How much backing ?

[Old_Coot]

[size 2][font "Comic Sans MS"][black]I recently purchased a new level wind casting reel and have put 125 yards of 20 lb FireLine on it. I am aware that if you don't put mono backing on the spool you run the risk of the line slipping on the arbor. I was wondering just what your opinions are about how much mono backing should go on the arbor before I join the mono to the fireline.[/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]The reason I ask is because today one of the local fishing shops put backing on my reel for me and put what I think is WAY too much ... so much that my 125 yards of FireLine just barely fits when it is tightly reeled on. I think that if I don't take some of the backing off, when the FireLine is loosely spooled it may be too much for the spool and possibly cause tangle problems.[/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]I will be taking some of the backing off but I am still wondering how much you all think is the right amount and why.[/black][/font][/size]
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[Kent]

I had a guy who repairs reels, give me a piece of backing to put on my reel and it was only about 10 feet long. I put it on my reel and it worked great. The most you should ever need is just one layer of backing.
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[AFDan52]

[font "Arial Black"][red][size 3] I agree with Kent, but I wouldn't go any more that that.[/size][/red][/font]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Since the only reason for the mono is to provide a firm grip on the arbor, one foot of that stuff is all that is necessary. However, if your Fireline is not enough to mostly fill the spool, then some mono backing can help you out.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I would question the knowledge of someone who topped off your spool to the max. It is a mistake to fill a reel spool completely. The reel will cast better, with fewer "professional overruns" (and other line problems) if you leave some space between the edge of the spool and the outer layer of line on that spool. Unless you routinely fish for big fish that run off lots of line, you will never see the end of the Fireline anyway.[/#0000ff]
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[BearLakeMack]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The "reel" question is not how much backing you need because that really doesn't matter. One layer is absolute minimum and ten works too IF, as TD said, you do not overspool the reel. I'm sure the salesman, once he spooled the reel either didn't know he'd overspooled it or was just too lazy to unspool it, remove some of the backing and respool it.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]What reel did you buy? Sounds by your post, you bought a low profile "bass" reel.[/size][/black][/font]
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[Old_Coot]

[size 2][font "Comic Sans MS"][black]Thanks all for the info guys ... pretty much as I suspected.[/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]BLM, Actually I picked up a Cabela's Depthmaster Gold trolling reel with a line counter. In my original post I think I used the term "casting reel" a little too loosely. I understand that it is the Daiwa Accudepth reel with Cabela's name on it.[/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black]My main use for it will be to help me know how far back my lure is when I am trolling for musky. I prefer very close to 100 feet out and am always struggling to know when I have let out that 100 feet. However, it may just become my mainstay for mack jigging on Bear Lake to. It's kind of big and heavy to be holding for long periods of time in the cold. We'll see.[/black][/font][/size]
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[PREDATOR]

Ralph, since you are actually looking for the line counter to be as accurate as possible, I would leave as much backing on as can be left to have all your fire line and have a full spool.

Why?
Simply because a half full spool has a smaller diameter and your line counter will be calibrated for a full spool diameter.

Theres no reason not to have a full spool in either jigging or trolling applications. Especially where you will be using it for two species of large fish.
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[BearLakeFishGuy]

Ralph,
I have a Cabela's accudepth line counter reel. I have the regular model, not the Gold, and I love it. I use it mainly for trolling. Its especially nice with downriggers to know exactly how far "behind the ball" your lure is. I also use it to troll flat-line behind the boat. The reel I have is 3 years old with a lot of use and it has not given me one bit of trouble. I thought it might foul up in the ice cold winter, but so far so good. I've got it mounted on a 8' 6" downrigger rod (also from Cablelas). Overall I really like this reel. I typically use Spiderwire for jigging, but I think plain old mono works better for trolling since there actually is a little stretch with it. I've lost quite a few fish trolling with the "superlines" since the hooks ripped out from what I think is due to lack of line stretch. I have "Spiderwire Fusion" line on both of my spinning reels that I jig with at Bear Lake. I have not had a problem with line slippage since I tie two clove hitches (in addition to the knot around the spool) with the superline around the empty spool prior to filling the spool with the remaining line.
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[muskyhunter]

Ralph,on a couple of my smaller reals where i dont have room for a lot of line I just use a rubberband around the spool and it has plenty of grip for no slip!!M.H.
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