How much line do you think normally gets used?

[new2BC4bass]

Spinning or baitcasting. Normal freshwater fishing. Mostly bass fishing. I'm going to be spooling several reels and was curious as to how much line actually sees water. A couple (2 baitcasting, 1 spinning) are getting braid, and at the price of braid I was thinking about minimizing the amount of braid spooled.

This never was a concern in the old days as all I ever used was mono. It's possible there wasn't any other kind back then other than with the possible exception of Dacron! ;D ;D

[SausageFingers23]

Not as much as you'd think.  I leave a little of the old stuff on the spool as backing so Im not constantly spooling up with new line that will see limited time in the water, if at all.

[new2BC4bass]

I was an ultralight fisherman in a previous life. Longest rod was 6'6" with the exception of a live nightwalker rod (glass Fenwick). My last rod purchase last year (which is when I got back it fishing) was a Zillion Flip and Pitch (7'6" MH rod). I was amazed at how far I could cast a 3/4 oz. spinnerbait. This is one rod that will be getting braid...55 lb. Samurai.

My new Cielo Worm & Jig rod has a spinning reel going on it that holds 110 yds/ 8lb. Braid I picked up yesterday is a 110 yd. (8lb. equivalent) spool. At that time I was thinking it worked out rather nicely. 110 yd. spool, 110 yd. of line. No waste. This morning I was wondering if 55 yards of braid would be enough so I could get 2 spools out of the braid.

I'm thinking 55 yards might be cutting it a bit too close based on how far I could cast the 3/4 oz. lure on the Zillion. The Cielo is rated for 1/8 to 1 oz. lures. At the moment I'm not planning on using more than 1/2 oz. jigs although 3/4 oz. isn't out of the question. I can't imagine how far a 1 oz. jig could be thrown. Given my limited baitcasting experience, there is no doubt in my mind that I can cast quite a bit further with the spinning reel. I'm getting some help with my baitcasting, so I hope to narrow the distance between the 2 styles.

[esoxangler]

I usually buy power pro in 300yds. I split this as evenly as I can amongst three rods, so I get about 100 yds per reel. In my experience, I have yet to have a bass, pike, or walleye, make a run the length of a football field. Can't say what other freshwater species would do. (I do use a mono backer)

[roadwarrior]

I like a full spool. I add line "as necessary",

80-100 yards or so at a time. I doubt I ever

actually "use" more than 60 yards, but I don't

want to feel the connecting knot.

8-)

[new2BC4bass]

I like a full spool. I add line "as necessary",

80-100 yards or so at a time. I doubt I ever

actually "use" more than 60 yards, but I don't

want to feel the connecting knot.

8-)

You bring up a good point.  One I should have thought of.  First time I spooled braid on my STX I was too short on the braid.  I didn't like feeling the knot.

Believe I will use the full 110 yds on the spinning reel, and make sure the knot on the 2 baitcasters is plenty deep enough not to notice.

Thanks guys.   

[slonezp]

Remember braid will last longer than mono or flouro. You also have the ability to reuse the braid rather than replace it. You can spool it on a new reel straight off the old. All the previously "unused" braid will now be the line hitting the water, and the "used" braid will be what's connected to the spool.

[Locked]

I like a full spool. I add line "as necessary",

80-100 yards or so at a time. I doubt I ever

actually "use" more than 60 yards, but I don't

want to feel the connecting knot.

8-)

Is it easier to feel the connecting knot with braid than fluorocarbon? Because when I used a blood knot on mono(backing) to fluoro, I couldn't feel the knot. Maybe it is possible to have the connecting knot towards either end of the spool as to not slide over your thumb while casting.

[Marty]

I use spinning gear and when I used mono and now when I use braid, I use enough backing such that there's room for 50-60 yards of the line I actually fish with. When my casts start getting close to the knot I remove the rest of the line and respool with a fresh 50-60 yards.

[deeplaker]

What I do is take old line from my old reel and pull the line off of it and spool it onto a new reel. The "Used" portion of the line gets tied to the spool and then reel the old line onto a new reel. . the old line is now on the bottom of the spool and the "Newer" portion of that line is now at the top.

[new2BC4bass]

So...55 yards would have been enough. I was afraid it wouldn't be so I put a piece of electrician's tape on the spool and filled with just braid. It didn't take the whole 110 yard spool. Either the reel's spool doesn't take 110 yards of 8 lb. equivalent, the line spool contained more than 110 yards, or the line is greater diameter than the 8 lb. equivalent as listed.

It does give me a few yards of braid to go with a few yards of left over mono to practice my Alberto's knot. ;D

EDIT:  BTW RW, I went with your suggestion of using 30 lb. vs 20 lb. braid on this reel.