braided line question

[josh.schreiber]

My TIGER rod finally came in, but before I put on $30 worth of 80 lb Stealth, I need a bit of advice.
My only other experience w/ any braided line has been w/ smaller diameter line on my panfish/smaller bass reels several years ago. W/ most of those the line "dug in" to itself. The reel (ABU 7000 series) will easily hold a full spool (300 yards) of the stealth, but I want to avoid the frustration of the digging in.
Bprice has told me to "back" the braid w/ 14 lb test (or so) mono to prevent the digging in, but I was just wondering what you veteran cat masters (or stripes/muskies/etc) thought--in addition to his help.
Do the majority of you out there back the braid on your higher capacity reels?
Thanks for the help.
The sooner I'm sure about what to do, the sooner I'll be after more big cats!

 

[minner]

I do back my braid, usually with 20lb test. The main reason for the backing it two fold. 1) Braid is expensive and on larger reels it would take a bunch of unnecessary line to fill the spool. 2) To keep the line from slipping around the spool. I have never had a problem with number 2 and I have been using braid for about 10 years. Cost is factor IMO, like you said that 7000 will easily gobble up 300yds. You want the spool to be as full as possible to use the reel at its full potential, drag, recovery ratio, etc. Not to mention during the life span of that line you'll break off 10's of yards on snags to further reduce your "overall" fill on the spool.

Here's the deal with braid. I learned this from the saltwater guys who use braid for trolling deep lures. In order to keep your line from digging you have to load your reel under tension, as much as you can muster. The tighter the line goes on, the less slop on the spool for a recovering line to dig into. Tension, tension, tension. After a few trips of chunking and winding it’s a good idea to take the line off to a solid "layer" and rewind it under tension again, especially if catching a big fish is in your plans.

I wanted to add one thing. I know this sounds like a PITA but, I get TWO YEARS out of my braid usually. After the first year I "turn the line around". I strip my line off and respool it backwards, because the last 100 yards never saw the light of day anyway and isn't degraded what so ever. Very cost effective.

 

[foodsaver]

I have a spool of yellow 65 lb test power pro that I would sell for 80 bucks plus shipping. Its a filler spool and I will have to check the # of yards. Its either 1000 or 2500 but I will check.

 

[josh.schreiber]

foodsaver: thanks, but no thanks. ive got my heart set on the 80 stealth.

minner, thanks for the tips. how much 20 lb mono do you put on to back the braid?

 

[Guest]

Josh I am a Spiderwire man to the bone and take it from me, the Spiderwire Ultracast is way better. Get a 300 yd spool, run out 100 yards and cut it. Spool it up on another high capacity reel and finish with 20 or 25 pound mono. Then spool it onto your 7000 real tight. The combination of spooling tight and the roundness of the Ultracast you will almost never have a line bury problem. When you are done you have enough line to spool 2 more reels.

 

[mallardecho]

My wiffe Thanks you Cheez, another reason to buy yet another reel. A reel to put line on another reel, she'll never figure that one out.

 

[Guest]

I forgot to mention that you count the number of cranks when you spool the mono back onto the reel. Then when you fill the reel up you know how much to put on the empty one. Liveliner taught me this trick and my wife loved him too. emoBigsmile
A man needs more than one reel anyway.emoBigsmile

 

[craazyboutbass]

I always throw 30lb STREN superbriad... As you reel the braid on the reel you want to put a little pressure on the line so it won't dig in itself when pulling a fish or whatever... (Keep the line a little tight as you reel it on the reel)

 

[minner]

josh.schreiber - 3/3/2008 4:50 PM

foodsaver: thanks, but no thanks. ive got my heart set on the 80 stealth.

minner, thanks for the tips. how much 20 lb mono do you put on to back the braid?

Not much. Just enough to make sure when I get enough braid on that I have a full spool. I usually put a good layer on the bare spool so that I can't see it anymore. (if that makes sense.)

 

[Nickajack Angler]

After my earlier posts inquiring about Power Pro and Spiderwire comparisons. I took a few of your advice (namely DHaun) for he had just caught a 29lb striper! Who could argue with that!!!! The Power pro has let me down HARD three times in the last month. I threw a loop. It sunk down into the reel..... I've not thrown many loops with this line however, but when I did, my brand new XR50 went SNAP! And flew to the Abyss.... as did a rattle trap.... as did a crankbait. I have NEVER had this happen with Spiderwire. Though I picked up a new spool this week and will be replacing the powerpro. Throwing the two spools of it away that I have, or what's left. Three $6 lures cost more than the dang line. So, I'm back on spiderwire. Used it for years. Never had a problem with it, just that on some knots it can be a nemisis. Go with what you know. Leave the Power Pro for David!!!!emoPoke emoLaugh
I will say though, I never once had that line break on me while hung up, or on a fish.