Backing on reels

[Mitchell Conard]

What type of line do you use to put backing on your reels and does it matter if it is fluorocarbon, braid, monofilament ect.

[5fishlimit]

Cheap mono. 

[Toeshots]

The cheapest mono I can find. 

You could use braid or FC but I wouldn't want to use expensive line for that purpose. I suppose braid may lighten the spool a bit but I can't think of any other reason to use it as backing. 

[Bruce424]

Well fluoro is too expensive to use as backing. So is braid, But I have used cheap braid as backing before. Not a fan. Going back to a low lb mono 10-12lb as backing.

[Chris at Tech]

Berkley Big Game.  I can get a 1/4 lb spool for $7 at Academy, and if I ever get down to my backing it's decent enough line that I feel confident I've still got a chance.

[A fisher]

Cheap mono

[flyfisher]

whatever you have laying around.  I used braid before and it worked well, just make sure you put it on super tight.

[HoosierHawgs]

58 minutes ago, 5fishlimit said:

Cheap mono. 

This thread is done. This is all one will ever need.

[cottny27]

That Cajun Red crud!  Works well for something.

[buzzed bait]

literally anything cheap that i have laying around....  may be some leftover yozuri hybrid, big game mono, etc.  just whatever i have that is relatively cheap.  i also TRY to keep the backing and main line diameters somewhat close, i really don't know why, but that's just some personal mental thing i suppose.

[Evan K]

1 hour ago, cottny27 said:

That Cajun Red crud!  Works well for something.

Ha! I used to be infatuated with that stuff when I was a youngster fishing walmart rigs.

[Capt.Bob]

Trilene Big Game, cheap and great line for anything memory isn't a factor for. I use it for leader material also in dingy water, great knot strength and very good abrasion resistance. 700 to 1500 yard spools, depending on #test, sell for under 10 bucks,,, I like cheap, but if I thought there was better,,,,,I'd use it. I don't worry about diameter matching, but use 8# B.G. on 10# braid, 15# B.G. on 14-20# braid, and 20# for heavier braid. 

 

[cottny27]

Evan, yep I bought into the "invisible" red theory. It was strong stuff though.

[Felix77]

Another vote for cheap mono.  Baitcasters 10 - 12lb.  Spinning 6-8lb mono.

I tie a double uni to my new line regardless if it's FC or Braid.

[CarlF]

I use whatever is laying around. That being said, I have found that I really like using fly line backing. Its very cheap, strong, and brightly colored. If I burn through the line, I can see chartreuse colored backing start to show under my fluoro. Its kind of a reminder that my line is starting to get a little low.

[Mike L]

I've been useing Yo Zuri since it's the cheapest line I own and don't use mono.

 

Mike 

[onetime]

I've always used cheap mono for backing, but last year I started using old braid I had laying around.

[Paul Roberts]

Unless there are some long distance runners around, I'll use kite string. All I'm trying to do is take up space.

[gulfcaptain]

I normally try and find some cheap 12 to 15lb mono and use that for backing.  I want something I can pack on and that size mono works great especially if you're using braid over the top.  And I always splice into my backing, never a cheap knot.  Just incase, I know if I hook something and it gets that far into my reel I'm pretty screwed once I get to that mono, but it's still a shot if you have it connected with a nice splice and may give you that extra 20-50yrds to gain control of the fish and get your line back on the reel.

[blckshirt98]

I use some Daiwa 15lb mono I got for free at a raffle.  Only thing to note would be don't go too light on the mono in the rare case you get spooled down to the mono and it's so light it breaks.

[kickerfish1]

I buy a massive spool of Trilene Big game to use for backing. Something in that 1500 to 2000 yard range. Gets me through a year of lining reels for dirt cheap on the backing.