How much main line to put on spinning reel?

[michael1]

Normally on my bait cast reels I put mono backing on and then 75-100 yards of main line on top. Trying out a new spinning reel and was curious how much main line I should put on it? I will up with mono backing underneath it 60 to 80 yards? I assume because typically make longer cast with my bait caster I do not need to put as much main line on a spinning reel?

[MN Fisher]

I find the reverse to be true - I make longer casts with my spinners than with my BCs. So I don't use backing on my spinning reels, just fill it completely with the main-line.

[JustJames]

Depends on which line, mono or braid? A lot of spinning users turn to thin braid and that gonna be hard to calculate backing because with spinning if you don’t have the line almost at the rim you might not get distance you want.

I only have about 200’ of line (6-10lb braid) on spinning and backing to almost 3/4 of spool. Even my shallow spool 2500 size get almost half of the backing since I’m using 8lb nanofil.
If you plan to use small diameter mono which is not too expensive then 1/2of backing might be fine. I’m not sure which reel you have, but if I remember correctly Daiwa have groove on bottom of spool to help guide you with backing.

 

I found it

These are deep spool so first grove might indicate standard spool size, second grove might be shallow spool size. If you gonna use mono backing to first groove, thin 10-15lb braid backing all the way to second groove. You can adjust from there on out to fit your need.

[OnthePotomac]

Fill you spool to within 1/8" of the lip and you will be fine.

[michael1]

LOL I don't think you guys are understanding my question. I have a system worked out where I can put the exact yardage of main line I want on and then the perfect amount of backing underneath to fill the spool fully. What I am asking is what is a nice amount of main line put on? A good yardage that will allow for maximum casting distance without getting too the backing and will also allow for having to cut the line if hung up and such and still have enough but not be wasteful with the more expensive main line? As I said 60 to 80 yards or something?

[mrpao]

To me it depends on the spool.

The deeper the spool the more backing I use. I don't have a way to measure the amount of line used as backing. I just eyeball it.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, michael1 said:

As I said 60 to 80 yards or something?

I'd personally put more on there. My Trion-30 on the Medium/Fast rod, I can bomb a 1/2oz lure about 90-100 yds. As it only holds about 110 yds of the 10# I'm using - that's why I fill it with mainline and no backing.

[michael1]

3 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

I'd personally put more on there. My Trion-30 on the Medium/Fast rod, I can bomb a 1/2oz lure about 90-100 yds. As it only holds about 110 yds of the 10# I'm using - that's why I fill it with mainline and no backing.

Yeah but if I have a 1/2 oz lure I'd certainly be throwing it on a baitcaster.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, michael1 said:

Yeah but if I have a 1/2 oz lure I'd certainly be throwing it on a baitcaster.

(shrugs) Different styles. I'll toss up to 5/8 on the M/F rig - rod's rated to 3/4. I'll even toss 3/4 oz lures on the MH/M spinning rig - my backup crankbait rig...main one is a BC. I switch between spinning and casting, I've some overlap and just grab one not caring sometimes which type of reel is on the rig.

[JustJames]

42 minutes ago, michael1 said:

LOL I don't think you guys are understanding my question. I have a system worked out where I can put the exact yardage of main line I want on and then the perfect amount of backing underneath to fill the spool fully. What I am asking is what is a nice amount of main line put on? A good yardage that will allow for maximum casting distance without getting too the backing and will also allow for having to cut the line if hung up and such and still have enough but not be wasteful with the more expensive main line? As I said 60 to 80 yards or something?

I think I answered your question, I only use spinning for finesse and ultralight so 200’ is plenty. Now your preference might be different or other as well. You will have to find what fit your situation the best.

[MN Fisher]

26 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I think I answered your question, I only use spinning for finesse and ultralight so 200’ is plenty. Now your preference might be different or other as well. You will have to find what fit your situation the best.

Ya, considering there's a couple people here who don't even own a BC, and still flip/pitch and other techniques that most of us use BCs for - it's all a matter of personal preference.

[the reel ess]

never mind

[craww]

On my ultralight rods that dont see casts over 15-20 yards or so I typically try to get -3- reels worth of 50 yard top shots out of a 150 yard spool. On medium power finesse plastic type setups, (which also dont get more than 25 yard or so casts typically) I split a 150 yarder into -2-. 

On my Bigger rigs that get max distance live bait casts, see the salt, etc: I put just enough mono on for the braid not to spin, And fill ‘er up.

[Team9nine]

Same as baitcast - 75 to 100 yds depending on line spool size and type line. Go to the high end of that range on braid topping.

[garroyo130]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I'd personally put more on there. My Trion-30 on the Medium/Fast rod, I can bomb a 1/2oz lure about 90-100 yds. As it only holds about 110 yds of the 10# I'm using - that's why I fill it with mainline and no backing.

Im gonna need you to do a write up on casting technique as I'd be nowhere near that 

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, garroyo130 said:

Im gonna need you to do a write up on casting technique as I'd be nowhere near that 

One hand at the stem, other hand at the butt-end. Start your swing at about 8-o'clock instead of 10...and whail it.

[gim]

Each spinning spool should have a maximum capacity on it based on the diameter/pound test of the the line.  That should at least give you a starting point.  They are generally in mono specifications so if you plan to use braid, then do a direct comparison.  In other words, if the reel indicates 4, 6, or 8 pound test then don't pile 20 pound mono on it.

 

Spinning setups are generally designed for more finesse/lighter presentations than a BC.  The rod you have attached to the reel should have recommendations on it just like a spinning reel does.  Use that as a starting point too.

[Bankbeater]

After much trial and error, I fill all of my spools up 1/2 way with backing. That leaves me with more than enough line to cast into close targets in cover, and make long distance bombs with heavy baits.

[michael1]

LOL roughly 5% of responders actually answered the question I ask. I know how to do backing and how much total line to put on compared to the spool size. ALL I was asking was for opinions as to how much yardage of main line to have on your spinning reel. An amount that will give you plenty of "play" if you had a snag or two, allow for changing lures and such.

[RoLo]

 

Bear in mind, the greater the length of your topping, 

the more line you must replace with each respooling.

I try to keep my topshots short, and my respoolings frequent. 

 

Roger

[mcipinkie]

The first thing you need to do is to accurately determine how much line you are actually putting on the spool.  I have a Berkley line counter and use every time I spool up a new reel.

 

I put 75 yards of main line on my spool.  225' on the line counter.  Then I fill the spool with backing to the appropriate level.  Then I walk it off in my yard (Big yard), tie the backing to the spool and wind it up.  Little bit of a PITA, but you only do it once per reel.  When you respool, you just cut off at the knot and wind on new line.

 

I find 75 yards adequate for all but my long cast techniques (big cranks, carolina rig, etc.  Short range rods, flipping sticks, etc. get 100' of main line.

 

I was amazed at how much line I was wasting before I started measuring.  I'd buy a 300 yard spool of line and get two reels and half a third.  Now I get 4 reels out of 300 yards, just like I wanted.

 

I saw a KVD video and 75 yards was what he used also.

 

I use braid for everything and save a lot of money by not wasting line.

 

75 yards is the answer to your original question.

[michael1]

1 hour ago, mcipinkie said:

The first thing you need to do is to accurately determine how much line you are actually putting on the spool.  I have a Berkley line counter and use every time I spool up a new reel.

 

I put 75 yards of main line on my spool.  225' on the line counter.  Then I fill the spool with backing to the appropriate level.  Then I walk it off in my yard (Big yard), tie the backing to the spool and wind it up.  Little bit of a PITA, but you only do it once per reel.  When you respool, you just cut off at the knot and wind on new line.

 

I find 75 yards adequate for all but my long cast techniques (big cranks, carolina rig, etc.  Short range rods, flipping sticks, etc. get 100' of main line.

 

I was amazed at how much line I was wasting before I started measuring.  I'd buy a 300 yard spool of line and get two reels and half a third.  Now I get 4 reels out of 300 yards, just like I wanted.

 

I saw a KVD video and 75 yards was what he used also.

 

I use braid for everything and save a lot of money by not wasting line.

 

75 yards is the answer to your original question.

This is the sort of thing I was looking for. 75 yards for BC and spinning as a rule of thumb?

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

I didnt see mention of the type of line you want to use.

 

I dont use leaders and only use braid/nanofil so my take is based off my use. 

I initially fill spool completely with braid/nanofil these types of line last for years on a spool. 

As I use line through knot tying wind knots and such I put backing on to get mainline back up to full spool level.

When finally I get to about 120' of main line left, where the connection knot starts getting in play, I replace the whole spool.

So I only throw out the 120 feet of line.

 

If I were to split the initial spool of line in half or thirds to cover 2 or 3 reels I would use/waste more line. 240/360 feet of line being tossed.

 

This is why people are WRONG to think they save money by splitting a spool of line over multiple reels.

 

So FULL SPOOL of braid I say

[JustJames]

@QUAKEnSHAKE, this is true and I don’t see it mentioned often. If you split spool you throw away 20-30yds time 2 or 3. I do this but to only on my baitcasters which get full spool of only braid, to save weight and to only throw away once. i don’t even use backing since most of my baitcaster are 50-70 size or shallow spool.

But with spinning reel, which I consider myself still new and only use it exclusively late last year, I wanna be able to add backing material to bring the line back to the rim of spool, to get the most distance out of it. It might not matter much when using with average lure but with light lure I found when the line get low under spool too much (1/4”) the distance is suffered. To strip off 100-200 yds of line out from spinning in order to add more backing material is kind of plain in ......with 50 - 75yds is a lot easier, just walk it off add a few wrap of plumbing tape and we are done. I also recycled old line into shallow spool baitcaster to save even more. I have done this a few times with both my Sahara 750 and CI4 2500. This might change if I find a better way around it.

[PhishLI]

2 hours ago, michael1 said:

LOL roughly 5% of responders actually answered the question I ask.

Try this then: Find the most aerodynamic 1/2 oz bass lure that you own and cast it as far as you can with the rig under discussion. With an actual measuring device, hopefully a tape measure, find out how far that you can cast under the best of circumstances. Add 15 yards of line to that number, or however much makes sense to you, for mainline. The rest will be backing.  Many people are delusional with regard to how far they're able to cast a typical bass fishing lure. With the best of intentions, there's often lots of guessing and faulty calculation methods tossed around in an effort to help a chum out. Find out what's factual for you and eliminate guessing. In the process you'll find out where you stand as far as casting distance goes.