Braid Backing Question

[billonaboat]

Since I like using more expensive fluorocarbon line like sunline sniper, I'm thinking about starting to fill the first 2/3 of my reels with braid. Rather than filling the entire spool with fluoro.

 

Looking at the capacity specs on shimano's website, it looks like a ci4 stradic 2500 can hold 200 yards of 6 lb test mono.

 

According to power pro spec chart, 20 lb braid has the same diameter of 6 lb test mono. So, you'd think that same stradic could hold 200 yards of 20 lb braid. But, according to shimano, that reel only holds like 120 yards of 20 lb test braid. This doesn't seem to make sense.

 

Can anyone explain this?

[TOXIC]

Trying to fill by line diameter is very difficult.  I wouldn’t waste expensive braid as filler.  I would just put enough cheap mono on to give some backing.  I just eyeball how much backing will save me a little extra line when spooling, keeping in mind I want the least amount of backing as possible.  Nothing worse than spooling up a reel and on the first cast have the backing knot fly through the guides.  

[MN Fisher]

30 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

 I wouldn’t waste expensive braid as filler.  I would just put enough cheap mono on to give some backing.

x2 this - backing of choice for me is Berkley Big Game in 10# - I've got a couple 1500yd spools of it...just in case.

[Mike L]

When used for flipping or pitching I fill up to 50% with backing. 
Keeping in mind NOT to use that for any long distance bomb casts. 

 Normally about 10%-20% of spool capacity will suffice on all others. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[the reel ess]

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

x2 this - backing of choice for me is Berkley Big Game in 10# - I've got a couple 1500yd spools of it...just in case.

Hear Here! Big Game is one of the best bang for buck products in all of fishing. I keep a 900 yd spool in my bag. I use it for backing on reels spooled with braid. I have had to cut the braid off my jig reel due to a very bad backlash and I just filled it back with 15# BBG until I got home. I was on vacation and it saved my fishing trip. I also use it for spinnerbaits/buzzbaits. I've gone to braid as my main line on most combos and it seems to be working well. I may end up with braid on all my combos.

[bulldog1935]

Here's a very good line capacity calculator for stacking different diameters on a spool - it works very well, and I use it all the time.  

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

[MN Fisher]

Just now, bulldog1935 said:

Here's a very good line capacity calculator for stacking different diameters on a spool - it works very well, and I use it all the time.  

https://www.pattayafishing.net/advanced-fishing-reel-line-capacity-estimator/

I use the same one myself...so far it's been pretty accurate when using a line-counter filling my spools.

[A-Jay]

Fill your spool with your mono backing of choice, preferably something close to the diameter of whatever main line you plan on using.

Make a long cast and then pull off that length at least one more time or maybe even two.

Now you have three bomb cast lengths of FC.

If you're looking to save $$, that works. 

Another method, and the one I use, is to fill the spool with 1/3 backing and 2/3's FC.

Use it until it's starts to need replacement

and then end for end the FC.

The new stuff will be on top.

If you retie a ton, you may have quite a bit less than you started with.

Which might not be the best deal.

A-Jay

[Dens228]

When I was using PP or 832 I didn't use any backing.......

Now that I'm trying Smackdown I sure do use backing.........lol

[roadwarrior]

I like 60-70 yards of fluorocarbon so I don't feel the knot and have plenty of line

to spare. For spinning gear I fish Tatsu #6, for baitcasting Tatsu #12 or #15.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I like 60-70 yards of fluorocarbon so I don't feel the knot and have plenty of line

to spare. For spinning gear I fish Tatsu #6, for baitcasting Tatsu #12 or #15.

I'm putting 70yds of whatever I'm using for mainline on my reels. 6# for my light spinning rigs, 10# on the heavier one, 12# or 15# on my casting rigs.

[fishwizzard]

9 minutes ago, billonaboat said:

 

right on.

 

how much fluoro do you typically like on each reel?

 

I was thinking 45-50 yards is probably good cause that's a good cast plus some line to allow the bait to sink to the bottom.

 

also, what lb test braid do you use on your spinners and casters? I guess it doesn't really matter if you don't plan on ever getting into the backing, but just curious.

 

I have a measuring wheel and figured out that generally I am making 30-40y casts and fish pretty shallow, so I shoot for 60-70y of mainline on reels used on longer/heavier rods and 40-50y on for shorter/lighter rods.  It's not an exact science though, I use Daiwa reels and for the most part they have a halfway mark on their spools, so I use that as a rough guide when adding backing.  

 

For casting reels, I back with either 20 or 30lb braid, depending on what reel the spool will be living in.  I save old braid when I strip it off, so I rarely have to use new braid as backing.  For spinning reels, I use plumber's tape as backing and tend to fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the spool with it before adding any line.

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, fishwizzard said:

For spinning reels, I use plumber's tape as backing and tend to fill 1/2 to 3/4 of the spool with it before adding any line.

 

   I was taught that when I bought my first Penn reel years ago! It can be hard to clean up the spool if you need to, though.                      jj

[FishTank]

For backing, I wouldn't use braid, just cheap mono.  I have been using some 6lb and 10lb Yozuri Hybrid for years.  I found it in 1/4lb spools for $3 I believe.   Works great.  I fill my spools about 1/4 to 1/2 of the way full. 

[OkobojiEagle]

Buy smaller reels...

[GetFishorDieTryin]

11 hours ago, newapti5 said:

Since I believe what Aaron Martens said about lowering the spool total weight with braid backing, I use braid backing on all my baitcasters, no matter what the mainline is. I am not rich, and there are a lot of cheap Chinese unknown braid line on Aliexpress. I wouldn't use them for mainline, but they are perfect for backing. Just choose those white color/colorless ones, so the color won't bleed everywhere.
On spinning reels, that's a different story. I just use cheap monos as backing like everyone else. 

I do the same thing