate waste, but as a method I don't see the point.

Don't know if this is the situation, but people spend hundreds of dollars on a combo and then get cheap on the line wanting to use backing, another thing I see no point in doing.  I don't ever using backing on any outfit, at any time, for any reason, with no exception.  We aren't talking reels holding 500 yds or more of line, most reels are low line capacity.

[Got1Fishing]

I feel as though most people use backing to save money on their expensive FC, so to use braid (which is more expensive than mono) is counterintuitive. This is besides the point of the benefits...

[J Francho]

 

If I use the same line for backing that I'm fishing with, can I forgo the knot? or will that cost me some casting distance?....

 

Use a surgeon's knot, it is the most aerodynamic and you will gain 3" on your casts.

[J Francho]

I guess you can use whatever you want as a backing.  I used to have a reel that had a plastic ring that snapped around the spool to take up space.  If the weight was a serious issue, surely there would be expensive carbon fiber backer plates available, and some pro would be pimping the benefits.  Maybe I just let the cat out of the bag on my next million dollar venture!

[n8cas4]

What's heavier - mono or braid?   When I saw Marten's video, I was unsure of his concept, but here is how I saw it:

 

I was thinking braid was heavier than mono OR at least more densely packed - I could be wrong.  But I was thinking the braid being heavier or more dense closer to the spool center would mean more weight closer to the spool center.  I thought of my Shimano Curado's centrifugal brake system.  When the plastic knobs on the curado brake system are pushed in the spool spins faster.  When there is more weight (heavier or more densely-packed line) closer to the spool center, the spool will spin faster therefore extending the cast.  Am I completely wrong? 

 

Accuracy is very important in a cast, but let's not forget those who fish in very clear water WANT the extra long cast so as not to spook the fish. 

[J Francho]

The centrifugal brakes work to slow the spool rotation because the the shoes that are in the out position rub the brake hub. This turns the energy of the rotating spool to heat, thereby slowing the spool.

[John G]

When there is more weight (heavier or more densely-packed line) closer to the spool center, the spool will spin faster therefore extending the cast. Am I completely wrong?

I read/watched the Martens piece and I came away with the impression that he uses braid backing because it lighter than mono or flourocarbon. He did mention casting lighter weight lures is easier because of easier spool start-up.

I may be totally wrong, but I don't think a heavier spool has anything to do with casting distance. A heavier spool means that you need more brakes to slow it down. Casting distance is determined more by the rod, good bearings, lure weight and the ability of the person casting the lure.

[jtesch]

I don't know why but I'm gonna jump in this one. Look at the weights of after market spools for daiwa's. Light=finesse and Heavier=LC or long cast. More weight=more inertia and longer casts. Less weight=easier spool start up. He's a Sunline guy I believe so he would be using FX or SX as backing (a guess) which has a fairly large diameter for braid and not much coating (at least that's what I remember about it) so it may be lighter than mono allowing for a faster start up. Martens is more of a finesse guy anyway. I have to say I like J Francho's idea about keeping the weight close to the center of the spool, makes total since. You know it could all be simply that Martens is a little crazy about some of this stuff. He's the guy that fanatically organizes his boat to make sure he gets the fastest hole shot he can 

[VolFan]

Isn't the real question: how are you going to cut the braid backing?

Btw - heavier spools have the potential to cast longer. Weight savings may help you cast lighter baits more efficiently, but you're never getting the same distance from 1/8 oz and 1/2 oz baits of the same physical dimensions.

[AQUA VELVA]

Im going to try that this year and see how it goes. When I strip the old line off my reels Im always aware of how much of it is wasted as filler. Im also sure that if guys who fish the pro circuit didn't think it was worth it, they would not do it.

[Wbeadlescomb]

Two ants fell into the bottom of a peanut butter jar. One ant looks at the other and says"hey hand me an orange." The other ant says," an orange what the hell do you think I am a type writer?"

[n8cas4]

I'm going to use old 50 lb braid from last season as the backing for one of my Curado's.  Do I need to put a thin layer of mono line on the spool first before the braid like I normally do if I'm tying on braid?  I've never tied braid straight to a spool before.  I was always told it will slip and to put cheap mono or FC down first.  Is that needed if I'm using the braid as the backing?

[aavery2]

This process is mainly for finesse type presentations as I understand it. You have to keep in mind that some of the spools used in these specialized reels cost more than the complete reel that a lot of us use. The idea is that braid weights less than other lines, it also fills a spool faster so less line is needed. The additional weight saved by doing this is just a bonus on top of an already ultralight and shallow spool.