Should I use backing on my spinning reel

[jsh32]

I am changing out the line on my spinning outfit. I bought some 20lb Daiwa J Braid I wanted to try out, but it only has 165 yards of line. I plan on using a leader because I bought the bright green color to help me see the line as Im fishing. So my question is should I put some cheap mono backing on my reel to fill up most of the spool then tie on the braid, fill it up the rest of the way, then add a couple feet of leader?

 

Also should I take into consideration line diameter when using backing and leaders?

[rippin-lips]

I always use some backing on my spinning reels. I run #10 j braid and it's not enough to fill the spool so I have to use backing. I usually use some cheap #10 and then just tie a simple overhand knot. 

[Darren.]

I, too, normally use backing, but I haven't been of

late since I bought (last year) a great deal on a 1500

yard spool of 15# Power Pro Super Slick 8.

 

Given the 165 yard spool, definitely use backing on

it. Are you hoping to use the spool on more than one

reel?

 

And I'm also using smaller spooled-reels, 1000 size

Shimanos....

[Fishes in trees]

The answer is yeah - kinda.  If the spool holds more than 165 yards of line, I don't know how thin this line is but I imagine it is pretty thin, then just putting the braid on the spool will leave the spool under filled, and you'll lose some casting distance.

There is no formula that I know of on how to accurately put the correct amount of backing on a spool so that it comes out right and filled perfect.

  You just have to kind of eye ball it.

 

If you guess too little backing,  then your spool will still end up under filled .  If you guess too much backing, then your spool will end up over filled and you'll cut some braid and end up  with an unusable small amount of braid.   Don't do that.

 

What I do is put the backing on, using my best guess.   Then load the braid.   If it is over filled, take the braid off, remove some backing and try again.

I've done this for a few years now and I generally come close enough the first time, but I think that is just experience and the culmination of the many mistakes I've made loading spinning reels over the year.

Option B - spend the money and buy a 300 yard spool of braid and fill the spool completely full of braid.

Option C - go to a tackle shop that has braid on service spools and have them put it on and pay by the yard and your spool will end up perfectly filled.

 

The tackle store that I commonly frequent will do it either way - backing & braid or braid all the way - they don't care - they just want it to work right for you.

 

 

[Fishin' Fool]

Yes.

[Angry John]

if you put on the braid and then add the backing to get the level correct then take it off to reverse you will get the perfect amount.

[jdz197]

Mono backing is a fine idea for running a thin braid that you will likely never exhaust.

 

For reels that will run braid back to the spool metal I'll back them with 3M VHB tape or at least a few wraps of electrical tape for the braid to dig into. 3M VHB tape has a million uses and everybody should have some!

[kbeeb374]

Short answer, yes.

you can get 2 spools out of 165 yards of line!!

[fishnkamp]

Here is what I do.  I fish in the Chesapeake Bay tidal rivers including the Susquehanna Flats and the Potomac. I also vacation in deep clear lakes, like Dale Hollow. I refuse to change how I setup my equipment.  Here at home I can run into large blue cats, as well as pickerel and stripers while bass fishing. So I never use cheap line of any kind. I have seen enough line go out that the backing to main line knot went out the guides.  I trust both good quality Stren Clear Blue in 14 pound test and Berkely FireLine in 14 pound test ( 6 pound diameter). I also use the bright neon color for my eyes.

 

I spool the reel half way up with the Stren Mono then fill it up with my braid. You do not need 165 yards of braid.  No one casts over 1 1/2 times a football field with a spinning rod.  So a half of a spool will suffice. Now here is where I do make a change to my setup sometimes. I normally fish a 4 foot leader made up of P Line CXX copolymer line in 8 pound test ( moss green in color).  If I am fishing really deep clear water than I may go to 8 pound P Line Halo fluorocarbon line.  That works great for me.

[JDNKC]

I always back with mono.  Every time I don't, the braid ends up coming loose on the spool.  Never again.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Backing of some kind is a must with braid. I can't see spooling a lot of braid or expensive fluorocarbon that will never see the light of day. 100 feet is a long cast. I spool 50 yards of mainline. 

[PatrickKnight]

All I use is spinning gear and the only one that doesn't have backing is my set up that is running mono.

[Paul Roberts]

Anything can take up space in a reel spool. For spinning I use kite string. Cheap and fat. For casting reels I've gone to dacron braid (since I have lots in my FF stuff).

 

The only time I haven't used backing has been with fish that will run a long ways. Bass don't do that.

[BaitMonkey1984]

On 3/6/2017 at 1:16 PM, Darren. said:

I, too, normally use backing, but I haven't been of

late since I bought (last year) a great deal on a 1500

yard spool of 15# Power Pro Super Slick 8.

 

Given the 165 yard spool, definitely use backing on

it. Are you hoping to use the spool on more than one

reel?

 

And I'm also using smaller spooled-reels, 1000 size

Shimanos....

Darren, do you use the newer spools made for braid? If not, how do you keep the reel from slipping without any backing. I was unaware that braid needed backing and a few weeks after spooling the braid started to cause my reel to slip. Have been using backing since. On the plus side, it gives me something to do with all that cajun line I have left over from ten years ago that I thought was going to change the fishing industry. NOT. 

[Angry John]

I don't use backing and if the spool is not made to handle braid I use the blue painters tape that comes off without leaving behind a lot of glue and sticky crap.  No slip issues doing it this way!!!

[WI_Angler1989]

I tried a mono backing on my spinning reels with braid for the frist time last season. I really liked it! Not only did I save a TON of braid, since I only spooled up the maximum that I'd need, I never once got into trouble by having the backing knot come out. I came close, but never got there. 

[Fisher-O-men]

On 3/6/2017 at 10:06 AM, jsh32 said:

Also should I take into consideration line diameter when using backing and leaders?

Your plan is perfect!  8-10 lb mono is about right.  Uni/Uni knot, tuck it in at the bottom or top of the spool and you are golden.  You will love that J-Braid! Be careful not to hit any squirrels or lizards on the shore.  Stuff casts really far!