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

[5/0]

On 3/9/2020 at 1:22 PM, michael1 said:

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.

Can you do this accurately with lines that are not the same diameter? I’d be interested in your formula for this.

 

On 3/9/2020 at 1:30 PM, A-Jay said:

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 

This is what I’ll be doing in the future.

I’ve tried to figure out how much backing to put on that would give me the X amount of top shot (braid) that I wanted and screwed it up every time!

[michael1]

5 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

Can you do this accurately with lines that are not the same diameter? I’d be interested in your formula for this.

 

This is what I’ll be doing in the future.

I’ve tried to figure out how much backing to put on that would give me the X amount of top shot (braid) that I wanted and screwed it up every time!

I have two identical reels. I know I want exactly 100 yards of main line on and the rest to be filled up with backing. Tonight I went to a local football field that had all the yardages marked. I walked out 100 yards of main line and cut it. I then put all of that on the reel FIRST. I then filled it the rest of the way up with the mono backing. I then cut the mono and walked it back and notated how many yards of backing it was. Then I tied that mono on the second reels open spool and took it completely off the first reel. That gave me a spool that was completely full and had exactly 100 yards of main line on it. Being that I wrote down how much backing that actually is I am going to put that amount on second spool and fill up main line from there.

[5/0]

9 minutes ago, michael1 said:

I have two identical reels. I know I want exactly 100 yards of main line on and the rest to be filled up with backing. Tonight I went to a local football field that had all the yardages marked. I walked out 100 yards of main line and cut it. I then put all of that on the reel FIRST. I then filled it the rest of the way up with the mono backing. I then cut the mono and walked it back and notated how many yards of backing it was. Then I tied that mono on the second reels open spool and took it completely off the first reel. That gave me a spool that was completely full and had exactly 100 yards of main line on it. Being that I wrote down how much backing that actually is I am going to put that amount on second spool and fill up main line from there.

That’s very similar to what A-Jay suggested. 

[michael1]

40 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

That’s very similar to what A-Jay suggested. 

Didn't say I was the only one to ever do it this way LOL

[LionHeart]

I use around 60-70 for mainline, but I use braided main line so breakoffs don't really factor in.  If I were you, I'd just do 2 reels with 100, or you'll never be at peace.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

66 yards is two long casts worth and a workable amount that maximizes the filler spool. Works best if you run leader for re-tying. For straight braid you might want more. 

[TnRiver46]

I'd use 67.............

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I'd use 67.............

Na - 66.6

[TnRiver46]

23 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Na - 66.6

Reminds me of the instructions that came with the holy hand grenade of Antioch in Monty Python and the holy Grail. "Thou shalt count 3, not 2, not 4....."

[WRB]

On March 9, 2020 at 1:22 PM, 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.

If you like the line you use buy 660 yard spools and eliminate the worry by spooling 82 yards 8 times. The extra 2 yards is used to run line through rod guides and tie on lures initially and line to retie several times.

You didn't mention baitcasting or spinning or line size?

Using 200 yard spools put 100 yards on each reel otherwise what is left over is wasted or leader material.

Tom 

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Na - 66.6

Ned rigs dictate using metric.

[jbrew73]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

Ned rigs dictate using metric.

No no no......it’s the jika rig that’s metric.  Or was it the Tokyo rig?  Definitely not the Carolina, Texas or Alabama rig. 

[Mbirdsley]

I usually go about 50-60 % backing of the cheapest mono I can find IE zebco, eagle claw, the stuff you can buy for $1.99 for 300 yards. Spinning rods I will go maybe 70-75% mono backing.

 

 On my mono bait-casters I use berkly big game. Beginning of the year if it’s the first year I’ve had the reel And using I’ll pull about half the spool off and than splice in new mono and fill it back up. like the spinning rod I use for wacky worms I may only put 30-40 yards of pp on it.  So far it hasn’t burned me. All depends on The test strength and line dia on how much backing you need.  
 

I bought 300 yards of 30 lbs PP  2 summers ago and have spooled my 4th reel with it about a week ago.  

[michael1]

One of the reels I put the backing down on and then the main line on is "uneven" on the spool and I am sure it's because I did not have the reel on a rod and I held the line to the side some. I probably need to pull it all off and then reel it back smoothly. My first thought was just throw it over the side of the boat and run it out and stop and reel it back in. But then I got to thinking, is it a "bad" idea to let the backing get wet and then reel it back on the spool? If I did that presumably I would never get down to the backing so it might not dry out or whatever and may not lay as tight? Or is there a better way to do it?

[PhishLI]

4 hours ago, michael1 said:

One of the reels I put the backing down on and then the main line on is "uneven" on the spool and I am sure it's because I did not have the reel on a rod and I held the line to the side some. I probably need to pull it all off and then reel it back smoothly. My first thought was just throw it over the side of the boat and run it out and stop and reel it back in. But then I got to thinking, is it a "bad" idea to let the backing get wet and then reel it back on the spool? If I did that presumably I would never get down to the backing so it might not dry out or whatever and may not lay as tight? Or is there a better way to do it?

Just tie it off to anything, a fence, tree, or whatever, then walk it out. Wind it back in under tension. The backing is going to get wet when you're fishing. Don't worry about it.

[J Francho]

8 hours ago, michael1 said:

But then I got to thinking, is it a "bad" idea to let the backing get wet and then reel it back on the spool?

No need to worry about it, fishing line is meant to get wet.

[OnthePotomac]

On 3/10/2020 at 11:00 AM, 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.

Just watched him again on the Bass Pro show and I should have mentioned that he only uses bulk spools.  Wonder where he get those 

[mcipinkie]

As always, it just ain't that simple.  Depends on what you do with particular piece of equipment.

 

I have a tree in my yard that is exactly 100 feet from my patio door.  My flipping sticks and other short range rods get 100 feet of 50# braid.  Generally lasts a season, or at least half a season.  I can buy 150 yards of braid and get at least 4 rods. 

 

Mid range rods get 225 feet.  75 yards.  2 reels out of 150 yards spool.

 

Long range rods, big cranks, carolina rigs, etc get 300 feet.  I try to find long range line in 200 yard spools preferably bulk, so I get 2 out of a spool.

 

What i do is use a line counter every time I spool up a new reel.  They are cheap at Cabela's. Put on the planned amount of main line, the spool up with backing until the spool is filled properly.  Then reverse it, tie the backing to the spool and wind it on.  PITA, but you only do it once with every new reel.  It's hard to guess how much line you are putting on a reel.  Once you start measuring, you'll waste a lot less line. 

 

Keep in mind I use braid with either FC or mono leaders exclusively so works for me.

[WRB]

Some folks do math other's  actually fish. Braid doesn't go bad with age, just turn it around and re use it.

Tom

[Hower08]

Put 75 or 80 yards on each reel then you have leader material for your braid to leader set ups. This is what I do and it saves me a ton of money every season 

[fishraptor]

On 3/9/2020 at 6:58 PM, flyfisher said:

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

I agree totally.  Just fill the spool up to max..... use it for a good while and when you feel that that your line "might" be compromised (that last 50 yards that you have been using), just flip the line and put the "fresh" end on the outside of the spool and put the "used" section at the base. If push comes to shove and your total line length is a tad short just add a short section of new line (anything left over) at the bast and tie a uni to uni knot to the beginning piece of the "old section" that your beginning to spool first. The chance of that uni to uni knot ever hitting your guides is slim to none and even if it does, it's very small and will travel through the guides easily.  This way swapping your line end to end gives you double duty on that line and you get 100% use out of that line.  Just keep a record, maybe on a spreadsheet or something as to when you started or swapped ends so you know which reels have what and when to remove everything completely and put on new. I'll get "years" out of braid doing this procedure.