Backing question?

[armesjr]

When using a cheap fishing line for backing, i have two questions:  If your gonna be fishing with mono or flouro, should you match up the backing with the type of line your fishing with?  Also if i am fishing with 20lb test, should i use 20 lb backing or something less than that?  

[Al Wolbach]

It doesn't matter what you use for backing. I do not join the two lines together. I put the backing on and then tie on the main line as if you had an empty spool rather than tieing the two lines together................................Al

[armesjr]

Do you just use a little tape to hold the backing in place.  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I dont buy the tape thing for backin braid ,i mean it prob wont ever lose its stickiness but just knowing it can happen bothers me i always tie mono to braid and use superglue for the knot.Braid and floro last for ever but mono becomes brittle after a few months of sunlight .Always good to use about the same diameter lines when u connect also IMO

[lubina]

It doesn't matter what you use for backing.

Like he said. I use recycled line when it is not good anymore. Copolymer, fluoro or mono.

[Marty]

When using a cheap fishing line for backing, i have two questions:  If your gonna be fishing with mono or flouro, should you match up the backing with the type of line your fishing with?  Also if i am fishing with 20lb test, should i use 20 lb backing or something less than that?  

The whole idea behind backing is that bass don't make long runs and you don't get down to the backing, thus, it doesn't matter. Backing's purpose is to occupy space.

[Pintail55]

I don't think it matters. I always use what ever cheap spool is on sale. I've never ran into my backing. I usally get 2 reels done with 200 yards of line.

[crayon7]

I only use backing when Im running braid. Other then that I use straight up mono if thats what the sitiation calls fer. Never heard of putting backing and then taping it down. I just do a little fly tie that is pretty stout, but if you ever have a fish run you all the way down to your backing there is something wrong there.  

[Guest SkyChimp]

If I want to fill an Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5600 C4 with braid, how much backing should I put on?  Enough until 1/3 of the spool is filled?  

Someone said he doesn't connect the braid to the backing.  How do you do that?   I mean, how do you tie secure the loose end of the backing before you put on the braid?

If I wanted to tie the braid to the backing, what's the best knot to use?

Thanks.  

[Jeff_NHBA]

Here's an interesting link from Gary Yamamoto's site for applying braid to a spinning reel: http://www.insideline.net/articles/spooling-spinning.htm

Although it looks like your adding line to a baitcaster, the theory is still the same.  He has knot suggestions for this procedure as well.

S  

[Taliesin]

I only use backing when Im running braid. Other then that I use straight up mono if thats what the sitiation calls fer. Never heard of putting backing and then taping it down. I just do a little fly tie that is pretty stout, but if you ever have a fish run you all the way down to your backing there is something wrong there.

Well... I know this is a bass fishing site, but I also use my gear for catfishing... and blue cats at that. Hooking into a 50#+ fish isn't all that uncommon here so getting spooled is a concern. Not to mention that the flathead catfish and hybrid stripers in my local lake will pick up on bass lures (and muskie is a couple of other local lakes).

I may be in a unique situation here though. however, what I usually do is:

Spinning reels: I usually use braid with a diameter equal to the smallest mono the rig will handle. For backing I use mono equal to the highest the rig is rated for. Example: The reel states 10 to 16# test line. I use 40# test braid (diameter of 10# test mono) and 16# test mono for backing (or 17 since that's what I already have on hand).

Baitcasters: I usually don't use any backing. If I did, I would use line about 1.5 to 2 times as heavy as my main line. If I do hang into a running fish I still have a bit of line to play with and my backing isn't too weak for him. I can also leave that backing on for a while until it gets as weak as my main line.

[Garnet]

For my bass rods I use the approx. the same dia. and fill the spool full then remove 35-40 pulls about 110 ft. and then fill with Braid or flouro or mono. But I know that I have 110 ft and don't waste line.

Theres nothing worst than having a reel under capacity.

Garnet

[crayon7]

The only fish I had on that spooled me was a 4ft tarpon. It took that much in a heart beat at the pier. If ive got braid on the bass rods I have no more than 25 yrds of mono backing with a narly knot holding it to the braid. The knot is called a nail knot and Ive never had it break on me once. The only reason I put backing with braid is to keep the braid from slipping. Ive had that happen with a fish on and have to drop my rod and real and use my hands. Talk about deep cuts that sucked. I also use my gear for catfishing but if I want any kind of whopper cat I have to get a boat and go to the middle of the lake. I take my light gear to the coast for some fun with the little hardheads and what not. My luck on day theough Ill have a huge run on one of my small rods and have it snap all over the place.

[surfer]

Thanks for that link shellback.  I had overlooked some of the finer details and was able to apply them yesterday.  Primarily making sure the not joining the backing and braid was kept low on the real.  This made a huge improvement for me as my line was catching that knot and keeping me a little short on my casts.

[rvrnr64]

If you don't want to get too technical get some friction tape and put it directly on the spool overlapping just a bit before respooling.  I'm no tourney fisherman and will never be, but I do know from experience if you don't put backing down before braid it will slip.

[The Next KVD]

Personally I never use backing not even for braid.  I just tie my main line straight to the spool and fill er up!  Thats my take on it.

[Cephkiller]

Personally I never use backing not even for braid.  I just tie my main line straight to the spool and fill er up!  Thats my take on it.

Please take this in the helpful spirit intended.

You are wasting money and risking the line slipping on the spool.  Use mono backing.

[Guest SkyChimp]

If you have a low-capacity baitcaster with a wiffle-spool, what prevents you from tieing the braid through one of the holes in the spool.  Line couldn't spin on the spool then.   I've never tried it, but I'm sure someone has.

[Taliesin]

If you have a low-capacity baitcaster with a wiffle-spool, what prevents you from tieing the braid through one of the holes in the spool. Line couldn't spin on the spool then. I've never tried it, but I'm sure someone has.

He has a good point here. If you have a tie-on point on the spool that won't allow the line to slip, then you don't "need" the mono backing.

Most of my reels are pretty high-capacity though, so I still need it. I get the 100 to 150 yard spools of braid and back it with the heaviest mono the reel is rated for, enough for the combo to fill the reel.