First, what size line do most of you spool up with?
50
65
80
???

Second when putting say 80# braid on a reel, how much and what size monofilament do you lay down first?

Thanks

I put on 80 with 25lb mono backing to fill up about halfway, that usually works pretty well as the braid comes pretty close to maxing the spool. You can use any size mono really, but 25lb is fastest to fill up. Be careful tying a knot though, an uni uni with those diameters can end up being quite thick.

line # is really related to experience and the style of fishing, or quality of equipment even, add personal set-ups on brakes and magnetics too, IMO. personally i get by with 65# super braid on my 400TE's and 30# original spiderwire on my 250TE/DC. for one i don't figure 8 anymore so these work well for me. for anyone who does this would be pretty light. 100 or even 125 would be the line to use. violent boatside hits with an inch or two of line off the tip are stressfull to line. 65 would be insta-snap for sure, unless experienced in it. i keep my drag relatively looser than it needs because i trap the line between the rod and my thumb for the hookset. if tighter drags are used 65 would be light.

two, because of frequent backlashes caused by inexperience, cheap or reels set wrong, or just hardnosed style casting 65 would snap pretty easy on a backlash with a lure normally used for muskies. so 100 or more would be needed. lures aint cheap and watching them fly away would hurt. also thicker heavier line backlashes less so is easier to cast. stiffer also. though distance takes a hit.

as far as backing it's a genaral rule to try and keep the backing at or just above the same diameter as your mainline braid to reduce the line digging in. the tighter the backing is wound the better and by nature thicker mono lines don't wrap as tight and stay as tight as a smaller diameter will.

good luck. i'm going shorefishing at the mississippi this morn. i have a feeling i'm in for a good day.

I use 80# on my reels. You can get by with something lighter like 50# (if you aren't using the big baits). But you're likely to have more mishaps with the lighter line and you aren't really much thinner in terms of diameter. For backing I just use whatever old mono I have laying around. Usually it's 10# for me. What you use for backing really doesn't matter, in my opinion.

Aaron

I go to Thorne and say spool it with X. Too easy not to.

I use 80 lb. Tuf-line. I use 2 lb mono for backing (just because I bought a spool of 1,000 yards for $1.00). Any mono will do - I disagree about the diameter. The smaller diameter mono is better in my opinion as it will spool tighter and not have the big gaps for the braid to dig in.
I spool on 100 yards of braid onto my reel first - then reel on enough mono to fill the reel. If the spool is full, casting will be easier and you will retreive more line per crank. Your reel will work most efficiently with a full spool of line. After you do this then pull off the mono onto a clean floor and try not to make knots. Then pull off the braid and do the same thing. Then reel back on the mono, tie your uni knot, square knot, or tie directly around the spool and reel in the braid. That is the only way to emsure that you fill your spool for maximum efficiency. This is a one time job - everytime after this you change your line you just rip off the braid and reel on new stuff and you know that you have the right amount of braid on your reel.

i agree the smaller the better for wrapping tight. personally i'd prefer a little heavier test over a lighter test if somehow the fish actually gets to my backing. but if it works for you, more power to ya.

there are some who wrap electrical tape around their spools to build it up and keep the braid from slipping. i never tried it. but maybe this year i'll spool up a cheapo abu? why not?

I use the 100lb Spiderwire Stealth and spool up the reel with 20lb mono. It has the same diameter, so I get a smooth tranisition from mono to braid. Does it have to be this way, i think not, as the guys above have pointed out. Just a personal preference on my part.

If a fish ever gets down to your backing, you have either (1) not enough braid on your reel or (2) the big WR and you better get ready to thump it!

so, so true. really as long as that line doesn't dig in to your spool on a hookset/snag and stays tight over the long haul cast after cast without the need to let it all out and rewind it over and over to avoid the risk of having it easily backlash, why change? however if it is a problem it might need a second look. and if anyone is it's easily solved.

I just loaded my c4 with 80lb pp. cant wait to throw it. my smaller c3 has 80 stren and seems ok. used it a lot in mn. i have two smaller low profile baitcasters with 65 pp and they backlash pretty easy. to the point where i cut some of it out as it was getting freyed from digging out the birdsnest. i load my mono with 20 lb to stay similar diameter, however i would like to go lighter next time to be able to get a bit more pp on the spool.