Is Backing/tape Necessary With Braid If You Have A Wiffle Spool?

[tcbass]

I saw that a lot of people use backing or tape prior to putting their braid on. I guess this is for cushion (don't know why that's important), helping make the braid lay on smooth, longer casts (one pro states that he can fast considerably farther with mono backing under braid - not sure if this is true or not), and so the like doesn't slip on the spool.

I've had Gander Mountain or Cabelas spool all of my braid line and I've never had my spool slip. Granted I've always fished when it was hot out, not cold. So my spool didn't shrink at all.

If you have a wiffle spool and go through the holes in the spool to tie your not, isn't it impossible to have your braid slip?

If it is necessary I was wondering about using electrical tape and how many times you go around the spool?

[SirSnookalot]

I tape every reel before spooling up, braid or mono, spinning or conventional doesn't make difference to me.  In theory all that is needed is 1" piece to prevent slippage, once around the spool never hurts.

[tcbass]

I tape every reel before spooling up, braid or mono, spinning or conventional doesn't make difference to me. In theory all that is needed is 1" piece to prevent slippage, once around the spool never hurts.

So you put one piece that covers the entire spool and then tie your line over the tape?

What type of tape do you use?

[SirSnookalot]

So you put one piece that covers the entire spool and then tie your line over the tape?

What type of tape do you use?

That's pretty much it, cut the tape maybe to 1/2" width or so where it fits smoothly on the spool.

Electrical or masking tape, I personally use blue painters tape.

[Tywithay]

I don't use braid anymore, but I used the tape as well. One thing I would do is tuck the tag end of the line under the tape, and you don't have to worry about tying a knot.

[SirSnookalot]

I don't use braid anymore, but I used the tape as well. One thing I would do is tuck the tag end of the line under the tape, and you don't have to worry about tying a knot.

That works just as well.

 

You'll never get down to the knot on the spool bass fishing.  A bigger fish stripping out that much line probably will snap the knot.  If the knot does hold I guarantee you won't be able to crank the fish in, just could do some damage to the reel.  

[Tywithay]

That works just as well.

You'll never get down to the knot on the spool bass fishing. A bigger fish stripping out that much line probably will snap the knot. If the knot does hold I guarantee you won't be able to crank the fish in, just could do some damage to the reel.

It has absolutely nothing to do with getting down to the knot. Lack of a knot improves line lay. Doesn't matter how small you tie a knot, it's going to leave a lump which can make the line spool unevenly. It's just easier to tape it down if you're taping the spool anyway.

[Goose52]

If you have a wiffle spool and go through the holes in the spool to tie your not, isn't it impossible to have your braid slip?

 

True - the line won't slip if you tie to the spool. BUT, it's generally not recommended to tie to a hole in the spool - especially with braid.  Just apply the tape as described...and not a bad idea to just run the end of the line under the tape - that's what I do with braid. Regarding knots in general - with mono/flouro, I use an arbor knot and don't tie directly to the spool either. I've never noticed a problem with USING an arbor knot re line lay considering you're adding from 80 to 150 yards or so of  line on top of the knot.

 

As Snook said - you won't ever get down to the knot or tape while bass fishing...but depending on where you fish, you might end up hooking up with something much bigger than a bass. You don't want to be spooled by a big fish and then be tied directly to the spool with something like 50lb braid.  I never gave this much thought since I only bass fish until I went through a spell of hooking up with 40-50-pound class carp and one time watched one of those guys take about 90 yards of line off the reel...

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Mono and fluoro are not an issue but braid can slip on the spool giving the illusion of a malfunctioning drag. The tape is just to give the braid some traction. Just a layer around the spool is all you need. Tying off to a wiffle spool will work, but I just don't like the idea. I use backing for almost everything. It makes re-spooling quicker and easier, solves the braid slipping issue, and saves yards of good line that would never see the light of day.   

[Capt.Bob]

I always use mono backing, all you need is 10 to 15 feet to avoid slipping, I then fill the spool with ,,,, in my case 832 Sufix, when the line starts to get a little less than full usually this will be before wearing out, I simply tie on mono to the end I have been using and run enough to totally fill the spool again, then turn it around and start all over again, this usually last 3 or 4 years on my reels, more on those that get little use. I have had more than one person tell me they dont need tape or backing with braid, that their line never slip's,,,,,,only to later finally get a fish big enough to put enough strain on the line that they just don't understand how it could have  slipped!!!! Then they put backing or tape on after the fact,,,,I would never spin a panfish reel without backing, but I always spool any reel with braid.  

[0119]

Granted I've always fished when it was hot out, not cold. So my spool didn't shrink at all.

 

 

What brand reels do you use that are so poorly made that their spools shrink or swell with the temperature?

 

I don't use tape.  I don't use backing.   5 or 6 wraps around the spools arbor then a uni knot, check the video under The Spanish Fly on you-tube.  The less knots the better.

[tcbass]

What brand reels do you use that are so poorly made that their spools shrink or swell with the temperature?

 

I don't use tape.  I don't use backing.   5 or 6 wraps around the spools arbor then a uni knot, check the video under The Spanish Fly on you-tube.  The less knots the better.

 

 

It says it on the Power Pro website and I've read it other places.

[SirSnookalot]

What brand reels do you use that are so poorly made that their spools shrink or swell with the temperature?

 

I don't use tape.  I don't use backing.   5 or 6 wraps around the spools arbor then a uni knot, check the video under The Spanish Fly on you-tube.  The less knots the better.

This video demo is about as easy as it gets, it's slightly different than the way some freshwater people do it, I guarantee it's every bit as effective.  Whether I use a knot or just place the line under the tape is usually based on my degree of laziness, not because I prefer one over the other.  When using a knot I have not had my line spool up improperly or any kind of hump due to a little knot on the spool, whether it be spinning or conventional, mono or braid.  One thing I do like about the video is the use of the ordinary clinch knot to attach the hook, in my case it's a jig.