Gelspun is what you want.

This is about the best value Gel-Spun Backing -- Orvis UK

John H

 

Braid is a bit of a bu66er to "bed down" onto a spool. When attaching to fixed spool reels and multipliers, normally a few yards of mono is spooled first to give the braid something to bed into. If you can manage to secure the braid to part of a "caged" type spool, it may be ok......

 

Has anyone ever used braided fishing line as backing?
Are there any reasons why it should not be used?

I use it all time and there are no reasons why it shouldn't be used . . . apart from maybe cost.

 

Gelspun is highly recommended, but I now tend to use Powerpro braid, variously 30 to 50 lbs B.S., mostly because I use it for lure fishing too. I buy in bulk, and have had no trouble at all, using for Tarpon, Milkfish, Bonefish, Snappers, Jacks etc. Sometimes I bed it down on a couple of turns of vynyl electrical tape, which should stop the line rotating on the spool, but I've never had a problem either way. Possibly I need to hook bigger fish.

 

SWFF for tropical missiles with fins is where gelspun/spectra braided lines have found a following as backing on reasonable size reels.Technique for spooling up is as advised by using some turns of mono to tighten down onto the spool otherwise the whole lot can spin.Best wound on wet and under pressure with plenty of crossovers.Same applies when winding it back when playing a fish until you reach the fly line again.Respect it because it is like a cheese cutter if it comes into contact with your fingers going the wrong way or you get loose coils.The trick is to keep a tight line lift the rod and wind down to take back line when the opportunity comes on a fish like tarpon.You will never be able to wind against the fish anyway.Good luck if you are planning a trip.

Best JP

 

Gelspun for me i get 300 yards of 40lb on my lamson reel with an eight line:thumbs:

 

Just what I wanted to hear .... I am loading a #8 onto a lamson F3 :thumbs:

 

I use the Berkley Big Game braid on my heavier rods for reservoirs and SWFF. It was put to the test in Cuba and it didn't disappoint!!

I use traditional backing on my lighter gear as it's only used (in my case) to increase the arbour size.

 

I'll go along with Harvey Angling on this - what's the problem with those size 16 hooks by the way?

300 yards? Smacks to me of "hero" status. I've had grown on Farmoor rainbows go out to 80 yards+ about three times, and one of those was hooked in the a*se end rather than the front end. So , that's 6m of leader, plus 27m of fly line plus 45m of backing. I'd allow another 50m of backing to fill the spool but 250m??

 

I believe the 300yds is for bones.

I have 250yds on mine and that was touch and go at times!

 

Spider referred to bones and tarpon in his post.
Do not as a rule use braid in freshwater although I have on the old Orvis made in Falmouth Battenkills which were a tad backing shy with the longer modern lines and some line profiles.

In the salt some pelagics can melt line off the spool faster and farther than you might imagine under some circumstances.If we are strictly talking freshwater then no intent to mislead.

Best JP

 

I did indeed refer to saltwater flyfishing. Although that's not what I am off doing.
I'm heading to Jurassic Lake in Patagonia. Rainbow trout fishing with fish that average 10lb, have been caught to over 20lbs and seen over 30lbs. These are wild fish and I'm told they go like steam trains.
" These huge fish are much, much more then just abnormally large, as they are pound for pound one of the strongest fish we have ever seen. The blood curdling runs are only interrupted by jumps that often involve leaps far above your head. Do not put your hands anywhere near your reel handle, as you will surely loose some skin or even break a finger or two."

So, not like any trout fishing anywhere else in the world and more like the kind of gear you would use for bones.

Thanks all for the replies. Gel spun is on order.

 

150 0f 20# backing on your Lamson would have been ample for Patagonia but you will have gel-spun for another type of trip as the line has a long shelf life.

Just a thought Spider.Gel-spun is better not to be too thin for a fly reel.At least 50lb up to 80lb depending on the mono equivalent diameter for ease of handing when off the reel plus the tendency to bind/dig into the spool under pressure is greatly reduced.Thinner braid is very prone to do this on a revolving drum unit like a fly reel.Loop reels help with this by the V shape.Wider drum reels are more likely to encounter this issue when under serious pressure.Not likely to happen in Patagonia but worth bearing in mind when using gel-spun which is likely to be outside the rod tip.Might pay you to work out the equation of loading the lamson with gel-spun before you break the seal.20lb braided dacron is about the diameter of 15-17lb mono.50lb gel-spun varies but 9lb-12lb depending on the brand as a ball park figure.No wish to drive you nuts but had a lot of experience with these lines and it is not a case of simply buying a spool and winding it on.I wish it were that simple.

Have a great adventure on the trip of a lifetime.

Best JP