Backing your baitcaster line

[Josh Gann]

Putting backing line on your reels is something I haven't tried yet , but seems like a good idea ? wise. I noticed everybody uses braid to do this , but being this line is never used could you not just use the cheapest line possible? 

[A-Jay]

I use bulk mono.

Works well.

A-Jay 

 

[JLBBass]

I use old & cheap mono, in 8-10 lb test.

Saves time & money over the long run.

[J._Bricker]

@Josh Gann , the answer @A-Jay provided above.... Mono is much cheaper to use than braid or fluorocarbon.

[new2BC4bass]

About the only people that use braid for backing are some Pros.  (There are a few non-Pros that also do it.)  That is done to keep the weight of the spool at a minimum for spool start up (and I assume maximum casting distance).  You would still need a piece of tape first so the braid doesn't spin on the spool.  Or tie it through a hole in the spool if it has them.  The rest of us do exactly what all the previous guys have said.....cheap mono for backing.  Lighter spool by a fraction of a fraction of (not a misprint) an ounce is not something I could notice.

[NYWayfarer]

Zebco Omniflex mono from Walmart is great backing and it's dirt cheap.

[ItsHardwick]

57 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

Zebco Omniflex mono from Walmart is great backing and it's dirt cheap.

This. It’s all I’ve used for backing since I found it. 600 yard spool for $4 at Walmart. Yes please. 

[EWREX]

How much backing do you guys usually put on?

[The Maestro]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I use bulk mono.

Works well.

A-Jay 

 

Are those all flourocarbon and mono. Why no braid?

[A-Jay]

53 minutes ago, The Maestro said:

Are those all flourocarbon and mono. Why no braid?

I use braid.

The reels pictured are cleaned and ready for early season when there is little to no vegetation here.  Which is when the majority of my braid use with casting reels happens.  I do use braid & leaders exclusively on spinning gear.  The casting reel braid is set to go, just on my spare spools for quick and easy conversion.

A-Jay 

[Glaucus]

I use cheap $1 Zebco mono to back everything - braid, fluoro, copoly, other mono. No reason not to do this.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, EWREX said:

How much backing do you guys usually put on?

I use somewhere close to 1/3 of the spool backing and the rest my main line.  Then BEFORE the top shot gets worn out, I'll end for end it down to the backing.  Once it's time, I replace the whole top shot to the backing.

A-Jay 

[ItsHardwick]

4 minutes ago, Glaucus said:

I use cheap $1 Zebco mono to back everything - braid, fluoro, copoly, other mono. No reason not to do this.

Exactly. I back my fluoro with the zebco line too, I’m not spooling any of my reels when I cast. No reason to put a whole 150-200 yards on a reel. Saves me money. 

[MickD]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I use somewhere close to 1/3 of the spool backing and the rest my main line.  Then BEFORE the top shot gets worn out, I'll end for end it down to the backing.  Once it's time, I replace the whole top shot to the backing.

A-Jay 

A-Jay, would you care to tell us which of those reels is your favorite, brand and model? I think I see a few Calcuttas there?   I used my old Calcutta 150 the other day, still a very nice casting reel.

[A-Jay]

26 minutes ago, MickD said:

A-Jay, would you care to tell us which of those reels is your favorite, brand and model? I think I see a few Calcuttas there?   I used my old Calcutta 150 the other day, still a very nice casting reel.

I think you asked me about this recently.  I don't really have a favorite reel per say.  I do however Love to 'chunk & wind', so whenever I'm doing that and getting bit I'm happy.  That said, quite a bit of that happens with one of those Shimano Calcutta 200D's.

They truely are Little Silver Beasts.

Perhaps take advantage of the TW Demo program and test one for yourself.   That's how I ended up with 3.

A-Jay 

[LionHeart]

I try to use enough backing so that I can spool 2 reels with 1 150 yard spool of braid.  40 yards or so of backing depending on its diameter.  I don't get super scientific about it.

[CrankFate]

2 hours ago, EWREX said:

How much backing do you guys usually put on?

None. Never. Nope.

[NittyGrittyBoy]

Trilene Big game 15lb backing, maybe 1/3 to half spool, then 30lb power pro. 

 

Or if I don't feel like messing with it, I spool all braid. Depends on my mood. But saving money, yeah it's definitely good for that. 

 

I also unspool my braid and flip it over so I can get longer life and save money. Less money on line, means more money for the Bait Monkey

[The Maestro]

1 hour ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

I also unspool my braid and flip it over so I can get longer life and save money. Less money on line, means more money for the Bait Monkey

I do this as well.  Sometimes I'll even add extra backing to make up for the braid that's already been used up so the spool is still full. There's just something satisfying about knowing I wasted as little line as possible.  Plus the stuff ain't cheap.

[JustJames]

You got a lot of good info there. As @new2BC4bassmentioned some use backing to help reduce the weight of spool and some to not to use too much of expensive line and still get to 3/4 spool full (for line recovery).

Im in both camp most of my reels have braid as backing or full braid or no backing at all. Normally I only spool about 200’ of line, and if my line choice not reach at least 3/4 spool it will get braid.

Some of reel for heavy lure, I don’t use backing because the weight of spool is not matter much and I don’t use too of expensive line to worry about saving (big game mono/Izor line). 

The reels that get braid backing mostly my finesse reels which use 6-10lb line and I don’t want to add unnecessary weight to spool.

I only have two reels with braid and those are no backing because with braid I can use all line until I don’t have enough for one long cast.

I pick size of reel that match my application, 70, 150 or 200 reel and pick line that would match the reel as well.

I use line counter to help when spoiling, and all spool get plumber tape.

 

[microotter]

How do you guys flip your braid over?

[A-Jay]

38 minutes ago, microotter said:

How do you guys flip your braid over?

There's a few ways.

Reel from one reel to another.

Hold the end and run it out behind a slow move rig and then retie and reel it up.

You can 'walk it off' in your yard or a park or anywhere there's room.

A-Jay 

[The Maestro]

52 minutes ago, microotter said:

How do you guys flip your braid over?

I'll either reel it onto another reel or if I want to flip it onto the same reel I'll hand wind it from the reel onto a spool of line (the spools that line comes on when you buy it) and then hand wind it from that spool onto another spool and then finally reel it onto the reel from this spool. It sounds like more work than it actually is.

[Fishin Dad]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I use braid.

The reels pictured are cleaned and ready for early season when there is little to no vegetation here.  Which is when the majority of my braid use with casting reels happens.  I do use braid & leaders exclusively on spinning gear.  The casting reel braid is set to go, just on my spare spools for quick and easy conversion.

A-Jay 

A-Jay, I want you to organize my gear!  Want to visit Minnesota?

[A-Jay]

3 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

A-Jay, I want you to organize my gear!  Want to visit Minnesota?

LOL~

Maybe, but I wouldn't want to miss  our very brief summer here.  

Which weekend will you guys be having yours  ?

?

A-Jay