How Much Backing On A Spinning Reel?

[pbizzle]

I just got a Shimano Solstace 2500, and I plan on putting some 20lb Sufix 832 on it. Now 832 is exspensive, and I would like to save enough for an extra spool. So how do I know how much backing is enough, and when should I stop?

[Glenn]

Fill it about halfway full.  If you ever get the Sufix down that far, you'll notice it takes more effort to cast and will want to change out the line anyway.

[pbizzle]

Fill it about halfway full.  If you ever get the Sufix down that far, you'll notice it takes more effort to cast and will want to change out the line anyway.

Thanks Glenn, how many yards of the Sufix should it hold?

[Insanity]

You might consider filling the hole spool. When the line wears out just pull it off and retire the other direction.

Add filler then, if you've lost much due to cutting and tying.

The line I use is barely enough for two reels. So I pull it off and run it around the ball on my truck. So I can pull it to find the center. Crank onto the reel add filler to the edge of the spool. Then reverse. Best way I've found to get it rite.

I use black tape to fill my spinning reel spools.

[Marty]

I fish with 50-60 yards of line and the rest is backing. I don't recall ever getting down to the backing.

[Lazz]

I fish with 50-60 yards of line and the rest is backing. I don't recall ever getting down to the backing.

Same here.

I use a mono backing to prevent slipping also which I've encounter on spinning reels to.

And I also reverse the line every other season as mentioned.

[SirSnookalot]

Electrical or masking tape around the spool will prevent any slippage, I even tape convential reels with mono line.  I go straight braid on my initial spool up, I don't reverse my braid because I get wind knots, line twist and abrasion.  I use my reels quite bit, I add about 75 yards every couple of months for my freshwater fishing.

[Marty]

Electrical or masking tape around the spool will prevent any slippage, I even tape convential reels with mono line.  I go straight braid on my initial spool up, I don't reverse my braid because I get wind knots, line twist and abrasion.  I use my reels quite bit, I add about 75 yards every couple of months for my freshwater fishing.

 

Assuming I'm interpreting your post correctly, you add 75 yards every few months, presumably because you've lost that amount of line due to retying and the like. So in effect you're using braid as backing? Why not use cheap mono and save that braid backing for those 75-yard refills?

[SirSnookalot]

Assuming I'm interpreting your post correctly, you add 75 yards every few months, presumably because you've lost that amount of line due to retying and the like. So in effect you're using braid as backing? Why not use cheap mono and save that braid backing for those 75-yard refills?

Don't care about the money savings, it isn't enough to concern me especially on smaller reels.  As things would have it I have a snowbird living across the street from me from Iowa and doesn't use spinning.  He has a never used stradic 2500 fi and purchased a rod for it, asked me to spool it up for him yesterday.  He has no saltwater experience and wanted backing on the reel, I put backing on for him both 4 # and 8#  trilene and the knot kept breaking at the arbor.  Strip everything off and load up straight 15# PP, at the bevel there is only about 125 yards with line remaining on the 150 yd filler spool.  Either Shimano's numbering system is off, same with other brands too, or they figure line capacity past the bevel up to the very top, which is my hunch.  As far as I'm concerned for 125 yards of line it doesn't pay to use backing.

The times when I add about 75 yards isn't in freshwater, those reels get a total respool, it's my 4000 reels in saltwater.  Matching mono diameter to 15 or 20# braid gives me a very weak backing( 4 or 6# ) and a heavier mono reduces my line capacity, don't like either scenario.  I'm no fan of backing.

[Iowa Basser]

I cover the knot between the backing and the main line with a small piece of tape and continue spooling the main line right over the top of it.  When I get down far enough that I can see the backing on long casts, the most common problem I have is the main line catching on the knot between the two lines.  That stops the lure from going that last 10 or 15 feet. The small piece of tape keeps the knot from sticking up and catching.  My theory is that the tape would peel off if I ever caught a fish big enough to take that much line, but it's never been an issue yet.  (There are some musky where I fish, though I haven't caught a big one yet.)

 

I use a piece of tape smaller than my pinky fingernail (smaller is better.)  Blue painter's tape works well.  I have used electrical tape, or even a piece of that tape that comes on some new spools of line.

Editted: I use enough line that this isn't typically an issue, but after re-tying and losing line it does happen... That little piece of tape gets me through until I replace the main line.

[Stan Smith]

I just went through this and I did it this way. Fill your spinning reel all the way up with your backing. Tie a plug on and go cast it. Make the longest cast you can make. Then, pull about 20 more yards of your backing off. Then cut your line at your reel. Now you can just fill it back up with the braid of your choice! should now have the perfect amount of braid on your reel

[OkobojiEagle]

My line is probably the least costly component of my fishing and possibly the most important to landing a trophy.  I only use backing to complete filling the spool when my freshly purchased spool of PE line doesn't completely fill the reel spool.

 

oe

[islandbass]

19 hours ago, Stan Smith said:

I just went through this and I did it this way. Fill your spinning reel all the way up with your backing. Tie a plug on and go cast it. Make the longest cast you can make. Then, pull about 20 more yards of your backing off. Then cut your line at your reel. Now you can just fill it back up with the braid of your choice! should now have the perfect amount of braid on your reel

I've done this too. Great minds think alike. My "measure" was a Max cast plus about twice that. 

 

Another thing I have done is choose a mono backing with a diameter about the same as the braid and look at what the spool will hold for that diameter. Let's say the spool holds 150 yds of 8# mono. I'll fill spool with 100 yds of mono and the rest with 50 yds braid. I will also know I have 100 yds of braid left on my filler spool and can do this two more times. Or, I might do 75/75.

No, it's not an exact science but like in real life there usually isn't aren't ideal cases but engineers like to when applicable, apply "close enough" is good enough. Lol

[Iowa Basser]

12 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

My line is probably the least costly component of my fishing and possibly the most important to landing a trophy.  I only use backing to complete filling the spool when my freshly purchased spool of PE line doesn't completely fill the reel spool.

 

oe

PE?

 

Hey oe from Ames!  You sent me a map of of Okoboji a couple years ago, but I never made it up there.  It was still much appreciated.  Thank You.   (It's been awhile since I've been on the forums, but I've got a tournament coming up and have had a busy summer and haven't done much fishing at all since the early June, this is the best I can do until next weekend when I'll get back on the water.)

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

What @Stan Smith said! Wish I could take credit for this, but I saw it in one of the forums and modified it for my personal needs.  I fill the reel with the backer, then go out in the yard with an old 1/2 - ounce sinker (or whatever weight is appropriate for rod/reel), hook with the barb snipped off, and a creature bait. Then I make the longest cast I can reasonably make. To give myself some latitude, I strip a little more line off the reel (approximately half the distance of the cast) and cut the backer at the rod tip. Then I tie on my "good" line at that point. I found the extra length covers the knot when I add the "good" line.  It's a little bit of work, but I only have to do it once per reel and it saves a lot of money. I've never gotten to the backer when I fish.

 

I happen to use the creature bait because for some reason, that's the combo I can cast the farthest. Use whatever lure (or equivalent weight) you cast the farthest with a particular rig.