How Much Backing To Use?

[J Francho]

Not necessarily.  The last three feet of my dock setups get beat after a day, even using a 4' fluoro leader.  Even some weeds, like coontail can take their toll. 

[tcbass]

Not necessarily.  The last three feet of my dock setups get beat after a day, even using a 4' fluoro leader.  Even some weeds, like coontail can take their toll.

But you use a fluro leader that you can replace, right?

[J Francho]

Yes.  The last three feet of BRAID get beat up, as well as the leader.  Maybe even more so, since it's the braid hitting the dock, not the leader, when I skip jigs under.

[hatrix]

From what I hear everyone does it wrong in regards to backing. The only lines you want backing on is mono copoly fluoro. Those you want to use braid for backing and for braid just run in straight or leave old braid on to back new braid.

[aavery2]

From what I hear everyone does it wrong in regards to backing. The only lines you want backing on is mono copoly fluoro. Those you want to use braid for backing and for braid just run in straight or leave old braid on to back new braid.

That's a new one

[iabass8]

 The only lines you want backing on is mono copoly fluoro.

 Those you want to use braid for backing and for braid just run in straight or leave old braid on to back new braid.

So don't use backing for braid....but when the old braid is used up, use that as backing. that's some solid logic.

 

From what I hear everyone does it wrong in regards to backing.

OR....Take a 150 yd spool of 65#PP and use 75 yds + backing thus resulting in better casting distance and more life out of line. If you spool all 150 yds on 1 reel, your casting will be drastically effected towards the lower life of the spool. Not to mention it isn't cost effective if you want to use the line on more than one reel. Did you even think that thought through?

 

If you're in the braid/fluoro leader camp, then not using backing on your reel is a giant waste of money as you're never casting more than 40 yds anyway. 

 

 

Anywho, most of my reels use shooter, tatsu and sniper so I like getting the most out of the line. I count out 55 yards of shooter and 65 yards of tatsu/sniper, spool it on the reel, and then reel the backing on until it's at the spot that i desire. Back the line off I use a line counter and 2 spare abu garcia 6500s. Really only have to do this once per reel every couple years. 

[tcbass]

So don't use backing for braid....but when the old braid is used up, use that as backing. that's some solid logic.

 

OR....Take a 150 yd spool of 65#PP and use 75 yds + backing thus resulting in better casting distance and more life out of line. If you spool all 150 yds on 1 reel, your casting will be drastically effected towards the lower life of the spool. Not to mention it isn't cost effective if you want to use the line on more than one reel. Did you even think that thought through?

 

If you're in the braid/fluoro leader camp, then not using backing on your reel is a giant waste of money as you're never casting more than 40 yds anyway. 

 

 

Anywho, most of my reels use shooter, tatsu and sniper so I like getting the most out of the line. I count out 55 yards of shooter and 65 yards of tatsu/sniper, spool it on the reel, and then reel the backing on until it's at the spot that i desire. Back the line off I use a line counter and 2 spare abu garcia 6500s. Really only have to do this once per reel every couple years. 

 

 

 

How is this?

[iabass8]

How is this?

I think you are asking why less line effects casting distance? If so, it's a pretty straight forward answer. The more full your reel is, the easier and further a reel will cast. 

[tcbass]

I think you are asking why less line effects casting distance? If so, it's a pretty straight forward answer. The more full your reel is, the easier and further a reel will cast.

Ah. Ic.

[aavery2]

Ah. Ic.

 A full spool is bigger in diameter, so every rotation of the spool during a cast lets out more line than a spool that is low on line and smaller in diameter.

[SirSnookalot]

From what I hear everyone does it wrong in regards to backing. The only lines you want backing on is mono copoly fluoro. Those you want to use braid for backing and for braid just run in straight or leave old braid on to back new braid.

Pretty much the way I do it.  The few times I've used a mono backing, eyeballing worked well enough for me.  I go straight braid, my bass reels don't hold all that much line anyway, when low on line I just add to the existing braid. Only the initial cost is a few bucks more, then it's the same.  My other species reels hold more line, I'd feel a bit nervous with a larger fish on the line with mono backing.

[tcbass]

A full spool is bigger in diameter, so every rotation of the spool during a cast lets out more line than a spool that is low on line and smaller in diameter.

Cool. Thanks for the explanation. That makes sense.

[hatrix]

So don't use backing for braid....but when the old braid is used up, use that as backing. that's some solid logic.

 

OR....Take a 150 yd spool of 65#PP and use 75 yds + backing thus resulting in better casting distance and more life out of line. If you spool all 150 yds on 1 reel, your casting will be drastically effected towards the lower life of the spool. Not to mention it isn't cost effective if you want to use the line on more than one reel. Did you even think that thought through?

 

If you're in the braid/fluoro leader camp, then not using backing on your reel is a giant waste of money as you're never casting more than 40 yds anyway. 

 

 

Anywho, most of my reels use shooter, tatsu and sniper so I like getting the most out of the line. I count out 55 yards of shooter and 65 yards of tatsu/sniper, spool it on the reel, and then reel the backing on until it's at the spot that i desire. Back the line off I use a line counter and 2 spare abu garcia 6500s. Really only have to do this once per reel every couple years. 

 

Well I was just saying what I had heard. This is what Aaron Martens does on all his reels and he says you actually get better casting distance this way. Don't get all upset with me about it. You should talk to him and ask if he ever thought it through. I am also pretty sure most everyone here can scrounge up some old braid to use for backing on reels. I also guess I was not clear enough about it .Yes you can/should use backing for braid but back your braid with more braid. I think I had said that though.

[iabass8]

From what I hear everyone does it wrong in regards to backing. The only lines you want backing on is mono copoly fluoro.

 

. Those you want to use braid for backing and for braid just run in straight or leave old braid on to back new braid.

 

Well I was just saying what I had heard. This is what Aaron Martens does on all his reels and he says you actually get better casting distance this way. Don't get all upset with me about it. You should talk to him and ask if he ever thought it through. I am also pretty sure most everyone here can scrounge up some old braid to use for backing on reels. I also guess I was not clear enough about it .Yes you can/should use backing for braid but back your braid with more braid. I think I had said that though.

 

I completely understand the use of braided line backing. The issue /w your statement is, as I quoted it above for you to see, you made two completely contradictory statements and are trying to defend it... 

[WRB]

Good information, very informative thread.

Couple of questions; reel line capacity, how full is the spool? Does the manufacture rate total line capacity filled to the very top edge of the spool or 1/16" below, it makes a big difference.

How tight is the line spooled on? Commercial line spoilers use a tool to put a constant force on the line being spooled, most anglers doing this don't. Tightly spooled line capacity is different than loosely spooled line. Braid also flattens, doesn't stay round and can heat up when friction of force is added during spooling line.

How do you control the line pressure? What does a full spool mean to you?

Tom

[boostr]

I just use 12 or 14lb mono fill the spool eye balled half way, and fill the rest with braid. Used one 150yd spool of 50lb PP braid on three reels this way.

[FlipSide]

Remember when your 7th grade math teacher said, "pay attention"  now you know why.

 

Lol, not sure if this is meant as an insult or what?

 

But I am very capable of comprehending the math behind it.

 

I was simply referring to not having to fill up reels with backing multiple times, I have used the same backing for 4+ years.

[aavery2]

Lol, not sure if this is meant as an insult or what?

 

But I am very capable of comprehending the math behind it.

 

I was simply referring to not having to fill up reels with backing multiple times, I have used the same backing for 4+ years.

Relax, not an insult. My insults are not hard to decipher. It was meant as a joke, many kids hated math in school, and would ask, "why do I need to learn this, I will never use it again". It was just a play on that.

[SirSnookalot]

In reference to WRB said about how tight the line is spooled.  When I spool up with braid I don't always get it real tight, what I do is over spool.  I put on a lure that when reeling in has a lot of resistance, additional I take it to the inlet with current and let out a lot of line.  When I reel back in the braid is very tight and pretty much spooled where I want it to be, sometimes I may have to peel off a little bit of line.

[Hogsticker]

I didn't read every post, but this is useful. My question is this. So I figure out how much backing I need using this method. Say I determine I need 65 yards, but I'm taking it off a 300 yard spool. Do you just figure 65 yards via the Ipt and handle turns?

[paleus]

I didn't read every post, but this is useful. My question is this. So I figure out how much backing I need using this method. Say I determine I need 65 yards, but I'm taking it off a 300 yard spool. Do you just figure 65 yards via the Ipt and handle turns?

$15:

[Hogsticker]

I had one of those. It was garbage with thin diameter lines