My tips for putting on braid direct...

[Jaheff]

After using Braid for a few years, i finally figured out a way I'm happy putting it on a reel properly, maybe it will help some people?

My first time using braid with brand X was that brand x was digging in to itself, now i think it was more my fault then the braid..It is really important that you put braid on with as much tension as possible, i believe if the braid is on tight there is no way it can dig into itself.I could be wrong, but that's what i believe.

My way of putting braid on a reel myself..

1. I take the new braid and wind it in on a high capacity ocean reel, with a smooth drag (important).

2. I take the reel i'm putting the new braid on and put on a couple wraps of Teflon tape.(I like Teflon better than electrical because of weight).my opinion...

or if your not worried about needing the line capacity, put on a couple wraps of mono..

3. I tie the new braid end to the reel with knot of your choice..When i get done with the knot, i leave the tag end 4-6 inches long.The tag end will get caught underneeth the braid, which will prevent it from slipping on itself.

4. I button down the drag on the reel I'm feeding the line on.Then set the drag on the ocean reel with as much tension as i can get to feed the braid on the reel.

From what i understand, braid is best put on reels with 3-4 pounds of resistance. after doing this to reels already spooled,it's amazing how much more line i could of put on. Some reels I have to have as much line as i can get.

Ok, so i was bored on a rainy day, and I'm not that good at grammer, but i hope these four tips help someone out that wants to do it themselves..

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Good info right there.  I'm in the crew that uses mono backing.  Theres no need to completely fill a reel with braid for bass fishing.  I usually fill around 1/3 of the spool and then stick the braid on top.

[bass or bass ?]

Wish I'd read this 2 hours ago, I just spooled up new braid!

[SirSnookalot]

I have more trouble spooling up mono than I do braid, only a few of my outfits have mono and they are strictly for ocean drifting or trolling where casting is not an issue.  I have had no problems spooling up with any kind of braid for fresh or saltwater gear, for the most part I just use masking tape without tying, even freshwater get gets no backing.  As of late with my new sorons I've been using the elastic bands on their braid ready spools, seems to work pretty well.

[roadwarrior]

Good info right there. I'm in the crew that uses mono backing. Theres no need to completely fill a reel with braid for bass fishing. I usually fill around 1/3 of the spool and then stick the braid on top.

75 yards is plenty. One 300 yard spool of braid will cover

four reels if you back them with other line.

8-)

[RWSCHMITZ]

I run 75yds of braid on all my reels with mono backing. I like mono backing because if you spool a reel with all braid and you get bad snag or birdnest when casting, small dia braid will dig in very deep, but if you have only 75yds of braid with mono backing the braid can't dig in the spool to deep because of the mono backing.

[Jaheff]

It's true for bass fishing that a 75 yrd top shot of braid is plenty.

But another advantage to all braid is weight.So i weighed one of my spools with all braid and it came out to 1.2 ounces, then the same one with 50% mono 50% Braid and it came out to 1.4 ounces.Is that enough of a weight to make a difference? Maybe it would on your dedicated light bait, baitcaster?