Line Backer?

[HoggBoss]

Historically speaking, I've been almost exclusively a 10Lb mono user, but this year, I'm branching out a bit...  Here's the breakdown for my rigs as they stand right now.

7'6" H, XF - 65Lb Suffix Performance Braid with 17Lb flouro leader (frog/slop, flip/pitch, swimbait.  This is my first "stump-puller", so It'll take some experimenting for me to see what it'll be up for)

7'0" MH, M - 14Lb flouro (deep crankin')

6'6" M, F - 12Lb co-poly (topwater/jerkbait, shallow crankin')

6'8" M, XF - 8Lb co-poly (finesse spinning)

And then I have a couple of old, 6'6" MH baitcast rigs for misc use that I'll probably just stick with 10 or 12 LB mono for.

  I've never used a backing on any of my reels, and I thought I might be able to save myself some potential heartburn, time, and/or $ by picking your guys' brains a bit on these setups and see what the common practices are as far as backings go on any of the above listed types of rigs.  I've also read reports of people using electrical tape over the bare spool.. thoughts on this?  If you do recommend a backer, how much do you use, and what type of spool to backer and backer to "top line" connections are used?

  Also, if you see any glaring holes in my rig lineup, feel free to comment on that as well! 

Thanks in advance!

[Bayou Bass]

I use backing on every single one of my reels.  I typically fill 1/4-1/2 of the spool with 12 or 15 lb mono.  Normally I use big game or whatever cheap mono I have lying around.  The main reason I do this is because I normally only use 50-75 yards of line on my bass fishing setups.  When I want to respool I keep the backing and throw another 50-75 yards on top.  I used to fill almost the entire spool with my main line but realized how much line I threw out every time I respooled.  This can get quite costly when using fluro or braid.

[RandySBreth]

I just use cheap 8 or 10-pound mono, and attach my main line to it with back to back Uni knots. That's it.

8-)

[Javelin200]

I use backing on every single one of my reels. I typically fill 1/4-1/2 of the spool with 12 or 15 lb mono. Normally I use big game or whatever cheap mono I have lying around. The main reason I do this is because I normally only use 50-75 yards of line on my bass fishing setups. When I want to respool I keep the backing and throw another 50-75 yards on top. I used to fill almost the entire spool with my main line but realized how much line I threw out every time I respooled. This can get quite costly when using fluro or braid.

Join your lines with uni to uni knot.

[J Francho]

It depends on the reel, and what I'll be spooling up.  On my Alphas and Sols,  after a bunch of cutoffs and reties, i can easily cats the entire spool, so they get totally refilled.  Braid reels get a heavy mono backer, and I use about 20% more than a casts worth of line.  I use shallow spool spinning reels, so just a few wraps of mono, and the rest is braid.  If I'm using fluoro or mono, I fill the entire spool.

[SirSnookalot]

I use only spinning with braid and no backing ever.  I use painters tape instead of electrical tape.  I don't mind spending the extra $ on the initial spool up and I'm using a leader so I don't go thru much line. I have about 15 spinning outfits with braid.

[BassThumb]

I use backing on all of reels aside from the smallest spinning reels.  I found some 3000 yd spools on Trilene XT for $15 at a store closing a while back and I bought one in 8 lb test.  It works perfect for backing.

[curls00]

My frog and my flippin reels have 70 yards and 40 yards, respectively, of 70# Daiwa Samurai Braid. The backing is some old 17# CXX or whatever the tackle shop had lying around from last year (they spool my reels for REALLY cheap!).

My pitchin' reel has some 12# mono backing with about 100+ yards of 25# braid on top. (I occasionally use this for trolling cranks in the spring for walleyes before bass season opens, hence the high amount of main line).

Spinning reel #1 has some backing (electrical tape) and then 20# braid. I use this for trolling for walleye or pike so I need the full 175+ yards of line sometimes -- can't have transitions to 'old' line midway through the line in this case.

Spinning reel #2 is straight P-Line Fluoroclear (fluoro coated mono). No backing, since its really just mono w/ a higher price tag.

[Steve1357]

It's not cheap, but get some Dacron.

It's the best backing if you're interested in that route.

Search for dacron backing or dacron fishing line.

[J Francho]

Why bother with anything expensive, if you're never going to get into it?  I can see it with other fishing, but bass?

[South FLA]

Mono backing all the way, sometimes I wrap electrical tape around backing.  20% of total line capacity is usually what I use as backing. 

[Steve1357]

Ever seen monofilament crush a spool?

Old school stuff....

http://www.realsreels.com/servicing/Ambassadeur%205000%20service.pdf

Then again, I've never seen worm burn before.

[J Francho]

Most bass reels hold no more that 180 yards of line, often much less. Not enough to crush a spool.

[kikstand454]

i have been using 15lb big game to back my braid and even the one reel i had flouro on.

its a large diameter so it doesnt take too much time to half fill my reel, then i just put the main line on top of it. i have never gotten down to the knot, so i have just been clinch knotting it, three wraps to make the knot small.

im sure if i ever got "spooled" by a bass, id be upset my knot failed.... but really, when does this happen?

in the saltwater though, i respool totally every year for braid, turning it over 6 mos. in.... and respool every 3mos or so on my yozuri hybrid reels.

you can and probably will get spooled inshore.

[Dan:]

I use backing on every single one of my reels. I typically fill 1/4-1/2 of the spool with 12 or 15 lb mono. Normally I use big game or whatever cheap mono I have lying around. The main reason I do this is because I normally only use 50-75 yards of line on my bass fishing setups. When I want to respool I keep the backing and throw another 50-75 yards on top. I used to fill almost the entire spool with my main line but realized how much line I threw out every time I respooled. This can get quite costly when using fluro or braid.

x2 on everything. Look for big spools of house brand monofilament to go on sale and then buy a spool or two.

[Beastie Bass]

I use some old 15# big game, fill the spool bout 1/2 way, apply a piece of electrical tape and then join my new line with an arbor knot so I dont tie straight to the old line. Every BC I have has backing on it, OLD CRUSTY MONO!Saves cash for the bait monkey!

[bigfruits]

i like using cajun red mono and try i to match diameter to the line im using (dont think this is nessecary but figured it would fill the spool more evenly). i like the red because i can see when im getting close to the end...

[uicdent11]

I filled all my reels except size 50/51 Shimanos for the first time this year. I used 20# big game about 1/3 of the spool and then a piece of electrical tape once around the spool. I figured the tape would help me see when I was getting to the end. One problem I know I will have is getting the right amount of backing on the reel for my liking. With 20# test I just eyeballed it and it seems to be working well so far.