[Brad S]

Fishapocolypse

No disrespect intended but I disagree. The backing (whether mono or not) is NOT just to give the braid something to bite on.

Many of my reels are filled with braid and no backing at all. The problem many people had/have with just using braid is that the braid would spin on the spool, hence the they would use use mono to give the braid "something to bite on".

I simply use one layer of duct tape on the spool (either over or under the arbour knot and the problem is solved without the need for mono etc.

Fly fishermen have been using backing behind their fly lines since long before braid was even invented and it was NOT to give the fly line something to "bite on" (a fly line doesn't need it).

Some people use BRAID backing with a MONO "top shot" which is just the opposite.

Many fly fishermen (including myself) use braid as backing for a fly line.

A major purpose for "backing" is to give adequate line capacity for the fish you are targeting. For example if you are fishing in Hawaii where the water gets very deep very close to shore and you're bottom fishing in, say 300 feet of water (which is very common) you've already got 100 yards of line out, so if you hook a powerful fish you could get down to the backing very quickly.

If your backing is not in good condition, is not at least the same pound test as the "top shot" (in this case braid), connected to the braid with a strong knot and long enough to allow for the line taken by the fish, you're in trouble.

Even here on the mainland it's not unheard of for a large fish to take 100 yds or more of line off a reel. If you don't have enough line on your reel (in this case braid and backing) you're going to lose that fish as well as all your line.

Just last season here in R.I. a woman was fishing for fluke (with typical fluke gear) and hooked a 50 lb amberjack! It took her over an hour to land it, but if she hadn't had enough line on her reel it would have been impossible.

A shark or a pelagic fish can peel off a lot of line in a hurry and if I hook into one I'm not going to cut away my expensive braid unless someone's life is in danger. It's not good for the environment or the shark to be trailing all that line around either.

Brad

P.S. If the backing is not at least the same pound test as the braid you're using you'll have a "weak link" between the braid and the reel