Is 66 yards enough main line to put atop backing on BC reel?

[michael1]

The last few weeks you guys have given me some terrific info about  how to put line on my new bait cast reels for myself for the very first time. I think I have one last question to get this done properly and that is the amount of main line to put atop the mono backing I put on first. I've figured out a great and accurate way to put the exact amount of backing on my specific reels to perfectly fit the exact amount of main line I want to use.

 

The question becomes how much main line to choose to use? Two factors I see here, I want enough line to account for bomber casts with a big lipless or something and having to cut a line that gets snagged or something. Also I have to look at how big the spools I buy are. I really like Sunline Sniper and most of the spools I buy are 200 yards. Would 66 yards of main line be enough to account for long casts and if I have to break off a snag or something on a trip out fishing without getting down to the connection knot? If so I could get 3 "uses" out of a single spool of 200 yards obviously. 100 yards seems like too much perhaps and that I would be wasting a good amount which was the whole point of doing all this with backing, to save money and not waste. Just curious what you guys think.

[A-Jay]

Perhaps try this.  

Fill your reel with backing that is the same or very close to the size of your top shot. Then go cast it.  After a few long casts you'll be able to see how much line you may need.  Maybe pull off another whole or half cast length, cut it there and refill the spool with your line of choice.

Good luck.

A-Jay 

[garroyo130]

You should be fine for a bit with 66 yds ... 50 yds is an really long cast and bass arent known to make drag testing runs 

 

with that said if you are not using swivels near your bait ... one or two good snagged lures and youll be casting into your backing

 

 

 

[MN Fisher]

I'm only putting 60 yds of mainline on my BCs...my longest casts are about 40 yds, so gives me some 'breathing room' for lure changes before I have to replace.

 

You should be fine.

[Bankbeater]

I don't feel comfortable unless I have a little extra line on the spool.  I fill my spools about 1/2 way with backing.  Then if I'm changing baits a lot, or getting line damage, I know I'm not going to run out of line.

[Team9nine]

Just my opinion, but 66 yds is a little short for my liking. I usually want something closer to 80 yds. to account for not only retying and long casts, but keeping the connecting knot well buried under the topper line. You don't want that exposed or even a large "bump" on the spool if you'll be doing any thumbing of the spool during a cast. Great way to tear up a thumb quick  Obviously 100 yds would be great, too, but I don't go any more than that.

[flyfisher]

I stopped using backing a while back.  The cost savings is minimal and more of a hassle than it was worth to me.

[jbsoonerfan]

Burn me at the stake if you will, but Sniper is about .10 cents a yard. I wouldn't try to save $7 to "maybe" have enough line. I would just put 100 yards on two spools and be sure I have enough.

 

But I also fill the spool with straight braid and fluoro, so maybe I am just dumb.

[jimmyjoe]

55 minutes ago, jbsoonerfan said:

. I wouldn't try to save $7 to "maybe" have enough line. I would just put 100 yards on two spools and be sure I have enough.

   True. The line-eater is the continual re-tying on lures or end cut-offs due to abrasion, as well as a BIG loss on FC line when you have a bad kink inside a backlash.

   Misery is miserly without an "l".      jj

[jbrew73]

$7 times 20 reels is a lot of money.   I do about 65 yards of line and have never ran into an issue even after break offs.  If you have broken off that much the line is usually compromised at that point and should be changed anyway.  Frogs and rattle traps can push it to the limit but it has not caused any problems for me.  

 

as far as the connection knot it can be an issue at 65 but I put if off to the side of the spool and it doesn’t cause and issue. 

 

Im not overly tight to the point of glueing soft plastic lures back together but I do like getting 3 uses out of the 200 yard spools of sunline.   Don’t get me started or the 150yard spools they offer !

[garroyo130]

1 minute ago, jbrew73 said:

Im not overly tight to the point of glueing soft plastic lures back together 

Then youre missing out 

 

Mend It is the best thing since monofilament line 

[jbsoonerfan]

5 minutes ago, jbrew73 said:

$7 times 20 reels is a lot of money.   I do about 65 yards of line and have never ran into an issue even after break offs.  If you have broken off that much the line is usually compromised at that point and should be changed anyway.  Frogs and rattle traps can push it to the limit but it has not caused any problems for me.  

 

as far as the connection knot it can be an issue at 65 but I put if off to the side of the spool and it doesn’t cause and issue. 

 

Im not overly tight to the point of glueing soft plastic lures back together but I do like getting 3 uses out of the 200 yard spools of sunline.   Don’t get me started or the 150yard spools they offer !

Even more money if you did a thousand reels. 

 

I doubt he is doing 20 reels, sounds more like a couple to me. Anyone doing 20 reels is probably buying bulk spools anyway.

 

Kind of like my buddy who I went with the other day and he got hung up with braid and had to cut it. Cut off about 40 yards and only had 35 left because he tried to save a little and split a 150 yard spool between 2 reels. That reel was out of commission the rest of the day, luckily I have plenty and let him use one.

[wisconsin heat]

I think 66 is fine. Last season I split a 125 yd spool of 30lb braid between 2 reels so about 62 yds per spool and I didn't have any problems.

[Bluebasser86]

I do about 50 yards spooling Tatsu so I can get 4 reels off one spool, but that's for pitching baits when I don't need much line. I'm in the same camp that I'd want more in the 75-100 yards. Even though bass aren't going to pull drag, and you're not going to cast off that much line, when you get to the point that the knot is coming into play during the cast, it starts to interfere with casting distance and accuracy.

[PhishLI]

15 hours ago, michael1 said:

If so I could get 3 "uses" out of a single spool of 200 yards obviously. 100 yards seems like too much perhaps and that I would be wasting a good amount which was the whole point of doing all this with backing, to save money and not waste. Just curious what you guys think.

Very few people people can throw an actual lure, even a 3/4oz lipless, anywhere near 200 feet on a typical 7' bass rod. If you'd really like to know what's what, do what A-Jay said. Go to Wally World and pick up some OmniFlex in the same diameter as the Fluoro you'll be using. It's cheap as dirt. Tie on a 3/4 oz Dark Sleeper, which is as close to a casting plug that you'll find in a lure, then bomb it out. Put some tape on the spool once the lure lands. Go home and measure the length of the line. After you've measured, cut the line where you taped it then tie it to the remaining line on the spool and wind it back up. Go back to the lake with some of the lures that you'll be throwing day to day and see how close you get to the connection knot. You can tape it off again at your farthest cast, then measure what's left. Do the math and see if 66 yards will do the trick taking into consideration the exposure of the connection knot and for extra line for re-tying multiple times , etc. It's the only way you'll have your answer without speculation.

[Jermination]

16 hours ago, michael1 said:

The last few weeks you guys have given me some terrific info about  how to put line on my new bait cast reels for myself for the very first time. I think I have one last question to get this done properly and that is the amount of main line to put atop the mono backing I put on first. I've figured out a great and accurate way to put the exact amount of backing on my specific reels to perfectly fit the exact amount of main line I want to use.

 

The question becomes how much main line to choose to use? Two factors I see here, I want enough line to account for bomber casts with a big lipless or something and having to cut a line that gets snagged or something. Also I have to look at how big the spools I buy are. I really like Sunline Sniper and most of the spools I buy are 200 yards. Would 66 yards of main line be enough to account for long casts and if I have to break off a snag or something on a trip out fishing without getting down to the connection knot? If so I could get 3 "uses" out of a single spool of 200 yards obviously. 100 yards seems like too much perhaps and that I would be wasting a good amount which was the whole point of doing all this with backing, to save money and not waste. Just curious what you guys think.

the main question here is what lb test & what rod are you throwing it on? 7'9 crankin stick with 12 lb sniper you are going need a lot more than 66 yards. 7'6 heavy with 17 lb fluoro for flippin docks 66 is more than enough. I typically buy sunline flippin fc & regularly get 4 uses out of it. for your cranking & bombing outfits go to academy and buy some yozuri top knot fc, it's like 8.99 for 200 yards. Works just as good for 1/3 the cost

[OnthePotomac]

Well here you go, I watched a Kevin Van d**n video last week changing line on reels and he fishes with 75 yds of line on his backing on all reels.

[jimmyjoe]

3 minutes ago, OnthePotomac said:

Well here you go, I watched a Kevin Van d**n video last week changing line on reels and he fishes with 75 yds of line on his backing on all reels.

   I don't guess there's any better reference than that!      jj

[michael1]

I'm starting to think 66 yards would not safely be enough. If I am going to do 75 yards I might as well do 100 yards. With it being a 200 yard spool that would give me 2 full uses out of what I buy. If I did 75 yards after using it two uses I would have 50 yards back and I have no idea what I would do with that. I have plenty of remnants of extra FC around to use as leader if I wanted so that sounds like the route to go.

[jbsoonerfan]

2 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

Well here you go, I watched a Kevin Van d**n video last week changing line on reels and he fishes with 75 yds of line on his backing on all reels.

And he more than likely puts a new 75 yards on every tourney (or more often). He doesn't need them to last a season so he isn't worried about changing lures and what not.

[J Francho]

Sunline Shooter?  With just 66 yds. of line on, you'll feel the connection knot.  

[michael1]

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Sunline Shooter?  With just 66 yds. of line on, you'll feel the connection knot.  

Are you talking about with your thumb on the spool, meaning physically feeling it? Or do you mean that even though the knot is on the spool you'd feel a lose of sensitivity or something? No matter what your answer is I should be good at 100 yards, correct?

[J Francho]

That's about all most of my reels hold, so I just spool them up without backer.  Yes, you will feel the connection knot when feathering the spool with your thumb while casting.

[JustJames]

I’m in the same boat as 75yds or more especially on lipless. You can do 80 yds and save the rest for Leader. 
A question for you though, you try to save money by spool 3 reels with sunline Sniper. Do you think you need this $20 for 200yds line for Lipless Crank? I would save that line for something like bottom contact lure and get cheaper Hybrid line $6-9 for 600yds or even Big game line. 

[jbrew73]

If you leave the knot in the middle of the spool you will feel it and it may even catch on the line coming off the spool.   When the knot is positioned to the side of the spool it doesn’t seem to cause issues to me.

 

many people have offered advice.  Give some of the recommendations a try and let us know how it works for you and report back.  Hell try 66 yards of cheap mono instead of flouro and see if it works.   This ain’t rocket science.