Braid - how much backing and what kind

ampersat · 03-07-2004, 06:54 AM

I took a couple of reels to FMS a while back and had them spooled up with Tuf Pro. On one of the reels, the guy spooled the whole thing with Tuf, no backing. It came out to 200 yards. I'm thinking of taking that 200 and splitting half of it off to another reel.

Now, the question is what to back it with and how much it'll take. Since I have lots of 30# mono laying around I'm tempted to just go with that. However, will it degrade over time and become brittle? I'd hate to lose the fish of a lifetime (and all my Tuf) because of old mono. So I'm leaning more towards dacron for the backing. I just don't know how much I'll have to get.

The Overfishin Condition · 03-07-2004, 08:22 AM

I think I just used 25 or 30 lb mono as backing on my reel. I hope it doesn't become brittle! Although, on top of the mono is 150 yards of braid, and since I use it in a boat, where you can chase fish, in 50 ft water, max, I don't ever see getting to the end of it. My reason for putting the backing on was cost, but still wanting to have the spool filled for performance. All that being said... I don't know, and I'm sorta interested in what others throw in here... bump. TOC

Full Freezer · 03-07-2004, 08:33 AM

Ampersat, I used to use Maxima UG (what else?) as a backing to my PP. Then some very smart man on Ifish told us that he just re-winds it onto another reel he has at the start of the season "recycling" the PP. That way I figure I'll get about 4 seasons on my PP, 2 on each end of the spool. :smile:

Two days ago I just stripped my old stuff with the backing & replaced it fresh. Won't need any new stuff for awhile now!

BTW- thanks to whoever you are that came up with this great idea! [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

Quasimodo the fish killer · 03-07-2004, 08:50 AM

I am not a big fan of using backing. the saving from 100 yrds of tuff isnt going to make or break me.

last spring a buddy of mine got educated on the reasons why not to use backing. we were anchor fishing he had a monsterous take down and instant line peeling; before we could throw the anchor rope over the edge and start chasing the fish it had already stripped him into the backing material. we never seen the fish and it went up river to spawn with 100 yrds of tuff trailing behind it.

I am sure it was a very large fish we had boated several in the 25 to 35 lb range that day and none of them striped him to the backing. he went home that night and took the backing off and filled the spool with tuff. I always fill mine with no backing because you never know whats gonna be on the other end of the line when you lay the barb to it.

I would rather have the fish in the boat then save $6 and use backing

Quasi

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Fish Hawg · 03-07-2004, 09:36 AM

I don't use any backing at all. The less knots between my fish and I the better :smile:

Twitchs_Tackle · 03-07-2004, 10:05 AM

I use 30# Max backing and about 150 yds of 50# Tuff on top. I usually buy the 300 yd spools of Tuff and split it for 2 reels. It takes a little trial and error practice to find out how much backing to put on in order to get the other 150 of Tuff to fill the spool to the top. I had previously been in the same boat as Quasi. I felt backing, etc., only created more knots and more chances for line failure. BUT I have never had a fish take more than 150 yds (not sayin it doesn't happen) so I have started using backing and splitting the spools of line. I suppose I'll probably lose a Hoss this spring, and thus will go back to full spools of Tuff.

Either way works, just be sure to put it on tight so it won't spin on your spool (if you don't use backing).

Fish Hawg · 03-07-2004, 10:14 AM

I heard this is a way how figure how much backing on is:

Put your braided line on first then add your backing. Now un-spool on to another reel (or something else) and then re-spool it back on, Backing first.

I have never tried this, because I do not use backing.....Ross

Soft Plastic · 03-07-2004, 03:12 PM

OK

I want to put 150yds of tuff line plus on my C3 6500, and enough dacron to give me a full spool. First I calculate what is the area of my spool that will hold line by using the rating on the reel. It says it will hold 245 yds of 14 lb mono. 14 lb stren is .014 dia. Using pie are square (easy way to write it) to calculate the area of the line times the lengh of the line I get .0001539335 X 8820 (line length in inches) = 1.33769347 cubic inches of line area. Next calculate the area taken up by 150 yds of 50 lb tuff line. 50 lb tuff line is .012 so .006 X .006 X 3.1415 = .000113094 X 5400 (150 yds in inches)= 0.6107076 cubic inches taken up by tuff line. This leaves .726985 of area to fill with what ever you like. I like to use dacron of the same wt as the line I am using. 50 lb dacron is about .018 dia. The area of line divided into the space available will give you the length in inches of backing you need to put on before the main line. So .009 X .009 X 3.1415 = .0002544615. divide this into the available space .726985 and you get 2856.9547. Divide this by 12 to get 238.079 feet and by 3 to get 79.35 yds. So to fill up a C3 6500 79 yds of 50 lb dacron backing and 150 of tuff line plus. These numbers will change depending of the diameter of the line you are using, however they will get you close. I used this to fill up my halibut reel with 80 yds of 80 lb dacron and top it off with 500 yds of 80 lb powerpro and it was perfect.

Enjoy

SuperPanga · 03-07-2004, 03:37 PM

If you are the same guys that run $ 30000 boats, why would you worry about saving $10 on fishing line?

Quasimodo the fish killer · 03-07-2004, 03:44 PM

man soft plastic reading all your calculations made my head hurt :shocked:

Quasi

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RussT · 03-07-2004, 04:35 PM

I load 100 yds. of braid on my reel, and fill it up with 10# heavier dacron backing. Then I pull it off onto a spare reel, then onto another, and then back onto the original reel. I use a little stamped metal, forked knot tyer, and just don't worry about the knots. I don't have a $30.000.00 boat, but that's part of the way I pay for gas in my $9.000.00 boat, and the pickup to pull it :grin:
I have never had a fish (other than oversize Sturgeon) take me to my backing. Will probably happen next time out now

RussT

03-07-2004, 06:32 PM

I have always used Dacron backing. What I do is put the spectra on the reel until it's almost full then finish filling the reel with the proper wt of Dacron. Then I transfer the line to a line spool with the help of a electric drill. I transfer to another spool that has a set of old drag washers on the hub for tension and then back onto the reel. The results is a perfectly filled spool. Mono or Fluorocarbon topshot on last and I'm ready to fish.

Full Freezer · 03-07-2004, 09:05 PM

I'm with FishHawg. Less knots, you can recycle etc. I don't really understand the benefit of having backing. If I fully spool up with PP then I know i can continue to switch it back & forth from one reel to another after every season. Saves tons of $$. The other line costs $$, and you can't re-use the PP if you have backing, you have an extra knot, usually the backing has a larger diameter so it takes up more space on the reel= less line capacity, why do it it all. Much less hassle.

To keep it from slipping, I put a small piece of adhesive label on the single loop on the spool then begin to reel it over the tape. Never slips & is easy to remove.

Is their any advantage to having backing other than to try & save $$??