Line Backing?

[Bassin Virginia]

What type of line should be used as far as line backing on reels (Baitcaster vs. Spinning)?  

I just want to get out of the habit of spending so much on replacing all of the line every time.  

Also is there any preferences on the type of knot used between the main line and backing depending on line type?

Thanks for any inputs

[roadwarrior]

Any line EXCEPT braid will work. Use a line with approximately the same diameter as you will be spooling for your main line. I like to have 80-100' of good line on a spool, so you work backwards from there. For example, 140 yards of capacity = ~50 yards of backing.

I join lines with a blood knot which creates in a very small knot at the connection:

http://www.animatedknots.com/bloodknot/index.php?LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com

BTW, Welcome aboard!

8-)

[ABC123]

I roughly covered this in another thread, but I'll go into more detail for you.

Things you will need/want: $10 clip on line counter. Spool of cheap mono. Spool of braid you will be using. If desired, 2 empty line spools are real handy. Also, a line spooling station is real handy too.

1) Tape braided line to your reel spool. With the line counter, put on desired amount of braid. I usually go with a normal spooling worth of mono, 120ish yards, so I can turn it around when the "used side" has a lot of wear on it. Braid, over time, will wear and sometimes discolor just from being casted, and being out in the sun and water.

2) Tie on same size (DIAMETER) mono for best results, but other size mono will work. I use 12lb XT mono, becouse I have a spool of it, and don't like the "new" line. It is now backing line.

 Fill the spool to the proper amount over all. As you fill the spool with mono, measure the amount of mono you put on and remember that amount for the future.

3) Strip the line back off the spool onto an empty or any spool.

4) Transfer the line onto yet another spool, so the mono is on the outside.

5) Spool the reel and go fishing.

The backing should last a few years, but it's a good idea to make note of the backing length for other same size spools, and also, so you don't have to go through the line transfer process again.

You can use any amounts you see fit. You can put on 75 yards or even 50 yards of braid, and the rest backing. Using the shorter lengths of line does not afford you the opportunity to switch the braid end for end, but it does allow for much less line used at one time. Becareful not to put on too little of braid though, you don't want it to all come off the spool, and be left with just backing, when you cast. I'm going to give the shorter length a try, on one reel, becouse the new braid I'm going to try, is much more expensive than the braids I've used in the past.

For casting, I put the full 120ish yards on, but my vertical jigging rod for 'Eye's, I split a small box between 2 spools becouse I usually don't have more than about 40-60 ft out at a time.

[roadwarrior]

Wow! That's pretty complicated.

If you know the spool recovery for your reel (IPC, inches per crank)

you can estimate the amount of backing put on pretty closely.

For example, at 24 IPC, count 75 turns which is 50 yards:

(75 turns X 2') / 3' = 50 yards.

8-)

[ABC123]

Wow! That's pretty complicated.

If you know the spool recovery for your reel (IPC, inches per crank)

you can estimate the amount of backing put on pretty closely.

For example, at 24 IPC, count 75 turns which is 50 yards:

(75 turns X 2') / 3' = 50 yards.

8-)

;D Yeah, it's pretty complicated, but very scientific. Not only does it give me something to do while the lakes are frozen, it allows me to evenly divide up bulk spools so I can get the most from a bulk spool if needed. Seeing as there is no standard in spool lengths, you could end up with a short piece of unused line if you just guess how much your putting on.

[Bassin Virginia]

Thank you pfluemis and roadwarrior.  I'll get to work on this soon as possible.  Thanks for the help.

[.ghoti.]

I'm not quite so scientific. I just fill up a new reel all the way with el cheapo mono of the same diameter as the "good" line I want to use. Then pull of abot 80 yards. One arm span, measured from one hand to the other is about two yards, so I strip off the cheap stuff accordingly. Then tie a back-to-back uni knot, and fill the reel with the good stuff. The only time you have to do this is the first time. Every time thereafter, just strip it off down to the knot.

I tried the counting the turns thing, then realized that the IPC for a given reel is different at the bottom of the spool than at the top. Stands to reason, if you think about it.

This does save some cash over time. I use about a dozen reels on a regular basis, and respool often, so I save enough to buy a few extra bags of GYCB baits every year.

Cheers,

GK

[roadwarrior]

You don't have to be any more scientific than you want to be. After awhile, you can just eye-ball the spool and figure out "about" how much you need.

[Masshole Mike]

if i'm backing fluoro i'll usually go about half and half, but if i'm backing braid i'll only use as much braid as my estimated longest cast would be, plus a few yards for extra measure. i'm about as un-scientific as possible about it, but i'm still saving money by not running almost-full spools of expensive braid or fluoro.

i generally use cheap mono as a backing, but if i've got a little bit of fluoro left on a spool and it's not worth saving i'll use it as backing.

a uni-to-uni knot is pretty good for line to line knots, or a blood knot like RW said.

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexfishing.php that site is good for learning knots, they're animated with color coded lines for most knots you'll need to learn for fishing.

[FD.]

Another tip for braid.

When it begins to fade badly, I will spool it off one reel directly onto another reel.  This puts the faded part as the "backer" and the never seen the light of day braid on the outside of the spool.