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Abbey
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02/14/2021 10:23AM  
Searched and couldn’t find an answer to this specific question.

I found some braid with different colors every ten feet, so bought that to assist with knowing how much line I have out. The problem is that it was only 100 yard spools. I have yet to hook a fish that has spooled me, but there’s always a possibility, especially fishing in current.

So my question is if I need to put some backing on before this braid and what to use. My spool has the rubber bumpers, so braid slip isn’t the issue. There’s also the factor of backing filling the spool so that the effective diameter is higher with faster retrieve using a more filled spool.

Is backing worth it, and what to use?
 
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casualbriday
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02/14/2021 02:49PM  
More braid of the same pound test (or higher)? I've combined old braid (I reeled it onto a new spool, figuring the stuff at the bottom is "like new") with some new braid (remnant after fully spooling up another reel - the filler spool didn't have enough left to fill a reel on its own, but it was still way more than I could get out in a cast).
 
thegildedgopher
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02/14/2021 04:30PM  
I have a tough time believing it only comes in 100 yard spools, but you could just get two boxes? Spool the first one on, tie the second one with a double uni knot and keep spooling. If You’d rather just do backing I agree with casual briday— just get same diameter braid.

That said I think 100 yds/ 300 feet is ample for almost anything. You would have to make some mistakes to get spooled, or have a reel with seriously inadequate drag, or be snagged on something in some very strong current, etc. 300 feet is a lot of line. Even if you’re long-like trolling 150-170 is probably the most you’ll ever let out at once and that’s gonna be trolling Lakers in deep water.
 
thart2009
member (19)member
  
02/15/2021 06:04AM  
This sounds like the Fireline Metered Braid from Berkley. Yes, only in 100 yard spools and $12 - $15 per spool. I just wound these on my two BWCA trolling rods. I've always used line counters when trolling on Lake Erie, but did not want to bring the heavier line counter reels to BWCA. I was thinking the same thing about the 100 yard length... In the end, I think 100 yards is plenty. I don't ever recall trolling with more than 150' out at a time. To be 'spooled' in the BWCA with 300' on the reel would be pretty unlikely. The 10# diameter is equal to 4# mono. The 14# equal to 6#. I went with the 14#.

Even though I think 100 yards is plenty, I left some non-metered braid on each reel as backing. It was there, and still seemed to be in good condition, so I thought what the heck..
 
thegildedgopher
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02/15/2021 02:01PM  
thart2009: "This sounds like the Fireline Metered Braid from Berkley. Yes, only in 100 yard spools and $12 - $15 per spool. I just wound these on my two BWCA trolling rods. I've always used line counters when trolling on Lake Erie, but did not want to bring the heavier line counter reels to BWCA. I was thinking the same thing about the 100 yard length... In the end, I think 100 yards is plenty. I don't ever recall trolling with more than 150' out at a time. To be 'spooled' in the BWCA with 300' on the reel would be pretty unlikely. The 10# diameter is equal to 4# mono. The 14# equal to 6#. I went with the 14#.


Even though I think 100 yards is plenty, I left some non-metered braid on each reel as backing. It was there, and still seemed to be in good condition, so I thought what the heck.."


That's weird they don't make it in bigger spools.

A couple years ago I got a smoking deal (less than half this current price) on a 500 yard spool of Berkley ProSpec metered braid. It's marketed toward saltwater big game anglers but that doesn't matter. Personally I prefer PowerPro Depth Hunter to anything Berkley offers right now.
 
thart2009
member (19)member
  
02/15/2021 04:01PM  
That Berkley ProSpec looks good. 20' per color too. I think I would like that better than 10' per color. Even at 30# it has a mono equivalent diameter of 8#. Price for 500yd spool is about the same as 5- 100' spools of the other. Oh well, I'm all in with the Fireline for now. Back to the original poster's question.. I still think 100 yards is plenty for trolling in a canoe in the BWCA.
 
Abbey
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02/15/2021 08:40PM  
Yes, it was the Fireline Metered braid. I was also surprised that it was only available in the 100 yard packages. Some financial analyst that doesn’t do much fishing probably figured out that they could sell less of that specific product for the same price to the buyer that wanted it.

My rod inventory took a hit in 2020 with two lost and three breaks. So I am starting with a new medium rod and a new medium-heavy with 10# and 14# going to those, respectively. I also got three new President XT reels (size 30 and two 35s with one going to upgrade my long steelhead MH rod) on a sale, so I will just load up a 35 spool to see if there is too much spool remaining to feel like there will be efficient retrieves, and add backing if needed then transfer to the other to get the right order. Should give an idea what the 30 reel needs.

Thank you for the input!
 
02/16/2021 07:54AM  
You can get the tracer fused in 1500 yard spools
 
ayudell
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02/16/2021 09:06PM  
I typically run 75 or 100yds of braid backed with enough mono to fill up the spool. If your spool is underfilled it will hurt your casting distance. I've also heard of braid that is tied directly to the spool losing purchase on the spool under tension when it gets down to a few dozen wraps. The stretch in the mono avoids that.
 
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