Mono backing for braid on spinning reels

The backing is so that the braid doesn’t spin on the spool, and yes I do use backing on all my spinning reels. Not sure if it would have made a difference in your situation.

ETA: it also allows you to not use as much braid.

It's purpose is so you can fill up your spinning reel without having to buy a spool of braid everytime you restring your reel. Depending on the size of your reel's spool, some 3000 size spinning reels can hold 50-100yds of mono then you can fill the rest with one 150-200yd spool of your goto braid.

Filling it up to capacity helps with casting distance and all that and like others said prevents the braid from slipping. If you do buy 300yd spools of braid and want to use all braid then when you tie the braid to the spool just put some electrical tape over the knot and make sure it's spooled up tightly to the spool to prevent slipping

Technically your goal is to have enough braid on the spool so that you'll never have a fish get down to the backing unless it's a fish you don't have any shot of landing

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Do you guys do this?

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I use backing on all reels unless it's one of those really low capacity spools. I don't like waisting premium line. I always have a few large spools of dirt cheap mono on hand for this.

Its a requirement as far as I know. I have had bluegill and shellcrackers who fought hard enough to make the full spool of braid slip on an ultralight spinning reel....start with 10 pound of cheap mono and a grander marlin can't do it. Some reel manufacturers claim it is not necessary on their spools but every spinning reel I own has proven their claims to be false.

If you are getting into the backing on a reel that has backing on it you are flirting disaster no matter what type of line it is. As the spool diameter shrinks from line disappearing with a running fish drag tension increases exponentially...it is far easier to strip line from a reel with a full spool than it is on a reel that has already seen half the line spooled off by a running fish....it is a matter of geometry that applies to any sort of pulley system. Most anglers compound this issue by tightening the drag when the line gets scarce....horrible idea....what was 28 pounds of tension on a full spool is about 35 on a half spool and cranking down on the drag to stop a run away fish at that point is going to break the line if the drag is properly set up in the first place. There is also the issue of drags getting tighter with heat generated....even with small fish pulling line against the drag creates heat...it is noticeable with a smoker king or a sailfish who is pissed at the world. This is why palming a spool is necessary and should only be done with experience....it temporarily increases drag with the hope it will cause the fish to change direction or become frustrated and focus on that instead of escaping...it is not meant to stop a fish...it is akin to a sucker punch thrown at an opportune time to throw your opponent off their game.

If you have 30 pound braid with thirty pound mono as backing and get into the backing on a reel with a properly set drag the tension on the line is increasing as the spool diameter of all reels diminishes. Spinning, revolving spool or fly reel this mathematical fact applies. If the reel was set at 30 pounds because the line on it is thirty pounds when half the spool is ripped off or even as a result of casting a bait out the drag is exponentially higher than 30 pounds as a result of diminished spool diameter. This is also why experienced light tackle big game fisherman will palm a reel....it increases the drag tension when the spool is closer to full on a reel with a properly set drag...which means the right amount of tension when the spool is at its typical fish fighting diameter, not its full spool diameter.

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Mono backing for braid on spinning reels

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I have a different question about braid, I've never used it. Don't feel it's worthy of a separate thread since tigherbait started this one. I regret the possible hijack.

I've been fishing Mangrove Flats & docks since 1988 using 6lb mono to 30lb mono leader. Spider hitch the 6lb, Uni knot the 30lb leader to Spider hitch. Right or wrong this is what I know & I'm comfortable with. Targeting Snook & Redfish.

When tying my leader, Braid to Fluorocarbon. Say I'm using 6lb braid can I do away with the Spider hitch & just Uni knot 6lb Braid to 30lb Fluorocarbon?

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I have had bluegill and shellcrackers who fought hard enough to make the full spool of braid slip on an ultralight spinning reel

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As said you can just put one rap of electrical tape and it does the same thing. You just need a little friction to hold the braid in place.

IMO its just a waste of time OP, call me crazy but the fewer knots in the middle of line the better to me. If you want to do it to save braid cost, I do understand. Its just not worth my time personally. If its a heavy duty reel with major drag into play I'm not trusting cheap mono, a knot, etc. on a big fish. That extra cost in the line is worth it to me.

You can't do everything perfect every time, sometimes the fish wins. Those big jacks will just spool you sometimes when you aren't targeting them, especially if you are just slot red or trout fishing with a 2500 or 3000 level spinning reel.

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AlxTgr

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Thank you!

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AlxTgr

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Thank you I've watched it and several others.

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When tying my leader, Braid to Fluorocarbon. Say I'm using 6lb braid can I do away with the Spider hitch & just Uni knot 6lb Braid to 30lb Fluorocarbon?

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I would caution against 6lb braid. It will be difficult to tie knots with. Using a braid closer in diameter to the 6lb mono youre used to with give you both added mainline abrasion resistance and an easier time tying knots.

I would use 15lb suffix 832 for your application. Maaaaybe 10lb.

And for my mainline to leader connection know, a tension-less FG is my go to but technically the PR knot is the strongest out there. It just requires a bobbin.

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You can't do everything perfect every time, sometimes the fish wins. Those big jacks will just spool you sometimes when you aren't targeting them, especially if you are just slot red or trout fishing with a 2500 or 3000 level spinning reel.

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Yeah I know that now. It happened so fast!! I actually thought I lost the fish at first, but he must have swam at the boat right after the bite, then decided to take off toward the bow and that's when the line started going, I tried gaining line, but no luck and by the time I decided to start my motor and run him down, out of line and gone!!