Backing Before Braid?

[FISH520]

What line do you use as a backing before the braid and how much do you put on (how many wraps around the spool).

[LgMouthGambler]

I put old braid as backing. Reason, it keeps the overall weight of the spool down.

[Princeton_Man]

I don't use backing on my braid reels. I do however transfer braid from one reel to another before replacing it. So I'm using both ends of the spool before replacing it. -Jim

[FISH520]

I like both of those ideas

[West6550]

I don't use backing on my braid reels. I do however transfer braid from one reel to another before replacing it. So I'm using both ends of the spool before replacing it. -Jim

I try to do this as well.

[FloridaFishinFool]

I thought the whole point of using a clear line backing for braid was because the braid slips around the spool and the mono prevents it from slipping???

I do it 2 ways... one is to put just enough mono or clear line on the spool to barely cover the spool one line level deep all the way across the spool and then spool it up with braid for a full spool of braid, and the other way I do some of my reels is to measure out in the yard a specific amount of braid like 75 yards and then use enough backing to make sure the smaller amount of braid can now fill out the rest of the spool. So in this case the backing line may take up 1/3 or 1/2 of the spool before the braid goes on.

[rockchalk06]

I thought the whole point of using a clear line backing for braid was because the braid slips around the spool and the mono prevents it from slipping???

I do it 2 ways... one is to put just enough mono or clear line on the spool to barely cover the spool one line level deep all the way across the spool and then spool it up with braid for a full spool of braid, and the other way I do some of my reels is to measure out in the yard a specific amount of braid like 75 yards and then use enough backing to make sure the smaller amount of braid can now fill out the rest of the spool. So in this case the backing line may take up 1/3 or 1/2 of the spool before the braid goes on.

Same here. Unless I ha e have spool that holds 150 plus yards then I will back it more with mono or old fluoro to save on braid.

[FISH520]

I have heard of the slippage and braid digging into the spool. I have not had any of those problems...yet But I am interested in saving some braid. Do you match diameter of mono or FC to braid that you are using.

[West6550]

Let me clarify. I use mono for backing. On my deeper spools I use a little more mono. I use 10lb mono for my backing. Shallow spools just enough to cover the bottom well.

Then if there is enough braid on one of my old reels. Uni to Uni knot the mono to the old line and reel it onto the new reel. Cause the bottom half of the braid will still be nice and new. The majority of the time.

[Smallie_Stalker]

I use mono for backing and I try to use the same diameter mono as the braid I will be spooling. I use very little backing, probably just enough to cover the spool from side-to-side 3 or 4 times.

Like Princeton_Man I transfer it to a new reel after awhile so I can get use out of the fresh end. 

[Tavery5]

I use very cheap mono to back my reels that have braided line on them.  There are a couple of reasons, already mentioned, that I practice this.  First is to prevent the line from spinning on the spool, it occurs more often than people realize and many people initially diagnose it as a drag problem.   The other reason is to save money, I can back my setup with mono and reduce the amount of expensive braided line that I need to use.  I rarely cast more than 30 yards, so I typically will use about 45 yards or so of quality braided line and back the rest with cheap mono.   This allows me to spool additional reels with the same spool of braided line if I choose.   

[fishandkamp]

I fish on the Chesapeake Bay Rivers. Places like the Potomac, Upper Bay and Middle River.  I  target bass most of the time, but my fishing grounds are open to big stripers, pickerel, and big blue catfish.  On the Potomac add the large snakeheads.  I have had my line to backing knot go out through the guides several times in the past.  One 18 pound blue cat came off Hart Miller Island and ran straight under my boat.  Before my partner got the trolling motor up, and I got the rod carefully maneuvered around to the other side of the boat, that fish had me down almost to the arbor.  So I only spool good quality mono as backing. I use 14 pound Stren clear Blue original mono.  It fills all of my baitcasters half way up and then braid or fluoro fill them the rest of the way up.  Whoops, I misspoke, there are three reels done differently. One has all mono for topwater, and the others have P Line FloroClear copolymer line.
If you look at the Stren line it costs less than $8.00 for a 330 yard spool of line. That is less than 3 cents per yard.  Why take chances with line that is cheaper than that. Typically it cost me $1.87 cents to fill my reel with backing. Using Power Pro braid it cost .09 cents a foot or $6.75 cents to fill the rest for a total of $8.62. The savings for Fluoro is even greater.   
With today's modern crankbaits, rattle baits, wake baits and swimbaits costing $5.00 all the way up to $60 or more ( look at hard bodied swimbaits) then using cheap line makes no sense.