New To Using Braid

[Skeeter Dan]

I've been Bass fishing since the early 80's. Up until three yrs ago I always used mono then I switch to copolymere .Just recently I bought my first braid.  After I bought it and spooled it direct to my spool on my bait caster reel I started reading about using backing. My question is should I have used backing before I spooled on my braid or is tying direct to the spool ok ?

[rippin-lips]

Tying direct is perfectly fine. Backing allows you to spool up 2-3 reels from one spool of braid.

[FinCulture]

Tying direct is perfectly fine. Backing allows you to spool up 2-3 reels from one spool of braid.

backing is more to save on line, so intstead of putting 120 of braid on the spool, you can put more like 70.

[poisonokie]

If you don't use any backing, I've heard the line will slip on the spool because it's slick and doesn't stretch. The effect, should it exist, may differ from line to line. I don't know, I've always spooled on a little backing first for that reason.

[smalljaw67]

Backing saves money and it will let the braid dig in and keep it from slipping. Some people thought their reels were broke but it was actually the braid slipping. Some spools are made for braid now but still use the backing as it will save you money. Also, you really didn't switch line, mono and copolymer are basically the same thing as they have the same properties.

[rippin-lips]

If your spool has holes in it then use those to tie the braid through. If it doesn't you can use 2 wraps of electrical tape on the spool first.

[ChrisD46]

Pick up a spool of Zebco Omniflex from WM in 10lb. ~ 12lb. test.

Spool baitcaster approx. 35% with above mono .

Use a double uni or crazy alberto knot to join mono to braid .

Make sure both mono backing and braid are reeled on tight  (try spooling with line running through the middle of a telephone book's pages) .

Depending on situation a good quality mono / co-poly (Sufix, Seaguar , P-Line)  or FC leader (Seaguar , Sunline) can be used with the same previous knot choices OR use braid without a leader .As for braid you can't go wrong with Power Pro or Sufix then as you gain experience look at other braids such as Daiwa , Seaguar , Sunline and others .

[Fisher-O-men]

I bought two reels on ebay that came with braid on them.  The line was tied directly and it slipped badly.  Pretty sure the seller thought the drag did not work.  My gain!

[Skeeter Dan]

Thanks every one for the replies. When I replace it I will use a backing. Thanks Skeeter Dan

[Choporoz]

(try spooling with line running through the middle of a telephone book's pages) .

 

I think I've read this before, but I can't, for the life of me, figure out why you'd need to do that.  I never have and don't see how it might have helped.  I don't keep a telephone book in the boat, so after the first cast that comes in unencumbered by a fish (or a log or a weed), the line is not going to be telephone-book tight anymore.

[Fisher-O-men]

Thanks every one for the replies. When I replace it I will use a backing. Thanks Skeeter Dan

Unless you are taking up space, you do not need much. Just enough to cover the spool with a couple of layers.

[fishballer06]

I have had braid slip on me if I'm using a smooth, solid spool. If you have a wiffle spool with holes in it where you can tie the braid directly to the spool, you shouldn't have any slippage issues. But regardless, it's more economical to put some cheap mono backing on the reel and then top it off with the last 70 yards or so of braid.