Backing - How much?

[AndyK]

I was recently spooling backing on some spools and wondered how much backing everyone else uses.

How much backing do you put on your trout reels?

Salmon/steelhead reels?

Why? What are the conditions that “dictate” the amount of backing you need/use?

[D3smartie]

I use enough of 20# so that there is just a little bit of room left on the spool once i put the fly line on. Just depends on the size of the line and reel....
I have only once seen my backing while trout fishing... that was this spring on the Missouri.
For salmon and steelhead, I probably have 200 yards on most of my reels. Mainly just to fill it up, but i have hooked big atlantics that have taken me well into my backing, as well as some large Kings that take off down river while leaving you standing at the bottom of a gravel bar, pretty hopeless feeling. I have yet to get the monster steelhead that takes me well into my backing but i;ll keep searching for him.

[TheCamel]

Andy:
If you follow D3's advice, and still get "spooled", it probably would not matter how much backing you have on. It is sound advice.

[FOSH]

Like D3smartie, I use enough backing that the fly line fills the spool. Keeps it from curling too badly. 20# for trout and steelhead and 30# for salmon. Gives me about 75 yds. for trout and steelhead and about 125 yds. for salmon (on my reels).
I hope to one day need it all. :dance:

[Mad Mikey]

I'm old school, would first wind the flyline on the reel, attach the backing and fill it as full as possible, clip the backing...

Then, back it all out, reverse it and wind er' all on.

A full spool makes for easier drag control, larger diameter spins slower than a smaller one.

The times you actually need backing will be rare but you'd dang well better have it!

My trout set-up has seen it a half dozen times in 15 years, my steelhead set-up maybe 5-6 times in the same amount of time and I was putting a LOT of steelhead on the bank in the 90's.

We are talking about 90 feet between you and the fish!

My steelhead backings are all 30lb saltwaters, might as well get the good stuff.

:cheers:

[clacksteel]

How much backing?

How ever much the fly shop puts on for me! :wink:

[mandinga]

bingo

[AndyK]

I don't know I would trust someone working in a fly shop to always make the right decision. I was once in a fly shop near a popular river where less than 100 yds of backing was recommended for a steelhead setup. That might have been enough for that river, but not all places where I fish.

In the last year, I have caught many steelhead and coho (and a couple Chinook) without getting into my backing. This especially true on smaller rivers and streams where the fish don't have much room to run.

However, when you are on more open water, hang on. In 2005 I landed a 36 inch steelhead that took out 100 yds + of backing twice! This year I landed a 36 inch steelhead that never got into the backing (smaller river).

Almost every large Chinook I have landed took out a lot of backing. In 2004 I landed a 40 pounder (using a 12 weight rod and 20 lb leader) that took a lot of time and backing to land. Fish fresh from the ocean will make long, powerful runs.

I think I will stay with 200 yds minimum for steelhead/silvers and possibly even more for chinook.

[PTS]

I like lots of hook-ups. Not really interested in fighting the fish. I fill my reels with backing, but have a "no backing rule" when fighting a fish. When I near the end of the flyline, I clamp down and the fish can either break off, straighten the hook or turn around. Doesn't matter to me.